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2017 WDSF European Championship Standard _ Promo

The situation in Olomouc, CZE, is comparable to the one that presented itself one year ago, when the European Standard title was contested in Wroclaw, POL. Not all of the favourites enter this championship either. In 2016 we wrote: "To everyone looking forward to another taste of the drama in the dance-by-dance battle for points that was decided by the whim of four decimals separating the Russians from the Germans in the Wuhan final: it won't happen in this European! Simone and Annette are not among the starters, having withdrawn at the very last moment." Whatever the reason for them to stay away in 2017 too, we must learn to accept such a decision. It is their career and only theirs. Even if their absence preempts us from enjoying another tight race between the #1 and the #2 in the WDSF World Ranking. Just to remind ourselves, last time Dmitry Zharkov - Olga Kulikova, RUS, and Simone Segatori - Annette Sudol danced against each other in the final of the 2017 GrandSlam Wuhan, the margin separating first from second place was nothing - well, it was 0.04. That is not even half of a decimal point. Third place in 2017 Wuhan, CHN, went to Evaldas Sodeika - Ieva Zukauskaite, LTU, who were five points back. They told us after the awards presentation that they would probably train more and compete less this year. Who knows, this approach could allow them to close the gap to the two top-ranked couples. They were the runners-up in Wroclaw last year, seven points behind Dmitry and Olga. But that was with the Judging System 2.1. Let's see how they fare with 3.0. The 6-camera production in High Definition covers the decisive stages of the 2017 European Standard, with full graphics but without commentary. The programme is made up of four parts: the full-length semi-final, interviews with the finalists, the full-length final and interviews with the medallists. Produced by the WDSF Communications team in collaboration with the host broadcaster CESKA TV and the organisers, T.T.Trade Vitkovice and the Czech DanceSport Federation. All rights reserved © 2017! Music by Casa musica!

Sep 17, 2018, Pro

2017 WDSF European Championship Standard _ Promo

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2017 WDSF GrandSlam Standard Hong Kong _ Promo

The 2017 GrandSlam Series Standard reaches its halfway point with the third regular leg held in Hong Kong on 9 July. The two earlier legs in Helsinki, FIN, and in Wuhan, CHN, produced an identic outcome in as far as the winners as well as the runners-up were concerned. In Finland, Dmitry Zharkov - Olga Kulikova, RUS, prevailed in a hotly contested final over Simone Segatori - Annette Sudol, GER, with a total score of 193.17 to 191.91. That’s a winning margin of very little over one point! One month later in China, the Russians claimed their second victory, but this time the margin separating the two couples was all of 0.05. It was produced either by freaky math or by the system’s insistence that a winner had to be declared – even if it all looked very much like a tie on the floor. In any case, everybody was eagerly awaiting the next encounter between the two dominant Standard couples of the past three years. It was supposed to happen on 19 May in Olomouc, CZE, during the 2017 European. But as they did the year before, Simone and Annette decided against dancing it. Not unexpectedly, the championship’s narrative was that of another crown conquered by Dmitry and Olga, who made it their fourth consecutive championship title since the 2015 World Standard in Vilnius, LTU. They did so with a personal best of 195.79 points. Runners-up were – as in the 2016 European in Wroclaw, POL - Evaldas Sodeika - Ieva Zukauskaite, LTU, who were very happy with their total of 191 points too. That brings us to Hong Kong and the GrandSlam Standard that is the highlight on Sunday 9 July. Of course, we can only hope that all the top couples will be there and ready to dance it. But all dancers love this bustling world city and are eager to show their best stuff in what must be one of the most perfect venues for DanceSport: Queen Elizabeth Stadium (QE II). If we look back at last year’s GrandSlam Standard, it proved to be the turning point in a Series that had developed precisely as this one did. After coming in runners-up in Finland and in China, Simone and Annette struck back – at the MacPherson Stadium because of a scheduling conflict at the QE II – and held Dmitry and Olga at bay with 194.93 to 193.59. The story continues at QE II and the WDSF Communications team will provide you with a front row seat to all the action. Together with the host broadcaster TVB, the team members will bring you the best Standard dancing there is in full HD. 6-camera production with full graphics, a few behind-the-scene pieces plus interviews with the protagonists! The programme is made up of four parts: the full-length semi-final, interviews with the finalists, the full-length final, the interviews with the medallist couples. © 2017 World DanceSport Federation - WDSF | All Rights Reserved Produced by the WDSF Communications team in collaboration with host broadcaster TVB and the Hong Kong DanceSport Association Music by Casa musica | Music Cue Sheet dancesport.box.com/s/gtm04o15scsx4nj8ufezykn8xhiv7ldn

Sep 17, 2018, Pro

2017 WDSF GrandSlam Standard Hong Kong _ Promo

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2017 WDSF GrandSlam Latin Hong Kong | The Quarterfinal

The 2017 GrandSlam Latin legs in Helsinki, FIN, and in Wuhan, CHN, went to Gabriele Goffredo and Anna Matus, MDA, with the Russians Armen Tsaturyan and Svetlana Gudyno as the runners-up on both occasions. It looked as if the dominators in Latin would continue their winning streak well into 2017, even with the realistic chance to stay undefeated for another year. That’s when the upset came – suddenly and unexpectedly: Armen and Svetlana claimed the title at the European Championship in Cambrils, ESP. It was their second after 2015. Gabriele and Anna were relegated to second place and disappointed. But not for long. Just six weeks later in Faenza, ITA, the Moldovans were living up to Gabriele’s life motto of “Born to win!” once more as they were able to take their revenge and defeat the Russians in an International Open. Would Juventus have done the same with Real Madrid in the Champions League Final in Cardiff, GBR, one week later, the power of everything would have been in perfect balance again for Gabriele and Anna, both ardent "tifosi" of the Vecchia Signora. But everybody knows how that final ended. With virtually all top Latin couples present here in Hong Kong, we can look forward to lots of exceptional dancing at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium on Saturday 8 July. For those who don’t know: 8 July is the birthday of Armen Tsaturyan. And birthdays seem to go well with victories: Gabriele found out about it last year. He won the GrandSlam Helsinki on his. But let’s not think that there are only these two couples in contention for the top echelon on the Hong Kong podium: Germans Marius-Andrei Balan - Khrystyna Moshenska and Timur Imametdinov - Nina Bezzubova stand poised to take over at any time, should the two favourites not be inspired. Marius-Andrei and Khrystyna, so the unconfirmed rumours, have also gone south to expand their horizons. Training on a daily basis together with most of the others who will likely dance in today’s final should take the surprises out of the equation. Together with the host broadcaster TVB, the members of the WDSF Communications team will bring you the best Latin dancing there is in full HD. 6-camera production with full graphics, a few behind-the-scene pieces plus interviews with the protagonists! The programme is made up of four parts: the full-length semi-final, interviews with the finalists, the full-length final, the interviews with the medallist couples. The full-length quarterfinal is the bonus feature! © 2017 World DanceSport Federation - WDSF | All Rights Reserved Produced by the WDSF Communications team in collaboration with host broadcaster TVB and the Hong Kong DanceSport Association. Music by Casa musica > dancesport.box.com/s/xsy1p03i6rtb5v4k5qf0f2tny91qyap9

Sep 17, 2018, Pro

2017 WDSF GrandSlam Latin Hong Kong | The Quarterfinal

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2017 WDSF GrandSlam Standard Hong Kong | Quarterfinal

Sep 17, 2018, Pro

47:30

2017 WDSF GrandSlam Latin Wuhan _ Promo

Participation in this GrandSlam Latin leg was very much in line with that of the one danced in Helsinki three weeks earlier: 90 couples. About 50% came from outside of China, including all but one of the top 20 in the current World Ranking Latin. Among them were the two top German couples Marius-Andrei Balan and Khrystyna Moshenska and Timur Imametdinov - Nina Bezzubova. They missed Helsinki due to a scheduling conflict with their German Champion. That was bound to make a tight competition to get into the final even tighter, with many couples having made one recently and vying for another one based on that. Semi-final and final were danced in front of a full house and a most appreciative crowd. Their favourites were Marius-Andrei Balan and Khrystyna Moshenska , GER, who had in turn declared Wuhan as one of their favourite places to dance at even - before the GrandSlam went underway. The standings in the final didn't produce any major surprises: Gabriele Goffredo and Anna Matius won their tenth GrandSlam of their career and made it a winning streak of 8 - between regular legs and Final - since their last defeat in Stuttgart 2015. Maybe the fight for the medals was not as tight as it was last year, when the top three couples all won dances, but it was just as interesting to watch. It's hard to believe, but these couples seem to get better from one week to the next. A 7-camera production in High Definition covering the decisive stages of the GrandSlam Latin Wuhan. The programme is made up of four parts: the full-length semi-final, interviews with the finalists, the full-length final and interviews with the medallists. Produced by the WDSF Communications team in collaboration with the host broadcaster Hubei TV and the Chinese DanceSport Federation.

Sep 17, 2018, Pro

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2017 WDSF GrandSlam Latin Helsinki

If it wouldn't have been for a change of date that the GrandSlam organisers had to announce in order to keep their event in sync with GoExpo, the sports trade show that it is embedded in, all Latin couples in the top ten of the World Raking would have been able to make it to Helsinki, FIN. But with the German Championship Latin scheduled almost concurrently, two high-profile couples were a priori missing: Marius-Andrei Balan and Khrystyna Moshenska and Timur Imametdinov - Nina Bezzubova danced in Siegburg, GER, until very late on 18 March. Marius-Andrei and Khrystyna made a valiant effort to be in Helsinki for the inaugural leg of the 2017 GrandSlam Series. They arrived at the Messukeskus Hall 4 just 90 minutes prior to round two, danced the five dances and then they informed the chairman Drago Sulek of their decision to drop out of the competition ... But what a competition it turned out to be: particularly the final. Not only the dancing by the six finalists was at an incredibly high level, the emotions, too, appeared to be heightened. The outcome itself was almost of lesser importance, with all six couples radiant over what they had achieved. You will hear statements made by the dancers prior to and after the final. They will surprise you! An 8-camera production in High Definition covering the decisive stages of the GrandSlam Standard Helsinki. With full graphics but without commentary. The programme is made up of four parts: the full-length semi-final, interviews with the finalists, the full-length final and interviews with the medallists. Approximately 90-minutes running time. Produced by the WDSF Communications team in collaboration with the host broadcaster YLE and the Finnish DanceSport Federation.

Sep 17, 2018, Pro

1:31:34

2017 WDSF GrandSlam Latin Stuttgart

Participation in the 2017 GrandSlam Stuttgart turned out to be in line with that of the previous year, with 272 entries it should end up being the best attended Latin leg of the 2017 Series. When it comes to the numbers for the German Open Championships overall, attendance was lower than usual. Above all the dancers from Russia kept away; something which the organisers blame on the ever declining value of the ruble in exchange for the Euro. However, that Armen Tstauryan – Svetlana Gudyno and Sergey Gusev – Vera Bondareva, the two top-ranked Russian couples, chose not to enter the Stuttgart leg, could well have other reasons too. That they are not dancing brings changes to what has become the customary line-up for GrandSlam finals this year, providing opportunities for a number of couples that had to content themselves with places seven through ten in the most recent legs. It also limits the competition for the two couples dancing on home turf: the current German Champions Timur Imametdinov - Nina Bezzubova and their predecessors Marius-Andrei Balan - Khrystyna Moshenka. In the 2016, they were, respectively, second and first runners-up behind Gabriele Goffredo - Anna Matus, MDA. The Moldovans seem to have made their peace with Stuttgart after recording their last GrandSlam defeat here back in 2015, when they came in third behind Tstauryan –Gudyno and Balan – Moshenka. Ever since, they won every leg they entered, that’s nine consecutive wins in two years. They are certainly the favourites here too. Two dancers who are particularly motivated to do well in Stuttgart are Charles-Guillaume Schmitt and Elena Salikhova from France. A few years ago they swept the German public off their seats with a Paso Doble, winning the dance and coming in third. It was a magic moment. A 6-camera production with full graphics plus interviews with the protagonists! The programme is made up of four parts: the full-length semi-final (1 · no commentary), interviews with some of the finalists (2), the full-length final (3 · no commentary), the interviews with the medallist couples (4). The full-length quarterfinal is available as bonus feature. All music played live by the Boris Myagkov Big Band. Under licence of the WDSF Music Partner casa-musica.de © 2017 World DanceSport Federation - WDSF | All Rights Reserved Produced by the WDSF Communications team in collaboration with the German DanceSport Federation - DTV and the German Open Championships - GOC.

Sep 17, 2018, Pro

1:36:34

2017 WDSF GrandSlam Latin Stuttgart _ Promo

Sep 17, 2018, Pro

0:49

2017 WDSF European Latin _ Promo

Armen Tsaturyan and Svetlana Gudyno, RUS, were crowned European Champions for the second time in their career. After winning the 2015 European Latin in Aarhus, DEN, they surprised many by narrowly defeating their direct opponents and considered the favourites for the 2017 title, Gabriele Goffredo and Anna Matus, MDA, in a dramatic final. Relive this extraordinary final that came down to the wire and that saw the powers shift, however minimally, for the first time in nearly two years. In fact, it required scores of 39 points and more in the Paso Doble and in the Jive to come from behind and stage the upset by nine decimal points. Since their third place in the 2015 GrandSlam Latin Stuttgart, which was won by the Russians too, the Moldovans remained undefeated in two World and one European Championships plus altogether eight successive GrandSlams. Armen and Svetlana, on the other hand, had to content themselves with two victories in GrandSlams - Moscow 2015 and Platja d'Aro 2016 - where Gabriele and Anna did not dance. The 6-camera production in High Definition covers the decisive stages of the 2017 European Latin, with full graphics but without commentary. The programme is made up of four parts: the full-length semi-final, interviews with the finalists, the full-length final and interviews with the medallists. Produced by the WDSF Communications team in collaboration with the host broadcaster High TV and the organiser Publiolimpia. All rights reserved © 2017! Music by Casa musica: dancesport.box.com/s/oqmptxn0khgteuvv2513996ssqx45bv2

Sep 17, 2018, Pro

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2017 WDSF GrandSlam Standard

The 2017 GrandSlam Standard Wuhan is bound to go down in history for several reasons. The quality of dancing was outstanding and the scores were exceptionally tight from the quarterfinal. The Judging System 3.0 was used for the second time with 0.25 increments making the 1 - 10 scale even more suitable for finer distinction between the couples' performances. And yet it produced a perfect tie between Dmitry Zharkov - Olga Kulikova, RUS, and Simone Segatori - Annette Sudol, GER, in the round of 24: 192.917 vs 192.917! Hard to imagine, considering the many assessments that were made by the 12 adjudicators before the system computed the scores! Would a final standing have been established after the semi-final, the runners-up in the final would have been the winners. But even more importantly, having a margin as negligible as 0.04 deciding over the final outcome of this GrandSlam Standard makes it virtually impossible to speak of victors and runners-up in the traditional sense of the word. This final could have gone either way - and the two top couples know it perfectly well. The third-placed couple, Evaldas Sodeika - Ieva Zukauskaite, LTU, danced their first leg in Wuhan after skipping the one in Helsinki. They also ha a stellar performance in the final on 9 April. In the interview that follows the awards presentation they tell you what they will change with a view to this year's GrandSlam Series and the other top competitions. A 7-camera production in High Definition covering the decisive stages of the GrandSlam Latin Wuhan. The programme is made up of four parts: the Viennese Waltz, Slow Fox and Quickstep of the semi-final, interviews with the finalists, the full-length final and interviews with the medallists. Produced by the WDSF Communications team in collaboration with the host broadcaster Hubei TV and the Chinese DanceSport Federation.

Sep 17, 2018, Pro