Patti Rooney
Patti Rooney relocated to Vero Beach from the windy city of Chicago in 2006. She is no stranger to the world of entertainment or dancing for that matter. Patti has appeared in numerous commercials, music videos, stage productions, television shows and danced in various stage productions including the famous Radio City Music Hall Rockette’s Christmas Show. Closer to home, Patti has worked as executive director of a charitable trust, financial controller and business owner. Her passion, however, lies in the philanthropic arena, supporting the work of non-profits locally and internationally. She has served as CFO of Sebastian’s By the River, a 41 unit independent residential community for low-income seniors. Patti is currently the Controller of Riverside Theatre and thrilled to be back “home” in the entertainment industry. As a matter of fact, Patti was a “Star” dancer during the inaugural Dancing with Vero’s Stars in 2009. She returned in 2010 and 2011 as a professional instructor, took last year off and returns again in 2013 as one of the 10 professional instructors. Everyone is thrilled to have Patti back!
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Stefani Conrado
For all of her 29 years, Stefani Conrado has lived in Vero Beach… born to dance! Back for her second time to the Dancing with Vero’s Stars stage, Stefani has danced, for what seems like “forever,” with Joe and Shari Tessier’s 14th Avenue Swingsation Dance Studio in downtown Vero Beach. Once a member of the Swingsation Dance Team dancing the Lindy Hop, Stefani saw all the dancers move to other locations, but she remained, teaching Salsa every Monday night at the studio. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in 2006 from Florida Atlantic University and became a Paralegal in Indian River County. Now, she has decided to change her career path to teaching elementary school children and has returned to IRSC for her teaching degree. Stefani loves children so her support for the Healthy Start Coalition and DWVS is a perfect fit! “My first year dancing with this event was with Jarrod Owen and we received first runner-up for our Salsa routine. It was an amazing time, and I’m back to hopefully bring home the Mirror Ball!” It’s good to have her back!
Amy Trammell
Amy is one half of the Trammell team of instructors for this her second year and each of them (Barry is her husband) will bring the classical lines of ballet to a typical ballroom dance routine. Amy is co-owner of Vero Classical Ballet and is also a licensed massage therapist. While training with the International Ballet School in Denver Colorado, she had the honor of dancing with artists from the Kirov Ballet in Russia. After completing her training, she auditioned for and was accepted into the prestigious Colorado Ballet. While retiring early due to an injury, she has since rehabilitated and performs regularly in such productions as Vero Classical Ballet’s The Nutcracker. Amy is thrilled to be an instructor with Dancing with Vero’s Stars again and is eager for the show. Some may recall the house rocking last year with Amy and her partner and lawyer Buck Vocelle! While dancing many hours a week, most of her time is spent being a mother of three children and teaching a class or two at her studio as time allows! l
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Karren Walter
Karren returns for her 4th year as an instructor with Dancing with Vero’s Stars. Karren started her dance career in 1988 when she began working for the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Vero Beach. She received extensive training from certified instructors in all aspects of ballroom dance and later became a certified Fred Astaire dance instructor herself. During the course of her 12 years with Fred Astaire Studios, she competed both within and outside of the studio chain, continues to compete and perform shows with her current students. During National competitions, she placed in the Latin Division in Miami, Fl. Karren had the pleasure of dancing for Stevie Wonder and Gloria Estefan in the 1999 Super Bowl. She performs in many theater productions, grand openings and charitable events, and continues to study and train with top competitors and nationally recognized instructors such as Karina Smirnoff and Dmitry Chaplin from ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. This season she is choreographer for Oklahoma performed at the Vero Beach Theater Guild. Karren also teaches both American and International Style dance as well as other popular dances such as swing, hustle, meringue and salsa. Karren is ready to meet her competition!
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Terry Greene
Originally from Charleston, WV and growing up in a family-owned studio, Terry was dancing at the age of 2 up until she moved to Vero Beach 20 years ago. Upon relocating to Vero Beach, she met Chris Dale Sexton and soon began teaching ballet, jazz, tap and clogging until 2002. Terry performed and choreographed with Chris on many shows at the Vero Beach Theatre Guild. Terry also briefly taught tap at Dance Space in Vero Beach before her decision to hang up her dancing shoes for a while. Terry has owned and operated MedType Transcription Services for the past 20 years and now with Dancing with Vero Star’s afoot, she is so happy to get her dancing shoes out of the closet and dust them off. “I am so thrilled to be part of this great competition with my dance partner. All I can say is….. Let’s go ADAM!!
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Tom Isola
Tom and Cheryl, his wife of forty-two years, are owners of Clear-Vu a cleaning company in Vero Beach. But it is safe to say, that he is ready to step up the action and do more of what he loves…dance! Tom has been a ballroom dancer since the early 80’s and is an independent instructor at the Indian River Ballroom. He and Cheryl also regularly perform at oldies dances throughout the state as the “Golden Oldies Dancers” with Jerry and the Dolls. He fell in love with the structure of ballroom and lists just about every form of dancing on his resume! Dancing has been a passion for Tom since he was young, and after a lot of hard work, education and certifications, he is returning for his second year to Dancing with Vero’s Stars as an independent instructor. Tom, a father of six, looks forward to competing and helping to fundraise for the IRC Healthy Start Coalition and their mission of helping families and children.
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Robert Scott
Robert is nationally certified in both American and International styles of ballroom and is a former national champion in international style dancing. His first job in 1967 was as a dance instructor, and nearly forty six years later, he still loves what he does! Robert has owned and operated the Indian River Ballroom (formerly the Fred Astaire Dance Studio) since 1987. This season marks Robert’s 4th year as a dance instructor and we are happy he once again brings his gracious style to the dance floor. Many will remember his amazing Bolero routine at the 2012 event winning the Top Dance Score to Robert and his partner Stacey Miller!
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Barry Trammell
Barry (the other half to wife Amy), with a list of activities that can make your head spin, does some “fancy dancing” to make it through the week! As co-owner of Vero Classical Ballet (located at Leisure Square), Barry’s training is a bit unique from some of the other instructors in this year’s Dancing with Vero’s Stars competition. He is a classical ballet dancer trained by Leo Ahohnen, Andrei Ustinov and Elena Martinson, and danced professionally with Ballet Florida, Oregon Ballet Theatre and the Texas Ballet. His students, mostly 10 and under, are part of his yearly Nutcracker held Thanksgiving weekend at Vero Beach High School. Barry also directs the non-profit Ballet Vero Parents & Friends, Inc. which helps defray the costs for local talents to be able to continue their ballet training. In addition to his weekly dance classes, Barry sells mainland homes for Dale Sorenson Real Estate, Inc. He spends all day Saturdays preparing for the Nutcracker and all day Sundays showing and selling homes. Adding the “Dancing” event to his agenda is something he wants to do for his second time this year; being able to mesh the flair of ballet with ballroom. Helping the Healthy Start organization is a priority as well because of his love for the children he works with as well as the three he has at home!
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Joe Wynes
Joe is pleased to return for the 5th year as an instructor for Dancing with Vero’s Stars. He and his star partner, Rebecca Emmons, won the “Grand Prize” Mirror Ball trophy in the 2010 competition for their cha cha routine. In 2011 he and his partner, Susan Clay, won the “Second Runner-up” trophy for their foxtrot. In addition they received the “Best Dance Score” award. And for a lucky three in 2012, Joe and his partner Susanne Sweeney won First Runner Up dancing the Lindy Hop! Joe is an independent dance instructor from Sebastian. His Friday night group social dance classes at the Sebastian Community Center, has allowed him to introduce the fun of ballroom dancing to people of all ages and walks of life. He also teaches private classes for individual students, couples and small groups by arrangement. For information, visit www.joewynes.com. In 2006 he started “Desire to Dance” with the philosophy that social dancing is an enjoyable and healthy activity that can be enjoyed by anyone. His mission is to offer cost effective dance instruction and to serve as an ambassador of social dance both within and outside of local community. Joe does all this while doing his “real” job as a Respiratory Therapist at the Sebastian River Area Medical Center.
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Jose Ratto
New to the DWVS stage this year is instructor Jose Ratto. A professional Zumba instructor at several locations in Vero Beach including Swingsation’s 14th Ave Dance Studio, Jose also loves to dance all forms of Latin music to get toned and lose weight while having fun at the same time! We’re apt to see him and his star partner dancing on the Riverside stage this year doing a mesmerizing routine of Salsa, Merengue or Bachata. Thanks to his father, he learned how to dance and discovered his passion for dancing. In addition to having his Zumba certification, Jose received his Associates Degree as a Computer Technician and has invested two years into medical school. Being a native of Peru he not only speaks English and Spanish but also German and Portuguese. Jose enjoys sports such as basketball, soccer, swimming and is a Senzei of Karate Black Belt. “My passion for dancing is enormous and I look forward to sharing this passion with the DWVS audience.” Believe us Jose, we can’t wait!
