Officials
VBDC 2024
Dan Calloway
Adjudicator
Dan Calloway, Judge
Dan has been competing professionally, coaching, and adjudicating for over 30 years. He is an Asian-Pacific and United States professional 10-Dance Grand Finalist. Dan was the youngest dual fellow in the world with highly commended fellowships in the ballroom and Latin branches of The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing earned over twenty years ago. Dan serves as Chairman of Judges at the USA Dance Nationals and most of the national qualifying events. Among the many professional competitions he has won and titles he has earned are numerous “Professional of the Year” and “Top Teacher” awards.
Rick Zilonka
Adjudicator
Rick is a former ballroom dance instructor studio owner and area licensee and franchiser of Fred Astaire Dance Studios of Virginia. He is a licensed adjudicator and member of the Fred Astaire National Council of Dance. Rick is a championship qualified ballroom judge recognized and registered with the National Dance Council of American. Now retired after 40 years in the Ballroom dance industry, Rick Zilonka is a much sought after adjudicator and scrutineer for ballroom dance competitions across the United States.
Patricia M. Panebianco
Adjudicator
Patti Panebianco’s dynamic energy and passion brought her from Social Dancer, to Amateur Performer, to Elite Amateur Competitor, Professional Competitor, right on through to her current status as an adjudicator, coach, chairperson & invigilator.
Always interested in helping at the National level, Patti is the former treasurer & national committee member for the US Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (USISTD). Her expertise has called to choreograph & perform in various stage, TV & movie productions, throughout the country, including:
A Tribute to Gershwin, Wallflowering, Marconi Brothers, All my Children & Yo’Yo Ma’s Soul of the Tango.
She holds licentiate certifications in all styles of ballroom dance with U.S.I.S.T.D, I.S.T.D. and Terpsichore and is a certified teacher in all styles of performing arts and lifetime member of Dance Educators of America. She is a licensed World Class Adjudicator with World Dancesport Federation as well as Chairperson of Judges.
For the Past 24 years she is the founder & owner of NY Dancesport Centre on Long Island, has been dancing for 47 years and teaching professionally for 41 years. Prior to that she worked at various studios in Manhattan, including Stepping Out, Dance New York, Ballroom on Fifth and more.
Jack Carpenter
Master of Ceremonies
Jack Carpenter began his dance career in 1990 with the Fred Astaire organization. He is a former dance studio owner and FADS National Rhythm Dance Champion. He has won many regional and national Ballroom and Rhythm dance competitions, both professionally and Pro/Am. His many teaching accomplishments include Top Teacher regionally and placing nationally in the top five for 5 consecutive years. Some of his other dance titles include: American Smooth Regional Champion, American Rhythm Rising Star, and Open Dance Champion for the Southeast Region. Jack currently enjoys participating as a Judge and Emcee for competitive ballroom dance events
Deborah Carpenter
Registrar & Scrutineer
Debbie began her dance career in 1986, when she met Rock Foster, owner of Dance Masters Studios, in Richmond, VA. Having a life-long love of dance, she studied jazz dance while in college and fell in love with partner dancing when the Disco craze hit in the early 1980's. Her initial ballroom training began with Rock Foster and continued later on when she met her husband, Jack Carpenter, a former Fred Astaire Dance Studio owner and National Rhythm Dance champion. Debbie competed on the Country line dance team, Quicksilver Express, in the 1990's, and studied country western dance and used her knowledge to teach classes in North Carolina. Today Debbie teaches dance independently at Ann Witt School of Dance in Sutherland, VA. She also competes in ProAm events at USSDC Dance Challenges and is Registrar and Scrutineer for various ballroom, competitions throughout the year.
Alan Hedgpeth
Music Director
Alan Hedgpeth was born and raised in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He is a member of National Dance Council of America (NDCA) and has earned the Fellowship “With Honors” with the North American Dancesport Teachers Association (NADTA). He has been a professional ballroom dance instructor for thirty-two years. He is registered with the NDCA. as a Pro-Am Instructor, Master of Ceremonies, Music Director, Competing Professional and Competition Adjudicator.
He is the owner of the “A Step Above” Ballroom Dance Studio in Virginia Beach VA. He is currently teaching both private and group classes in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Hampton, Newport News, Richmond, Suffolk, Williamsburg, Vienna and Roanoke, Virginia. He is also coaching in Daytona Beach, Florida, Rocky Mount and Tarboro NC.
