I don’t know what makes a good competition.
To us, it is that special moment somewhere in the middle of the event, when the house is full and the dancers are on the floor, when the lights and the music make a special mix, when everything comes together and has a life of its own.
That’s what Crystal Palace Cup feels like every year. From the start, the idea for this event came from the conviction that no matter if you win, or just dance a couple of rounds, the feeling should be special. This year was no exception.
Opposite Houses of Parliament, on the bank of the river Thames the new Park Plaza venue welcomed eager competitors and discerning adjudicators from 11am. With the arrival of the PDAs for the first time in England, immediate calculations were delivered by the scrutineering team.
From the first round the couples felt great. The venue, the floor, great music, lighting made dancers give their best. Audience always knows when couples are stressed, or going through the motions, or when they are having the time of their lives.
The day started with Latin events, including Under 21 convincingly won by Nikolay Mikadze & Yana Novikova from Russia. Their Under 21 Standard counterparts were Dominykas Grankas & Kotryna Petrociute (Lithuania).
Evening performance saw a full house, with tables sold out and tiered seating full of cheering fans. The Germans Tasillo & Sabine Lax deservingly dominated Senior 1 Standard category.
IDSF International Open titles truly lived up to the name, both in Standard & Latin, with participants from 28 countries taking part.
Outstanding performances from Nikita Brovko & Anastasia Melnikova (Russia) brought them a well-deserved first position. While Standard was won by Benedetto Ferrugia & Claudia Kohler, who danced an absolute blinder of a competition, leaving the audience in no doubt why the World Championship title belongs to them and no-one else.
As far as Nick & Olga are concerned, it has always been our motto to go forward, to create, to stay positive, to love what you do, make no excuses and take no prisoners.
What a night that was!
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The above is a narration by Olga. In the group picture of the Latin Segment ( L-R) Marco Sietas (IDSF Sports Director); Nick, Kremenchenski, Carlos Frietag (IDSF President) and Olga.
You can get the full results from the IDSF web site, but the most unfortunate part of this whole sordid affair is that there are no English Dancers in the line up. Partially it is the unlawful boycott called by BDC. But I suspect the main reason is the fear of being mark down at Blackpool, that is the following weekend.
Now who have lost out? Certainly not Nick & Olga, but Dancesport in England.
