Louis van Amstel
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Louis van Amstel, born 1972 in Holland, is a professional dancer, choreographer, and a dance coach. He is a world championship dancer, and also known in American pop culture for partnering with actress Lisa Rinna in the second season of the American program Dancing with the Stars. He and Rinna came in 4th place. Louis was paired with Trista Sutter in the first season; they were the first couple to be eliminated from the competition. He was recently partnered with actress Monique Coleman for the show's third season and placed in fourth again.
Louis is the coach of Dmitry Chaplin, a Latin dancer best known for being a Top 10 finalist on FOX's So You Think You Can Dance. van Amstel has taught some standard ballroom to Nick Kosovich and Katarina Marks and Clive Phillips and Karen McDonald.
He attended the University of the Arts in Amsterdam, and in 1989 was partnered with the British dancer Julie Fryer.
After retiring from competition, he moved on to choreography and production. He founded the company VanDance, LLC, and directed, produced, choreographed and performed in the Broadway show Latin Fusion.
Louis has appeared on The Suite Life of Zack and Cody.
[edit] Awards
(with partner Julie Fryer)
- 1990, Dutch Latin champions
- Finalists in the Blackpool "under 21" category
- German Open, bronze medal
- World Latin, bronze medal
- 1991, Dutch Latin champions
- 1994, World Amateur Latin Champion
- 1995, World Amateur Latin Champion
- 1995, European Amateur Latin Champion
- 1995, Amateur Grand-Slam Winners (Uk-Champions, British Champions, International Champions, European and world Champions)
- Professional Cince November 1995
- 1996, World Professional Showdance Champion
- Professional World Latin Finalist
(with partner Karina Smirnoff)
- 2000, U.S. National Latin champion
- 2000, Can-Am Dancesport Gala-Canadian Open Professional Championships: 1st place in Open Professional International Latin Division
- 2000, Japan International Dancing Championships: 1st place in Professional Latin section
- 2000, Emerald Ball Dancesport Championships: 1st place in Open Professional Latin division
[edit] References
- Louis van Amstel at the Internet Movie Database
- "So You Think You Can Dance" - video clip on Access Hollywood
- Profile at dancevision.com
- Profile at abc.com
- video clip of dancing
- Louis van Amstel Knows Exactly What He Wants
- Official Louis van Amstel website
