• Nick Cheremukhin & Viktorija Nick Cheremukhin & Viktorija
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After nearly a year of competitions and being fully qualified to collect the prize money at the City Lights Ball (the official Sponsor of the Star Dance Tours), Nick & Viktorija announced to the world that they were no longer going to take part in the Star American Smooth Tour.

Nick & Viktorija told the manager of the tour at the Snow Ball, that they would not be able to attend the finale of the tour at “City Lights” due to another commitment. City Lights Ball is the official sponsor of the tour and so it is a must do competition for all competitors involved in the Tour as it states in the rules printed before the tour started. “In order to collect any prize money owed to all competitors they must attend and compete at the City Lights Ball”. It was very unfortunate since we are sure many of their fans would have wanted to see that beautiful number with the crystal ball in hand or something else from this very talented couple. But all was not lost for their fans, they got to see this talented couple compete in the Open Smooth 4 dance division where they placed first in all dances, with perfect scores in both the waltzes. They did place first in the tango with a majority of firsts but did get 3 seconds in this dance, they also placed first in the foxtrot but lost one first, here Bill Sparks awarded them a second in this dance.

• Kyle & Allie Spinder Kyle & Allie Spinder
• Max Sinitsa & Tatiana Seliverstova Max Sinitsa & Tatiana Seliverstova
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First place in the Star American Smooth Tour went to the Open Smooth Runners up Max Sinitsa & Tatiana Seliverstova with a score of 120.29 points. We must also point out that all the first place marks in the 4-dance that Nick & Viktorija lost were awarded to Max & Tatiana.

Kyle & Allie Spinder placed second in the Star Tour with a score of 120.07 points. Yes, you are seeing it right it was closer than a hairline. Kyle & Allie got 16.5 points from the audience and so did Matt Rivers & Maliwan Diemers who placed 3rd in the Star Tour overall. Only the second tie we have had in a Star Tour audience favorite award. Kyle & Allie placed third in all dances in the group competition.

• Kris Suakjian & Briana Haft Kris Suakjian & Briana Haft
• Matt Rivers & Maliwan Diemer Matt Rivers & Maliwan Diemer
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It must have been a disappointing finish for Kris Suakjian & Briana Haft who were fifth in the group competition, but placed fourth in the Star Tour overall score, lower than the wildcard (the audience pick), Matt Rivers & Maliwan Diemer who were third in this Star Tour. Kris & Briana got 101.86 points in their overall performance, and Matt & Maliwan got 105.07. Kris & Briana’s new number was marked quite low by the judges, an 83.86 total for that effort, the worst score for them in the Star Tour Showdance.

• Open Pro Smooth Open Pro Smooth
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When it came to the Smooth group competition Mykyta Serdyuk & Anna Krasnoshapka placed fourth but did not do the Star Tour portion. Also, Adrian & Hannah Dydynski placed sixth in the group final but also declined to participate in the Star Tour.

We must also point out that Matt & Maliwan were not in the Open Professional final at this competition but were the “wildcard” couple chosen by the audience to participate in the Star Tour Showdance portion.

• Open Pro Rhythm Open Pro Rhythm
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The Open Professional American Rhythm also took place this night and here the Snow Ball title went to Mykyta Serdyuk & Anna Krasnoshapka with the scores of 2,1,1,1,2. Second overall was awarded to Aaron & Iryna DeSoto who placed 1,2,2,2,1, and third went to Alberto Cortes & Jessa Mae Briones 3,3,3,3,3. Fourth place in all dances were Kristian Sese & Mae Lozada, fifth in all were Jonathan Chen & Melissa Keller and sixth in all went to Daniele Cavallo & Leela Fazzuoli 6,6,6,6,6.

This was the first event of the year for many of us and we were treated wonderfully by the organizer, Donna Edelstein who made it all exciting and an easy, comfortable transition to the new year! Congratulations Donna you “Rock!”

It’s a Snow Ball After All!

It has been two days here in Minneapolis-Saint Paul with snow all around us, a perfect setting for the Snow Ball competition.

Inside, the ballroom has been decorated like a winter wonderland and the competitions, especially yesterday in the Pro/Am Rhythm categories were packed with competitors in all levels and categories, keeping the judges working hard until the late afternoon and night time.

• Open Pro Ballroom Open Pro Ballroom
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Last night we saw the first of the open professional events, the Open Professional Ballroom had five strong candidates entered and the indisputable winners were Nick Cheremukhin & Victorija, who won all dances. Second in all dances was awarded to Radu Sterban & Xenia Cletova and third went to Simeon Stoynov & Kora Stoynova who placed third in 4 dances but took fourth in the VW. Third in the VW but fourth overall was awarded to Evgeniy Mayorov & Olga Lisovskaya 4,4,3,4,4, leaving Dymitrii Goncharov & Tatyana Lutsenko holding fifth in all dances.

• Open Pro Latin Open Pro Latin
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The Open Professional Latin had three couples entered and in this competition Simeon Stoynov & Kora Stoynova won all dances and took the prize home. Second in this event was awarded to Dmitrii Chopenko & Valeria Khrapak and they placed second in four dances and third in the rumba. The second place in the rumba but third in all the other dances went to Dymytrii Goncharov & Tatyana Lutsenko.

• Kyle & Allie Spinder Kyle & Allie Spinder
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The Open Showdance was awarded to Kyle & Allie Spinder and second were Nick Haklin & Sarah Ford.

• Alberto Cortes & Jessa Mae Briones Alberto Cortes & Jessa Mae Briones
• Pro RS Smooth Pro RS Smooth
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There were also a couple Rising Star professional events held this evening all very well attended. The Rising Star Smooth went to Enzo Zappia & Stephanie Betts, and the Rising Star Rhythm was awarded to Alberto Cortes & Jessa Mae Briones.

We must congratulate Ms. Edelsteine for creating another category to showcase the professional couples that have never made a semifinal round at a US Championships or a major event around the country. It is called the Novice competition, the two we have seen had few competitors but we think it’s only a matter of time before many couples start taking advantage of this great opportunity. This is not a new idea many of the Arthur Murray and Fred Astair events already run this type of competition. Congratulations Donna on this bold move to get this category started!

• Hat Day Hat Day
• Hat Day Hat Day
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As is traditional at Snow Ball, Saturday was "winter hat" day and most of the judges and many of the competitors showed up in some wild and wacky hats!

Tonight we have the Star American Smooth Tour and we will bring it all to you here at http://sdt.dancebeat.com/index.php/m-streaming or at www.dancebeat.com and look for streaming.