Didio Barrera
The International Grand Ball, Changing of the Guard!
IGB is one of our oldest competitions in the USA, if not the oldest, and it is great to see a younger motivated couple take its reins, Daniele Gozzi & Cecilia Giovacchini former US Latin finalists!
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City Lights! Empire 2016
“The little old lady sat on the porch of the farm-house.
The little old lady rocked back and forth and crocheted." Last year I began my report on the Empire Dancesport Championships with the lyrics from Lisa Minnelli’s “City Lights.” I would like to add my own verse this year ...
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“It’s a New World It’s a New Day” - It’s a new Champion!
This year at the Embassy Ball two new Professional World Champions were crowned - Nazar Norov & Irina Kudryashova from the USA in the World Professional Rhythm and Nick Cheremukhin & Viktorija from the USA in the World Professional Smooth.
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Do you Believe in Magic?
“Do you believe in magic?” was this year’s them for the Millennium Dancesport Championships and how can you not, being so close to the “Magic Kingdom.” This year’s big move from Tampa, Florida to Orlando, Florida was a big move by the organizer (Michael Chapman) for the Millennium Dancesport Championships, but as if it was orchestrated with a wand the move went nice and easy with out a hitch.
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A Hero’s Welcome to the Big 20! Colorado Star Ball 2016
This year it was the big 20th celebration for the Colorado Star Ball, and organizers Richard and Jennifer Booth went all the way out to make it a major celebration. Two World Professional Champions were invited to perform, World Professional Ballroom Champions, Arunas Bizukas & Katusha Demidova and World Professional Latin Champions, Riccardo Cocchi & Yulia Zagoruychenko.
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As we mentioned on our blog, the American Star Ball changed to a new venue and this venue to me is as American as Apple Pie. Their new venue is located right on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City, giving you total easy access to everything this gambling city has to offer. If you love the beach as I do, it’s right out the back door, or you could just walk down the famous Atlantic City Boardwalk, buy yourself a pretzel or take a ride on a Ferris wheel.
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Good Enough for Tina Turner! Champions Ball 2016
Report by Didio Barrera
Portion of photos courtesy to Priyanka Mathew
The Champions Ball is the largest Pro/Am event outside the United States. With over six thousand entries it also rivals a number of events here in the USA. I have been fortunate to have been asked to officiate at the Champions Ball for a number of years and every year this event has to be judged by a standard of excellence. The staging and focal point is always amazing. I remember my first time attending the Champions Ball, I thought “Tina Turner” was going to make an appearance with the amount of lighting, smoke and props. This year was no different. In fact it was the best ever, with the two giant LED screens opening up to present the Pro/Am competitors on the stage and the stairs coming out of a tunnel for them to come down to the floor.
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SFO New Face! New Competition!
Report by Didio Barrera
Photography by Charles Ryder
It has been a few years since I last attended the San Francisco Open! San Francisco is my favorite city after Miami Beach, Florida where I live and so any time I get an invitation to an event in this city I immediately jump at the chance. The San Francisco Open continues to be run by Stephan and Denise Krauel, good, steady and consistent organizers, but this year added to the picture was Mr. Colin James. I noticed some a big changes in the atmosphere and running of the event.