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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

2017 WDSF GrandSlam Latin Helsinki
1:31:34
2017 WDSF GrandSlam Latin Helsinki
2017 WDSF GrandSlam Standard Stuttgart

That the Standard seems to be the GrandSlam of choice for the majority of the Stuttgart audience can easily be explained. On eight out of nine occasions since 2008, the winners were German couples. And local Stuttgart couples at that! Only Emanuel Valeri – Tania Kehlet, DEN created a brief interregnum – in 2013 – between the five-time Stuttgart Champions Benedetto Ferruggia – Claudia Koehler, GER, and their successors, the three-time Champions Simone Segatori – Annette Sudol, GER. The GrandSlam Standard Stuttgart has always been a German stronghold, to the extent that sometimes a few of the other couples have chosen to stay away – in the past as well as in the present. Even though there were again some previous finalists missing from the starting lists, the top three of the world ranking were present and ready to dance the final at the Beethoven Hall on Saturday night. Dmitry Zharkov – Olga Kulikova, RUS, have won everything there is to win this year and kept on top of their game ever since their last defeat, in Shanghai, CHN, in the 2016 GrandSlam Final last December. Over the past two years they have claimed two World and two European titles, they most recently celebrated their first victory in the GrandSlam Hong Kong, but they have never won in Stuttgart … For Simone and Annette, who were first in the last three GrandSlams in Stuttgart, it would be very important to return to their winning ways in front of a home crowd and ahead of the 2017 World Standard in September. The fight between the two couples will probably be as tight as ever, threatening to eclipse the great dancing put in by the third: Evaldas Sodeika – Ieva Zukauskaite, LTU. But let’s not worry about them: their confidence is growing with every time they take the floor in a GrandSlam final. 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). © 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.
Music by Casa musica: casa-musica.de

Sep 17, 2018, Pro

2017 WDSF GrandSlam Standard Stuttgart
1:37:24
2017 WDSF GrandSlam Standard Stuttgart
2017 WDSF GrandSlam Standard Wuhan _ Promo

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

2017 WDSF GrandSlam Standard Wuhan _ Promo
0:48
2017 WDSF GrandSlam Standard Wuhan _ Promo
2017 WDSF GrandSlam Standard Hong Kong | Quarterfinal

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 | Quarterfinal
47:30
2017 WDSF GrandSlam Standard Hong Kong | Quarterfinal
2017 WDSF GrandSlam Latin Stuttgart _ Promo

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

2017 WDSF GrandSlam Latin Stuttgart _ Promo
0:49
2017 WDSF GrandSlam Latin Stuttgart _ Promo
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
0:47
2017 WDSF European Championship Standard _ Promo
2017 WDSF GrandSlam Latin Stuttgart | The Quarterfinal

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

2017 WDSF GrandSlam Latin Stuttgart | The Quarterfinal
51:45
2017 WDSF GrandSlam Latin Stuttgart | The Quarterfinal
2017 WDSF GrandSlam Standard Hong Kong

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
1:36:08
2017 WDSF GrandSlam Standard Hong Kong
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
0:51
2017 WDSF GrandSlam Standard Hong Kong _ Promo
2017 WDSF GrandSlam Latin Wuhan

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

2017 WDSF GrandSlam Latin Wuhan
1:35:10
2017 WDSF GrandSlam Latin Wuhan
2017 WDSF European Latin

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

2017 WDSF European Latin
1:26:56
2017 WDSF European Latin
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
47:26
2017 WDSF GrandSlam Latin Hong Kong | The Quarterfinal
2017 WDSF European Championship Standard

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
1:24:24
2017 WDSF European Championship Standard
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

2017 WDSF European Latin _ Promo
0:49
2017 WDSF European Latin _ Promo
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

2017 WDSF GrandSlam Latin Wuhan _ Promo
0:48
2017 WDSF GrandSlam Latin Wuhan _ Promo
2017 WDSF GrandSlam Standard Stuttgart _ Promo

That the Standard seems to be the GrandSlam of choice for the majority of the Stuttgart audience can easily be explained. On eight out of nine occasions since 2008, the winners were German couples. And local Stuttgart couples at that! Only Emanuel Valeri – Tania Kehlet, DEN created a brief interregnum – in 2013 – between the five-time Stuttgart Champions Benedetto Ferruggia – Claudia Koehler, GER, and their successors, the three-time Champions Simone Segatori – Annette Sudol, GER. The GrandSlam Standard Stuttgart has always been a German stronghold, to the extent that sometimes a few of the other couples have chosen to stay away – in the past as well as in the present. Even though there were again some previous finalists missing from the starting lists, the top three of the world ranking were present and ready to dance the final at the Beethoven Hall on Saturday night. Dmitry Zharkov – Olga Kulikova, RUS, have won everything there is to win this year and kept on top of their game ever since their last defeat, in Shanghai, CHN, in the 2016 GrandSlam Final last December. Over the past two years they have claimed two World and two European titles, they most recently celebrated their first victory in the GrandSlam Hong Kong, but they have never won in Stuttgart … For Simone and Annette, who were first in the last three GrandSlams in Stuttgart, it would be very important to return to their winning ways in front of a home crowd and ahead of the 2017 World Standard in September. The fight between the two couples will probably be as tight as ever, threatening to eclipse the great dancing put in by the third: Evaldas Sodeika – Ieva Zukauskaite, LTU. But let’s not worry about them: their confidence is growing with every time they take the floor in a GrandSlam final. 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). © 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.
Music by Casa musica: casa-musica.de

Sep 17, 2018, Pro

2017 WDSF GrandSlam Standard Stuttgart _ Promo
0:52
2017 WDSF GrandSlam Standard Stuttgart _ Promo
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

2017 WDSF GrandSlam Standard
1:27:05
2017 WDSF GrandSlam Standard
2017 WDSF GrandSlam Latin Hong Kong

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
1:35:02
2017 WDSF GrandSlam Latin Hong Kong
2016 WDSF GrandSlam Standard Platja d'Aro

Four GrandSlam legs have been danced in Standard this year, two went to the 2015 World and the 2016 European Champions, Dmitry Zharkov and Olga Kulikova, RUS, and two went to Simone Segatori and Annette Sudol, GER, who had held the same titles one year earlier. The Russians had extended their winning streak from November 2015 through June 2016, more than six months, until they had to succumb narrowly to the Germans in the Hong Kong leg. Maybe it was that loss that had Dmitry and Olga decide to stay away from the fourth leg of the 2016 Series in Stuttgart, GER, and to try to regroup in Russia. Despite their policy to “dance anywhere at any time” that they adhered to in the past. Now that we have Dmitry and Olga here with us in Platja d’Aro, their opponents, Simone and Annette, have chosen to take a short sabbatical after their last win in the Boston World Open at the beginning of the month. From what we hear, they have travelled to China to train dancers there. Something we can hardly blame them for, because teaching and training others is an important aspect of gaining one’s livelihood in top-level DanceSport: the prize money alone would definitely not be enough. At the same time we are also aware that “avoidance” is the name of the game frequently played ahead of a World Championship. Couples steering clear of one another during the weeks and even months leading up to the pinnacle championship is one way of building up drama – and it also helps to avoid that one couple could get cast as a runner-up too soon. The World Championship Standard in Aarhus, DEN, is exactly two weeks away In any case, virtually all the top Standard couples are present and ready to dance for the win in the last regular leg of the Series that was scheduled to take place in Moscow, RUS, on 29 October. But ill-guided Russian officials cancelled it. That all these couples, including the entire elite from Russia, have made it to Catalonia in northeastern Spain is an achievement in itself, as the relocation was decided on less than two weeks ago. A 6-camera production in High Definition covering the decisive stages of the 2016 GrandSlam Standard Platja d'Aro. 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 host broadcaster High TV and the organiser Publiolimpia. All rights reserved © 2016! Music: Casa musica casa-musica.de

Sep 17, 2018, Pro

2016 WDSF GrandSlam Standard Platja d'Aro
1:30:36
2016 WDSF GrandSlam Standard Platja d'Aro
2016 WDSF World Ten Dance

The last time that the world title in DanceSport’s decathlon was contested was in Chengdu, CHN, in September of 2015. Much has happened since then! For the World Champions, Miha Vodicar and Nadiya Bychkova, SLO, Chengdu was not only their second consecutive win, it also turned out to be their second to last competition together. Just one week later, they retired as a couple. The question about who their successors would be was answered for the first time in Copenhagen, DEN, when Konstantin Gorodilov - Dominika Bergmannova, EST, won the 2016 European title ahead of former European Champions Jaak Vainomaa - Taina Savikurki, FIN, and second runners-up Dumitru Doga - Sarah Ertmer, GER. But one couple was missing from the starting list in February: Daniil Ulanov - Kateryna Isakovych. After the runners-up in the 2014 and 2015 World Ten Dance had opted to dance for Cyprus instead of the Ukraine, they were not eligible to enter any championships for a period of one year. Well, that year is up and Daniil and Kateryna are here in Vienna, AUT, ready to take another shot at a victory that has eluded them for quite some time. But their main opponents from Estonia, Finland and Germany are also keen on taking first here at the Multiversum. 6-camera production in High Definition covering the decisive stages of the 2016 World Ten Dance. With full graphics. The programme is made up of six parts: the full-length semi-finals, interviews with the finalists, the full-length finals and interviews with the medallists. All music by casa-musica.de Produced by the WDSF Communications team and the organisers of the World Ten Dance and the host broadcaster ORF. All rights reserved © 2016!

Sep 17, 2018, Pro

2016 WDSF World Ten Dance
2:25:23
2016 WDSF World Ten Dance
2016 WDSF GransSlam Standard Platja d'Aro I The Quarterfinal

Four GrandSlam legs have been danced in Standard this year, two went to the 2015 World and the 2016 European Champions, Dmitry Zharkov and Olga Kulikova, RUS, and two went to Simone Segatori and Annette Sudol, GER, who had held the same titles one year earlier. The Russians had extended their winning streak from November 2015 through June 2016, more than six months, until they had to succumb narrowly to the Germans in the Hong Kong leg. Maybe it was that loss that had Dmitry and Olga decide to stay away from the fourth leg of the 2016 Series in Stuttgart, GER, and to try to regroup in Russia. Despite their policy to “dance anywhere at any time” that they adhered to in the past. Now that we have Dmitry and Olga here with us in Platja d’Aro, their opponents, Simone and Annette, have chosen to take a short sabbatical after their last win in the Boston World Open at the beginning of the month. From what we hear, they have travelled to China to train dancers there. Something we can hardly blame them for, because teaching and training others is an important aspect of gaining one’s livelihood in top-level DanceSport: the prize money alone would definitely not be enough. At the same time we are also aware that “avoidance” is the name of the game frequently played ahead of a World Championship. Couples steering clear of one another during the weeks and even months leading up to the pinnacle championship is one way of building up drama – and it also helps to avoid that one couple could get cast as a runner-up too soon. The World Championship Standard in Aarhus, DEN, is exactly two weeks away In any case, virtually all the top Standard couples are present and ready to dance for the win in the last regular leg of the Series that was scheduled to take place in Moscow, RUS, on 29 October. But ill-guided Russian officials cancelled it. That all these couples, including the entire elite from Russia, have made it to Catalonia in northeastern Spain is an achievement in itself, as the relocation was decided on less than two weeks ago. A 6-camera production in High Definition covering the decisive stages of the 2016 GrandSlam Standard Platja d'Aro. 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 host broadcaster High TV and the organiser Publiolimpia. All rights reserved © 2016! Music: Casa musica casa-musica.de

Sep 17, 2018, Pro

2016 WDSF GransSlam Standard Platja d'Aro I The Quarterfinal
45:30
2016 WDSF GransSlam Standard Platja d'Aro I The Quarterfinal
2016 WDSF GrandSlam Latin Final _ Promo

Like every year, the 12 top couples in the GrandSlam Latin Ranking that have entered minimum four of the five regular legs making up the Series are invited to Shanghai, CHN, to contest the last major title and the highest purse. That of the GrandSlam Final Champion! They are all here. Well, almost! Marius-Andrei Balan and Khrystyna Moshenska, GER, have met the qualification criteria with 3999 points total, four entries and a third position in the ranking. But unfortunately they could not make it to the "Final Showdown in Shanghai." Marius-Andrei came down with a high fever and was unable to travel. Watch the semi-finalists and finalists burn the floor at the Luwan Stadium! STARRING Armen Tsaturyan - Svetlana Gudyno, RUS Andrea Silvestri - Martina Varadi, HUN Andrey Gusev - Vera Bondareva, RUS Umberto Gaudino - Louise Heise, DEN Giacomo Lazzarini - Roberta Benedetti, ITA Anton Aldaev - Natalia Polukhina, RUS Gabriele Goffredo - Anna Matus, MDA Timur Imametdinov - Nina Bezzubova, GER Charles-Guillaume Schmitt - Elena Salikhova, FRA An 8-camera production in High Definition covering the decisive stages of the GrandSlam Latin Final. 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 and the Chinese DanceSport Federation.
Music by casa-musica.de

Sep 17, 2018, Pro

2016 WDSF GrandSlam Latin Final _ Promo
0:46
2016 WDSF GrandSlam Latin Final _ Promo
2017 WDSF GrandSlam Standard Helsinki _ Promo

The 2017 GrandSlam Standard Helsinki will do what it always does: it establishes the first reference for the year. Three months have passed since the top couples had all entered into one and the same competition. It was the GrandSlam Standard Final in Shanghai on 12 December 2016. Since then, most of them have competed very selectively at the international level - and in avoidance of having to go up against whom they consider their main opponents in the World and GrandSlam Rankings. In the case of the top two in last year's rakings, Dmitry Zharkov - Olga Kulikova, RUS, and Simone Segatori - Annette Sudol, GER, come off convincing wins at World Opens in Antwerp, BEL, and Tokyo, JPN, respectively. In Tokyo, Simone and Annette were assessed by adjudicators using the new Judging System Version 3.0 that brings significant improvements to the judging process, at the request of the Competition Manipulation Task Force, making it much more resistant to attempts of collusion than its predecessor 2.1. This will be the first GrandSlam ever judged with JuDSys 3.0 and the results should be revealing in many ways. 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

2017 WDSF GrandSlam Standard Helsinki _ Promo
0:47
2017 WDSF GrandSlam Standard Helsinki _ Promo
2016 WDSF GrandSlam Latin Platja d'Aro I The Quarterfinal

While a GrandSlam Standard leg was held in Platja d’Aro as recently as 2012, one needs to look back to 2009, and the month of May of that year, to find the last GrandSlam Latin on record for this location. Alexey Silde and Anna Firstova, RUS, the dominators at the time, won it ahead of Vladimir Karpov - Mariya Tzaptashvilli, RUS. Third was a young and talented Italian dancing together with his sister Antonia. Yes, you got it right: Gabriele Goffredo, by now a Moldovan, a two-time World Champion and a dominator himself – together with his current partner Anna Matus – made his first ever GrandSlam podium right here – over seven years ago, at the age of 21. It would be nice to raise the questions, “Let’s see how he fares this time around – will he and Anna extend their winning streak to five out of five for the year?” But unfortunately we cannot do that. Gabriele and Anna are not here in Catalonia but far more to the south, in Andalucia, Spain, where Gabriele’s brother gets married over this weekend. As a consequence, we are bound to see two new winners in the 2016 GrandSlam Series Latin. Who will they be? Armen Tsaturyan and Svetlana Gudyno, RUS, are the # 2 in the World and GrandSlam Rankings and also the last couple to beat Gabriele and Anna at the 2015 GrandSlam Stuttgart, some 14 months ago. What was still a rumour in Chengdu, CHN, during the 2016 World Championships there in September, has long been confirmed: Armen and Svetlana are now stable mates – if that is indeed the appropriate expression – with Gabriele and Anna. How about the Russians taking the Moldovans' customary place on the highest echelon of the podium just to keep the stable owners happy? But there are very strong German opponents on location at the “Palau de Congressos i d’Esports” too: Marius-Andrei Balan - Khrystyna Moshenska and Timur Imametdinov - Nina Bezzubova need a fourth result to qualify for the “Showdown in Shanghai,” the series-ending Final in December, and it may as well be a good one. In the GrandSlam Stuttgart they both defeated Armen and Svetlana. And at the Chengdu World Latin, the point spread between all three couples was less than four points. This bodes well for a heated contest, with Charles-Guillaume Schmitt - Elena Salikhova, FRA, also highly motivated to bounce back from a disappointing sixth-place finish in China. The 6-camera production in High Definition covers the decisive stages of the 2016 GrandSlam Latin Platja d'Aro, 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. The full-length quarterfinal may be added as a bonus feature. Produced by the WDSF Communications team in collaboration with the host broadcaster High TV and the organiser Publiolimpia. All rights reserved © 2016! Music by Casa musica: casa-musica.de

Sep 17, 2018, Pro

2016 WDSF GrandSlam Latin Platja d'Aro I The Quarterfinal
32:51
2016 WDSF GrandSlam Latin Platja d'Aro I The Quarterfinal
2016 WDSF GrandSlam Latin Platja d'Aro

While a GrandSlam Standard leg was held in Platja d’Aro as recently as 2012, one needs to look back to 2009, and the month of May of that year, to find the last GrandSlam Latin on record for this location. Alexey Silde and Anna Firstova, RUS, the dominators at the time, won it ahead of Vladimir Karpov - Mariya Tzaptashvilli, RUS. Third was a young and talented Italian dancing together with his sister Antonia. Yes, you got it right: Gabriele Goffredo, by now a Moldovan, a two-time World Champion and a dominator himself – together with his current partner Anna Matus – made his first ever GrandSlam podium right here – over seven years ago, at the age of 21. It would be nice to raise the questions, “Let’s see how he fares this time around – will he and Anna extend their winning streak to five out of five for the year?” But unfortunately we cannot do that. Gabriele and Anna are not here in Catalonia but far more to the south, in Andalucia, Spain, where Gabriele’s brother gets married over this weekend. As a consequence, we are bound to see two new winners in the 2016 GrandSlam Series Latin. Who will they be? Armen Tsaturyan and Svetlana Gudyno, RUS, are the # 2 in the World and GrandSlam Rankings and also the last couple to beat Gabriele and Anna at the 2015 GrandSlam Stuttgart, some 14 months ago. What was still a rumour in Chengdu, CHN, during the 2016 World Championships there in September, has long been confirmed: Armen and Svetlana are now stable mates – if that is indeed the appropriate expression – with Gabriele and Anna. How about the Russians taking the Moldovans' customary place on the highest echelon of the podium just to keep the stable owners happy? But there are very strong German opponents on location at the “Palau de Congressos i d’Esports” too: Marius-Andrei Balan - Khrystyna Moshenska and Timur Imametdinov - Nina Bezzubova need a fourth result to qualify for the “Showdown in Shanghai,” the series-ending Final in December, and it may as well be a good one. In the GrandSlam Stuttgart they both defeated Armen and Svetlana. And at the Chengdu World Latin, the point spread between all three couples was less than four points. This bodes well for a heated contest, with Charles-Guillaume Schmitt - Elena Salikhova, FRA, also highly motivated to bounce back from a disappointing sixth-place finish in China. The 6-camera production in High Definition covers the decisive stages of the 2016 GrandSlam Latin Platja d'Aro, 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. The full-length quarterfinal may be added as a bonus feature. Produced by the WDSF Communications team in collaboration with the host broadcaster High TV and the organiser Publiolimpia. All rights reserved © 2016! Music by Casa musica: casa-musica.de

Sep 17, 2018, Pro

2016 WDSF GrandSlam Latin Platja d'Aro
1:33:39
2016 WDSF GrandSlam Latin Platja d'Aro