2007 Las Vegas Showdown!
by Kris Suakjian
As a top teacher and a competing professional I would like to extend my thanks and congratulations to both Mikal Watkins an Maria Hansen.
Their competition (Vegas Showdown) exceeded my expectations in every way possible. From its start, both Mikal and Maria put together a first class event. Not only did they provide an astonishing panel of judges, they also attended to every one of the students needs, as well as the competing teachers who went non-stop dancing on the floor. Their attentiveness and willingness to make the competition better for the people involved, demonstrated the lengths they were willing to go to as organizers. And for that I thank them.
Wow, what a competition. For those of you reading this article, save the dates for next year, trust me its worth the trip.
Thanks again Mikal and Maria!
Heat / Winner Listing - Vegas Showdown 2007
Professional Rhythm
1st - Felipe Telona - Carolina Orlovsky-Telona
2nd - Michael Neil - Danielle Wilson
3rd - Kris Suakjian - Alicia Richardson
4th - Jeremy Pilling - Julie Goldman
5th - Azamat Evgamukov - Pamela Licht
6th - Ravio Morales - Katrina Mahoney
Professional Standard
1st - Mikhail Avdeev - Olga Tsikalyuk
2nd - Blaz Pocail - Inna Berlizyeva
3rd - Slawek Sochacki - Marzena Stachura
4th - Artem Plakhotnya - Gerdana Slavova
5th - Svyatoslov Stefanov - Melaina Larson
6th - Mark Nelson-Novak - Andrea Nelson-Novak
7th - Scott Dodson - Annica Menicutch
Professional Latin
1st - Thomas & Isabella Lewandowski
2nd - Roman Italyankin - Olga Kordevich
3rd - Leonid Proskurov - Alyona Proskrov
4th - Rosta Liduch - Petra Covancova
5th - Erwin Rybczynski - Iwona Rybczynska
6th - Ryan Reynolds - Cassaundra Spargur
7th - Michael Haefele - Martha Aguiniga
Professional Smooth
1st - Mayo Alanen - Lisa Vogel
2nd - Sergiy Shapoval - Liza Sith
3rd - (Not Given)
4th - Youriy Pavlov - Anna Shahbazyan
5th - Alex Matar - Shanna
6th - Profirio Landeros - Laeticia Santore
Heat 363 - Pro/Am Closed Bronze & Silver Standard Scholarship
1st - Meera Mehta - Blaz Pocajt
2nd - Lorena Bravo - Jonathan Atkinson
3rd - Etsuko Amagasa - Dariusz Michalski
4th - Debra Payton - Giacomo Agrello
5th - Amy Wu - Bill Zheng
6th - Betty Liu - Thomas Hicks
7th - Sue Van Wie - Jim Maranto
Heat 366 - Global A Open Rhythm Scholarship
1st - Karen Angell - Eddie Ares
2nd - Olivia Anderson - Forrest Vance
3rd - Pooja Mehta - Damir Karaman
4th - Lucinda Poston - Alfredo Horna
5th - Ivana Freeman - Kris Suakjian
6th - April Bonifatto - Tony Delgado
7th - Alex Harper - Martha Bradford
Heat 367 - Standard Open
1st - Susan Neiswander - Giacomo Agrello
2nd - Dara Campbell - Igor Suvorov
3rd - Carol Shen - Oleg Suvorov
Heat 369 - Global B Open Rhythm Scholarship
1st - Karen Angell - Eddie Ares
2nd - Olivia Anderson - Forrest Vance
3rd - Joan Goddard - Chris Johnston
4th - Lucinda Poston - Alfredo Orna
5th - Dave Taylor - Martha Bradford
Head 371 - Global B Standard Scholarship
1st - Susan Nieswander - Giacomo Agrello
2nd - Annie Liu - Mikhail Avdeev
3rd - Wendy Wu - Eddie Stutts
4th - Kathy Park - Jonathan Atkinson
5th - Bessie Chao - LuLei Zhao
6th - Carol Shen - Oleg Suvorov
Heat 599 - Amateur Open Latin
1st - Max Rublyuk - Sasha Alekseyva
2nd - Emron Grover - Natalie Wakefield
3rd - Klim Sinelnikov - Sveta
4th - Allen Genkin - Elena Krifkus
5th - Oleg Astakhov - Jenya Kanchukova
6th - Ricky Sun - Ashley Li
Heat 600 - Global B Open Smooth
1st - Karen Angell - Eddie Ares
2nd - Darla Davies - Jim Maranto
3rd - Sandy Seamans - Randy Ferguson
4th - Paige Riffle - Alex Azgrean
5th - Lucinda Poston - Alfredo Horna
6th - Marsha Kievit - Brian Nash
7th - Nick Lam - Josie Lopez
Heat 604 - Global B Open Latin Scholoarship
1st - Joan Goddard - Chris Johnston
2nd - Nancy Rapoport - Billy King
3rd - Pamela Derhake - Erwin Rybczynski
4th - Lucinda Poston - Alfredo Horna
5th - Barbara Willis - Eddie Ares
6th - Haggitt Mary Jane - Artem Plakhotnyi
7th - Brian Blocher - Inna Berlizyeva