Jose DeCamps

Jose DeCamps (b. in Quisqueya La Bella, Dominican Republic) [http://www.fortheloveofballroom.com/dancethewaves/Instructor_bio_Decamps.shtml] is a professional ballroom dancer based in New York City. He is perhaps best known as the 2007 U.S. National Dancesport Champions (Professional Rhythm) with his partner, Joanna Zacharewicz. [http://www.steppingoutstudios.com/studio/staff/joanna-zacharewicz.htm]

DeCamps began his competition dance career in 1996 as a both a Latin and salsa dancer, competing with Jami Josephson. The two won numerous titles, including 2nd place in the U.S. Professional Open Rhythm Championship in 1997, the Heritage Classic Championships in 1996, and 1st in the Sabado Gigante Contest in 1998. [http://www.dancevision.com/instructors/jose_decamp/] The pair also produced their own series of salsa instructional videos for the company Dancevision.

DeCamps was featured as the principal dancer in the video for Debelah Morgan's 2000 single "Dance With Me".

DeCamps briefly paired with Viktoriya Drubetskaya in 1999, competing in the International Latin division, [http://dancesportinfo.net/Couple/Jose_Decamps_and_Victoria_Drubetskaya_49915/Details.aspx] before partnering with (and having a subsequent romantic relationship with) Cheryl Burke in 2002. [http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/cheryl-burke/bio/216506] The two won the Professional Rising Star category in International Latin at the Ohio Star Ball in 2005.

DeCamps and Zacharewicz forged their partnership in March of 2007. [http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/ballroomchallenge/competition-s3-ep2.html]

References