Roy Hinton

Status:  
Specialty:  
Range:
 

Deceased
Ballroom, Latin American
Ballroom, Latin American, Country Western, Two-Step, Line

Roy Melvin Hinton

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Roy Melvin Hinton was born July 10, 1929 on a farm near Mt. Auburn, Ill., and raised on a farm near St. Elmo, Illinois by his parents, Lowell and Edna Hinton. He remained a farmer until January 1951, when he was called to serve in the Korean War. He joined the Navy for four years and served 27 months aboard an Aircraft Carrier doing Close Air Support off the Korean Coast. During his service in San Diego he danced with the Viltis Dancers, an exhibition Folk Dance group under the direction of Vyts Beliajus.

After discharge, Roy trained with the Veloz and Yolanda dance studio to become a dance teacher. In 1957, he moved to San Francisco to join The Arthur Murray Studios. While there he partnered the Regional Dance Director, Nena Samniego, in the Arthur Murray television shows.

In 1961 Roy formed a partnership with Rhona Pick, from Perth, Australia and they opened their school "The Hinton-Pick School of Ballroom Dancing" on 18th Avenue and Geary Boulevard in San Francisco. This school became very successful and they produced many Champion Dancers. Roy and Rhona continued their training and Roy became the first American born to become a Dual Fellow of "The Imperial Society of Teachers" in both Ballroom and Latin American Dancing. They were very strong competitive dancers and soon became the Western U.S. Professional Champions in both Ballroom and Latin American Dancing. They represented the U.S. in many World Championships: Berlin, Germany in 1966; London, England in 1968 and 1970; European Latin in Zurich, Switzerland in 1969; and The British Championships, Blackpool, England in 1968. Roy and Rhona retired from competition in 1970 as The undefeated Western U.S. Professional Champions in both Ballroom and Latin American Dancing. They are both recipients of "The Dancer's Hall of Fame Award." They were both World Class Adjudicators in International and American Styles of Dancing.

After having knee surgery, Roy left the dance world and moved to Southern California where he became involved in Real Estate, spending several years in Long Beach and Palm Springs.

Roy will be best remembered in Southern Caliornia for his excellent style in Country Western, Two-step and Line dancing.

Roy Hinton passed away pm August 26, 2013 of bone cancer in Palm Springs, California. He was 84 years old.