This year, like every other year, people were still dancing at the after party and as always the food served to all the attendees was out of this world and we are all one pound heavier for it. But the main reason we all come together is the dancing, the quality is always amazing in all levels from pro/am, amateur and professional, it’s all good and with close to 10 thousand entries the competition in all levels was fierce.

• Judges' Costumes Judges' Costumes
•  

This competition being around this time a year sets itself up for fun and dressing up. This year the Nightclub session was quite fun with everyone in some sort of costume, the professional rising star events were run in between this fun atmosphere. But nothing can compare to the last night of competition where the judges try to outdo each other with the most fun and interesting outfits. Colin James is usually a hard contender, but this year he was slightly toned down with just a Flintstone’s outfit; but there was a policeman, a couple of Harry Potters, a schoolgirl and even a Russian Astronaut. The best thing is that it is all fun and campy bringing this excellent competition a check on life and what is truly important and that is that everyone has fun while seriously dancing.

All the open professional events were excellent. The Professional Smooth as always almost everywhere on the planet nowadays is always a main attraction and here it was no different. The winners were Nick Cheremukhim & Viktorija Barasihina who won all the dances with a majority of firsts in all dances. The strongest wins were in their waltzes where they won with nearly perfect scores, in their slow waltz 12 out of fifteen judges marked them first and in the Viennese waltz 10 out of fifteen judges awarded them first place marks. For us they too were the clear winners - their musicality and their interpretation of this style is stellar and we can see why they almost had perfect scores from the judges in a number of their dances.

• Open Pro Smooth Open Pro Smooth
• Nick Cheremukhin & Viktorija Nick Cheremukhin & Viktorija
• Travis & Jaimee Tuft Travis & Jaimee Tuft
• Aleksandar Vukosavljevic & Alexandra Smirnova Aleksandar Vukosavljevic & Alexandra Smirnova
•  

Second in this terrific heat and in all dances went to Travis & Jaimee Tuft who stole the majority of firsts from the Nick & Viktorija in all dances. For us the problem here is the consistency of passion for the style, Travis & Jaimee can sometimes deliver a very passionate performance making you want to join them on the floor but occasionally just they can just be clinical; meaning they can deliver a perfect performance but lack the passion in their delivery to win over some of the stronger contenders. On this evening we can say that the passion was missing and we only got a good clean exercise, and that is why perhaps sometimes they lose territory to the couple that placed third in this competition and in all dances, Aleksandar Vukosavjevic & Alexandra Smirnova. Aleksandar & Alexandra took one or two firsts from the winners in each dance but not enough to shake the end results, however, for us they give a very emotional performance and they are fully 100% committed emotionally as well as physically to their interpretation of each dance. Their interpretations can sometimes be slightly off the charts but it works for them and I can see the appeal for some of the judges and their fans.

Fourth in all dances went to a fairly new partnership and one that if flourishing fast - Alexandru Munteanu & Stephanie Betts. This partnership for us is made in heaven - two beautiful dancers with tremendous potential, we can see why they are racing up to the top fast. Fifth in all was awarded to Ihor Chubishev & Diana Zhosan and sixth was Sergei Solodov & Ekaterina Maslennikova.

• Open Pro Latin Open Pro Latin
• Andriy & Amanda Besyedin Andriy & Amanda Besyedin
• Pasha Stepanchuk & Gabriella Sabler Pasha Stepanchuk & Gabriella Sabler
• Andrey Kitsun & Nicole Prosser Andrey Kitsun & Nicole Prosser
•  

The Professional Latin also started with a strong semifinal round and six very capable couples were called for this final. The winners overall by placing first in four dances and second in the paso doble were Andriy & Amanda Besyedin, in the dances they won they were able to secure two of them with a majority of firsts - the cha cha with 8 first places out of fifteen and the rumba with a whopping 11 first place marks. For us on this night it was a clear win for Andriy & Amanda they gave a solid performance overall securing the majority of the dances as you saw; they seemed confident and were there to win it. We have been fans of Pasha Stepanchuk & Gabrielle Sabler who placed second overall 2,2,2,1,2 and they are beginning to take note that they need to isolate and dance a little more outwardly with their audience but perhaps it is too little too late, Andriy & Amanda’s confidence in their performance overshadowed the improvement in their dancing.

Third in all dances was awarded to Andrey Kitsun & Nicole Prosser, this is a couple full of talent but for us still a little uneven in their work, for them to be able to make a break over the last two mentioned. Fourth went to Kostiantyn Samarskyi & Margarita Golubeva who also has some tremendous potential and talent but once again they are not as clear and even as the two couples on top. Fifth overall went to Mikhail Kolosov & Elina Semka 5,6,5,5,6, and sixth was awarded to Kelvin Ong & Masha Kozobrod 6,5,6,6,5.

• Open Pro Rhythm Open Pro Rhythm
• Francesco Arietta & Jessa Mae Briones Francesco Arietta & Jessa Mae Briones
• Ivan Kudashev & Ksenia Sokolova Ivan Kudashev & Ksenia Sokolova
• Ryan & Danelle Lockhart Ryan & Danelle Lockhart
•  

The Professional Rhythm went to Francesco Arietta & Jessa Mae Briones. They had an easy win securing perfect scores in the rumba and the mambo, and losing just one first place mark in the cha cha, swing and bolero. Overall we though they were the best on the floor, although occasionbally you have to look for them to admire and enjoy their work. A couple that for us is easy to find on the floor, partly because of their height and also because of their energy and work, placed second - Ivan Kudashev & Kesenia Sokolova. We must also mention that all first places missing from Francesco & Jessa Mae went to Ivan & Kesenia. This couple are flourishing quite fast in this style and it totally suits them. We would love to see more subtle moves from this couple so we can have more light and shade int their programs.

Third place was awarded to Ryan & Danelle Lockhart. Their work is very clean and easy to understand so we can see why they had a solid third place finish, however, it lacks a better delivery. Perhaps understanding a little more what they are trying to accomplish in each dance might help their case. Fourth went to Vladislav Krupskii & Tara Fanzo 4,4,4,4,5. Not not sure why they got placed so high; they are quite talented but their performance to us seamed a little green and uneven at the moment. Fifth place was Vasyl & Khrystyna Voinarovskyi 5,5,5,5,6, and sixth place went to Jeffrey Ruben Benarao & Therese Andre Quilaton 6,6,6,6,4.

• Open Pro Ballroom Open Pro Ballroom
• Igor & Valeriia Mikushov Igor & Valeriia Mikushov
• Riccardo Conte & Eleonora Filippi Riccardo Conte & Eleonora Filippi
• Dan Malov & Anna Bohachova Dan Malov & Anna Bohachova
•  

The Open Professional Ballroom was a five-couple final and here for us and for the judges it was an easy win for Igor & Valeriia Mikushov winning all dances with a majority of firsts. Second overall went to Riccardo Conte & Eleonora Filippi 2,2,2,2,3, and third were Dan Malov & Anna Bohachova 4,3,3,3,2. Fifth in all dances was awarded to Nikita Korsakov & Liuba Astashina.

• Open Pro Cabaret Open Pro Cabaret
•  

Three couples entered the Open Professional Cabaret and here Andrey Kitsun & Nicole Prosser took first overall with 13 second or better marks for their dancing. Devon & Brook McClish took second overall with 9 second places or better. We must also point out that they got 7 first place marks with Andrey & Nicole receiving 4 first places so they actually won it on seconds or better. Third in this heat went to an actual cabaret couple that did lifts – Dennis Kazakov & Anna Lisova they got 8 second or better marks and with these marks they took third overall.

• Mykyta & Lyndsey Vasylenko Mykyta & Lyndsey Vasylenko
• Open Amateur Latin Open Amateur Latin
• Austin Joson & Liza Lakovitsky Austin Joson & Liza Lakovitsky
• Bumchin Tegshjargal & Michelle Klets Bumchin Tegshjargal & Michelle Klets
•  

The Amateur Latin was a signature event here at the paragon with a full quarter-final round of competition. This was a perfect performance for Austin Joson & Liza Lakovitsky they won all five dances with perfect scores from all judges. This is a fabulous partnership that seems to just be tapping into their potential, it is great to see the Latin field have such amazing talent in North America. Second overall was awarded to Bumchin Tegshjargal & Michelle Klets 2,2,2,3,2, we thought them to be the clear second place and they almost were, they lost their paso by one mark - they were awarded 10 third or better marks, unfortunately for them Mykyta & Lyndsey Vasylenko had 11 third or better marks securing second place in the paso doble. Mykyta & Lyndsey had a great showing at this competition and they seem to be a very even partnership but it was only good enough to secure them a third place finish 3,4,3,2,3.

This field is amazing Dave Firestein & Kennedy Eaton placed fourth overall 4,3,4,4,4. They are quite young and they have so much potential we can see them moving quite fast up the ladder, their samba truly impressed the judges, and with a little more work and understanding they could be the top couple to beat not so long from now. Fifth place in all dance was awarded to Idan Daich & Anastasia Sinyauskaya and sixth were Oskar Krimus & Shayna McDonald.

• Open Amateur Ballroom Open Amateur Ballroom
• Samuel Hacke & Katarina Hermanova Samuel Hacke & Katarina Hermanova
•  

It was a fantastic win for Samuel Hacke & Katarina Hermanova in the Open Amateur Ballroom. We think is was the best, the most musical we have witnessed this couple dance and we have witnessed this couple since they were children. They won all dances with almost perfect scores from the judges, only one judged awarded them less in all the dances, not sure they were looking at the same event we were LOL. Second in all dances was awarded to Vladislav Knight & Julia Shvartsman and third went to Oskar Rybczynski & Daniela Koretska. Fourth place in all was Liran Lander & Michelle Ter-Saakyants, fifth overall was given to Daniel & Katherine Chpak 5,5,5,6,5, and sixth was Michael Greco & Kye Stapleton-Gray 6,6,6,5,6.

We were slightly desapointed with the performances for The Best of The Best in the amateur field. We thought the routines were all a little too long (less is more people) and the interesting content was missing from a lot of the routines, they were just dances. The winners of the best of the best were Austin Joson & Liza Lakovitsky.

We must congratulate the organizers Andrei & Elena for always taking such great care of all your officials and for such a fantastic job in organizing the Paragon. The care in the prize presentation, the food and the parties was fantastic as always. Congratulations on your success with almost 10 thousand entries and we still had a fabulous time!