Tuesday, May 20, 2014

"And just like a drum I can hear their hearts beating"

 Jake:  "Whatcha wanna be married to me for?"
 Melanie: "So I can kiss you any time I want."- Sweet Home Alabama

     
            Congratulations to Season 18 - Dancing with the Stars- Mirror Ball Trophy Champions, professional ice-dancer, Meryl Davis and veteran dancer Maks Chmerkovskiy. The charismatic duo won the hearts of millions who sensed an ensuing hot and heavy chemistry. Like any riveting soap opera, fans excitedly tuned in to speculate a blossoming romance. During a taped rehearsal segment Chmerkovskiy finally admitted what devoted audience members were dying to uncover, "I want to ravage her and have ice-skating, big, Russian, mean babies. We're going to call them Oleg and Boris. Their nicknames are going to be Bear. Both. One nickname for both."
      When would Prince Maks propose? "Probably tomorrow," he joked.

      Of course those who follow the show understand that Maks has a tantalizing history of  falling for his radiant  "stars". Former dance partner and current  DWTS co-host Erin Andews dated  Maks during and after a seasons finale.  He has enchanted colleague's like the beautiful Karina Smirnoff whom he had a long term partnership and briefly dated Australian hottie Peta Murgatroyd.
       Chmerkovskiy was born in Ukraine. His family, including younger brother Val, also a  professional dancer, immigrated to the United States when Maks was still in grades school. In addition to stirring up gossip and whipping up whirl wind romances, Chmerkovskiy owns and operates a dance studio in New York City. The lovely and much envied Meryl Davis is one half of an Olympic ice dancing dream team.  Davis and partner Charlie White were 2014 Olympic Champions, two-time World champions, 2010 Olympic silver medalists and two-time World silver medalists.

        At one time almost my entire family watched and voted for their favorite Dancing With the Stars couple. My niece even made us glittering voting paddles a la DWTS judges Lynn Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli stamped with "10" 's to hold up during the show.  Even though I've missed entire seasons and haven't been able to catch every episode, my family and friends will attest, Maks has always been my favorite dancer. Now my sisters keep me updated and informed.

     As a matter of fact, my sister Laurie will be celebrating a birthday on May 22nd. She is an incredible  teacher, sister, auntie, wife, mother and a true romantic at heart. The video above, "So Close" from the Disney film Enchanted is dedicated to her.  Like many of us she dreams of a world that dances and sings 24/7, a continuous production of Glee, a life as one great big magnificent musical extravaganza. If it could be gift wrapped, it would be given to you. Happy Birthday. Love you. Make a wish.