By Sharon Savoy -  World Exhibition Dance Champion and published author of “Ballroom!

Forty years ago, a young man named Sam Sodano, known for his rhythmic Latin "tic" and ribald sense of humor, decided he wanted to, “throw a big dance party for the Midwestern states.”

The party, officially named the Dancers’ Star Ball, was a one-day competition for dance schools in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan where Sodano frequently went to teach after retiring from the competition scene.  

“I was lucky to be in the early stages in many areas of the dance business,” Sodano recalled. “Competing at Blackpool, judging, and starting a competition.”

The Dancers’ Ball, organized by Sodano and his then-partner, Chuck Bannister, humbly debuted at a local Ramada Inn in Columbus, Ohio. Three years later, as their competition grew from one to three days, Sodano and Bannister changed their event’s name and the Ohio Star Ball was reborn.

The competition, which returns for its 40th installment on Nov. 17-19, has evolved alongside a host of innovations in the dance world that we now take for granted.

Watch the 2017 Ohio Star Ball LIVE on FloDance!

“When we first started, we didn’t use computers and programs like competition manager didn’t exist,” Sodano said. “We wrote everything in longhand on ledger sheets like the ones we used in the studios to book lessons.”

One can only imagine the weeks-long preparation involved to handwrite all the details of the multitude of competitors — from the number of every pro and amateur to each heat — and for every category in the event.

“We’d hunker down in Sam’s basement, and live in our pajamas with papers everywhere for a week before OSB,” said Geoffrey Fells, a former chairman at OSB.

As OSB continued to flourish, Sodano adapted his showman skills from his days as a performer and utilized his innovativeness to energize and entertain his participants. Blimps, balloons, bodybuilders, banner parades, and firecrackers were all part of the fun. However, the biggest boon to the Ohio Star Ball’s numbers was the request by TV show creator Aida Moreno to film her program “Championship Ballroom Dancing” at OSB.

Sodano didn’t hesitate.

In 1985, OSB was catapulted into the spotlight. It couldn’t have been a better time, as cable TV had just become available and affordable for the average American household.

“Championship Ballroom Dancing” was first recorded at the Hyatt Regency Ballroom until once again the competition outgrew its space and moved next door to the Columbus Convention Center at Battelle Grand Ballroom.

The TV show was one of the highest-rated programs on PBS and brought real competitive ballroom dancing into the homes of America. Celebrity hosts such as Juliet Prowse, Rita Moreno, Barbra Eden, Sandy Duncan, and Jasmine Guy were paired with notable dancers and champions. Show hosts John Monte, Terry Leone, Ron Montez, and Tony Meredith supplied their technical knowledge to help guide the viewers through the broadcast.

For many competitors, national exposure on the PBS broadcast meant more than going to the United States Championships. Everyone wanted to dance on TV! Consequently, OSB became the “must do and must see” event of the season.

For almost 30 years, "Championship Ballroom Dancing," and subsequently "America’s Ballroom Challenge," offered viewers an inside look at the glamour, athleticism, and art of ballroom dancing.

In 2010, the 33rd year of the OSB, Michael B. Coleman, the mayor of Columbus, awarded Sodano the keys to the city, officially recognizing the contribution OSB made to Columbus.

OSB continues to support ballroom dance in a variety of formats: the Collegiate, highly attended by college students from across the country; the Fordney Foundation, designed for amateur juniors and youth DanceSport competitors; and the World Pro-Am DanceSport Series, which specifically awards top teacher, top studio, top student, and team match.

To many in the industry, OSB is synonymous with the name Sam Sodano. Both man and event are woven deeply into the fabric of America’s ballroom dance scene and create a single thread that connects us to the past and future of dance through friendly competition.

Watch the 2017 Ohio Star Ball LIVE on FloDance Nov. 17-19!

How To Watch

ON TV: Now available on Roku and Apple TV 4

STREAMING: Available only on FloDance. A yearly FloPRO subscription provides access to ALL FloSports sites. SIGN UP HERE