Officials
VBDC 2025
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.

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.
