Together in success and failure: Andrea Roccatti and Julia Mozdyniewicz on the Edge of History Heading into the 2026 WDSF Rome GrandSlam

As the WDSF GrandSlam series prepares to return to Rome at the PalaPellicone this October, Italy’s premier Standard couple opens up about cross-border sacrifices, lifelong legacies and future ambitions.

For elite DanceSport athletes, the journey to the top is rarely a straight line. It is paved with thousands of hours of unseen repetition, cross-border relocations, and the relentless pursuit of perfection. Few couples embody this relentless drive quite like Italy’s Andrea Roccatti and Julia Mozdyniewicz.

With their sights firmly set on the upcoming fourth stop of the WDSF GrandSlam series at the Internazionali di Danza Sportiva in Rome, the duo stands closer than ever to a historic milestone: their very first GrandSlam podium. Following a career-best 4th-place finish in Nanjing last July, the prospect of achieving this breakthrough in their home country adds a profound emotional weight to the autumn showdown.

The WDSF team caught up with Andrea and Julia to explore their unique origins, the hurdles of building a cross-border partnership, and what it truly takes to chase history under the Roman spotlight.

Roots and Legacies: From Polish National Stages to Italy’s Top Flight

Every partnership begins with a spark, but for Andrea and Julia, those sparks were ignited in entirely different worlds.

"I was actually almost born in the DanceSport world," Andrea says, reflecting on his upbringing. "My parents are very well-known teachers in Italy, so since I was a child I was always with them at competitions and in the dance school. I used to try to copy my father while he was performing or teaching, always saying I wanted to compete just like the dancers I saw back then. I started in a class full of kids at five, and my first competition came at nine."

Together in success and failure: Andrea Roccatti and Julia Mozdyniewicz on the Edge of History Heading into the 2026 WDSF Rome GrandSlam

For Julia, the path crossed through family inspiration and a relentless early work ethic in Poland. "I started competitive dance when I was almost nine," she recalls. "It was my older sister Marta who showed DanceSport to me. I always went to her training sessions and competitions, and I wanted to do it too. I danced with my first partner for seven years, and we were Polish Champions across all age categories, traveling all over Europe. I remember that time as a mix of endless travel, fun, and early success."

Together in success and failure: Andrea Roccatti and Julia Mozdyniewicz on the Edge of History Heading into the 2026 WDSF Rome GrandSlam

That foundation shifted in 2021 when Julia made the bold, life-changing decision to turn a new page: switching her sporting allegiance to Italy, moving countries, and starting a fresh chapter on the competitive floor.

"The decision to start dancing with an Italian dancer and represent Italy was made immediately during our very first tryout in Warsaw," Julia explains. "It was early August, and we had just four weeks to prepare for the Italian Championships in Standard and Ten Dance. It was a totally crazy time, but we pulled it off, winning the Italian Absolute Championship in the Youth category."

The transition demanded immense sacrifice, juggling school, navigating two countries, and hard training schedules. Yet, it yielded immediate dividends, highlighted by a spectacular bronze medal for Italy at the U21 Ten Dance World Championship in Rotterdam.

The Spark of Synergy: Finding the Perfect Fit

When their paths officially crossed in 2023, the chemistry between Andrea and Julia was instantaneous.

"I was contacted by a teacher while searching for a new partner after winning the World Championship in Ten Dance in Brastislava, looking to transition my competitive career exclusively to Standard," Andrea notes. For Julia, the invitation was an unmissable step forward: "I received a message from my coaches about a tryout with Andrea. Given his phenomenal dance skills and results, I considered it a massive opportunity for my development."

From their very first steps together, the partnership clicked with rare precision.

Together in success and failure: Andrea Roccatti and Julia Mozdyniewicz on the Edge of History Heading into the 2026 WDSF Rome GrandSlam

"Since the first training sessions I felt that with Julia, I could express myself completely through my lead," Andrea shares. "She understood and followed me perfectly right from the start." Julia echoes the sentiment: "I felt completely comfortable and safe. I trusted him entirely, and I was immensely proud to dance by his side."

“Since the first training sessions I felt that with Julia, I could express myself completely”

The ultimate proof came just two weeks after they began training daily: they entered their first competition together, the International Open Standard Adult in Molfetta, and they won gold.

Together in success and failure: Andrea Roccatti and Julia Mozdyniewicz on the Edge of History Heading into the 2026 WDSF Rome GrandSlam

Breaking Barriers: Entering the Global Elite

For years, breaking into the top tier of the Adult category is a test of psychological endurance. For Andrea and Julia, the turning point crystallized at the 2025 WDSF GrandSlam Standard in Wuxi, followed closely by a phenomenal run at The World Games.

Yet, the emotional peak arrived at the 2025 World Championship Standard Adult in Sibiu.

"That day, we truly understood that after so many years of work and training, 'we were there', in the top 6 of the world," they reflect. "In the Adult category, unlike Youth or Junior, you wait and work for the final for years without any guarantee that you will ever make it. Not everyone reaches it, even if everyone dreams about it. When you step into that final for the very first time, you need time just to process it. The pride is indescribable."

"That day, we truly understood that after so many years of work and training, 'we were there', in the top 6 of the world,"

Balancing the intense, physical, and mentally grueling demands of the WDSF GrandSlam circuit requires a unified front. "We train non-stop all year round," they explain. "At these major competitions, we don't just want to show good technique or nice choreography; we want people to feel our emotions through our movements and expressions. We are together in success and in failure."

“We are together in success and in failure."

Home-Court Glory: Chasing History in Rome

Now, the focus shifts entirely to the Italian capital. For Andrea and Julia, competing at the PalaPellicone is the emotional anchor of their competitive calendar.

"We love it, and we look forward to this event all year long," they state enthusiastically. "The atmosphere in Rome is fantastic, and the crowd's energy is unmatched. Last year, the noise from the Italian fans when we stepped onto the floor made us feel deeply loved. This year, we feel even more prepared, and we simply can't wait to perform at home."

“Last year, the noise from the Italian fans when we stepped onto the floor made us feel deeply loved. We can't wait to perform at home again this year"

With a career-high 4th-place finish already under their belts from the GrandSlam in Nanjing, they are getting closer to their goal.

"Stepping onto a WDSF GrandSlam podium for the first time here in Rome would be a dream," they conclude with quiet determination. "We have worked incredibly hard, we believe in it, and we are approaching this with patience. What we can promise is that we will give our absolute best. We feel ready!"

“What we can promise is that we will give our absolute best. We feel ready”

As the countdown to October 2-4 ticks down, Rome prepares to witness whether home advantage will finally propel Andrea Roccatti and Julia Mozdyniewicz into the Italian DanceSport history books.