David Hamilton
David Hamilton is a former Ballroom dancer, specializing in American Smooth. An undefeated 3-time U.S. National DanceSport Champion in the Professional American Smooth division, David is also a 4-time Finalist of the World Professional Showdance Championship and holds 68 National Dance Council of America Championship Event titles. He currently co-owns and operates Nashville Ballroom & Company and is the former owner of the Nashville Starz Ballroom Dance Championships.
- Hometown:
Nashville, Tennesee
- Current location:
Nashville, Tennesee
- Current status:
NDCA Adjudicator
WDC Adjudicator
Invigilator
Instructor
Lecturer
Choreographer
Studio Owner
Overview#
David Hamilton began his dance career at the age of 18 during his last semester of high school in his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee. Planning to go to college and major in music, the dancing began. He laid the instruments down and hasn’t stopped dancing since. Now, over 35 years later, David is still going strong.
“I have seen our industry grow beyond what I ever expected it to and am very proud of what it has become. I’d like to hope that I had a very small part of it.”
David
Competitive Career#
“I have been very fortunate to travel the world, meet a lot of great people and can honestly say I love what I do. Competition dancing was everything to me. I wanted from day one to be called and recognized as a great dancer and hopefully a U.S. Champion. I obtained my goal with a lot of persistence, dedication and determination. I don’t see how anyone could obtain any goal without those pertinent things. I had many partners over the period of time and competed in every style at one point. I just wanted to keep on dancing so I took up every opportunity that came my way.”
David
David settled in Los Angeles in 1986 and lived and competed up to the last days of living there. In 1993, he finally came back to his roots and competed the last 7 years of his career in the American Smooth division where he was crowned the United States Professional Champion in 1995 with Teresa Shiry and then again in 1997 and 1998 with Olga Foraponova, whom he invited to dance with him in 1996. David and Olga were also 3-time World Professional Showdance finalists from 1996 to 1998. In addition, David was a World Professional Showdance finalist with previous partner Teresa in 1995 as well. His longtime coach is Brian McDonald, the current President of the National Dance Council of America (NDCA).
Olga and David have appeared many times on the national PBS Show, Championship Ballroom Dancing. They were also invited to dance in the World Cup Ballroom event in the Kremlin Palace organized by Stanislav Popov, an event televised by NTV+, one of the most popular Russian TV channels with a viewership of approximately 100,000,000 in Russia as well as Europe and the United States.
For several years, various other American Style couples represented the U.S. in the World arena and David just felt so lucky at that time that he now got to do that. David retired in 1998, for the girls that he danced with needed to get on with their lives and start their families. Although he wanted to go another year or so with Olga, it was necessary for her to move on.
He holds 68 National Dance Council of America Championship Event titles.
Life After Competition#
David resides in his hometown of Nashville, TN, where he co-owns and operates Nashville Ballroom & Company. Coaching, judging and running his studio keeps David very committed. He is also the former owner of the Nashville Starz Ballroom Dance Championships in Nashville where he now resides.
“It is great being home in Nashville. I have a loving family who I so enjoy being around. All those years of competing and traveling takes you away for a long time from home and other important things in life so it’s great now being around them all. I’m sure our paths will cross one day and hopefully so. Until then keep at it, be persistent and never loose the love for dance.”
David
David is registered with the World Dance Council as an adjudicator for World Championships and is registered with the National Dance Council of America to adjudicate nationally recognized dance championships.
David has also taken part in filming various technical videos for dance education through Dance Vision. These titles include:
- Advanced American Style Smooth Styling & Artistic Impressions
- Advanced American Style Smooth
- American Smooth Open Bronze Waltz Technique & Styling
- American Smooth Open Bronze Foxtrot Technique & Styling
- American Smooth Open Bronze Tango Technique & Styling
- American Smooth Bronze Viennese Waltz Technique & Styling
Accomplishments#
- 3-time U.S. Professional American Smooth Champion (1995, 1997 – 1998)
- 4-time World Professional Showdance Finalist (1995 – 1998)
- Holds 68 National Dance Council of America Championship Event titles
- Appeared many times on the national PBS Show, Championship Ballroom Dancing
- Former owner of the Nashville Starz Ballroom Dance Championships
Dance Partners#
- Olga Foraponova (1996 – 1999)
- Teresa Shiry (? – 1995)
Instructors#
Entrepreneurship#
- Co-owns and operates Nashville Ballroom & Company
- Certified Dance Instructor
- Performing Arts – National Dance Council of America (NDCA)
- Choreographer
- Championship Licensed Adjudicator and National Judge for the National Dance Council of America specializing in:
- International Style Standard (Championship Certified) – Fred Astaire Dance Studios, Inc.
- International Style Latin (Championship Certified) – Fred Astaire Dance Studios, Inc.
- American Smooth (Championship Certified) – Fred Astaire Dance Studios, Inc.
- American Rhythm (Championship Certified) – Fred Astaire Dance Studios, Inc.
- Theatrical Style (Championship Certified) – Fred Astaire Dance Studios, Inc.
- Invigilator
- World Dance Council Adjudicator
Photo Gallery#
