Our Officials
Dana Edwards
Chairman of Judges
Dana is a World DanceSport Federation, WDO, and USA Dance Adjudicating Official, Invigilator, Scrutineer, a USA Dance Chairman of Adjudicators, She has been Chairperson of Adjudicator and Adjudicator for Collegiate competitions since 1997. She holds her Master degrees in Ballroom, Rhythm and Theatre Arts with AIDA and DanceVision and her International Latin and Ballroom license from WDSF and ISTD. She is a retired NDCA Open Professional competitor. She has competed in International Latin and Standard but found her main success as an NDCA Professional American Smooth and American Rhythm Champion and a Fred Astaire Professional American and Canadian / American Smooth Champion. Top Teacher Awards from FADS and the Arnold Sports Festival. Dana has also worked on an animated film for the Walt Disney Films. AIDA National Committee since 2016.
Amanda Wolf
Judge
Amanda Wolf comes to us with 20 years of experience as a ballroom dance professional. She has competed professionally in all four ballroom dance styles and was a finalist in both Open and Rising Star American Rhythm and Smooth. She owns Amanda Wolf Productions, a choreography and coaching studio in Pittsburgh.
Deborah Davis
Judge
Deborah Davis is the co-owner and Director of Ballroom Break Dance Studio in Lewisberry, P.A. Deborah has over 40 years of teaching experience, instructing in smooth, Latin, swing, hustle, theatre arts, ballet, and jazz, both American and International Styles. She has worked for various cruise lines as a guest teacher and entertainer. Deborah choreographed and directed shows in the Catskills as well as locally. Deborah is certified by the world's most prestigious professional ballroom dance organization, the American International Dancers Association (AIDA), formerly the U.S. Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance (U.S.I.S.T.D), as teachers, competing professionals, and adjudicators. Deborah is an Adjunct Faculty Member at Penn State Harrisburg, and formerly Susquehanna University, and HACC. Deb developed the Ballroom Dance Programs in all 3 of these colleges.
Emily Mertens
Judge
Emily Mertens is a DVIDA-certified instructor, studio owner, and professional competitor. As an instructor, she has continually ranked as a top ProAm instructor throughout the years. Most notably, she placed first in the Global Dancesport Series Circuit from 2019 to 2022. She is also one of only five female instructors ever, to place as a rising star finalist in the World Pro-Am Dancesport Series. Ms. Mertens loves sharing the benefits of dance with others and advocates that it is for everyone of all levels and ages. She supports her local community through performances and outreach after-school programs. Currently, she lives in Columbus, Ohio, and continues to compete in professional American Smooth with her partner.
Frederic Shipley
Judge
Frederic Shipley is the co-owner and President of Ballroom Break Dance Studio in Lewisberry, PA Fred has over 45 years of teaching experience, instructing in smooth, Latin, swing, hustle, theatre arts, ballet, and jazz, both American and International Styles. He has worked as a guest teacher and entertainer for various cruise lines and in the Catskills. Fred is certified by the most prestigious professional ballroom dance organization in the world: the American International Dancers Association (AIDA), formerly, the U.S. Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance (U.S.I.S.T.D) as teachers, competing professionals, and adjudicators.
Katusha Wilder
Judge
Katusha Wilder started dancing at the age of 7 in St. Petersburg, Russia. After getting married to Ruslan Wilder in 2002, the couple continued their dance career together. Since then, they have acquired many various top titles in the United States and around the world in the DanceSport industry. Some of these titles include 2012 U.S. Representatives to the World in the Professional International Standard (Ballroom) Championships, U.S. Representatives to the World in the Professional 10 Dance Championships, World Professional 10 Dance Championship Finalists, and U.S. Professional Rising Star Standard Finalists.Together, Ruslan and Katusha have performed shows for such stars as Steve Wynn, Aprille Millo, and Nigel Lythgoe, and have been featured as star performers for Capezio’s 125th Anniversary Show as well as on major TV networks such as ABC, NBC, FOX, TNT, and CNN. In addition to teaching, coaching and performing shows, Ruslan and Katusha are owners of the Championship Dance Camps and organizers of the Independence Day Ball Dance Camp which takes place annually around the July 4th weekend in Washington, DC.
Nicole Barron
Judge
Nicole Barron is a Professional Smooth and Standard dancer who started dancing during her freshman year at NYU. She had originally planned on joining many activities in college, but she got hooked on ballroom and ended up spending most of her free time with the ballroom team. She was the president of her team for two years and kept dancing after she graduated college. Her and her partner Steve Torres became two-time Amateur National Smooth Champions in 2017 and 2018 and went pro in 2021 to test their skills out in the pro field. She’s looking forward to judging at CMU this year!
Ruslan Wilder
Judge
Ruslan Wilder began his dance career at 6 in St. Petersburg, Russia, gaining prominence as an amateur before moving to the United States in 1997. After marrying Katusha Wilder in 2002, they both continued to excel in DanceSport, securing numerous top titles internationally, including roles as U.S. Representatives at World Professional International Standard and 10 Dance Championships, and as finalists in both World Professional 10 Dance and U.S. Professional Rising Star Standard competitions. Ruslan and Katusha have performed for celebrities and at significant events such as Capezio’s 125th Anniversary Show, and have appeared on major TV networks. They also own Championship Dance Camps and organize the annual Independence Day Ball Dance Camp in Washington, DC. After a break, they returned to competition in 2016, participating in the Austrian Open Championships and the WDSF PD Latin World Championship. Their achievements include multiple finalist positions in U.S. and World Professional 10 Dance competitions, North American Ballroom and Latin Champion titles, and representation at the 2012 World Professional International Standard Championships. Besides their achievements in competitions and performances, Ruslan and Katusha are also instructors, adjudicators, choreographers, and entrepreneurs, significantly contributing to the DanceSport community.
Steve Torres
Judge
Steve Torres dances Smooth and Standard with Nicole Barron in the professional division. He started ballroom as a freshman at Indiana University where he studied piano performance and marketing. After graduating, he moved to New York and went on to win the National Amateur Championship two times in Smooth and become a finalist in competitions across the country. He also did very poorly in many competitions, but hey who didn’t. In his regular life, Steve works in advertising as an Art Director, where he comes up with ideas for ads and commercials. When you see him, say hi!
Benjamin Haut
Scrutineer
Ben Haut earned his scrutineering licence in 2023 and has successfully scrutineered professional, amateur, and collegiate competitions, including USA Dance Nationals 2024 and 2025. Ben began his ballroom journey in 2016 as a member of The Ohio State University’s ballroom team, with whom he competed and served as Treasurer. During his undergraduate studies, he also volunteered with a local studio to host ballroom showcases and weekly social Latin dance events. Currently, Ben is a mentor to Ohio State's undergraduate competitors under the supervision and guidance of their professional coach.
Richard Semlitz
MC
Ricky started as a choir kid in middle school loving musicals and tap dancing. After failing to join an acapella group in college, he made a friend who dragged him to Ballroom at Maryland. Over the course of his dancing journey, Ricky organized DCDI for ten years and Dance Legends for three. Now Ricky continues to MC events like DCDI, USA Dance Nationals, the MAC, and KCDC. On occasion, you can even find him dabbling as a scrutineer or chair of judges at a local DC amateur judged competition.
David Ho
DJ
Currently DJing at: - Starlight Dance Center, Nutley NJ - resident DJ for weekly Friday night socials, bi-annual student showcases - Danznik Studios, Westchester NY - resident DJ for tri-annual student showcases - Danznik Studios, NYC - resident DJ for Latin practice rounds - Le Pari Dance Center, Scotch Plains NJ - Saturday night socials - Left Side Leading, KTown Dance Studio NYC - Sunday afternoon Tea Dance - Fred Astaire, Warren NJ - monthly themed socials, Rhythm and Smooth practice rounds - Fred Astaire, Bardonia NY - student showcase events - Vitti's Dance Studio, Danbury CT - Saturday night socials - Staten Island Ballroom Dancers Dinner Dance - NY Hustle Congress - Saturday competition session - NJ Hustle Congress - Satuday competition session Collegiate Competitions: - CMU Carnegie Classic - RPI - Tufts Comp - Harvard Beginners - SUNY Stony Brook East Coast Fireball - UMass Minuteman Dancesport Classic
Carnegie Classic is a USADance Challenge Competition, meaning it can be used to earn points towards qualifying at USADance Nationals. You do not need a USADance membership to compete.