The World Professional Ballroom Championship

Posted on November 19, 2012

Arunas Bizokas and Katusha Demidova, dancing for the US, triumphed again on November 18, at the World Professional Ballroom Championship held in Blackpool’s Winter Gardens.

Visibly moved by their success, Andrea Ghigiarelli and Sara Andracchio, dancing for Great Britain, were runners-up in this prestigious competition, with Victor Fung and Anastasia Muravyeva, dancing for the US, in third place. 

Valerio Colantoni and Yulia Spesivtseva, dancing for Russia, were placed fourth, Domen Krapez and Monica Nigro, dancing for Slovenia, came fifth and, thrilled be included in the final, Angelo Madonia and Antonella Decarolis, dancing for Italy, came sixth. 

Spectators were treated to a wonderful afternoon’s entertainment by the Ballroom Dancers’ Federation, which kicked off with a lively Opening Ceremony danced by young talent. 

Highlights included the homage to the Duel of the Giants, which would follow later in the day, featuring much smaller “versions” of Latin titans Michael Malitowski and Joanna Leunis and Sergey Surkov and Melia, with deft imitations of their haircuts and dancing styles! 

A fuller report and photographs of the championship will follow in the January issue of Dance Today, on sale on December 19.

Photograph © Ron Self

Nicola Rayner

Nicola Rayner was editor of Dance Today from 2010 to 2015. She has written for a number of publications including The Guardian, The Independent and Time Out Buenos Aires, where she cut her teeth as a dance journalist working on the tango section. Today she continues to dance everything from ballroom to breakdance, with varying degrees of success. Her debut novel, The Girl Before You, was published last year in paperback, ebook and audiobook.