Earlier in the night we also saw a number of challenges.  The Professional Smooth and the Professional Latin and the Professional Cabaret. These three styles were great but the Professional Smooth for us had a special edge. Peter & Alexandra Perzhu were the easy winners with few judges awarding them less than second. Bruce Hasson possibly gave them their worst marks, a third in the waltz and a third in the tango.

For us Peter & Alexandra were as good as ever, however, we did get a few comments from some of the judges after the competition and from what I could tell Peter & Alexandra are no longer the “bride and groom” to be, they are now the new champions and the target to beat. One judge critiqued Alexandra’s shoulder always being out of position, over extended, and another pointed out that when they dance in close position some of their technical merit from the position to their feet leave lots to be desired. We ourselves still enjoy the new US Champions and I’m sure they will continue to improve their skills, however, it goes to show you that once you are on top of the field everyone is now looking to replace you.  We see this in every style year after year. We think this is human nature and perhaps the way we keep our industry and our dancing improving after all these years.

Second overall and here we too have to agree with the judges, Mikhail & Galina Zharinov had a wonderful night and truthfully we would not have been surprised had they taken a dance from Peter & Alexandra, in looking at their marks they took all seconds and a few firsts, however, they too were awarded a few thirds, in the tango, foxtrot and VW Ms. Cher Ruderford awarded them third place marks. Third in this and in every dance went to Mariusz Zakrzewski & Lynnsay Ray, fourth was awarded to Kirill Gorjatsev & Daria Zotova also in every dance, fifth went to Steven Smyth & Viktoriya Kelyman and finally sixth in every dance were Dave Hannigan & Maggie Toth.

The favorites in the Professional Latin were Sasha Altukhov & Cheyenne Murillo. They won every dance with the majority of firsts and a few seconds, however, there was the casual judge that saw it slightly differently than the majority, in the samba, rumba, Ms. Beverly Kimmins awarded them fourth position and in the paso, jive, the best she could do was third.  Her best mark for this couple was in the cha cha where she placed them second. Second overall was Sergey Samchynskyy & Yulia Besarab but here they judges could not really make their minds up, they got a potpourri of marks 2,3,2,3,2. Third was awarded to Adam Katona & Bella Gubzheva 3,2,3,2,3, fourth went to Alex Alekseev & Ekaterina Derevleva 4,4,4,5,4, fifth was Felipe Gonzales & Darinka Divljak 5,5,5,4,5, and finally sixth in all dances was awarded to Hector Quiles & Maria Balashova.

In the style of Mr. Chapman one of the organizer and a master at the Cabaret, the Cabaret had some excellent entries, the winners overall were Shane & Shannon Jensen with the majority of firsts from all the judges and only 3 second place marks, this couple really know their stuff and all we can say is “perfection.” Second was Craig Smith & Micheline who as always did a death defying routine, that had they not had their usual wobble might have challenged the top, but it was not to be they just had to settle for second place, with one judge who must have seen the wobble giving them a fourth place mark and that was Mr. Dennis Rogers.

Third in this Cabaret division was awarded to Brandon Barker & Chelsea Cherie, fourth was Jamie Black & Robin Ray, fifth went to Stefano Di Brino & Bianca Zubrowska and sixth was Richard Ortiz & Hannah Pickard.  

It all works in the end!

Video by Supershag - here

Last night at the Dancesport Championships it was a full evening of dancing and a very interesting competition, the two feature events were the Open Professional Rhythm and Ballroom as well as the Pro-Am Smooth Scholarships and a couple Rising Star events.

The most interesting competition for us was the Professional Ballroom where some terrific couples took to the floor, however the results although were as we expected some of the marks made our heads spin. The winners for us and for the majority of the judges were Marat Gimaev & Alina Basyuk who won all dances with the majority of firsts from the judges, however, they did get a few fourths , fifths and even some sixes? The sixth place marks were awarded by Ms. Tommye Giacchino to Marat & Alina - one in the waltz and one in the tango, and fourth in the other three dances. However, we were proud of our judging system it worked, those marks did not affect the couples’ standing in the competition.  We  must also point out that there were a few others that delivered a couple of fourth place marks as well, but she was the only one to give them last place. Second overall went to Alexander Voskalchuk & Veronika Egora who placed second in all dances, funny but here this couple got the majority of seconds a few firsts and a few thirds but not one fourth or sixth place was awarded, interesting! Third in all dances went to another excellent couple, Oscar Pedrinelly & Lenka Kovalcikova. Fourth in all dances was Vladislav Shahov & Ekaterina Popova, fifth went to Sergiy Samchynskyy & Yuliya Besarab 5,5,5,6,5, sixth was awarded to Nazar Batih & Mariko Cantley 6,7,6,7,6, and in seventh position was Stefano Di Brino & Bainaka Zubrowska 7,6,7,5,7.

The Rhythm was also terrific, the entire final was excellent and kept our attention at all times.  Here Emmanuel Pierre-Antoine & Liana Churilova captured the Championships and all dances, Nazar Norov & Irina Kudryashova took seconds in all dances leaving Misha Vlasov & Vanda Polakova holding third also in all dances. Fourth in all were Sahne & Shannon Jensen, fifth overall were Shandor Shtefil & Aleksandra Barsikov 6,5,5,5,5, and sixth were Riccardo Papi & Sabrina Moretti 5,6,6,6,6.

In the Pro/Am Smooth there was excellent competition as well.  The “A” was taken by Pamela Bolling w/ Ben Ermis first in all dances, second went to Sara Jess w/Tomans Mielnicki, and third was awarded to Stefan Tuomanen w/ Michelle Officer.

In the “B” division Kako Matsumoto w/David Hannigan took the scholarship home 2,1,1,1. Lisa Juliano w/Plamen Danilov was second 1,2,2,2, and third in all dances was awarded to Rosann Heisler w/Tomas Mielnicki.

The “C” was not far behind some excellent competitors here as well. Alla Neyshtadt w/Erik Pali won all dances. Charlene Proctor w/Michael Choi took all seconds and third overall was awarded to Sherrie Oxman w/Roman Malkhasyan 3,4,3,4.

There was also a pro/am team match and here as you see in the picture, the green team won the night.  

Vinoy!

Photos by SuperShag
Video by Supershag - here

We are here once again at the Vinoy Renaissance Hotel, an excellent venue for one of South Florida’s premiere events, the Superstars Danceport Championships.

Yesterday the competition began at 9AM and it was Rhythm time with huge entries in the Rhythm Pro-Am categories. In the evening we had the scholarships and a couple of the Rising Star Professional events.

The most contested and attended of the two professional competitions was the Rhythm where Shandor Shtefil & Alexnadra Barsukov placed first in every dance keeping the trophy in Florida. Stephen Smyth & Viktoriya Kleyman took second in all dances leaving third for Eddie Rivera & Meg McNash who placed third in all five dances. Fourth overall went to Martin Cardoso & Noe Guerrero 4,4,4,4,5, fifth was Roldy Star Edouard & Eugenia Spotar 5,6,6,5,4, and sixth were Craig Johnston & Summer Elkin 6,5,5,6,6.

The Professional Ballroom was a two-couple final and in this duel the winner was Vladislav Shahov & Ekaterina Popova, they won four dances and placed second in the foxtrot. The runners-up were Stefano Di Brino & Bianka Zubrowska.

The strongest competition in the Pro/Am Rhythm was in the “C” Scholarship where an 8-couple final was called. Seasoned player and NDCA World Champion Joan Goddard w/Chris Johnston won every dance, second in every dance went to Quin Bommelje w/Misha Vlasov and third overall was awarded to Janet Bruttell w/Michael Neal 3,3,4,3,3.

In the “A” Category we had Kia Malone w/Eddie Rivera being the overall winner, they won all dances but the bolero where they placed second. First in the Bolero, second in the Ch,R,SW and third in the mambo was awarded to Stefan Tuomanen w/ Michelle Officer and finally in third place was Isabella Libertore w/Charles Cunningham they placed third in all the dances and second in the Mambo.

The “B” was the smallest of the entries here there was only 5 couples entered and this category also went to Kia Malone w/Eddie Rivera placing first in all dances, second in all dances was Coleen Peach w/Ben Ermis and third was awarded to Susan Jones w/ Sid Pocius.

Tonight we should see some more interesting dancing, and as always what can we say? The ballroom is impeccably decorated in the style of Michael Chapman the leader of the band in this the Superstars Dancesport Championships.