US National Youth Ballroom Championship

Report by Keith Todd

This was a very tight final with Rule 11 being used to separate 2nd and 3rd placements.

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ProAm Spotlight: Sophia D'Angelo

These past five years dancing and competing have been some of the most colorful, exciting, and rewarding moments in my life. I had no idea when I began a few years ago, in a small Arlington, Virginia studio with Mike Baris, that it would take off in such a fantastic way. Or that its importance to me would be so profound, or that the people I would meet would soon become considerably important to me on many levels.

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Good Enough for Tina Turner! Champions Ball 2016

Report by Didio Barrera

Portion of photos courtesy to Priyanka Mathew

The Champions Ball is the largest Pro/Am event outside the United States. With over six thousand entries it also rivals a number of events here in the USA. I have been fortunate to have been asked to officiate at the Champions Ball for a number of years and every year this event has to be judged by a standard of excellence. The staging and focal point is always amazing.  I remember my first time attending the Champions Ball, I thought “Tina Turner” was going to make an appearance with the amount of lighting, smoke and props. This year was no different.  In fact it was the best ever, with the two giant LED screens opening up to present the Pro/Am competitors on the stage and the stairs coming out of a tunnel for them to come down to the floor.

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US National Amateur Dancesport Championships 2016: Amateur Latin

Report by Cecilia Giovacchini

This year’s 2016 National Amateur Championships was an amazing event, very well organized and I was very honored to be asked to judge. Lee and Linda Wakefield have done an amazing job at creating an inspiring atmosphere for the dancer, they should be very proud of what they have created over the years in Utah. It’s great to witness so many young people committed to this wonderful art-form. The future is very bright for our country’s young dancers.

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SFO New Face! New Competition!

Report by Didio Barrera

Photography by Charles Ryder 

It has been a few years since I last attended the San Francisco Open! San Francisco is my favorite city after Miami Beach, Florida where I live and so any time I get an invitation to an event in this city I immediately jump at the chance. The San Francisco Open continues to be run by Stephan and Denise Krauel, good, steady and consistent organizers, but this year added to the picture was Mr. Colin James. I noticed some a big changes in the atmosphere and running of the event.

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