USDSC 2005

USDSC Open Eclipsed by Embassy Ball

Report by: Didio Barrera

Last year it was Hurricane Frances that nearly put a damper on the USDSC, this year it was a political storm the size of Frances and an almost total eclipse of the international (Open U.S.) portion by the Embassy Ball. The closed USDSC competition went on as usual with all the anticipated thrills, but was the USDSC able to weather the storm when it came to the US Open events? To here my opinion and comments on this situation and how it all went click on my article entitled "The Elephant Who Sat in the Front Row."

So how was the US Open this year compared to the recent USDSC's? Many of the international competitors were missing and so too were the usual overseas adjudicators with their entourage of competitors. A number of adjudicators from outside the US were asked to come, including the whole Presidium of the WD&DSC and yes they brought some of their following with them but not enough to help fill this huge hall at the Diplomat Hotel.

The US Open events were held as usual but were not overcharged with world-class dancers. The Open Professional Latin for me was a re-run of the US National with a few couples missing. The winners were, as expected, Sergey Rypin & Elena Khvorova (modem | broadband) from Russia. Should they have won? Do they look cutting age or do they just looked like they were ready to go eat at a SOBE (South Beach) restaurant for lunch? If you want to know what I really think click on my article, "Mojito Por Favor!" If you want to see a proper report, click on Kenny McKechnie's name. Kenny was a former Open British Latin Champion.

The World Professional Classic Showdance was the biggest title awarded this year. Russia's Sergei Mikheev & Anastasia Sidoran (modem | broadband) took the cup home but if you were to ask me what I thought, I would say "Give Me Death" and if you are serious about knowing my thoughts then click on that quote. Wendy Johnson, a New Zealand Champion and Cabaret Judge for the Open British 2005, has an account of this competition. So click on her name and leave me alone.

Two other World Championships were held over the week. The World Mambo was won by Emmanuel Pierre-Antoine & Joanna Zacharewics (modem | broadband) who bested the U.S. Mambo Champions and last year's World Champions, Felipe & Carolina Telona (modem | broadband), who actually placed a disappointing third. You can read my report on this event by clicking on my article entitled, "It's a Small World After All!"

The World Cabaret Championship, that began with a semifinal round, had what was to me, surprise winners, Eric Luna & Georgia Ambarian (modem | broadband). You can read my report together with Edward Simon's, (a former U.S. Smooth Champion) comments in our "Thumbs Up & Thumbs Down" column.

The Open U.S. Professional Standard competition became the William Pino & Alessandra Bucciarelli show. This exciting Italian couple won the competition quite easily with no resistance. You can read my take on this event by clicking on my article "While the Cat's Away the Mice Will Play"

So there you have it. The best competitions at this year's USDSC for me were the U.S. National Championships which is exactly what the American Ballroom Company expected and wanted from their new version of the USDSC. You can read some of the major highlights of the competition by clicking on my article entitled "Closed U.S. Rocks."

I would also like to take my hat off to Mr. Wayne Eng for his first effort in running this monster of an event. Yes, I have always called this event a monster due to the complexity of running a competition of this prestige. One wrong swerve and everyone is up in arms. I have total confidence that Mr. Eng will do a good job in the years to come. I also want to thank him for the opportunity to watch and the privilege to adjudicate some of the USA's best.