The hall was covered with lights, music was played with a live orchestra and the dancers were enjoying the supportive atmosphere. The tribunes were full and every corner where one could see his favourite couple was packed with people standing and trying to find a good view to the floor. TV cameras captured all the best moments from different angles and it was obvious to everyone that something big was happening towards the end of the day. We were fortunate to have the IOC Executive Board Member Mr. Ivo Ferriani there to witness dance sport at its best. And that it sure was!
It was a tight competition, starting at the difference of 0,084 points which resolved the last spot for Canadians Winson Tam and Anastasia Novikova at semi-finals. Crowd was cheering very loudly to their favourites, and the dancers brought some electricity to the dance floor, heat after heat, dance after dance.
When the six finalists were announced everyone was just waiting for the spectacular final to start. It was their chance to see the World Champions, Armen Tsaturyan and Svetlana Gudyno, at their home ground. Another Russian couple, Andrey Gusev and Vera Bondareva, were there too, as well as Timur Imametdinov and Nina Bezzubova from Germany, Charles-Guillaume Schmitt and Elena Salikhova from France, Andrea Silvestri and Martina Varadi from Hungary, and Edgar Marcos Borjas and Alina Nowak from Poland.
They all did well, their total scores in the final round were better for all of them than previously in semi final round. The tightest battle was for the second place, which was finally announced for Timur and Nina over Andrey and Vera for 0,418 points. The winners, however, secured their position with 5,25 points. And to the delight for the home crowd the winners were Armen and Svetlana, who continued their winning streak in a superb way.
Before the Dance of Honour Armen and Svetlana addressed the crowd in Russian saying that dancing on their home ground gives a special twist, dancing went well, but also that being the leader of the pack means responsibility to succeed. As they mentioned during a short interview after the result, it is different to be climbing up the stairs than to hold on the position on the highest step.
With huge smiles on their faces, the chosen Dance of Honour was rumba. What a beautiful closure to an emotional and high quality day of Latin dancing.
The road to Shanghai, to the WDSF Grand Slam Series Final 2018 has now come to an end and the top 12 couples on the Grand Slam ranking list will receive an invitation to participate the anticipated climax in the beginning of December.
And as in every good story, this is not the end: you can find more about the 2018 Grand Slam Latin Moscow at www.flodance.com
More photos and videos will be uploaded here.
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