Dance teacher steals show on national US television

A well-known Geelong dance teacher and her family stole the show on American television during a nationally televised Independence Day broadcast.

A well-known Geelong dance teacher and her family stole the show on American television during a nationally televised Independence Day broadcast.

Karen Feldman, known for her Geelong-based dance studios, volunteered her family for a July 4 dance battle during a filming of national talk show Kelly and Mark.

Mrs Feldman said the family had no expectations when they arrived on set.

“They announced at the start of the show that they wanted some families to do a dance off,” she said.

“As a dance teacher I was just like ‘boom, choose me,’ and I think my poor husband shrunk in the seat.”

Karen, Jono and their daughters Juliet and Olive were roped into a dance-off with another family – and won! Picture: Mark Wilson

Following a short audition, the family was told they would be dancing off against another family for the chance to win a $500 cash prize.

“They took us backstage and we came up with a bit of a choreographed routine,” Mrs Feldman said.

“My husband stole the show, and he’s not even a dancer.

“Nothing surprises me with Jono.”

Ms Feldman said the whole ordeal was a “funny story”.

The Feldman family found themselves on national TV in America when they signed up to be audience members at the recording of a morning show. Mark Wilson

“It was all a bit of fun,” she said.

“It was our first day in New York City and we spent the next week laughing about it, it was so funny.”

The family was triumphant, and according to Mrs Feldman, spent their winnings “a few times”.

The Kelly and Mark show is hosted by Emmy-winning husband and wife duo Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos and is broadcast to millions of Americans every day.

But the whirlwind holiday didn’t stop there, with the family picking up a priceless souvenir from an international music legend.

“We were over there to see Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson perform at the old Woodstock site,” she said.

“Willie threw his cowboy hat into the crowd and my daughter caught it, so we’ve got Willie Nelson’s hat.”

Mrs Feldman and her family have since returned from their “trip of a lifetime”.

Originally published as Dance teacher steals show on national US television