Ron Montez

Born: August 28
Hometown: Safford, Arizona
Current location: Gilbert, Arizona
Current status:

Adjudicator
Instructor
Choreographer
Competition Organizer
Date of Death: January 24. 2021

Ron Montez is a 7-time undefeated United States National Professional Latin Champion who now co-organizes the Aloha Ball DanceSport competition in Honolulu, Hawaii with Yanna Samkova and Tony Meredith.

Contents [hide]

1. Overview
2. Accomplishments
3. Dance Partners
4. Entrepreneurship
5. Photo Gallery
6. Video Gallery
7. References

Overview

Ron Montez is one of the most respected personalities in the DanceSport industry. A 7-time undefeated United States Professional Latin Champion with partner Elizabeth Curtis, he also achieved 4th place in the World Professional Latin Championship held at the Royal Albert Hall in London and was a finalist in the prestigious British Open Championship in Blackpool, England.

Ron is recognized as a World Class Adjudicator, dance coach and choreographer in both the American and International Styles.

He was the co-host and expert commentator for the PBS television show "Championship Ballroom Dancing" in 1997, which has also been hosted by Rita Moreno, Juliet Prowse, Barbara Eden, Sandy Duncan, and Jasmine Guy. Ron was then on "America’s Ballroom Challenge" in 2006, co-hosting with Jean Louisa Kelly. In addition, Montez was a choreographer for the FOX television show "So You Think You Can Dance" in 2005. This hit TV series is the first of its kind to blend and compare Ballroom Dancing with jazz, hip-hop, lyrical and many other styles of dance using national finalists.

Ron is a national examiner for DVIDA (Dance Vision International Dance Association). In this capacity, he examines both Amateur and Professional dancers to obtain certification. He is featured in many instructional tapes and DVD’s that include Bronze, Silver and Gold levels of dance for learning.

Ron is also the recipient of the 2009 United States Dance Championships Hall of Fame Award. Currently, he is one of the organizers of the Aloha Ball DanceSport competition hosted in Honolulu, Hawaii, along with Yanna Samkova and Tony Meredith.

Accomplishments

7-time undefeated United States National Professional Latin Champion (1979 - 1985)
World Professional Latin Finalist: 4th Place
British Open Championship Finalist
Former co-host and expert commentator for the PBS television show "Championship Ballroom Dancing" (1997)
Former co-host for "America’s Ballroom Challenge" (2006
Choreographer for the FOX television show "So You Think You Can Dance" (2005)
Recipient of the 2009 United States Dance Championships Hall of Fame Award