Arts & Entertainment

San Rafael's 'Chaz' Simonds Advances to 'Dancing with the Stars' Finals

The semi-professional actor will be among 15 finalists competing in the "Dancing with the Stars: at Sea" Champions Cruise on Jan. 12.

Charles "Chaz" Simonds is about to take his dancing talents to the high seas.

The semi-professional San Rafael actor will compete on “Dancing with the Stars: at Sea” Champions Cruise finals next week.

Simonds is among 15 finalists representing vessels on the Holland America Line who will spend a week aboard the aboard ms Nieuw Amsterdam.

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Simonds partnered with former Mrs. Ohio Amanda Beagle to win the Gold Medal in the ms Rotterdam competition last year.

His partner for next week's competition has not yet been announced.

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"I am so excited to be chosen as a finalist, because I love performing and I love cruising!" Simonds said.

The winning couple in next week's competition will walk away with the coveted Holland America Line’s “Dancing with the Stars: At Sea Mirror Ball Trophy” and title of Holland America Line’s first “Dancing with the Stars: at Sea” Champion.

Simonds, who works as a hairstylist in San Rafael, has appeared in several local musical productions including "Mountain Play."

He is among three Californians to compete in next week's finals. Austin Tran of San Jose and Randy Estoesta of San Luis Obispo are the others.

“These (performers) wowed our (cruise ship) guests and judges to win the dance competitions on their respective cruises this year, and we’re excited to see the best of the best compete to become Holland America Line’s first ‘Dancing with the Stars: at Sea’ champion,” company spokesman Richard Meadows said in a prepared statement.

“Our ‘Dancing with the Stars: at Sea’ programming has been wildly popular and a highlight of our cruises, and the Champions Cruise is an exciting way to celebrate our first year of the program.”

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