Open Pro Rhythm
Open Pro Rhythm
L to R - Jessa Mae Briones, Francesco Arietta, Olena Nikishkin, Dmitry Nikishkin
L to R - Jessa Mae Briones, Francesco Arietta, Olena Nikishkin, Dmitry Nikishkin
https://dancebeat.com/m-blogs-en/item/2054-millennium22?print=1&tmpl=component#sigProId12584569d9
As we just mentioned, Francesco & Jessa Mae won the Open Professional Rhythm three/two and could have almost won the cha cha with just one more point. Francesco & Jessa Mae were one point away from taking that dance. However, we must point out that no couple here had the majority of firsts. Dmitry & Olena had to also rely on “second or better” to win the dance. In the rumba the majority went to Francesco & Jessa Mae with 12 first place marks in their column. In the swing they too go the majority with 9 first places on their score card, and the same in the bolero. In an interesting twist of events in the mambo no couple got the majority of firsts because Kevin Ubillus & Milagros Lareto as usual stole the show with this dance and got 7 first place marks from the judges, more than any other couple but not a majority, making Dmitry & Olena win this dance with second or better once again, and was quite close for Dmitry & Olena and Francesco & Jessa Mae, Dmitry & Olena won the mambo by one point.
For us on the sidelines it was an comfortable win for Francesco & Jessa Mae who showed great understanding of the music in question. But having said this, we also felt that Dmitry & Olena had a really strong showing as well. Overall we are thrilled to see such incredible quality in the Rhythm style. Dmitry & Olena might have been second overall but their game last night was very hard to beat, not only in their energy but their quality of movement.
https://dancebeat.com/m-blogs-en/item/2054-millennium22?print=1&tmpl=component#sigProId0e82bc329a
It must have been quite a disappointing result for Ryan & Danelle Lockhart who in the past have done a lot better than the 6th place they got tonight. They scored 5,4,6,6,6. Unfortunately, we have to agree with the judges, on this evening Ryan & Danelle seemed to be just walking it through, and the few times you looked at them they also had a number of basic floor craft issues. We do hope to see them again and hope even stronger and better than before.
Open Pro Ballroom
Open Pro Ballroom
Iaroslav & Lilia Bieliei
Iaroslav & Lilia Bieliei
Rudy Homm & Katia Kanevskaya
Rudy Homm & Katia Kanevskaya
https://dancebeat.com/m-blogs-en/item/2054-millennium22?print=1&tmpl=component#sigProIdaee9d6006d
https://dancebeat.com/m-blogs-en/item/2054-millennium22?print=1&tmpl=component#sigProIdf68e9fec99
Open Professional Cabaret
Open Professional Cabaret
Alyenendrov & Maria Tsoroken
Alyenendrov & Maria Tsoroken
https://dancebeat.com/m-blogs-en/item/2054-millennium22?print=1&tmpl=component#sigProId3f70c73f75
Open Amateur Latin
Open Amateur Latin
Max Firestein & Nicole Mtchedlidze
Max Firestein & Nicole Mtchedlidze
https://dancebeat.com/m-blogs-en/item/2054-millennium22?print=1&tmpl=component#sigProId501efafbbd
Shane & Shannon Jensen
Shane & Shannon Jensen
Andre & Natalie Paramonov
Andre & Natalie Paramonov
Troels Bager & Ina Jeliazkova
Troels Bager & Ina Jeliazkova
https://dancebeat.com/m-blogs-en/item/2054-millennium22?print=1&tmpl=component#sigProId35e76a858b
Giampiero Giannico & Anna Mikhed
Giampiero Giannico & Anna Mikhed
L to R - Giampiero Giannico, Anna Mikhed, John Kimmins, Michael Chapman
L to R - Giampiero Giannico, Anna Mikhed, John Kimmins, Michael Chapman
Marie Roberts (Center)
Marie Roberts (Center)
https://dancebeat.com/m-blogs-en/item/2054-millennium22?print=1&tmpl=component#sigProIde617717c21
For the pro-ams, the day was filled with Latin. The Open Scholarships in the Latin brought out some of the top competitors in this style, including the ladies who are currently featuring in a Bravo TV reality series.
The largest division was the Open B (and this is the division being filmed by Bravo) and it was won by Sabrina Strasser w/ Stanislav Kochergin from Canada. Sabrina won all 5 dances, all but the jive with a majority of first places from the judges. With 2,2,2,2,3, Gaelle Benchetrit w/ Nino Langella took the runner-up position and 3,3,3,4,4 gave Leonie Biggs w/ Kostiantyn Samarskyi third place. That elusive 2nd place in jive went to Lindsay Keatley w/ Vladislav Robatsenko whose overall placements of 4,4,5,3,2 gave her a fourth place finish. 5th Tina Broccole w/ Andrei Kazlouski 5,5,4,5,5; 6th Collette Marotto w/ Oleksiy Pigotskyy 6,6,6,6,6. This event began with a quarter-final.
Open A Pro Am Latin Scholarship
Open A Pro Am Latin Scholarship
Kristina Mazhar w/ Vladimir Karpov
Kristina Mazhar w/ Vladimir Karpov
Open B Pro Am Latin Scholarship
Open B Pro Am Latin Scholarship
Sabrina Strasser & Stanislav Kochergin
Sabrina Strasser & Stanislav Kochergin
https://dancebeat.com/m-blogs-en/item/2054-millennium22?print=1&tmpl=component#sigProId7f15aa7ee2
It was a 3 to 2 decision at the top the Open C final with the result going to Loraine Peoples w/ Kostiantyn Samarskyi 1,1,2,2,1. With 2,2,1,1,2, the runner-up was Isabel Collins w/ Mykyta Serdyuk. All the 3’s went to Mariana Svyatets w/ Vladimir Karpov. 4th Holly Lee w/ Ryan Lewis 5,6,4,5,4; 5th Gisa Dilorio w/ Stefano Placidi 4,5,6,4,6; 6th Michelle Mazel w/ Roman Italyankin 6,4,5,6,5.
Open C Pro Am Latin Scholarship
Open C Pro Am Latin Scholarship
Loraine Peoples w/ Kostiantyn Samarskyi
Loraine Peoples w/ Kostiantyn Samarskyi
Open D Pro Am Latin Scholarship
Open D Pro Am Latin Scholarship
Shannon Bachynski w/ Dmitry Levita
Shannon Bachynski w/ Dmitry Levita
https://dancebeat.com/m-blogs-en/item/2054-millennium22?print=1&tmpl=component#sigProIdff66396ac4
Nora Fox w/ Plamen Danailov
Nora Fox w/ Plamen Danailov
Felica Porges w/ Adam Katona
Felica Porges w/ Adam Katona
https://dancebeat.com/m-blogs-en/item/2054-millennium22?print=1&tmpl=component#sigProId66d570369e
Howdy, Y’All!
As you all know “this ain’t our first rodeo!” We have been to the Millennium Dancesport Championships for years, but we have never attended one in Texas, Dallas, Texas to be precise.
And as is so true the moment you walked in that ballroom your first thoughts were – “look at it, it’s bigger’n Dallas!” And before we are “fixin’ to” talk about last night’s competition and show, we have to say that once again the Millennium at the direction of Mr. Michael Chapman, outdid itself in decorations and in first class entertainment!
Jake Mazhar w/ Yulia Besarab - solo performance
Jake Mazhar w/ Yulia Besarab - solo performance
Michael Chapman & Mary Murphy
Michael Chapman & Mary Murphy
Andre & Natalie Paramonov
Andre & Natalie Paramonov
https://dancebeat.com/m-blogs-en/item/2054-millennium22?print=1&tmpl=component#sigProId1118682cae
Shane & Shannon Jensen
Shane & Shannon Jensen
Troels Bager & Ina Jeliazkova with the Hard Drive Dancers
Troels Bager & Ina Jeliazkova with the Hard Drive Dancers
https://dancebeat.com/m-blogs-en/item/2054-millennium22?print=1&tmpl=component#sigProId4320e3c696
Open Pro Latin
Open Pro Latin
Mykhailo Bilopukhov & Anastasiia Shchypilina
Mykhailo Bilopukhov & Anastasiia Shchypilina
https://dancebeat.com/m-blogs-en/item/2054-millennium22?print=1&tmpl=component#sigProIda54621552b
Second in this Latin heat went to Manuel Favilla & Natalia Maidiuk taking second in all dances. Manuel & Natalia are also always fully groomed in a very classical style that complements the interpretation of each dance. For us at times we would like to see a little more punch or should we say forceful movements to keep our attention for longer periods of time, so not to allow us to get away from them but always a great couple to see in this type of quality final.
Manuel Favilla & Natalia Maiduk
Manuel Favilla & Natalia Maiduk
Artur Tarnavskyy & Anastasiya Danilova
Artur Tarnavskyy & Anastasiya Danilova
https://dancebeat.com/m-blogs-en/item/2054-millennium22?print=1&tmpl=component#sigProId29c0a78d83
https://dancebeat.com/m-blogs-en/item/2054-millennium22?print=1&tmpl=component#sigProIdc0e7361f4c
Taking fourth in the jive and fifth in the other four dances were Pasha Stepanchuk & Gabrielle Sabler, another talented couple with huge potential but at the moment a little quiet in their approach, perhaps they should take notice of our comments from before and be a little more “loud” and not so worry about being right. Sixth and we are sure quite disappointed with their result, were Roman Italyankin & Alexandra Bokova who have been placed ahead of almost every couple in this final but of late seem to be slipping a little, and perhaps need to rethink their approach to the style and reinvent themselves for them, for the judges, and for all of us.
https://dancebeat.com/m-blogs-en/item/2054-millennium22?print=1&tmpl=component#sigProIdcb02a5843f
Second in this parade of stars went to Travis & Jaimee Tuft, who were the recipient of the one first place mark from Mr. Kimmins in the Viennese Waltz and who took all seconds in the other three dances from the judges. As we have always said this couple do not lack talent, ability or technique, they just need to perhaps go out on the “limb” a little more often and take us with you.
Travis & Jaimee Tuft
Travis & Jaimee Tuft
Kharyton & Anastasiya Khomenko
Kharyton & Anastasiya Khomenko
https://dancebeat.com/m-blogs-en/item/2054-millennium22?print=1&tmpl=component#sigProId1d439a8f5d
Open Amateur Ballroom
Open Amateur Ballroom
Samuel Hacke & Katarina Hermanova
Samuel Hacke & Katarina Hermanova
https://dancebeat.com/m-blogs-en/item/2054-millennium22?print=1&tmpl=component#sigProId90bd52a94a
https://dancebeat.com/m-blogs-en/item/2054-millennium22?print=1&tmpl=component#sigProIddafc5c9600
https://dancebeat.com/m-blogs-en/item/2054-millennium22?print=1&tmpl=component#sigProIdc5c8e9634d
The Open Pro-Am Ballroom Scholarships were not as large as their American Style counterparts, but the level of dancing was very high.
Open Pro A Ballroom Scholarship
Open Pro A Ballroom Scholarship
Julia Shen w/ Rudy Homm
Julia Shen w/ Rudy Homm
https://dancebeat.com/m-blogs-en/item/2054-millennium22?print=1&tmpl=component#sigProIda09eaf2a51
Natasha Janey w/ Iaroslav Bieliei won a fairly tight race for the Open B winning 3 of the 5 dances to the runner-up Laura Shooks w/ Alexander Voskalchuk’s 2. Natahsa placed 2,2,1,1,1, Laura placed 1,1,2,2,2. Meredith Kaplan w/ Rudy Homm was 3rd in all dances. 4th Janet Simsic w/ Andrea Stefano 5,5,4,4,4; 5th Haily Ng w/ Andrii Mykhailov 4,4,5,5,5; 6th Laura White w/ Andrea Faraci 6,6,6,6,6; 7th Joyce Lo w/ Guennadi Iakounine 7,7,7,7,7.
Open Pro Am B Ballroom Scholarship
Open Pro Am B Ballroom Scholarship
Natasha Janey w/ Iaroslav Bieliei
Natasha Janey w/ Iaroslav Bieliei
Open C Pro Am Ballroom Scholarship
Open C Pro Am Ballroom Scholarship
Jill Bradford w/ Andrea Stefano
Jill Bradford w/ Andrea Stefano
https://dancebeat.com/m-blogs-en/item/2054-millennium22?print=1&tmpl=component#sigProIdb02d160160
The Open D was a closely fought division that ultimately fell to Linda Gill w/ Luca Balestra with the scores of 2,2,1,3,1. Three ladies actually shared the first places in this division. 2nd went to Paige Riffle w/ Iaroslav Bieliei 1,3,2,2,2 and 3rd went to Hardy w/ Rudy Homm 3,1,3,1,3. The second half of this final was much more settled as each competitor finished in the same position in all dances. 4th Stetler w/ Alexander Voskalchuk; 5th Roy w/ Bezukladnikov; 6th Sue Gershowitz w/ Nikolai Pilipenchuk.
Open Pro Am D Ballroom Scholarship
Open Pro Am D Ballroom Scholarship
Linda Gill w/ Luca Balestra
Linda Gill w/ Luca Balestra
Vy Wippen w/ Oleksiyy Pigotskyy
Vy Wippen w/ Oleksiyy Pigotskyy
Linda Huntress w/ Andrea Stefano
Linda Huntress w/ Andrea Stefano
https://dancebeat.com/m-blogs-en/item/2054-millennium22?print=1&tmpl=component#sigProId43d3eb60d0
Doing it Dallas Style!
Millennium Dancesport Championships is under way right now – but not in its more usual home, but in Dallas, TX.
https://dancebeat.com/m-blogs-en/item/2054-millennium22?print=1&tmpl=component#sigProId4aff7c5d3d
So far we have seen the pro-ams dance all levels of their Rhythm and Smooth divisions. We felt the Open Smooth Scholarships, danced last night, were of a very high standard – certainly among the best pro-am divisions we’ve seen so far this year. Although not quite as exemplary as the Smooth, the Rhythm also gave us some thrills. Here are the results from both styles.
The Rhythm night (Wednesday), was a great night for Nichelle Kennedy w/ Aleks Nashev who won both the Open B and Open C. She won all 5 dances in both divisions with the majority of 1st places. Really well done! 2nd in the B went to Julie Wolf w/ Gene Bersten and she also was 2nd in all dances. 3rd in all dances was Brittain Eliezer w/ Sergey Samchynskyy. 4th Natalia Zavodchikov w/ Dmitry Demidov 4,4,4,4,4; 5th Loren Rouke w/ Jhondarr Lopez 5,6,5,5,5; 6th Jill Winters-Bougard w/ Grigol Kranz 6,5,6,6,6.
Open B Pro-Am Rhythm Scholarship
Open B Pro-Am Rhythm Scholarship
Nichelle Kennedy w/ Aleks Nashev
Nichelle Kennedy w/ Aleks Nashev
Open C Pro Am Rhythm Scholarship
Open C Pro Am Rhythm Scholarship
https://dancebeat.com/m-blogs-en/item/2054-millennium22?print=1&tmpl=component#sigProId8508956b61
Open A Pro Am Rhythm Scholarship
Open A Pro Am Rhythm Scholarship
Lula Calloway w/ Nazar Norov
Lula Calloway w/ Nazar Norov
https://dancebeat.com/m-blogs-en/item/2054-millennium22?print=1&tmpl=component#sigProId5541ee8c5c
Open D Pro Am Rhythm Scholarship
Open D Pro Am Rhythm Scholarship
Marguerite Pinard w/ Ilya Reyzin
Marguerite Pinard w/ Ilya Reyzin
https://dancebeat.com/m-blogs-en/item/2054-millennium22?print=1&tmpl=component#sigProId373671b5ad
Karen Scott w/ Vladimir Kosarev
Karen Scott w/ Vladimir Kosarev
Anne Goldstein w/ Andre Gergel
Anne Goldstein w/ Andre Gergel
https://dancebeat.com/m-blogs-en/item/2054-millennium22?print=1&tmpl=component#sigProId9eb5fe106c
Several of the Open Smooth Scholarships began with a quarter-final round and produced some wonderful finals.
Open A Pro Am Smooth Scholarship
Open A Pro Am Smooth Scholarship
Lula Calloway w/ Sergey Barsukov
Lula Calloway w/ Sergey Barsukov
https://dancebeat.com/m-blogs-en/item/2054-millennium22?print=1&tmpl=component#sigProIdc4bc87ef80
Open B Pro-Am Smooth Scholarship
Open B Pro-Am Smooth Scholarship
Celia Chou w/ Erminio Stefano
Celia Chou w/ Erminio Stefano
https://dancebeat.com/m-blogs-en/item/2054-millennium22?print=1&tmpl=component#sigProIdb4bc5da8b6
Open C Pro Am Smooth Scholarship
Open C Pro Am Smooth Scholarship
Patricia Schneider w/ Slawek Sochaki
Patricia Schneider w/ Slawek Sochaki
https://dancebeat.com/m-blogs-en/item/2054-millennium22?print=1&tmpl=component#sigProId7b4155d74c
Open D Pro Am Smooth Scholarship
Open D Pro Am Smooth Scholarship
Simona Bebi w/ Nazar Norov
Simona Bebi w/ Nazar Norov
https://dancebeat.com/m-blogs-en/item/2054-millennium22?print=1&tmpl=component#sigProId74ddf33f66
Leslie Brockman w/ Sergey Barsukov
Leslie Brockman w/ Sergey Barsukov
Felica Porges w/ Adam Katona
Felica Porges w/ Adam Katona
https://dancebeat.com/m-blogs-en/item/2054-millennium22?print=1&tmpl=component#sigProIde4026c251e
https://dancebeat.com/m-blogs-en/item/2054-millennium22?print=1&tmpl=component#sigProId63ad84124c
https://dancebeat.com/m-blogs-en/item/2054-millennium22?print=1&tmpl=component#sigProId4e51c4f5c1
Stay tuned for more pro-am and professional reports coming tomorrow.