Dancesport Competitions – Art, Sport, and Glamour
First of all, both WDC and WDSF have some great competitions that have managed to put themselves in dancesport history. This happened as a result of the exquisite organization, great music & atmosphere, renowned judge panels, and world-class competitors.
In this article, I will discuss why are these some of the most famous comps.
Note: I will leave out the World and European Championships for both federations as it is clear that they are a must for every dancer
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WDC Competitions
1. Crystal Ball
The first top-notch competition of the year will be on 19-20 January in the beautiful city of St. Petersburg. The organizers are Evgeny Smagin & Polina Kazachenko and Andrei Golovin & Alenda Vaganova.
Crystal Ball is coated in a veil of pure elegance and luxury with an aura of mystery – it really lives up to its name.
The judging panel is not less incredible. Here are some of the names: Gaynor Fairweather MBE, Maurizio Vescovo, Karina Smirnoff, or Sergey Ryupin.
Hurry-up! The online registration closes 14th of January! Register here.
2. British Open Championship (a.k.a. Blackpool Dance Festival)
Blackpool Dance Festival is, without any doubt, one of the most famous dancesport competitions. It has a huge history behind it, being one of the oldest competitions – the first edition took place in 1920 during Easter week.
Besides the live, classy music that the Empress Orchestra prepares for the competitors every year, the crowd is always fabulous. Undoubtely, the spectators are putting on their best clothes and are expecting to see great performances on the stunning Winter Gardens floor.
Oh, and not to mention that you see all your idols roaming around⌠
This year the Festival will take place starting with 19th of May until 31st of May.
If you want to hear about our experience at the previous Blackpool Dance Festival, click here – it was life-changing.
3. Blackpool Festival China
The dancesport industry in Asia is booming: great teachers, amazing dance studios and fierce competitors. Nonetheless, Asian dancers have always proudly represented their countries at European competitions. But always traveling to Europe is not very easy. Thus, this lead to an increased number of competitions that are taking place in China or Japan for example.
It was just about time for Blackpool Dance Festival to pack its bags and go overseas to Shanghai. Consequently, the first edition of Blackpool Festival China was in 2015 and it was a success. This dancesport competition is perfect for you if you are living in Asia and you donât get the chance to travel to Blackpool. Therefore, don’t miss the opportunity experience great quality from world class dancers right there, next to you!
This yearâs the event is scheduled for August 15-20.
4. Embassy Ballroom Championships
The Embassy Ball is one of the coolest dancesport competitions in America. It has a rich history of over 30 years. Founded in 1980 by former Ballroom Champions Brian and Christine McDonald, The Embassy has grown to become one of the top dance competitions in the United States.
If you want to experience the American style of ballroom and latin competitions this is a perfect choice. Dance next to the World Champions at the Hotel Irvine Jamboree Center between August 28th – September 1st.
Official website: http://www.embassyball.com/
5. Fred Astaire – Disneyland Dance Festival
Donnie Burns MBE and Sammy Stopford are one of the biggest legends in the industry of ballroom and latin. They are known for their unique styles of dancing, approach to teaching aaaand for organizing the glamorous dancesport competition Fred Astaire – Disneyland Dance Festival. This year, the event is scheduled for December 6-8.
The competition is truly inspiring as the dancing is always at its highest level. Nevertheless, what I find the most appealing at this competition are the shows. Top professional couples are putting on their best routines to create emotional moments. for example, my personal favorite is Yulia and Riccardoâs paso doble: