A Historic Saturday of Emotion, Excellence and Electric Performances

Day 2 of the 2025 WDSF DanceSport Festival in Blackpool was nothing short of extraordinary. The atmosphere inside the Empress Ballroom reached new heights as athletes fulfilled lifelong dreams of dancing on one of the most iconic floors in the world, under the grandeur of its chandeliers and the echoes of live music. With the ground floor filled to capacity, the audience’s enthusiasm and energy lit up the venue, fueling unforgettable performances across all categories.

This emotionally charged day also brought two of the festival’s most anticipated events: the first GrandSlam Standard of the year, and the debut of Marius-Andrei Balan and Khrystyna Moshenska in the Super Grand Prix PD Latin—a moment that had the entire DanceSport community watching with excitement.

WDSF Open Competitions – A Showcase of Passion and Artistry

Once again, the WDSF Open categories provided a vibrant display of passion, diversity, and technical brilliance. From promising Youth couples to Senior competitors, each final brought a unique flavour to the Empress Ballroom. The atmosphere remained electric throughout the day, as the crowd continued to cheer, applaud, and connect with the emotional highs and lows of every performance. It was yet another reminder of how deeply DanceSport resonates—not just as a competition, but as an art form that unites generations.

Senior II Standard

In the Senior II Standard final, Miroslav Serak and Martina Grosupova (CZE) delivered a commanding performance to claim the top spot. Germany’s Fabian Lohauss and Simone Braunschweig danced with elegance and secured second place, while another Czech couple, Ales Kaspar and Lenka Serakova, rounded out the podium.

1. Miroslav Serak / Martina Grosupova (CZE)
2. Fabian Lohauss / Simone Braunschweig (GER)
3. Ales Kaspar / Lenka Serakova (CZE)

Youth Latin

The Youth Latin category lit up the floor with vibrant energy and powerful expression. Germany’s Dimitrii Kalistov and Luna Maria Albanese captured the title with a striking performance, followed closely by Maddox Loevenhardt and Sara Coman (DEN), and Ivan Marynich and Sofiya Malik (MDA), who danced their way to third with strong rhythm and emotion.

1. Dimitrii Kalistov / Luna Maria Albanese (GER)
2. Maddox Loevenhardt / Sara Coman (DEN)
3. Ivan Marynich / Sofiya Malik (MDA)

Senior III Latin

The Senior III Latin final brought a beautiful sense of character and maturity to the floor. Spain’s Manuel Ramirez and Julia Lopez shone with their expressive dancing to take the gold, while Patrick Lemaire and Jennifer Massaro (FRA) impressed with their connection and took second place. The home crowd was proud to see Slawek Lukawczyk and Janine-Nicole Desai (GBR) complete the top three.

1. Manuel Ramirez / Julia Lopez (ESP)
2. Patrick Lemaire / Jennifer Massaro (FRA)
3. Slawek Lukawczyk / Janine-Nicole Desai (GBR)

You can access the complete results of all WDSF Open competitions by clicking here.

2025 WDSF World Championship Senior I Latin – A Title for Italy

The World Championship Senior I Latin brought drama, power, and elegance to the floor, with couples showcasing extraordinary passion and technical skill in front of a captivated audience at the Empress Ballroom. The performances were as thrilling as they were refined, each round raising the bar higher.

In the end, it was Luigi Donadeo and Elisa de Belardini (ITA) who stood proudly at the top of the podium, claiming their first world title in this category. As their names were announced, the couple was visibly moved—tears of joy, a tight embrace, and heartfelt gratitude marked the culmination of years of dedication. It was a deeply emotional and unforgettable moment, shared with a cheering audience who recognized the magnitude of their achievement.

Final results:

1. Luigi Donadeo / Elisa de Belardini (ITA)
2. Kovacs Mate / Zsila Andrea (HUN)
3. David Lopez Fernandez / Jesica Garcia Perez (ESP)
4. Gerard Perez / Eva Krejcirova (ESP)
5. Markus Heffner / Marina Scharin-Mehlmann (GER)
6. Georg Rauchhaus / Sonja Stegemann (GER)
7. Romain Gostanian / Evelyne Taccia (FRA)

Full 2025 WDSF World Championship Senior I Latin Stars results available here.

WDSF Super Grand Prix PD Latin – A Powerful Debut from Balan & Moshenska

The Empress Ballroom held its breath for the highly anticipated debut of Marius-Andrei Balan and Khrystyna Moshenska (GER) in the PD Latin Super Grand Prix—and they did not disappoint. With masterful presence and magnetic connection, they delivered a powerful and moving performance that earned them the gold on their first appearance in the category.

While all of their dances were executed with signature finesse and charisma, the audience was especially swept away during their Solo Dances. Their Samba was a burst of energy and rhythm, filled with joy and drive, while their Rumba was nothing short of mesmerizing—a breathtaking combination of technique, chemistry, and just pure passion. The performance captured the essence of why this couple has long been considered one of the most iconic in the sport.

Their transition to the PD division could not have had a more impressive start, setting the tone for what promises to be an exceptional chapter in their journey.

Final Results:

1. Marius-Andrei Balan / Khrystyna Moshenska (GER)
2. Li Mingxuan / Zhou Wanting (CHN)
3. Nikita Bazev / Hanna Run Bazev (ISL)
4. Wang Ziming / Liu Ying (CHN)
5. Vincenzo Termini / Sharon Arena (ITA)
6. Vladyslav Khilchenko / Mariia Syskova (UKR)

Stay tuned for an exclusive interview with Marius-Andrei and Khrystyna, coming soon to our social media channels – make sure you're following us!

2025 GrandSlam Standard – A Glorious Opening to the Series

The first GrandSlam Standard of the 2025 season brought the Empress Ballroom to life with a final round full of emotion, elegance, and electric moments. From the very first bars of music to the final bow, all six finalist couples gave everything to the floor, each offering their own unique interpretation and moment of brilliance. The audience responded with enthusiasm and admiration, making it a night to remember for everyone in the room.

One of the most remarkable highlights came during the Tango, in a moment that perfectly embodied the spirit of elite competition and mutual respect. As the music intensified, the couples Yuan Shaoyang and Qi Chongxuan (CHN) and Cojoc Rares and Matei Andreea (ROU) found themselves dancing side by side in the center of the floor. Neither couple was willing to yield position, and instead of avoiding each other, they embraced the moment—holding their ground with unwavering poise and fierce energy for more than 20 seconds. The tension, control, and artistry of this silent duel left the audience breathless. It was a masterclass in focus, power, and presence—one of those magical DanceSport moments that transcend competition and become part of Blackpool legend.

In the end, Alexey Glukhov and Anastasia Glazunova (MDA) reaffirmed their position at the top with a majestic and controlled performance that earned them the gold. The Romanian couple Cojoc Rares and Matei Andreea took a well-deserved silver, and Poland’s Dariusz Mycka and Madara Freiberga completed the podium with their signature refinement and flow.

Final Results:

1. Alexey Glukhov / Anastasia Glazunova (MDA)
2. Cojoc Rares / Matei Andreea (ROU)
3. Dariusz Mycka / Madara Freiberga (POL)
4. Dmitri Kolobov / Signe Busk (DEN)
5. Yuan Shaoyang / Qi Chongxuan (CHN)
6. Marco Bodini / Kristina Charitonovaite (LTU)

Rewatch the full GrandSlam Standard final rounds on Olympic Channel and don't miss the exclusive interview on our social media channels!

A Word from the President

Speaking after the last event of the evening, WDSF President Shawn Tay shared a few heartfelt words with the audience:

“Today, the Empress Ballroom was filled not just with world-class DanceSport, but with genuine emotion—from athletes, spectators, and everyone who made this moment possible. We are proud to continue writing history in such a symbolic venue.”

Thank You to Our Sponsors and Partners

We are deeply grateful to our main sponsors — BD Dance, Atos, and Casa Musica — for their continued support, as well as to our partners: British DanceSport Federation (BrDSF), Olympic Channel, and Dance TV.

Our thanks also go to the many brands and services that contributed to the success of this event. Their presence in the Arena Room, adjacent to the Empress Ballroom, added tremendous value and visibility. You can view the full list of exhibitors and partners here.

Watch It All – Live and On-Demand

📺 You can now rewatch all of Saturday’s competitions on the WDSF YouTube channel:

🎥 Join us again today, Sunday 13^th April, for the final day of the 2025 WDSF DanceSport Festival, including the GrandSlam Latin!

And remember, the GrandSlam events, held in collaboration with BD Dance, feature exclusive global broadcasts of the final rounds—from Quarter-Finals through to the Medal Ceremony—on Olympic Channel.

Stay Connected

Follow WDSF on all platforms for behind-the-scenes content, highlights, interviews and the latest from Blackpool:

Instagram: WDSF DanceSport
YouTube: DanceSportTotal
Facebook: WDSF DanceSport
TikTok: WDSF DanceSport

Let’s keep celebrating the passion, talent, and artistry of DanceSport — together, from Blackpool to the world. Photos by Sanshi Studio.

Published on 13 April 2025