 |
Ellen Ekkart (also known as Ellen Ekkart-Saey) (born June 1973) is a Belgian professional dancer, dance teacher, choreographer and coach. She specializes in Latin and ballroom dancing.
|
Ellen Ekkart (also known as Ellen Ekkart-Saey) (born June 1973) is a Belgian professional dancer, dance teacher, choreographer and coach. She specializes in Latin and ballroom dancing.
She graduated as an interior designer,[ where? ] but always had a love for dancing. She danced as an amateur in the Ballroom Formation team Dance Rhapsody, and later in the Latin Formation team Café Latino.
She graduated as a color and style consultant.[ where? ]
Peter & Ellen Ekkart participated in all World and European Championships from 2008, and travelled the world. They danced at the Kremlin [5] in Russia, South Korea, Japan, Canada, the US, and almost all European countries. In June 2015, they were placed third at the World Professional Ballroom Championships 40+, in Cervia, Italy. One year later, they moved to second place, and became the vice-world Professional Ballroom Champions 40+. [6] This was the first time in history that a Belgian couple had gained this title.
After visiting the United States, they started learning American smooth dancing. They introduced this style for the first time in Belgian at the National Professional Belgian Congress in May 2016.
From 2006 to 2011, VTM broadcast the Flemish version of Dancing with the Stars (US) or Strictly Come Dancing (UK). Ekkart participated as a professional dancer in the first three seasons.
In 2006, she danced at the Gouden Schoen, the annual awards for professional soccer players. [7]
She appeared as a candidate in Het Verstand van Vlaanderen, a TV show with Koen Wauters.
in 2007, she had a guest role in the Flemish soap series Wittekerke. [2]
From 2007 to 2009, Ekkart choreographed dancers for a stage performance for the television show Zomerhit.
She provided dancers for national artists like Bart Peeters, Clouseau, and international artists as Sister Sledge, Kim Wilde and Melanie C from the Spice Girls.
in 2008, she was the principal dancer with her partner Peter in the TV1 program Duizend Zonnen en Garnalen. [8]
In July 1997, Walter Van Beirendonck, the famous Belgian fashion designer of the Antwerp Six, asked Ekkart to collaborate with his fashion show for his 1998 summer collection in Paris. [9] He needed 70 dancers, dressed in futuristic evening costumes, green gas masks and long green rubber gloves, to dance the final shownumber, for an audience of 3.000 fashion people and reporters. Peter Ekkart did the choreography, coordinated the act, and Ellen participated as a dancer and model.
In 2005, she danced 'Tango for Three' on a show with Robert Groslot, choreographed by Marc Bogaerts.
Also in 2005, she danced and choreographed an act on the show of Dirk Brossé.
From 2005 to 2007, the Federal Antwerp Prison asked Ekkart to give dance lessons in the prison to the inmates, and to choreograph a show with the inmates.
From 2009 to 2016, she styled businesspeople, individuals and dancers, making them more confident and professional.
In 2011 and 2013, she coached candidates for the BBC Speaking Awards.
Wim Jansegers had the idea of touring the Flemish cultural centers with authentic ballroom music. He looked for professional musicians and singers, and for a contact in the ballroom dancing world. That contact was soon found, and Peter and Ellen Ekkart were attracted as a show couple. They named the band The Ballroom Orchestra. The show included participation by the public, where musicians, dancers and the public interact with each other. The show toured for two years in 2013 and 2014, and played in all major cities. The highlight was three concerts in the authentic hall De Roma in Antwerp.
For an audition for his show in 2015, Wim Vandekeybus had to choose from 600 dancers coming from all parts of the world. He hired Peter and Ellen Ekkart [10] to give a session in ballroom dancing, so he could see how quickly the dancers picked up this style. The fusion of contemporary dance, ballet and ballroom gave a special mix Vandekeybus which can use in the near future.
She married in 2001, and the couple have two sons and a daughter.
Erwin Vandenbergh is a Belgian retired footballer who played as a forward. Between 1979 and 1991, he finished six times topscorer of the Belgian First Division, with three clubs. In 1980, he was European topscorer with 39 goals out of 34 games. As a Belgium national team regular, Vandenbergh scored a memorable victory goal against Argentina in the opening game of the 1982 World Cup in Spain.
Philippe Clement is a Belgian professional football coach and former player who is the manager of Ligue 1 club Monaco. Born in Antwerp, he played as a defensive midfielder for clubs including Beerschot, Genk, Coventry City, and Club Brugge. Clement played 38 times with Belgium national team and was in the team for the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000.
Idool 2003 was the first season of the Belgian version of the Idol series. It was won by Peter Evrard, and followed by Idool 2004. The series was officially launched on 28 September 2002 by Belgian television network VTM. The hosts of the show are Koen & Kris Wauters of the group Clouseau. The jury members were Jean Blaute, Nina De Man, Jan Leyers & Bart Brusseleers.
Wilfried van Moer was a Belgian footballer who won the Belgian Golden Shoe three times, first in 1966 while at Antwerp then in 1969 and in 1970 while at Standard Liège.
Wim Henderickx was a Belgian composer of contemporary classical music. He was composer in residence at Muziektheater Transparant and the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, writing operas and other stage works. His music was influenced by oriental music and philosophy. He taught composition at the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp and the Conservatorium van Amsterdam.
Dancing on Ice is a British made dance competition television series franchise produced around the world. The format, devised by London Weekend Television and Granada Television for ITV, has been a prime-time hit in eight countries, including Britain and subsequently in Italy and Chile. In Australia, where it was titled Torvill and Dean's Dancing on Ice, it was axed after just one series owing to production costs.
This article lists some of the events that took place in the Netherlands in 2008.
Bob Benny, born Emilius Wagemans, was a Belgian singer and musical theatre performer, who participated in the Eurovision Song Contests of 1959 and 1961.
Stanley Hubert Adolphus Vanden Eynde or Van den Eynde was a Belgian international footballer who played as a striker for Beerschot VAC. Vanden Eynde also scored 9 goals in 26 appearances for the Belgium national side.
Idool is the Belgian version of the Idol series. The series was launched in late 2002 by Belgian television network vtm. The contestants are first narrowed down to 100 contestants, and then down to 30-50 through several auditions and tests by a panel of judges. From this point on, the viewers decide who are in and who are out, and the judges limit themselves to commenting. TV viewers being what they are, the votes are based not solely on the singer's vocal performance, but also on his or her looks, clothes, entertainment value, and other factors.
Kevin van der Perren is a Belgian former competitive figure skater. He is the 2007 & 2009 European bronze medalist, a three-time Grand Prix medalist, and an eight-time Belgian national champion. Van der Perren was the flagbearer for Belgium at the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics.
Wim Vandekeybus is a Belgian choreographer, director and photographer. His company Ultima Vez is located in Sint-Jans-Molenbeek (Brussels). Together with Jan Fabre, Alain Platel and Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, Wim Vandekeybus has been responsible for the Flemish Wave in contemporary dance in the 80's. He made over thirty international dance and theater productions and almost as many movies and video works.
Francesca Vanthielen is a Belgian television actress and host, radio presenter, and economist. She is probably best known internationally for playing the lead role in the Svalbard-set adventure film When the Light Comes (1998) and for hosting Sterren op de dansvloer between 2005 and 2008. She has worked as a host on Radio TAM TAM (BRT), Q-music and Studio Brussel.
Anthony Kumpen is a Belgian professional racing driver and team manager. Kumpen currently works as the team manager for PK Carsport in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series. He previously competed full-time in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series, winning the championship twice in 2014 and 2016. He also joint-held the record of the most 24 Hours of Zolder wins with six.
Peter Ekkart is a professional dancer, dance teacher, dance school owner, and choreographer. His work focuses on Ballroom and Latin Dance. Ekkart, along with wife and mother run a dancing school in Belgium.
Evi Greta Roberta Hanssen is a Flemish singer and presenter.
Clara Cleymans is a Belgian actress and musical theatre singer.
Wim Neefs is a Belgian former professional tennis player.
Joris Van Rossem, known artistically as Metejoor, is a Belgian pop singer who sings in Dutch. He topped the Ultratop charts in Flanders with the singles "1 op een miljoen" and "Dit is wat mijn mama zei", from his self-titled debut album that topped the respective album chart.
Lesley-Ann Poppe is a Belgian model, television personality and musician.