We have been privileged to be invited to the Ultimate Dancesport Challenge the last few years and every time it is a fantastic treat, especially if you love food, music and entertainment. The ballroom opened in the night session after dinner yesterday with a performance by The Wild Tchoupitouls Tribe from New Orleans to the beat of drums. Their costumes were bright, rivaling our own but without a single rhinestone.

The dance competition started with the pro-am Rhythm style and it is finishing tonight with the Latin and the open professional events. Last night we saw three Professional Rising Star events in the Rhythm, Smooth and Latin.

• Enzo Zappia & Stephanie Betts Enzo Zappia & Stephanie Betts
• Pro RS Smooth Pro RS Smooth
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The Rising Star Smooth was small in entries but of good quality with all couples being at a decent level of proficiency. This Rising Star Smooth was won by Enzo Zappia & Stephanie Betts and they won all four dances. Second was awarded to Mykhailo Azarov & Tetyana Makerenko who took second in all dances and third was awarded to Tamerian Gadirov & Yuliya Sinevych and here things varied slightly 3,3,4,3, leaving fourth place to Kevin & Michelle Camarata with the scores of 4,4,3,4.

• Ryan Lewis & Tessa Marie Ryan Lewis & Tessa Marie
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The Rising Star Professional Latin was also a small but excellent heat, here too 4 couples took to the floor but it was almost clear from the beginning that Ryan Lewis & Tessa Marie were going to take the majority of dances and this they did placing first in 4 dances and second in the Paso Doble. Not far behind looking very promising were Francesco Arietta & Rosaria Vivone who won the paso and placed second in the other four dances. Third place went to Senzo Makhaye & Agnieszka Strojek taking all third places and fourth were Randy Hallner & Caitlin Anderson.

• Pro RS Rhythm Pro RS Rhythm
• Craig Johnston & Katherine Hutchinson Craig Johnston & Katherine Hutchinson
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The last Rising Star we saw was the Professional Rhythm and here the win went to Craig Johnston & Katherine Hutchinson by tying for first in the cha cha and placing first in the other four dances. Second went to Tamerian Gadirov & Yuliya Sinevych who tied for first in the cha cha and placed second in the other four dances. Third in all dances went to Mikhailo Azarov & Tetyana Makerenko, leaving fourth to Ian Meeks & Samantha Myers.