• Andrei & Elena Rudenco Andrei & Elena Rudenco
• Pro Smooth Pro Smooth
•  

The American style divisions were by far the best and the Smooth provided some surprises. Favorites going in were undoubtedly Adrian & Hanna Dydynski who made the trip down from the Midwest. But victory eluded them and they had to be content with 3rd spot behind 2 Floridian couples. The winners were Andrey & Elena Rudenko and in 2nd spot were Shandor Shtefil & Aleksandra Barsukov. We were a little surprised by this result, but perhaps the diverse judging panel saw things we did not. All couples danced well. The remainder of the final followed the results of the RS the day before.

Bill Sparks will have a report on this division for Dance Beat soon.

• Pro Rhythm Pro Rhythm
• Shandor Shtefil & Aleksandra Barsukov Shandor Shtefil & Aleksandra Barsukov
•  

Shandor & Aleksandra moved up a place in the Rhythm to win all dances. The runners-up were Aaron & Iryna DeSotto. Again the rest of the result mostly mirrored the RS result from the day before.

The International Styles were not as well represented. No couples contested the Latin and only 2 took part in the Ballroom. Alexander Voskalchuk & Veronica Egorova provided a treat for the audience winning the event over the RS winners.

• Pro Showdance Pro Showdance
•  

3 couples entered the Showdance division and I was very glad I was not a judge as all three were extremely good – but extremely different. Mikhailo Azarov & Tatyana Makarenko turned out to be the judges’ pick with their high-risk cabaret routine to “Rise Like a Phoenix.” 2nd went to Alexander & Veronica with their Anna Karenina piece and Aaron & Iryna took 3rd with their high energy rock and roll.

The night ended with a show performed by several of the competing professionals including the Ken & Barbie routine by Alexander & Veronika that has won both the Ohio Star Ball Ballroom Solo and helped win them the $25,000 grand prize in the Ballroom Star Tour.

Of course I am biased, but a trip to my hometown in February when the northeast was enduring some of its lowest temperatures to date sounds appealing. Perhaps we’ll see you in 2017?

Winter in Miami?

For us locals it might be a little chilly outside, but as everyone from parts north keep reminding us – “you should see what it’s like

So here we are at the 2016 Platinum Dancesport in downtown Miami, right on Biscayne Bay.

• RS Rhythm RS Rhythm
• RS Smooth RS Smooth
•  

Yesterday evening it was the turn of the rising star professionals on the floor at the Hilton. The 2 American divisions both had good finals. The Rhythm was all about Florida – all couples were local. Winning all dances were Tamas Kardos & Mariya-Khristina Sharupova. 2nd in all went to Eugene Parkhimovich & Anna Lukashova – a new couple to us. 3rd in all dances were Mikhailo Azarov & Tatyana Makarenko, 4th in all Vidas Orlovas & Elina Budagyan and 5th went to Hugues Napoleon & Ashley Marie Grob.

Shandor Shtefil & Aleksandra Barsukov won all dances in the Smooth. 2nd & 3rd was close. William Proper & Jennifer Elliott took the day 2,3,3,2 and Ryan & Laura Kenner were 3rd 3,2,2,3. Mykhalio & Tatyana were 4th.

• C Ballroom Scholarship C Ballroom Scholarship
•  

The pro-ams danced 2 styles, completing their Rhythm that began on Thursday night and the Ballroom. The best of the scholarships was the Open C Ballroom. The winner was Charlene Proctor w/ Ihar Kisialiou and she won all dances. 2nd in all dances went to Miriam Graham w/ Igor Fylymonchyk and 3rd to Peg Barrett w/ Ruslan Meshkov3,3,4,4,3.

Watch for more on Platinum Dancesport here in sunny Miami tomorrow.