WDSF World Caribbean Dances Championships 2025 – Day 1 Highlights from Istanbul

Istanbul, Türkiye, Saturday 6^th December – The opening day of the WDSF World Caribbean Dances Championships 2025 delivered everything promised and more: electrifying performances, a crowded arena, and a truly global celebration of Caribbean dance culture. With athletes and adjudicators representing 13 nationalities and an audience of around 500 enthusiastic spectators, the atmosphere inside the Green Park Pendik Hotel was nothing short of exhilarating.

The day unfolded with an intense programme of competitions, keeping the audience fully engaged from the early rounds through to the decisive battles that would come later in the evening. As athletes advanced through the stages and the excitement continued to grow, the anticipation for the final rounds became increasingly palpable.

The crowd’s energy became one of the defining features of Day 1. Spectators waved flags, cheered loudly for every athlete, and reacted to the performances with genuine emotion. The support for both local and international competitors created a sense of unity in the arena, and it was truly inspiring to witness such passion and enthusiasm for DanceSport. At times, the audience’s reactions lifted the atmosphere to near-theatrical levels, transforming each routine into a shared experience between athletes and fans.

Meanwhile, the Kiss & Cry area delivered some of the most memorable moments of the day. From joyful laughter to emotional tears, the space captured the raw essence of competition — hope, relief, pride, and camaraderie. Several reactions became instant crowd favourites, with athletes embracing teammates, celebrating personal bests, or simply letting the emotion of the moment wash over them. These scenes perfectly encapsulated the spirit of Caribbean dances: expressive, passionate, and deeply human.

Highlights and Key Results of the day, Saturday 6^th December

Day 1 unfolded with an extensive programme of Salsa Shine competitions, setting the tone for an action-packed weekend. Categories such as Solo Female Junior, Solo Female Adult, Solo Female Senior, Solo Male Junior and Solo Male Adult showcased close to 300 athletes, many travelling from different continents to compete for a WDSF world title.

With so many categories taking place throughout the day, the programme demonstrated both the diversity and depth of talent within the Caribbean Dances community. Among the divisions featured on Saturday were:

WDSF World Championship Salsa Shine Solo Male Adult

The Salsa Shine Solo Male Adult final brought together a remarkably accomplished group of athletes, led by Italy’s Tommaso Mancini, whose record already included multiple outstanding performances. Mancini arrived in Istanbul as the defending Salsa Shine World Champion from Guadalajara 2024 and added yet another crown earlier in the day, reinforcing his status as one of the most versatile and dominant figures in both Salsa and Bachata disciplines. Türkiye’s Ege Şen, competing on home soil, came into the final fresh from securing a superb World Championship silver medal in Salsa Shine Adult, confirming his rapid rise within the category. Completing the top three was Italy’s Thomas Crucianelli, whose strong international résumé and consistent performances across both Salsa and Bachata has positioned him as one of the most reliable competitors in major finals. The remaining finalists, Adrian Oliver Arredondo (ESP), Emre Şen (TUR), Francesco Ruotolo (ITA) and Mertcan Çakar (TUR), added depth and personality to a line-up that represented both seasoned international experience and the emergence of new talent on the world stage.

1. Tommaso Mancini (ITA)
2. Ege Sen (TUR)
3. Thomas Crucianelli (ITA)
4. Adrian Oliver Arredondo (ESP)
5. Emre Şen (TUR)
6. Francesco Ruotolo (ITA)
7. Mertcan Cakar (TUR)

WDSF World Championship Salsa Shine Solo Female Adult

The Salsa Shine Solo Female Adult final featured a world-class field led by Spain’s Carmen Sanz Jiménez, who arrived in Istanbul as the reigning World Champion after her victory in Guadalajara 2024. Her triumph in Istanbul allowed her to successfully defend her title, adding to a résumé that also includes a World Championship silver in Bachata Shine from Guadalajara. Italy’s Sara Sablone, a consistently formidable presence on the international stage, entered the event with an impressive collection of world titles of her own, notably in Bachata Shine Adult Solo and Duo, alongside multiple podium finishes in Salsa Shine, which she further enriched with a new world silver medal in Istanbul. Competing at home, Türkiye’s Ceren Abbas strengthened her status as one of the nation’s rising stars, earning a World Championship bronze and adding it to her recent silver in Bachata Shine Duo Female on the same day. The remaining finalists, Oyku Eroglu, Alina Turcan, Miriam Abagnale (ITA) and Elisa Malucchi, contributed to a final of exceptional depth, showcasing a blend of established international experience and emerging talent that underscored the growing competitiveness of the category.

1. Carmen Sanz Jimenez (ESP)
2. Sara Sablone (ITA)
3. Ceren Abbas (TUR)
4. Oyku Eroglu (TUR)
5. Alina Turcan (TUR)
6. Miriam Abagnale (ITA)
7. Elisa Malucchi (ITA)

Among the most touching scenes of the Kiss and Cry’s day was the reaction of Carmen Sanz, who successfully defended her Salsa Shine Solo Female Adult world title, repeating her triumph from last year in Guadalajara. Her emotional celebration quickly became one of the most shared moments on social media.

WDSF World Championship Bachata Shine Duo Female Adult

The Bachata Shine Duo Female Adult final showcased an exciting blend of established promise and emerging talent, led by Türkiye’s Naz & Güneş, who clinched the world title on home soil. Their victory in Istanbul marks a defining moment in their competitive trajectory, solidifying their position as one of the most dynamic duos within the discipline. Close behind came fellow Turkish pair Ceren & Ecemsu, whose silver-medal performance reaffirmed their growing reputation and demonstrated the impressive depth of the host nation’s talent in Bachata Shine. Italy’s Chiaraluce Luchetti completed the podium with a strong and expressive routine that earned her a well-deserved world bronze. The remaining finalists, Spain’s Duo Tania & Ruth, Türkiye’s Alina & Defne, and Slovakia’s Liana & Sofia, contributed to a vibrant and diverse final, enriching the category with a variety of styles and interpretations that highlighted the international reach of Bachata Shine.

1. Naz & Gunes (TUR)
2. Ceren & Ecemsu (TUR)
3. Chiaraluce Luchetti (ITA)
4. Duo Tania & Ruth (ESP)
5. Alina & Defne (TUR)
6. Liana & Sofia (SVK)

WDSF World Championship Bachata Adult

The evening segment belonged fully to Bachata Adult Couples, the headline event of Day 1. After four rounds of exceptionally high-level dancing, the final emerged as a showcase of precision, musicality and partner charisma, with a particularly strong Italian presence on the podium.

The final brought together a remarkably accomplished Italian-dominated line-up, headed by the reigning world champions Lorenzo Vivirito & Rita Lonardo, who successfully defended their title in Istanbul. Their victory adds to an already exceptional record that includes world crowns in both Bachata and Salsa On One from Guadalajara 2024, as well as a silver in Salsa On Two, confirming them as one of the most versatile and consistently successful duos on the WDSF circuit. Finishing in second place, Francesco Ruotolo & Aurora Giusti continued to build an impressive competitive profile, adding a world silver in Bachata and podium result to their palmares. The bronze medal went to Leonardo Gemmi - Elisa Malucchi, whose podium finish in Istanbul highlights their steady rise among the discipline’s top international contenders. Completing the final were fellow Italians Tommaso Mancini & Aurora Tomassi and Leonardo Aluigi & Laura Pallari, along with Spain’s Jairo Hernández Herrera & Vanessa Arce Moreno, all of whom contributed to a thrilling and high-standard showdown that showcased the expanding depth of talent within the Bachata Adult category.

1. Lorenzo Vivirito - Rita Lonardo (ITA)
2. Francesco Ruotolo - Aurora Giusti (ITA)
3. Leonardo Gemmi - Elisa Malucchi (ITA)
4. Tommaso Mancini - Aurora Tomassi (ITA)
5. Leonardo Aluigi - Laura Pallari (ITA)
6. Jairo Hernandez Herrera - Vanessa Arce Moreno (ESP)

The champions, Lorenzo & Rita, delivered a performance that not only captivated the judges and crowd but also allowed them to retain the world title they had won last year in Guadalajara. Their reaction in the Kiss & Cry was another unforgettable highlight.

Between the categories unfolded over the first competition day we can also find: WDSF World Championship Salsa Shine Solo Male and Female Junior, Solo Female Senior, WDSF World Championship Bachata Shine Duo and Solo Female Junior, and WDSF Open Bachata Shine Female and Male Juvenile. You can check all the results of the day here.

An Unforgettable First Edition in Türkiye

A milestone moment for the local DanceSport scene. From a beautifully executed Opening Ceremony, where the athletes paraded under their national flags as the hall filled with cheering spectators, to a warm and passionate audience, the day featured countless memorable scenes, including humorous Kiss & Cry moments and spontaneous celebrations on and off the floor. The fusion of Caribbean rhythms with Turkish hospitality brought a unique cultural flair, drawing enthusiastic applause at every introduction and making it clear that Istanbul was embracing the event with remarkable pride.

Reflecting on the success of the opening day, WDSF President Shawn Tay praised both the event and its significance for the future of Caribbean Dances within DanceSport:

“The passion of the athletes, the commitment of the organisers, and the enthusiasm of the Turkish audience have created an atmosphere worthy of a World Championship.”

Looking Ahead to Day 2, Sunday 7^th December

The final day of the championship promises an equally thrilling line-up, with the highly awaited Salsa on One and on Two categories, and multiple Bachata Shine Solo and Duo competitions set to bring the 2025 edition to a spectacular close. Fans worldwide can continue enjoying the championship via the official WDSF livestream on the second competition day. Stay tuned, Istanbul has only just begun writing its Caribbean dance story.

Photographs by Konacoglu Art

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Published on 10 December 2025