Levy to Serve as a Hispanic Heritage Foundation Spokesperson

Posted on June 26, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

He may not have claimed the Dancing with the Stars mirror ball trophy in the end, but William Levy did manage to capture America’s hearts and attention. And, now he’s using his increased popularity to inspire Latino youth…

The 31-year-old Cuban-American telenovela star and DWTS third-place finisher has been named a spokesman for the Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) 2012 Youth Awards.

As an official representative, Levy will reach out to high school seniors in Latino communities throughout the United States to address the importance of identifying and nurturing leadership qualities in students in the classroom to give them a better edge when applying for various academic grants provided by the organization in disciplines like Education, Math and Engineering, Healthcare and more. Simply visit https://www.auston.edu.sg/part-time-degrees-in-singapore/ for the part time degree in Singapore.

HHF Vice President and Executive Producer Maria-Esmeralda Paguaga says Levy is the perfect spokesperson because he’s a major contributor and active model in his efforts to invite the youth of the Latino community to reach their true potential.

“As an agent of change and role model for achievement, William offers inspiration and enthusiasm to our Latino youth to continue shaping a brilliant future for our community,” says Paguaga.

In his role, Levy will campaign to get students to take on leadership role in the workforce for the better good of the country.

For more information about the HHF, visit www.hispanicheritage.org.

Torres to Compete on NBC’s “Stars Earn Stripes”

Posted on June 19, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Eve Torres is preparing to earn her reality television stars and stripes…

The 27-year-old part Nicaraguan American former WWE Divas champion will be competing in NBC’s upcoming military-themed competition series Stars Earn Stripes, according to Entertainment Weekly.

Stars Earn Stripes will feature celebrity contestants taking part in tough military training exercises.

Along with Torres, who got her big break as a member of the Los Angeles Clippers Spirit Dance Team, the list of celebrity competitors includes boxing champion Laila Ali, actor Dean Cain, former NFL player and actor Terry Crews, singer and television host Nick Lachey, Sarah Palin’s husband Todd Palin, Olympic gold medalist Picabo Street and The Biggest Loser trainer Dolvett Quince.

Meanwhile, former Supreme Allied Commander Europe for NATO and 2004 presidential candidate General Wesley Clark (ret.) will host the show along with Entertainment Tonight’s Samantha Harris.

“This new series pays tribute to members of our dedicated armed forces and civil law enforcement and I know that the winnings, which will be donated to first-responder charity and veterans groups, will make a difference and send an important message,” said Clark in a statement.

Torres and her fellow competitors will gather at a training facility where they’ll tackle complicated and difficult “missions” inspired by real-life military exercises. Like on Dancing With the Stars, each celebrity will be partnered with an expert — in this case, an experienced member of the U.S. military or a law enforcement agency.

Contests range from helicopter drops to long-range target shooting, with the celebrity and the veteran competing as a team. Each week, one team is eliminated.

Stars Earn Stripes will debut with a special two-hour episode on Monday, August 13, at 8 p.m.

Martinez to Guest-Star on “Army Wives”…

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

J.R. Martinez is heading back to primetime…

The 28-year-old former Salvadorian American Dancing with the Starschampion and All My Children alum will guest-star on Lifetime’s Army Wives.

Martinez, an Iraq War vet, will play an Army soldier-turned-physical therapist who works with wounded veterans, according to Entertainment Weekly.

It’s a role that hits close to home for the former U.S. Army soldier who has gone on to become a motivational speaker…

Martinez served in Iraq as an infantryman and was severely injured when his vehicle hit a landmine in 2003. He suffered severe burns to more than 40 percent of his body. After numerous surgeries, the 28-year-old went on to play Brot Monroe on All My Children before winning the mirrorball trophy with Karina Smirnoff during his run on Dancing with the Stars last season.

Martinez is set to film the episode next month in Charleston, S.C.

Army Wives returns Sunday, June 24 at 10:oo pm ET. Martinez’s episode is scheduled to air in August.

Levy’s Sizzling Samba Results in Another Perfect Score on DWTS

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Following two top-notch performances, it looks like William Levy could be headed to the Dancing with the Stars finale…

During Monday night’s semi-finals, the 31-year-old Cuban American actor demonstrated his ballroom dancing prowess by performing a sizzling samba and tantalizing tango that earned raves from the judges.

In the first round, Levy and his partner Cheryl Burke took to the floor to perform a high-octane tango to the Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams,” which received 28 points out of 30 from the judges.

“Powerful, firm, convincing, full of animal magnetism,” professed judge Bruno Tonioli. “No doubt who was on top on that. You were like the dictator of the tango!”

But it was Levy’s dance in the second round that could just seal his fate as a DWTS finalist…

Performing to Sergio Mendes’ Portuguese classic “Magalenha” and dressed in a hot pink button down and skin-tight white pants, Levy’s oh-so-marvelous moves had the audience clapping throughout, especially when he shook his bon bon to the delight of the women in the crowd.

“I’ve never looked at a man’s bum for so long in my life,” said judge Len Goodman as the crowd broke into laughter. “The hunk with his junk in the trunk. The rhythm that you brought out was just fantastic.”

“I’m going to die with bum envy,” said Tonioli unable to contain his excitement for Levy’s performance.

“You lived up to every expectation,” Carrie Ann Inaba cooed. “Amazing! Good job.”

Levy’s samba resulted in his second perfect score of the season, following his fantastic foxtrot last week.

When all was said and done, Levy found himself in second place behind television host Maria Menounos.

Levy Earns First Perfect Score on DWTS…

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

With his chiseled body and striking looks, William Levy may be considered a perfect specimen… But during Monday night’s Dancing with the Stars episode, he proved to be absolutely perfect on the dance floor.

Following his individual performance, the 31-year-old Cuban American telenovela star earned a score of 30 for his slick foxtrot with partner Cheryl Burke—Levy’s first perfect score of the season.

And, the hunky heartthrob earned serious praise from judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli.

“You couldn’t be more suave or debonair if you tried. I hate you even more,” Tonioli joked. Inaba added, “So much fun to watch!”

After the contestants received their individual scores, they danced in the “Trio Challenge” with an additional dance pro. Levy and Burke, matched up with Tony Dovolani, to dance a near-perfect paso doble that earned 9s from the judges.

With the added points from the trio dance, Levy stayed in first place on the leaderboard with 57/60.

Levy’s “Ethereal” Waltz Impresses DWTS Judges

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

There’s no doubt William Levy knows how to waltz this way…

During Monday’s “Classical Night” on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, the 31-year-old Cuban American telenovela star and his partner Cheryl Burke performed a poignant Viennese waltz across a smoky dance floor while 12-year-old classical singer Jackie Evancho sang “Ave Maria.”

Along with a standing ovation from the live studio audience, Levy’s waltz received rave reviews from the judges.

“That is true content; that is true dancing,” gushed judge Carrie Ann Inaba. “You find the story in the music and it’s always a story of romance, which is what all ballroom dancing is about. You bring the romance to life!”

Meanwhile, Len Goodman said William and Cheryl didn’t exactly transport him to Vienna… but they did transport him to Austria. And, Bruno Toniolo said Levy had “captured the purity and ethereal quality of the song,” commenting on how he “felt it and lived it.”

In the end, the judges awarded Levy and Burke a total of 27 points for their waltz, making them one of three pairs receiving that score.

Katherine Jenkins continued to impress with a 27-point rumba with Mark Ballas that Len Goodman called “a classic.”

Gomez Hits the Lights on DWTS

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

She may have announced plans to concentrate on her acting career… But that didn’t stop Selena Gomez from hitting the stage to perform one of her most recent songs.

The 19-year-old half-Mexican American singer/actress—who recently released a YouTube video detailing her commitment to acting projects in the coming months—appeared live on ABC‘s Dancing with the Stars results show to sing with her band, The Scene.

Wearing a gold and black dress with tutu-like skirt and some killer heels, the former Disney Channel star delivered a rousing rendition of her most recent single “Hit the Lights.”

But Gomez wasn’t the only Latina artist appearing on the DWTS results show…

During the Macy’s Stars of Dance performance, which was hailed as a special tribute to Latin dance music, 54-year-old part-Mexican percussionist Sheila E. provided the music as dancers in vibrant costumes hit the dance floor.

Levy Tangos His Way to a Near-Perfect Score on DWTS

Posted on April 17, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

He may have injured his ankle during rehearsals… But that didn’t stop William Levy from storming back to the top of the leaderboard on Dancing with the Stars after a lackluster performance last week.

The 31-year-old Cuban telenovela star—who graced the cover of last week’s People magazine—earned his two first 10s of the season and an impressive score of 29 points for his thrilling Argentine tango with partner Cheryl Burke. That near-perfect score resulted in Levi landing atop the leaderboard alongside Welsh opera singer Katherine Jenkins, who also scored a 29 for her own Argentine tango.

Over the weekend, Levy had announced via his Twitter account that he’d messed up his ankle while preparing for this week’s show.

“Just wanted to let u know that I injured my right ankle pretty bad during rehearsal..MRI tomorrow. I’ll let u all know…Love u all,” the Triunfo del Amor star wrote on Sunday.

Despite a torn ligament in his ankle, Levy showed no signs of strain during his performance to the Pussycat Doll’s “Buttons” on the hit ABC reality dancing competition’s Latin Night.

“Pulsating passion! Throbbing intensity!” declared DWTS judge Bruno Tunoli. “I saw mood, I saw sensuality and passion,” commented judge Len Goodman on Levy’s Argentine tango, which Carrie Ann Inaba called “ridiculously amazing.”

Levy Graces the Cover of People Magazine…

Posted on April 11, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

He’s one of the hottest imports to the United States since Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias… And, now William Levy is getting the of-the-moment celebrity treatment with his first People magazine cover and feature story…

The 31-year-old Cuban actor and hunky heartthrob, who is currently setting hearts aflutter on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, opens up about his journey from “dirt poor to sexy star” in his cover story.

“To come to this country and receive this kind of love from people you don’t even know, it’s amazing,” he tells People.

Levy—a father of two – to son Christopher, 6, and daughter Kailey, 2, with on-and-off girlfriend Elizabeth Gutiérrez—discusses his early lean years in Cuba before emigrating to the United States at 15.

“I try to give my kids everything I never had,” says Levy, who first caught America’s attention when he starred in Jennifer Lopez’s “I’m Into You” video.

But it’s not all serious talk, Levy even discusses his sizzling sex appeal… Levy boasts what his DWTS partner Cheryl Burke calls “12-pack abs.” And his fans have taken definite notice.

“I have never heard it that loud in there,” Burke says of the deafening roar that fills the ballroom when Levy takes the floor. “He’s like a rock star!”

Along with competing on Dancing with the Stars, Levy is making his English-language television acting debut on VH1’s Single Ladies.

For the full story on William Levy, pick up this week’s issue of People, on newsstands Friday

Levy Continues to Wow on DWTS

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

It may be only the second week of Dancing with the Stars, but William Levy is already building some serious momentum in his quest to win the coveted mirror ball trophy.

Following last week’s top-tier premiere performance of the cha-cha, the 31-year-old Cuban telenovela star returned to the stage on last night’s show to perform a quickstep return with his partner Cheryl Burke. And, Levy didn’t disappoint. The “Brad Pitt of Latin America,” who receives the loudest catcalls from the audience every time he takes the stage, impressed the judges with his dance to George Gershwin’s “Nice Work If You Can Get It.”

Bruno Tonioli called Levy a “matinee idol” who reminded him of Oscar-winner Jean Dujardin from The Artist. Carrie Ann Inaba dubbed him “the Harry Connick Jr. of the ballroom,” adding, “William, you know how to turn up the heat in this ballroom.”

Levy—who earned 25 points for his quickstep—ended the night at the top tier of the leaderboard behind Katherine Jenkins and Roshon Fegan, who both earned 26s.

“We improved from last week and that’s my goal, to slowly climb up the leaderboard and that’s what we did,” said Burke. “I think he has both styles. He can really do the ballroom and the Latin really well. He obviously needs some work, but it’s only week two. This show is about if you’re good at both styles.”

Meanwhile, Levy is taken aback by the overwhelming adoration he’s received since joining the cast of Dancing with the Stars.

“I have no words to explain how good it feels,” Levy told reporters after his performance. “When I was a little boy and I was in Cuba, my dream was to come to America, like 3 years old. And today to be at this position in my life to receive this kind of love in this country, it’s amazing. It’s crazy.”

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