ARUNAS BIZOKAS & KATUSHA DEMIDOVA MAKE HISTORY

 

By bringing home the World Standard trophy from Tokyo this weekend. First time a U.S. couple has ever won the World Standard championship. Now if we could only return to the MGM era, we would have a new Fred and Ginger and the whole world could enjoy them as much as we ballroom fans do.

 

Also at the championship, Jonathan Wilkins and Hazel Newberry announced their retirement. No no NO, it can’t be Mr. Wilkins!!! Whatever are we going to do without our Ralph Fiennes of the ballroom 🙁

Reigning champs Mirko Gozzoli and Alessia Betti of Italy didn’t seem to compete, though Dance Beat doesn’t say why.

Photos by Andrew Miller, taken from Dance Beat.

BLACKPOOL FINALE

So, predictably, last night Mirko Gozzoli and Alessia Betti from Italy took the final Blackpool championship, the Standard (above photo from BlackpoolDanceFestival.net). Our Arunas Bizokas and Katusha Demidova came in second, Britain’s Jonathan Wilkins and Hazel Newberry took third, the US’s Victor Fung and Anna Mikhed fourth (good placement for them; they’re moving up every year!), fifth were Italy’s Roberto Villa and Morena Colagreco, sixth Domenico Soale and Gioia Cerasole also from Italy, and seventh Britain’s Warren and Kristi Boyce.

Eleanor says:

“Yesterday was fantastic — went to the Chrisanne party which was packed as usual — then the main highlight was the comp. Last year I was so tired I don’t remember much but this time I really enjoyed it. Top three was pretty predictable but I think I prefer Domenico to Roberto and would loved to have seen Paolo (Bosco) and Silvia (Pitton, from Italy) in the final — instead they made only the Semi in a few dances. Also managed to come away with a massive poster of Katusha! Can’t believe I’m on my way home now. 🙁 ”

I don’t follow Standard as closely as Latin and only really know the top four couples, all of which I like very much. Still disappointed Arunas and Katusha didn’t at least get a win in one dance. Those Chrisanne parties are always packed — and sometimes dangerous 🙂

See more results here.

U.K. Championship Results are In!

Results from the UK National Championships, held this week in Bournemouth (and one of the most prestigious in the world) are now up.

Sergey Surkov and Melia, Blackpool Congress 2008, photo Tonya Plank
Sergey Surkov and Melia, Blackpool Congress 2008, photo by Tonya Plank

Sergey and Melia take third in Latin!!! Woo hoo! They must have been so happy! And I’m so happy for them!

Slavik and Hanna didn’t do so hot though — they received a disappointing 6th place. Oh well, better next time.

Other placements were predictable:

Continue reading “U.K. Championship Results are In!”