Ariella Rush

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Ariella Maree Rush (born Mary Marie Stoehr on June 9, 1956 in Canton, Ohio) is a professional ballroom dancer noted for dazzling and complex dance routines with her dance partner, Keith Knox, from 1976 through 1981. Rush and Knox were best known for their sizzling tango, cha-cha and mambo routines, as well as, high-energy swing dancing. They made appearances all over the United States; including Disney World in Orlando, Florida; Universal Studios, Six Flags Over Georgia, Six Flags Over Texas, the Roseland Ballroom in New York City and the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia.

Rush and Knox competed in professional ballroom dancing, and were named the 1979 Southeast Rising Star Champions at the National Dance Championships held at the Peachtree Plaza Hotel in Atlanta, GA. This win qualified them to compete in the most prestigious of all international dance competitions, Blackpool Dance Festival; however, an injury forced Rush's early retirement.

She is also credited under other aliases, including Arianna, Aria Rose, and Maree Champion.

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[edit] Early life

Rush grew up in Marietta, Georgia, and started dance and piano lessons at the age of five. She actively participated in talent shows throughout her childhood, appearing as a very young guest numerous times on Freddie Miller's television broadcasts, Stars of Tomorrow and Dance Party. She later became a model and professional dancer, and taught ballroom dancing at Fred Astaire Dance Studios, in addition to performing and competing.

[edit] Later years

After retiring from dancing and modeling, Ariella Rush produced programming for television broadcast in Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee from 1994 to 2000. She is most known for her creation, direction, and production of a weekly adventure series called The Highroad South which began in 1998, and aired in the Alltel cable system until December, 2000. Reruns of The Highroad continued, by popular demand, for two years after Rush shut down production for personal reasons.

Today, Rush promotes musicians and bands and is involved in music video choreography. She is also a published author and photographer, but has yet to return to television production.

[edit] Personal life

Rush has two children: a daughter born in 1994, and a son born in 1976. She currently resides in the Dallas, Texas area.

Former Significant Others: Rick J. Champion; and studio musician, Steve Conner. Rush has been romantically linked to two well-known, high-profile rock musicians; but has grown phobic of the press and insists on maintaining a low profile. Some blog sites are reporting that her daughter is the only surviving child of one of those musicians. Attempts to clarify this information are underway; but to date have been unsuccessful.

[edit] Trivia

Rush is personal friends with several popular rock musicians; including Guns N' Roses' frontman, Axl Rose, and Your Vegas' frontman, Coyle Girelli.
Rush's hometown is Marietta, Georgia, the same as rock musician Robin Finck (Guns N' Roses and Nine Inch Nails) and country star Travis Tritt.
Rush's mother, Mary Stoehr, was personal friends with President Jimmy Carter and Senator Zell Miller prior to her death in 2000. Mrs. Stoehr won an ACLU award in 1973 for "...raising the consciousness of others."
Rush shares a birthday with actor Johnny Depp.
Rush is 5' 8" tall, and at the height of her modeling career measured 36-22-35.
Rush is an accomplished equestrian and Schutzhund dog handler.

[edit] References