A New Chapter Begins: The Return of Egor Petrov and Daria Petrova as AIN to WDSF
Egor Petrov and Daria Selezneva Petrova discovered their shared passion for dance early in life at the same local club, where a natural connection quickly blossomed into a partnership that would shape their careers. Since making their international WDSF debut in 2019 in Bucharest, Romania, they have captivated audiences and judges alike with their expressive performances and emotional depth, securing top positions in major competitions across Europe and the Middle East.
Their dedication and skill led them to podium finishes at prestigious events such as the 2021 International Open in Dubai, the World Open (new series) in Timisoara, Sibiu, Lisbon in 2020 and their participation in the 2019 GrandSlam in Moscow, demonstrating both technical mastery and the unique chemistry that defines their dancing.
Following their return to the WDSF circuit as AIN (Individual Neutral Athletes) at the European Championship PD Latin through the Internazionali di Danza Sportiva in Rome, held for the first time this year during the first weekend of October, WDSF took the opportunity to have a talk with the couple and ask them about their story, their inspirations, and their vision for the future of DanceSport in an exclusive interview.
A quick overview to start: how did you come together as a couple, and what sparked the connection?
Egor: We’d known each other since childhood and somehow always felt like we could dance together. We grew up in the same club. I am six years older than Daria and always danced in the older categories. When we both moved up to Amateur, I immediately suggested we team up. Daria wasn’t convinced at first because she had a successful previous partnership, but within two months, she agreed, and it paid off greatly. We became National Champions and won other global competitions.
Looking back at your first WDSF competitions in 2019, what do you remember and what did you learn in 2019–2021?
Egor & Daria: 2019–2021 was a very busy time. We travelled to WDSF tournaments abroad almost every week, sometimes even two tournaments in a single weekend. There were constant training camps and championships. We immediately qualified for all World Open amateur finals, and within three months reached the top 25 in the WDSF rankings. We felt the love of the audience and were incredibly happy to dance abroad, as our style is full of emotion, something that truly resonates across Europe, where we have always felt genuinely welcomed and supported.
What was your competitive objective in those years, were The World Games in mind?
Egor & Daria: Our goal was always to reach the very top, to challenge ourselves at the highest level. We were energized and ready to perform at major international competitions, continually learning and improving with each tournament.
What do you consider your biggest sporting achievement so far, and why?
Egor & Daria: Becoming National Champions and winning other global competitions are certainly at the top of our achievements. It’s not just about the medals, it’s the recognition of our unique style, emotional depth, and the years of dedication we have poured into our craft.
This is your first WDSF competition under AIN (Individual Neutral Athletes) status. What does it mean to you to compete again in this environment?
Egor & Daria: When we qualified for the European Championships in Rome, we felt at home again. Seeing almost an entire crowd of Italians supporting us was incredibly moving.
It was emotional and proud to dance again in the WDSF, where we both grew up.
How did you prepare mentally and physically for this new start?
Egor & Daria: We focused on maintaining our passion and discipline, combining rigorous training with mental preparation. WDSF provides a high-quality sporting environment that motivates all athletes to perform their best.
From your perspective, what positive aspects does returning to WDSF bring for you, and for other Neutral athletes, on a sporting, professional, and human level?
Egor & Daria: WDSF gives a sense of great sport to all athletes. The motivation, organization, and professionalism make it possible to compete at the highest level while building lasting connections across the international DanceSport community.
Why did you decide to move into Professional DanceSport (PD) Latin?
Egor & Daria: We turned professional because we believe that the main value and distinctive feature of our dance is to show the dance between a man and a woman. Our dance is filled with very strong emotional moments, and we draw inspiration from our life experiences. We want to convey the full range of emotions we experience with each other through our dances. We believe that in the Professional DanceSport, people dance more with emotion, feelings, and sensations than in amateurs. Because amateurs emphasize more sport, a sense of activity and competition, while in the Professional DanceSport, dance can be shown in a deeper, more interesting, and more vibrant way, in terms of the relationship between a man and a woman. As a married couple with extensive experience, we can perfectly demonstrate this in Professional. We believe that in PD people dance more meaningfully, with a greater sense of emotion and sensuality.
What are your short and mid-term objectives in this category?
Egor & Daria: Our goal is to reach the highest level in Professional DanceSport and eventually become WDSF PD World Champions. We are grateful to have many fans and followers who support us and share our passion for DanceSport. Through our performances, we hope to inspire more people to discover the beauty of DanceSport and to contribute to its promotion and its growing popularity both in our country and around the world. We believe we can carry this title with pride and dignity, expressing our distinctive style, emotion, and depth of dance that define us as a couple.
Today, social media is key in sport. With such strong profiles, how do you manage it and integrate it into your life as athletes?
Egor & Daria: We understand that you can be a good dancer, but people may never truly discover your work unless you share it on social media. Today, it’s an essential way to make your art visible, to stay connected with audiences, and to share your journey as an athlete. Social media provides recognition, opportunities, and support from the community. That’s why we are actively developing our media presence. We spend a lot of time each day on media projects, and so far, this approach has been very rewarding.
What messages or feelings do you aim to convey to your community when you compete or train?
Egor & Daria: Our message to all our followers is that dancing is more than just a sport and a hobby. It's a lifestyle. It's an image of beauty that you carry everywhere.
What advice you may give to other athletes who want to be as successful as you in social media?
Egor & Daria: A tip for developing social media: don't be shy or lazy about sharing your live dance experience, your emotions, your failures, or your victories. Subscribers enjoy everything that happens to you. They're interested in watching not only your constant victories, but also your pain, defeats, and fatigue, after all, that's real.
No one is interested in just looking at a pretty picture. Everyone wants to see life and watch your page like a mini-series.
One practical piece of advice for young dancers who follow you?
Egor & Daria: To the young dancers who follow us, we wish them to never stop, to always develop, to find their own way, to find their own style, their own team, their own audience, to not be afraid to be different, to not be afraid to be interesting.
What message would you like to share with the WDSF community about the opportunity to compete again in WDSF and what you hope to contribute in this new chapter?
We are very happy to dance again in the WDSF and want to thank the Federation for the opportunity. It has been our Federation since childhood, and we wish it continued growth. With our couple's presence in WDSF, we want to bring a touch of beauty, aesthetics, and individuality. We want to imbue this Federation with our creativity and beauty.
The couple’s return to WDSF as AIN reflects the Federation’s commitment to keeping sport open and inclusive. WDSF President Shawn Tay warmly welcomed them back:
Their talent and passion enrich our community and remind us that DanceSport knows no boundaries: it connects people, fosters respect, and celebrates diversity.
Egor and Daria’s story shows how DanceSport continues to bring people together, creating shared experiences on and off the floor. Their return is a reminder of what makes this sport unique, its ability to unite, inspire, and keep the focus on the beauty of dance itself.
You can follow the couple on Instagram:
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Leipzig Images by Helmut Roland: [email protected]
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