NAMES 'N' FACES: Artem Chigvintsev, a world-class Latin ballroom dancer who was a finalist in "So You Think You Can Dance?" in Season 1 and an assistant choreographer in Season 2, is in town to help judge Christine Yasunaga's TV show, "Destination: Groove Dance Hawai'i" (hosted by Jordan Segundo and Yasmin Dar), which has been taping at Paliku Theatre.

Chigvintsev's the boyfriend of local girl Carrie Ann Inaba, one of the judges on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars."

Chigvintsev also checked out John Hirokawa's "Magic of Polynesia" show. ...

Watch out for the flying confetti; comedian Rip Taylor arrives this week for a month's visit. That means he'll be all over town — including his favorite haunt, Keo's in Waikiki. ...

Roy E. Disney dined at Don Ho's Island Grill with longtime friend and Foodbank president Dick Grimm a few nights back. Disney's boat, Pyewacket, was the Transpac race first finisher. It's parked in front of the restaurant while in the Islands. ...

TRADE WINDS: Actor Sean Jones is off to Los Angeles, participating in an intensive 10-day Seth Riggs vocal camp. It's the first time he's been away from home without his parents. Dad Stephen Jones, a musician, says the experience will give Sean a taste of being away in the big city, since he'll be attending college in New York next year.

Meanwhile, Stephen Jones is in Japan, touring with Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom, doing promotions for Hawai'i Travel Japan and gigging at the Blue Note in Tokyo and Nagoya. ...

Chef Nobu Matsuhisa was in the kitchen last weekend at Nobu Waikiki at the Waikiki Parc hotel. Must've been a busy time, with a lot of buzz. ...

Comedian Frank DeLima and the Adult Friends for Youth are pumping up support for the 21st annual Celebration of Youth fundraiser, set for Nov. 23 at the Sheraton Waikiki hotel. The event helps fund the Student Transition Convention, where fifth-graders transiting to middle school get survival tips from DeLima. Call Jocelyn Valdez at 833-8775 for tickets. ...

PACIFIC OVERTURES: The Hawaii Opera Theatre's "South Pacific," now at Blaisdell Concert Hall, boasts great voices in Louis Otey (Emile de Becque), Marlene Sai (Bloody Mary), Kip Wilborn (Lt. Joseph Cable), Michelle Jennings (Nellie Forbush) and Curt Olds (Luther Billis). It's probably Rodgers and Hammerstein's toughest battle horse to revive, though the score is a warehouse of riches such as "Bali Ha'i," "Some Enchanted Evening," "Happy Talk," "Younger Than Springtime," "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair," "Dites-Moi," "There Is Nothing Like a Dame" and "I'm In Love With a Wonderful Guy." While vocal pleasures abound, the choreography falls short — and it seems that some unnecessary liberties were taken to toss in some South Pacific (Tahitian) singing, drumming and dancing, too. ...

That said, "Pacific" has bright moments. Otey's baritone doesn't disappoint, Wilborn and Jennings possess musical-comedy charm, Olds pulls off some comic antics, and Sai makes hometowners mighty proud. ...

AROUND TOWN: Touching moment for Keith and Carmen Haugen recently on Maui: They led the Hawaiian hymn singing and also performed at the 100th anniversary of Pi'iloa, the restored Kauaua family church at Kanaio, beyond 'Ulupalakua, on the flanks of Haleakala. The church was built in 1907 on land deeded to Carmen's Hawaiian family by Kau'ikeaouli, Kamehameha III, in the Great Mahele of 1848-50. ...

Now hear this: Now that he has a new hearing aid, Eddie Sherman, the retired columnist and author, can hear as clearly as a bell. No need to shout at him anymore; he now has two good ears, he says. ...

LOOKING AHEAD: The Hilton Waikoloa Village on the Big Island has booked Big Bang Beat for New Year's Eve. It's a 12-member revue favoring the 1960s Motown sound and the funk of the '70s. Sounds like hearty party fare. ...

And that's Show Biz. ...

Show Biz is published Tuesdays and Thursdays. Reach Wayne Harada at 525-8067, wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com or fax 525-8055.