Victoria Regan, born Victoria Spratt on December 30, in St. Petersburg, Florida, has led a remarkable life shaped by an enduring passion for dance.

The daughter of Willard Spratt, a naval officer and insurance broker and Betty Ranger, a secretary and U.S. naval employee, Vicki’s love for performing blossomed early. At just seven years old, she began taking ballet and piano lessons and her family’s move to Daytona Beach opened new doors for her artistic development. There, she immersed herself in tap and jazz at the Grady and Louise Williamson Dance School, where the vibrant tunes of Broadway played—though at the time, she didn’t yet know what Broadway was.

Dedicated to her craft, Vicki attended junior college while working in a dental office to support her passion for dance. But Daytona Beach soon felt too small for her ambitions and she moved to Atlanta—where a serendipitous encounter changed her life. While searching for a ballet studio, she walked into a local Arthur Murray Dance Studio. The director immediately saw her potential and offered her a position as a teacher. Although she had no experience in ballroom, she learned quickly, balancing her days at Coca-Cola’s accounting department with nights teaching ballroom. It was during this time in Atlanta that Vicki discovered the world of ballroom dancing—a moment that would shape her future.

Career with Frank Regan

One evening, a call came from Frank Regan, a well-known competitive ballroom and Latin champion based in Montreal. He was looking for a professional dance partner. It sounded like a great idea and Vicki jumped at the chance. This meant relocating to Montreal, where she and Frank could dedicate more time to rehearsals, coaching, traveling and performing.

In Montreal, Vicki saw snow for the first time and the two quickly rose through the ranks. They danced shows every weekend, studied with the top British coaches—including Bill and Bobbie Irvine, Sonny Binnick, Eric Hancox, Len Scrivener, Peter Eggleton and Walter Laird—and earned top placements in major competitions.

They made the finals of the prestigious British Open Professional Latin Rising Stars competition in 1973, 1974 and 1975.

In 1974 they became the United States National Professional Latin Champions, they were five times Canadian Ballroom and Latin Champions and North American and Canadian Ten Dance champions.

Eventually, Frank chose to move to Toronto, while New York was calling Vicki and they went their separate ways.

Partnering with Peter Maxwell

In 1979, just before relocating to New York, Victoria formed another working partnership with former World Professional Latin Champion Peter Maxwell.

After moving to NYC, Peter formed a Ballroom Company. It debuted at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival and was a huge success. Following that performance, the company signed with Columbia Artists, marking an exciting new chapter.

Broadway

In 1980, Vicki received a call to audition for a Broadway show. The production was 42nd Street, which previewed in Washington, D.C., at the Kennedy Center before opening at the Majestic Theatre on Broadway. Opening night was a historic event, with an astonishing 23 curtain calls—one of the most exciting nights on Broadway to this day.

The next decade saw Vicki fully immersed in the New York performing arts scene, studying, auditioning, and performing in industrial shows, soap operas, commercials, concerts, and any project that allowed her to grow as an artist. She also appeared in the films A Chorus Line and Annie, expanding her versatility and reach as a performer.

One of her most fulfilling experiences came in 1990 when, thanks to Pierre Dulaine, she received a call to audition for the Broadway musical Grand Hotel, based on the classic film and directed and choreographed by Tommy Tune. It was an ideal role that combined ballroom dancing with stunning lifts. The show had a limited run on Broadway, after which Vicky joined the first national tour of Grand Hotel, performing across the country for a year and a half.

Returning to ballroom world

After returning from the tour, Victoria took a six-month break before focusing seriously on teaching and coaching ballroom and latin dancing in New York, where competitive dancing was flourishing.

Victoria’s impact on the dance world continues today. She travels internationally as a dance sport trainer, adjudicator, and lecturer. She is also a traveling consultant and ambassador for Arthur Murray and serves as a guest artist with the Broadway Theatre Project in Tampa. After residing in New York City for over 25 years, she now calls Tampa, Florida, her home. However, the bird whispered recently that she might move to California soon.

Kitty Kat Club

I first met Vicki in the late 1990s during the USBC in Miami, but our friendship truly began to grow during the congress in Slagharen, Holland, where Vicki taught me how to sing and tap to the tune of I’ve Got Rhythm.

Soon after, she visited me in Slovenia, where she lectured at our annual summer training camp and became an immediate star, bringing Broadway flavors to my country.

During my stay in Miami, she would drive down from Tampa and we would spend time together enjoying each other’s company.

We also met often at the British Open, where we created the Kitty Kat Club, a community of women who cherished, supported and had fun with each other.

I can’t wait to meet her in person again, 2026 will be our year.

Victoria Regan’s life is a testament to the power of reinvention, perseverance, and passion. From a young girl dancing in Florida to a celebrated performer on Broadway and an influential figure in the ballroom world, she has left an indelible mark on both the dance and theater communities.

Enjoy the podecast with Vicki on Spotify - Barbara's Dance Room.

Source of information

Brigit Mayer - " Ballroom Icons"