• Open Pro Latin Open Pro Latin
• Roman Italyankin & Alexandra Bokova Roman Italyankin & Alexandra Bokova
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The winners in all dances were Roman Italyankin & Alexandra Bokova and they gave a slick performance and never really looked in doubt to us. The runners-up, 2,2,2,2,3, were Ryan Lewis & Tessa Marie. We have not seen this duo lately, but were still impressed with their speed and Tessa’s great leg action. With 3,3,3,3,2, Igor Colac & Roxane Milotti were 3rd and made a good showing in this, the weaker of their 10-dance styles. They have great freedom and expression and will surely improve their results in this style in the near future. Zsolt Katona & Timea Potys were 4th in all dances.

• Kris Suakjian & Briana Haft Kris Suakjian & Briana Haft
• Open Pro Smooth Open Pro Smooth
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It was a good trip for Kris Suakjian & Briana Haft who won both the Showdance and the Open Smooth. They won all dances in the Smooth. 2nd and 3rd was a Rule 11 tie that went in the favor of Jason Rivers & Elisa Seja 3,3,2,2 over Drew Miller & Krista Humphrey 2,2,3,3. Alex & Jessi Aillon were 4th in all dances.

I think under its new management the Seattle Star Ball is set to become a larger player on the circuit. We must compliment the local area teachers who provided the bulk of the entries and some were at a very high standard. We look forward to the future of this event.

A competition on the rise!
Seattle Star Ball

Seattle Star Ball is under new ownership and it is on the rise!

The new owners of this event are veteran organizers, Richard & Jennifer Booth and Dan Messenger – all successful organizers of other events. There are plenty of dancers in the Pacific Northwest and the new organizers hope to take this event in an upward trajectory in the coming years.

That’s not to say it wasn’t good this year. There was plenty of strong competition in the pro-am and junior divisions over the first two days and last night we saw some strong professional divisions as well.

• Igor Ustymovich & Briana Santiago Igor Ustymovich & Briana Santiago
• Open Pro Rhythm Open Pro Rhythm
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The Open Pro Rhythm was a 6-couple final and the winners in all dances were Igor Ustymovich & Briana Santiago. For us this duo was well clear. Also clear in 2nd spot were the RS winners, Ryan Lockhart & Danelle Newman who were 2nd in all dances. 3rd in all went to Jeremy Babaguy & Carolyn Barreno; 4th in all Antonio Nunez & Hadas Fisher; 5th in all Jed Tiongson & Mary-Katherine Sorley (Canada); 6th in all Drew Miller & Krista Humphrey.

• Open Pro Ballroom Open Pro Ballroom
• Igor Colac & Roxane Milotti Igor Colac & Roxane Milotti
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The Open Pro Ballroom was a duel between 2 of the USA’s leading 10-Dance couples, both of whom danced very well we thought. Igor Colac & Roxane Milotti won all dances tonight and Simeon & Kora Stoynov were 2nd in all. Sarosh Ahmad & Zoe Wydroug were 3rd in all; Jason Rivers & Elisa Seja were 4th in all and Zenghe Li & Rong Deng (Canada) were 5th.

• Open Amateur Latin Open Amateur Latin
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We also saw the 2 Open Amateur events last night. The Latin was the larger and was won by Parker Lynn & Ciara McCurdy. 2nd in all dances went to Zika Trajkovic & Scarlett Liaifer. 3rd and 4th place was close between Miles Wu & Rachel Ma who took 3rd place with 3,3,4,3,3. We felt this couple were stronger than these scores imply. 4th went to Anton Tseytlin & Jessica Petrochuk 4,4,3,4,4T and 5th to Alexander Golovach & Alisa Popkok 5,5,5,5,4T.

Only 3 couples entered the Open Amateur Ballroom and the win easily went to Dmitry Vorobiev & Sofie Elliott. 2nd in all dances went to Anton Tseytlin & Jessica Petrochuk and 3rd to Miles Wu & Rachel Ma.

• Robert & monique Hrouder Robert & monique Hrouder
• Manuel Favilla & Natalia Maidiuk Manuel Favilla & Natalia Maidiuk
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Interspersed throughout the night were show numbers by the exciting Latin team of Manuel Favilla & Natalia Maidiuk. This world-finalist team have recently re-located to the USA and were much appreciated by the Seattle audience.

Also here were the creators of the Seattle Star Ball who ran the event for 17 years, Robert & Monique Hrouder who were given a special award by the new organizers.