• Dmitry Nikishkin & Olena Shvets-Nikishkin Dmitry Nikishkin & Olena Shvets-Nikishkin
• Open Pro Latin Open Pro Latin
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The Latin and the Smooth were the best competitions of the night because of the uncertainty of where the players might finish. In the Open Latin Dmitry Nikishkin & Olena Shvets-Nikishkin won the competition but only by a dance, they won three dances and placed second in the samba, rumba. The runners up, Francesco Bertini & Sabrina Manzi won the samba and rumba but took second in the other three dances. We totally agreed with the judges. These two couples are about even when it comes to the Latin, Dmitry & Olena are very solid with lots of power and will not miss a beat, totally correct in what they do. On the other hand, Francesco & Sabrina have a more playful style with influence in spontaneity and entertainment, both with great talent and possibilities.

Third place in this Latin professional heat went to Alon Gilin & Maria Shalverova from Canada, who placed third in all dances. Some observers said they thought they saw a glimpses of disappointment on their faces with this placement and we have to agree with them. Unfortunately we don’t think there was really a chance with the two couple being so steady up on top. Fourth place was awarded to Sasha Altukhov & Cheyenne Murillo, 4,5,4,5,4, another wonderful, talented couple in this final, unfortunately their work is very correct but for us it lacks a little more excitement. Who knows in this strong field anything could have happend but everyone has to produce something out of the ordinary to survive. Fifth position was awarded to Hayk Balasanyan & Emilia Poghosyan 5,4,5T,4,6, and sixth place was awarded to Sergiy Kavashin & Olga Ginzburg who placed sixth in every dance.

• Star Tour final outcome Star Tour final outcome
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When it cam to the Star International Latin Tour things got really shaken up. Dmitry & Olena kept their lead on this leg by taking the best scores when it came to the group competition and the solos. In the group competition they won it by one point giving them 28 points. The runners up in this category, Francesco & Sabrina earned 27 points. Dmitry & Olena won the solo competition with a score of 97.71, this gave them a grand total of 257.43 pulling them forward to a first place in this the third leg of the Star International Tour. In a interesting turn of events Hayk Balasanyan & Emilia Poghosyan who placed fifth in the group competition moved up to second place in the tour with a total of 247.43 points. Placing fifth in the group competition did not help them much with only 11.5 points collected for this, what gave them a nice push was there fan base who once again pushed them to be the most likeable couple with 22.5 points. Their solo this time did not get the scores we have seen in the past, but was good enough to placed them in a third position with a 89.71 points. And all these points accumulated did give them the push they needed to be in second position on IGB’s Star International Latin Tour. For Hayk & Emilia, this was good enough to still keep them in the lead when it come to the actual tour race.

Third place in this the third leg of the Star International Latin Tour went Francesco Bertini & Sabrina Manzi with 244.86. The couple that could have challenged them in the tour would have been Alon Gilin & Maria Shalverova, but unfortunately they pulled out of this solo due to injury, in the after hours party this was challenge by the few people that commented earlier that they were not happy with their third place finish in the group competition. Some people felt that maybe this was also due to disappointment but that was just peoples’ impressions and no one really knows the actual fact other than it was due to injury.

You can get the full results from this leg of the Star International Latin Tour by clicking here.

• Igor Colac & Roxane Milotti Igor Colac & Roxane Milotti
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Speaking of facts, in our last blog we reported that Igor Colac & Roxane Milotti, had stopped in the middle of the VW and that it looked to a few of us as if they were finished even though the music kept going. We personally spoke to Roxane and Igor and they said that the reason they stopped was due to the floor being so sticky that it made them come to a complete stop, they also added that it was not the only time it happened, they claimed the floor was very sticky for the Ballroom Style of dancing. They also pointed out that they are used to more than a minute ? of VW because their stamina is stronger because they do ten dances and their stamina has to be always double that of a one-style couple.

• Nick Cheremukhin & Viktorija Nick Cheremukhin & Viktorija
• Open Pro Smooth Open Pro Smooth
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The Professional Smooth was also a great competition here at IGB and once again the big fight was between Nick Cheremukhim & Viktorija and Max Sinitsa & Tatiana Seliverstova. But although we have seen them get very close, this time the judges pulled totally for Nick & Viktorija, awarding them a majority of firsts in every dance and a perfect score in the VW.

Third overall in this terrific Smooth competition went to Yegor Novikov & Alexandra Sm placing third in all dances, fourth were Evgeny Malko & Anna Shahbazyan and that was also in all dances, fifth was awarded to Enzo Zappia & Stephanie Betts 5,5,6,5, leaving sixth to Mariusz Zakrzewski & Lynnsay Ray 6,6,5,6.

• Open Amateur Ballroom Open Amateur Ballroom
• Oskar Wojciechowski & Karolina Holody Oskar Wojciechowski & Karolina Holody
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As we mentioned earlier, the Amateur Ballroom was also a fantastic competition and here the overall winners in every dance were Oskar Wojciechowski & Karolina Holiday, second place went to Karlis Treijs & Anastasia Krivosheeva 2,3,2,2,2, third were Angelo Gaetano & Clarissa Morelli 3,2,3,3,3, fourth in all dances went to Dmitri Vorobiev & Sofia Elliott, in fifth position were Thomas Yim & Kelly Cheng, and in sixth place were John Huang & Angela He and they took sixth in all dances.

These was an excellent competition and we want to congratulate Cecilia & Daniele for putting such a first class event, the International Grand ball has been around for a very long time longer that we have been around, and it is nice to see it get a complete lift and brought back out into the spotlight as it once shine so bright!

Fabulous Night at IGB!

Last night was a fabulous night here at the International Grand Ball. Three excellent events took place and they were totally “Grand” living up to the competition’s history and name. The Professional Ballroom and Rhythm were terrific and so was the six-couple Open Amateur Latin.

• Open Amateur Latin Open Amateur Latin
• Nikolai Tarasov & Amanda Herrschaft Nikolai Tarasov & Amanda Herrschaft
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The Open Amateur Latin started this fabulous combination and the majority of couples were terrific. The clear winners for us and possibly the San Francisco audience were Nikolai Tarasov & Amanda Herrschaft who won four dances and placed second in the cha cha. Second in this mix were Nikolai Mansurov & Alexandra Kondrashova who won the cha cha, but placed second in the other four dances. At the start this couple looked fantastic, making you think they might take all first places, but apparently they concentrated on having a terrific start with the cha cha, but began to fade in the other four dances and we totally agreed with this dramatic decision.

We were very surprised that Bumchin Tegshjargal & Michelle Klets placed third overall 4,3,3,3,3. We are usually a strong fan of this couple, however, they seemed to look to relax in this competition (and I mean that in the wrong way), their casual attitude continued even in their floorcraft. I was very shocked that with such a large floor in the samba they nearly took out one of the judges!! Perhaps being in their hometown made them less aware of getting the job done, but as I said perhaps the majority did not see what we saw a shaky “Bumchin” and I mean not totally steady at times. As I said I was very surprised by this performance.

Fourth overall was awarded to Karlis Treijs & Anastasia Krivosheeva 3,4,4,4,4, fifth was awarded to Lance Yasinsky & Annabelle Vinokur and in sixth position were Duke Khuu & Patty Dough.

• Stefano DiBrino & Bianka Zubrowska-DiBrino Stefano DiBrino & Bianka Zubrowska-DiBrino
• Open Pro Ballroom Open Pro Ballroom
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The Professional Ballroom was excellent with a very strong semifinal round. Stefano & Bianka Di Brino won every dance and became the grand champions. They might have won every dance but only in the waltz they had the majority of firsts from the judges, in the other four dances they came very close but needed to rely on seconds or better. We thought Stefano & Bianka were brilliant especially in the quickstep, but perhaps not good enough to get all the other four dances. In our eyes at least four dances should have gone to the runner-up, Oscar Pedrinelli & Lenka Kovalcikova who placed second in every dance. Third went to a couple that looked quite well put together with perhaps the best posture a man can have in this style, Nick Cheremukhin & Viktorija 3,3,3,4,3. Fourth was awarded to one of our favorite couples of this heat Leonid Burlo & Liana Bakhtiarova. This couple are new and they still looked a little green around the edges, however, their musicality impresses us. This couple feel that music and showed us what the music is saying in their steps. Fifth was awarded to Igor Colac & Roxane Milotti, another favorite couple of ours, but we were a little disappointed with Igor who felt he can stop whenever he desires, Igor if you are not fit to do a minute ? VW you really need to train. The musical director is looking at the judges to make sure they have all done their job and when that is done the music will let you know it’s the end.

• Andre & Natalie Paramonov Andre & Natalie Paramonov
• Open Pro Rhythm Open Pro Rhythm
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The Rhythm was also a terrific heat and here seasoned players Andre & Natalie Paramonov won every dance with a huge majority of firsts and nearly perfect marks in the cha cha. However, there was one judge that was very consistent in giving them all second in almost every dance but the bolero and that was Linda Dean, in the other dances there were at least two to three judges awarding them seconds or worse. Their worst mark came from Anna Trebunskaya who thought they should be third in the mambo.

Second overall overall was awarded to Danas Jaksevicius & Yuki Haragushi, who placed second in every dance. Danas & Yuki are a lovely couple when it comes to their looks, however, when it comes to their dancing, we are not really sure as to what their goals are. Many of the people we spoke to find it all very difficult to read, and if that is true we can honestly see why this beautiful couple cannot get further sooner. Third went to the new partnership of Vard Margaryan & Inga Demetryan 3,3,3,4,3, all we can say about this couple in this excellent start is - Energy Power Rangers.

Fourth wen to Maksym Lototskyy & Sarah Haworth 4,4,5,3,5, fifth was Riccardo Papi & Sabrina Moretti and sixth was awarded to Piero della Santina & Alessandra Gonzalez.

• Afterparty Afterparty
• Afterparty Afterparty
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The night ended with a “Night in Havana” after party where the music was so contagious that half the judges could hardly stand today, LOL fun was had by all. With this a terrific night of competition ended and we look forward tonight to the STAR INTERNATIONAL LATIN TOUR, and the rest of the professional and amateur divisions.

A New Chapter On IGB!

Yesterday in San Francisco, California a new chapter began for the International Grand Ball, perhaps one of the oldest competitions in existence and possibly the oldest.

• VIP Bar Menu VIP Bar Menu
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The International Grand Ball has been given a major uplift the effort that went into decorating this elegant ballroom at the Marriott San Francisco Airport Waterfront was noted. The drapery, the staging and even the VIP area including an international cocktail lounge where people can retreat to get a refreshment or socialize while enjoying the ongoing competition. This and many other things make rebirth of the International Grand Ball a success. And of course it has new organizers this year - Daniele Gozzi & Cecillia Giovacchini!

• Francesco Bertini & Sabrina Manzi Francesco Bertini & Sabrina Manzi
• Pro RS Latin Pro RS Latin
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Last night there was plenty of competition for the audience to engage and enjoy, all Rising Star events took place this evening. The most interesting and most exiting was the Rising Star Professional Latin where a number of Canadian couples made the pilgrimage to this fabulous city. All couples in this final looked quite prepared for the task including our Canadian neighbors, but although the Canadian couples had a good amount of fans, the Rising Star medal went to USA’s Francesco Bertini & Sabrina Manzi who won all dances with the majority of firsts from all the judges. Second went to another favorite of the crowd Alon Gilin & Maria Shalvarova from Canada who took all second places. Alon & Maria took the majority of first place marks that Francesco & Sabrina lost.

Third and fourth place as you will see by their marks was very contested, but in the end third was awarded to Edgar Brivks & Anasatasia from Canada who tied for third in the cha cha with the couple that placed fourth Sergey Panchenko & Natalia Zakrevskaya. There was no tie on the other four dances and here is how they judges saw it for Edgar & Anastasia 3T,3,4,3,3 who overall, as we just mentioned were third. Sergey & Natalia were fourth with these marks 3T,4,3,4,4. Fifth in all dances was awarded to Vasily Golovin & Anastasia Banderovskaya, and sixth went to Zsolt Katona & Timea Potys.

• Slava & Valeriia Kostaniets Slava & Valeriia Kostaniets
• Pro RS Smooth Pro RS Smooth
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The RS Professional Smooth was small but very interesting. The winners here by winning the W,T, and tying in the foxtrot for first and placing second in the VW, were Slava & Valeriia Kostianets 1,1,1T,2. Second by winning the VW, tying in the foxtrot for first and placing second in the other two dances was awarded to Matt Rivers & Maliwan Diemer 2,2,1T,1. Third and fourth positions were a lot clearer, here Maksym Lototskyy & Sarah Haworth were third in every dance and Brent Bianchini & Christina Musser were fourth.

• Stefano DiBrino & BiankaDiBrino Stefano DiBrino & BiankaDiBrino
• Pro RS Ballroom Pro RS Ballroom
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The Rising Star Ballroom was also an excellent event here all first places went to Stefano & Bianka Di Brino, second clearly went to Leonid Burlo & Liana Bakhtiarova and they placed second in all dances. All thirds went to Anatolii Repliuk & Ruslana Mamaysur, and fourth was awarded to Evgeniy Mayorov & Olga Lisovskaya, leaving fifth position to Slava & Valeriia Kostianets.

• Pro RS Rhythm Pro RS Rhythm
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The Rising Star Rhythm went to a 9 dance couple, Maksym Lototskyy & Sarah Haworth who were previously mentioned 1,1,1,1,2. Second place was awarded to Riccardo Papi & Sabrina Moretti 2,2,2,2,1, and all thirds went to Ryan Lockhart & Danella Newman, leaving Piero Della Santina & Alessandra Gonzalez with all fourths.

Tonight the open professional events will commence and it should be exciting to see.