The International Dance Championships is always one of the most eagerly awaited events of the year, with the qualifying rounds starting in Medway Park, Gillingham in the days leading up to the “Finale” which is held in the iconic Royal Albert Hall on the Thursday evening.
The atmosphere is always electric, and once again, the tickets were sold out in the weeks prior. More than 5,000 people sat and watched the best of the best battle it out for the title.
The Amateur Latin Championship was one of the events which would crown a new champion this evening which is always exciting for the audience and more importantly those finalists who have worked so hard throughout the year to make their claim.
The final 6 couples were ranked as follows;
1st Place: Salvo Sinardi & Alexandra Kondrashova (1 1 1 1 1)
This couple put in a Champions performance from the first step right through to the final beat of Jive, and looked like they could have gone on all night! They are so well rehearsed in everything they do and were worthy Champions. Alexandra has the unique ability to the make the difficult look easy which is the ultimate pursuit as a dancer.
This was their final outing as Amateurs, and I wish them both the very best in the Professional ranks.
2nd Place: Alexander Chernositov & Arina Grishanina (2 2 2 2 2)
At their best, Sasha & Arina have the ability to defy nature. They possess such great talent, knowledge, partnering and synergy which is rarely seen and are a complete joy to watch. They can capture the mood and atmosphere in every step and moment leaving you waiting in angst for what is coming next.
Arina looked stunning in her dress for the Final Round.
Now that the Champions have turned Professional, we look forward to seeing them rise to the occasion.
3rd Place: Joel Lopez & Kristina Bespechnova (3 3 3 3 3)
I thought that Joel & Kristina had a really good night. They looked in control, at ease and put in a really solid performance. They have matured over the years and have refined their niche style with clever choreography. Kristina has outstanding balance, always on her feet and never waivers.
4th Place: Tang Yiming & Huang Xinyi (4 4 4 4 4)
Tang & Bobbie as they are affectionately known to us must be commended for their work ethic. They are immensely dedicated and hard working in their craft and are a great example to the younger generations who look up these dancers as idols.
Bobbie is the perfect foil for Tang. Such a strong woman and sound dancer. They have immense ability and depth which will serve them well as they continue to climb to the top of the ranks.
5th Place: Giacomo Ballarin & Alessia Altieri (5 6 5 5 5)
Well established in the Final now and they have grown with each performance. Giacomo is a fantastic talent in a long line of super talents to come out of Italy over the years. He has finely tuned his skills and strengths making them a comfortable addition to this final full of fantastic dancers.
6th Place: Cosimo Barra & Diana Sharipova (6 5 6 6 6)
This is another couple who are so hard working and I feel they could keep on going all night! Their action packed style has taken them through the ranks into Major Finals over the past couple of years. They are always striking and easy to spot on the floor by drawing your attention to their product. Keep up the good work.
Image: Tomasz Reindl
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