Dancing Hearts Shine and the Spirit of DanceSport Fills Rome on Day Two
4 October 2025 – Rome, Italy — The second day of the Internazionali di DanzaSportiva unfolded inside the emblematic PalaTiziano, where the enthusiasm of athletes and spectators once again filled the venue with vibrant energy. Following yesterday’s memorable opening and the first European titles, Saturday’s programme offered a captivating mix of categories — from Rising Stars and Youth to the Professional DanceSport — setting the tone for a day rich in excellence and anticipation.
At the heart of the programme stood one of the most anticipated moments of the weekend: the WDSF GrandSlam Standard, making its long-awaited debut in the Italian capital. Competing in a city where history has been written through art, devotion, and soul gave the event a special resonance. Inside the Palazzetto dello Sport, athletes transformed discipline and preparation into expression and pride, celebrating the joy of competition and the collective spirit that unites the DanceSport community. As the world’s best couples graced the floor beneath the Roman lights, they added their own chapter to the city’s legacy — a story of talent, determination, and the timeless beauty of dance.
Results and Performances of the Day, 4th October
As the day unfolded, the WDSF Open events brought the venue to life once more, with remarkable performances from athletes representing Italy, Germany, Poland, and many other nations, each contributing to a day rich in diversity and competitive spirit.
WDSF Open Standard Under 21
- Artur Vlasenko - Ivelina Karcheva (BUL)
- Pijus Palskys - Anna Berzina (LTU)
- Robert-Leonard Coman - Sara-Maria Velea (ROU)
WDSF Open Standard Senior II
- Valerio Bilancioni - Silvia Badiali (ITA)
- Lionel Lepreux - Charlotte Milleville (FRA)
- Francesco Argenziano - Giovanna Auletta (ITA)
WDSF Open Standard Senior III
- Vittorio Bramati - Silvia Martorelli (ITA)
- Fiorenzo Fortin - Marianna Voltan (ITA)
- Stefano Maraboli - Laura Donati (ITA)
WDSF Open Latin Youth
- Liu Mingda - Yin Heyin (CHN)
- Berbece Patrick - Andreea Sturzinschi (ROU)
- Frederik Roostfeldt - Ciara Simone Pirn (EST)
You can see full Saturday results here.
Professional DanceSport taking again the Floor
- Wang Ziming - Liu Ying (CHN)
- Nikita Bazev - Hanna Run Bazev (ISL)
- Vincenzo Termini - Sharon Arena (ITA)
The WDSF Open PD Latin Adult delivered a beautiful final, where experience, artistry, and competitive drive blended seamlessly in a performance that reflected the high level of the Professional Division. The podium featured a fascinating mix of seasoned dominance and rising momentum: Chinese couple Wang Ziming and Liu Ying, partners since 2015, took the crown and maintain a top-ranking presence in the PD Latin discipline, with notable performances this year as they took home silver in Wuxi. 
Second place victory of Nikita Bazev and Hanna Run Bazev follows their consistent results at Opens and Super Grand Prix events this year. Rounding out the podium, Vincenzo Termini and Sharon Arena, who have partnered since 2019, represent Italy’s growing presence in PD Latin; their third-place finish in Rome underscores both their technical progress and the competitive leap they delivered on home ground.
Home Glory for La Rocca and Scerra in Rising Stars Final
- Luigi La Rocca - Marika Maria Scerra (ITA)
- Riccardo Pierotti - Tara Por (ITA)
- Wang Kewei - Zhao Yiyi (CHN)
The WDSF Open Latin Rising Stars final in Rome had all the ingredients of a fairytale ending for local favourites. Luigi La Rocca and Marika Maria Scerra, one of the most dynamic young duos on the international scene—and already well known on social media for their viral videos capturing their lively and energetic reactions—fulfilled a lifelong dream by winning on home soil. With the crowd at the PalaTiziano behind them, their performance combined precision, charisma, and unmistakable chemistry, sealing a victory that felt as emotional as it was deserved. Their growing popularity online mirrors the impact they continue to have on the floor, and on this occasion it extended to their compatriots, as Riccardo Pierotti and Tara Por secured second place to complete an all-Italian one-two — a proud showcase of national passion and artistry.
As always, Luigi and Marika’s unmistakable charm gifted fans one of those iconic moments when, dancing close to Riccardo and Tara, Luigi leaned in to share a friendly kiss with his compatriot — a gesture full of Italian warmth and camaraderie that is sure to set social media alight once again. Don’t miss out this funny moment, captured and posted on our social media! Wang Kewei and Zhao Yiyi completed the podium in third, bringing their refined style and growing international presence to an increasingly competitive field.
GrandSlam Standard Adult Triumph for Cojoc and Matei
- Cojoc Rares - Matei Andreea (ROU)
- Dariusz Mycka - Madara Freiberga (POL)
- Yuan Shaoyang - Qi Chongxuan (CHN)
- Dmitri Kolobov - Signe Busk (DEN)
- Georgy Kalashnikov - Grigore Daria (ROU)
- Andrea Roccatti - Julia Mozdyniewicz (ITA)
The WDSF GrandSlam Standard Adult final in Rome was a beautiful showcase of DanceSport at its finest — a night filled with elegance, intensity, and genuine emotion from start to finish. The audience responded with warmth and enthusiasm to every couple, celebrating the quality and spirit of the performances. Yet the loudest ovation came when Andrea Roccatti and Julia Mozdyniewicz stepped onto the floor. The Italian duo reached a GrandSlam final for the second time in their career — and their second in 2025 —, making this appearance all the more special on home soil. Just two weeks earlier, they had captured the World Cup title in Chengdu, and their presence among the top six in Rome marked another proud milestone in an already remarkable season.
The podium brought together three couples whose careers exemplify both mastery and momentum in international DanceSport. Romanian duo Cojoc Rares and Matei Andreea, reaffirmed their dominance in the Standard discipline with another commanding performance, adding to their impressive record of GrandSlam victories in Stuttgart and Wuxi, earlier this year, and also a recent silver medal at the 2025 World Games in Chengdu. The couple also shared their joy in an exclusive interview—that will be available through WDSF social media—where they expressed how thrilled they were to compete in Rome, describing it as an event they truly enjoyed on the dance floor, and revealed their excitement for their next big challenge — the World Championship Standard in Sibiu, Romania, next November — a chance to shine once again in front of their home crowd.
Close behind, Poland’s Dariusz Mycka and Madara Freiberga, secured once again their place among the world’s elite with yet another strong result, following their excellent performance in Stuttgart earlier this season and The World Games in Chengdu, where they earned silver and bronce medals respectively. Completing the top three, China’s Yuan Shaoyang and Qi Chongxuan continue their steady ascent in global standings, representing the growing prominence of Asian dancers on the world scene. Furthermore, this result carries special significance for them, as it marks the first time in their career that they have reached the podium at a GrandSlam, finishing ahead of Dimitri Kolobov and Signe Busk, a couple with whom they have maintained a friendly rivalty due to their very similar level. In addition, it adds another milestone to their gold medal at the Asian Championship this year, making it the best achievement of their career so far.
Sport and Recognition
Beyond the competition, the day also featured an important institutional highlight. The packed PalaTiziano, filled with banners and flags, welcomed Giovanni Malagò, President of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Foundation, IOC member, and former head of the Italian National Olympic Committee for twelve years. Warmly applauded, Malagò showed keen interest in both completed and ongoing events and enjoyed several rounds accompanied by the notes of a breathtaking waltz.
“The growth of DanceSport is one of the bets we’ve won—many didn’t believe it. There was, not in a negative but affectionate sense, a prejudice among those representing sports that have made history. But there were also those who believed and invested in it.”
Behind the Scenes & Acknowledgements
Equally praiseworthy was the teamwork and dedication behind the scenes that turned the Roman venue into a welcoming home for DanceSport. Organizers expressed again their deep appreciation for the institutions that made the event possible, acknowledging the vital contribution of local authorities, the Lazio Region, and the Department for Sport, whose support ensured the success of this memorable edition.
The World DanceSport Federation also wants to extend its sincere thanks to BD Dance, Official Sponsor of the WDSF GrandSlam Series, and to Casa Musica, proud Gold Partner of WDSF, for their continued commitment to elevating our sport worldwide. Special appreciation goes to the Olympic Channel, whose live coverage brought the best DanceSport athletes to audiences across the globe.
For those who missed the action live, the Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Finals of the WDSF GrandSlam Standard can now be replayed on the Olympic Channel, once again showcasing the beauty, precision, and emotion that filled the floor in the City of Seven Hills.
The Spirit of Dance continues tomorrow
As the curtain prepares to fall on the 2025 edition of the Internazionali di Danza Sportiva, anticipation builds for the final day of competition in Rome. Tomorrow, 5th October, the spotlight will once again shine on the world’s top athletes with the much-awaited WDSF GrandSlam Latin Adult and WDSF World Open PD Standard Adult events, promising another day of elegance, rhythm, and world-class performance at the Eternal City. The audience, which has filled the venue with energy and passion since day one, is ready for a grand finale worthy of a week that has celebrated the very essence of DanceSport—its artistry, its discipline, and its power to unite through movement.
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Photos by: Azzurra Balistreri and Matteo Marchi
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