Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I hope you had a wonderful celebration with family and friends, filled with warmth, laughter, good memories, and — of course — plenty of delicious food. After spending my summer at the Jersey shore and squeezing in a few unforgettable vacations, I’m finally back in the studio and still wondering how on earth this year flew by so quickly.
Before I dive into Christmas (yes, already!) and my preparations for Dance A Lot’s Holiday Gala, I want to take a moment to thank Adi, Georgi, and the entire Dance A Lot staff for their incredible work on this year’s Dancing Stars show on June 14. Every year, that showcase feels like a reunion with old friends wrapped in a night of amazing performances. And every year I leave saying the same thing: This was the best one yet.
But this year truly was something special. I performed as Lucille Ball with my dance teacher Georgi as Ricky Ricardo! It was an entertaining number that included a bongos, a conga, a guitar, and the famous Vitameatavegamin bottle from “I Love Lucy.”
And my husband Joe, the voice of Dance A Lot, even received a charming microphone-shaped trophy in recognition of his 15 years as master of ceremonies. I couldn’t be prouder.
By the time I returned for my first lesson after the show, we jumped straight into planning my holiday dance. Our tradition of picking a quirky, unexpected song continued, and after a long list of hilarious rejects, I landed on the perfect one: “Santa’s Coming on a Surfboard.”
From there, things got delightfully ridiculous.
Picture this: Christmas music blasting from my house in June, neighbors walking by giving us very confused looks, and me reassuring them, “No really — this is for December!”
The next challenge? Convincing Georgi to play Surfing Santa — complete with “swimming” across the floor on a rolling dolly. Shockingly, he agreed in under 60 seconds. (I’m convinced he secretly loved the idea.) His very talented wife Adriana and the five-time World Showdance Champion, Mr. Max Kozhevnikov, eventually joined the madness and helped bring our off-the-wall choreography to life.
Georgi is now practicing his freestyle stroke, kicking his feet as if he’s swimming, while gliding across the dance floor on a dolly topped with a surfboard. He’s also mastering the art of traveling in a somewhat straight line while wearing a beard, blue Hawaiian shirt, and swim shorts. Never in my life did I imagine we’d be using wave boards and a rolling dolly for a holiday showcase — but here we are!
As for me, I’m working on getting comfortable dancing solo for a big portion of the routine while running away from Santa — well, Georgi.
Once the choreography was set, it was time for costumes and props. Amazon did not disappoint: I am now the proud owner of a surfing Santa shirt that matches Georgi’s outfit, a festive dress, and a palm Christmas tree complete with LED lights and a remote control. Nothing says “holiday spirit” like a tropical Christmas tree delivered in two days.
Our first rehearsals were comical at best — Georgi speeding off on the wave board, hats flying, wheels squeaking, and me trying not to burst into laughter through the entire routine. But little by little, we’re pulling it all together.
This week, I’m heading out on a dream cruise vacation with close friends (fantastic timing, right?), which leaves me just two lessons before the glamorous December 21 showcase. Thankfully, we’ve worked hard for several months, and I’m confident I’ll be ready — and well rested after a two-week vacation! I’ll be in a festive mood and extremely enthusiastic.
I hope to see you at the Dance A Lot Annual Holiday Gala on December 21 at The Elan. It’s always a magical evening, and this year’s lineup is going to be unforgettable — surfing Santa included. I hope you come join us and cheer me up. You can get more information and tickets here.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everyone! I’ll see you in 2026 with more behind-the-scenes updates on my Dancing Stars 2026 showcase. It may be the most hilarious routine Georgi and I have ever created — so stay tuned! (🐙)
About Mary: Mary has been dancing since 2006. She loves dancing Cha Cha, Rumba, and Swing, but her favorite thing is to do showcases. With her husband Joe, they spend their time enjoying the retired life at the Jersey shore, golfing, traveling, and attending rock concerts.
