The 2010 IDSF Grand Slam Finals Standard and Latin are the two highlights embedded in a series of DanceSport events taking place over a long weekend here in Shanghai. The Luwan Stadium is buzzing with activity as the 20th China National Championships and
the 7th Shanghai Open run concurrently during the hours leading up to the Grand Slam Final. All in all, over 2,000 different couples will have competed when the the lighting and the many colourful LED screens set up around the floor are turned off after three
days. Add to that approximately 2,000 spectators and you end up with one packed and noisy venue.
And the crowd is having a ball too! Michael Eichert observed them.
"The Chinese spectators seem knowledgable about DanceSport, appreciating
even the finest nuances. They reacted every time the scores for a couple in a particular dance were posted on the screens in last night's Standard Grand Slam. Even if they dispense slightly less vocal support to couples from abroad, they follow the competition
with remarkable intensity, and they heartily applaud the performances of all athletes in the Grand Slam."