Temperatures outside may be starting to drop, but from Oct. 30 – Nov. 3, the best ballroom dancers in the world were heating things up in Orlando, Florida! For five days, top performers donned glitzy costumes and fancy shoes as they joined together to take part in the 2017 National Dance Championship. The event was held at the Hilton Bonnet Creek Resort and was themed “Puttin’ on the Ritz” – an appropriately grand designation to mark the 70^th anniversary of Fred Astaire Dance Studios.

From the Mambo and Salsa to Eastern Swing and the Cha Cha, toes were tapping and skirts were swirling all week long. There were over 1500 heats held during the competition which made it a ballroom dance event not to be forgotten!

Wondering who took home the top prizes at the end of the week? Join Fred Astaire Dance Studios in applauding:

American Closed Bronze/Silver Smooth

First: Ivan Sovetov and Valeria Mkrtchian. Syracuse

Second: Evgenii Grinin and Olga Morozova, Wayne

Third: Sergey Goranskii and Ekaterina Kolmogorova, St. Petersburg

American Closed Novice/Mixed

First: Jhondarr Lopez and Nicole Terry, Houston Woodlands

Second: David Chancellor and Laura Ashley, Brandon

Third: Sevrin Shapiachan and Susannah Moss, Reston

American Closed Bronze/Silver Rhythm

First: Alberto Cortes and Elena Dumanova, New York East

Second: Richard Kaszas and Faith Pangea, Cypress

Third: Ivan Sovetov and Valeria Mkrtchian, Syracuse

American Rising Star Smooth

First: Daniil Rostvinschii and Yulia Rudenco, Ft. Myers

Second: Artem Belmeha and Talia Barrington, Tarrytown

Third: Nick Haklin and Sarah Ford, Chicago North

Showdance

First: Ivan Kudashev and Ksenia Sokolova, Montville

Second: Vard Margaryan and Inga Demetryan, Redondo Beach

Third: Igor Puzhevich and Anastasia Puzhevich, West Palm Beach

American Rising Star Rhythm

First: Kristian Sese and Mae Lozada, New York Midtown

Second: Ryan Lockhart and Danelle Newman, Oceanside

Third: Viktor Tkachenko and Yuliya Lukina, Bloomfield Hills

Professional Open Cabaret

First: Mykhailo Azarov and Tetyana Makarenko, New York Downtown

Second: Clifton Sepulveda and Mar Martinez, Delray Beach

Third: Zachary Pohl and Ariel Freilich, Pewaukee

American Open Rhythm 5-Dance

First: Vard Margaryan and Inga Demetryan, Redondo Beach

Second: Ilya Velednitsky and Mariya Ilchenko, Milwaukee Downtown

Third: Aaron DeSoto and Iryna DeSoto, Chicago North

Open International Ballroom 5-Dance

First: Aleksei Minaev and Elena Minaeva, Willoughby

Second: Mikhail Nikolaev and Ksenia Kireeva, Chino

Third: Evgenii Grinin and Olga Morozova, Wayne

American Closed Novice

First: Alexandr Bezborodov and Sierra Boyea, St. Petersburg

Second: Christian Rodriguez and Laura Ashley, Brandon

Third: Bryan Wodarczak and Ayako Sasa, Manhasset

American Open Smooth

First: Sergey Barsukov and Maria Barsukov, St. Petersburg

Second: Mykyta Serdyuk and Anna Krasnoshapka, Pleasant Prairie

Third: Adrian Dydynski and Hannah Dydynski, Park Ridge

Open International Latin 5-Dance

First: Aleksandr Skatlato and Lorita Kriksciukaityte, Boca Raton

Second: Francesco Bertini and Sabrina Manzi, Redondo Beach

Third: Ivan Kudashev and Ksenia Sokolova, Montville

Regardless of which competition you watched, the dancers’ moves were fantastic, and the energy was high all week! For those who couldn’t attend, Fred Astaire Dance Studios made the fun accessible to all as they streamed portions live on Facebook. And, before the lights dimmed and the dancers returned home, attendees were treated to a professional dance performance choreographed by Bruno Collins, a Fred Astaire Dance Studios board member.

We congratulate all our 2017 National Dance Championship winners. Of course, at Fred Astaire Dance Studios, we believe that all dancers are stars and applaud everyone who steps out to embrace the spirit of dance! If you’re ready to learn some new moves of your own, stop in to your local ballroom dance studio today to get started.