I was looking through USA Dance, Inc – Member Forum Facebook page the other day and just about fell out of my chair. There he was…in a white suit, wearing a huge afro wig, dancing to Abba’s Dancing Queen…Vladimir Karpov! So funny, so exciting, so different! I think I watched it at least 15 times. Then I went looking for more and wasn’t disappointed. Yes, it was Karpov once more. This time, he was sophisticated in a black suit and red tie, with a top hat, and the song was Ella Fitzgerald’s I Got Rhythm. So good!!! I loved it!!! I showed the two promos to my husband, Mike, and we immediately signed up for the Excelsior Cup. If the advertisement is that exciting, certainly the competition is going to be fun and different!!! Besides, it’s Karpov!
So, what is Excelsior Cup, and what did we sign up for? Excelsior Cup is a new USA Dance Challenge Competition, which will be held September 12-13, 2025, at the Newark Liberty International Airport Marriott, in Newark, New Jersey.
Vladimir Karpov has joined with Lisa Spencer, Daphna Locker, and Renata Shvarts to form a well-established and experienced team that is clearly thinking outside the box for this one. They are promising a great two days of USA Dance competition, which will include World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) Under-21 Standard and Latin, and Senior II and III Standard and Latin events, as well as International Open Latin and Standard events. But the crowning jewel, or should I say medal, will be the WDSF World Championship Show Dance Latin event! Yes, you read correctly…Excelsior Cup is hosting a World Championship event; something that hasn’t been done in the United States in years.
“The Excelsior Cup is different because it is the first-ever United States host of the WDSF World Championship in Show Dance Latin,” said Karpov. “What sets it apart is our showcasing the current vice champions representing the United States.” Of course, he is talking about USA Dance’s own Kairat Algadaev & Julia Seleznyov, who won the silver medal at last year’s World Championships. Is this their year? “This competition will allow people from the tri-state area to witness our very own couple performing in this international event.”
Karpov has been wanting to host a major WDSF competition for years, and was inspired by the last competitions in Dresden and Romania. He ensured that the timing and location of this particular World Championship event were perfect. “September allows international teams to travel after summer breaks,” explained Karpov. “The New York area—specifically Newark, New Jersey—was chosen for its global accessibility, vibrant dance culture, and symbolic significance as a gateway to the United States for world-class talent.”
The excitement doesn’t stop there. When you host a world-level competition, things should be a bit over-the-top, so the organizers are holding a Saturday Evening Dinner Gala, featuring the World Championship Show Dance finals. Performances will include breathtaking dances by former World Champions, Aka Modebadze & Gvantsa Tsikhelashvili and Artur Balandin & Anna Salita, internationally acclaimed couples who are expected to light up the stage and the audience. Ideally tables are reserved with dinner, but there will also be some spectator-only seating. All are invited, but seats are expected to fill up quickly.
So, what else do we know about this competition? The Newark Liberty International Airport Marriott might sound familiar to many competitors. It is the same hotel that hosts The MAC every January. (The 2026 Mac Regional will be held January 17-19. Stay tuned for more information, as the event draws near.) The organizers have arranged for a great rate of $169 per night for Excelsior Cup. Plus, there is free airport transportation, and the hotel is convenient to the Path Train, Amtrak, local taxi services, and numerous dining opportunities.
We also know that an impressive international judging panel is standing by for this event:
- Petr Horáček – Slovakia
- Jeffrey van Meerkerk – Netherlands
- Gianita Bigazzi – Lesotho
- Valdis Skutans – Latvia
- Violeta Yankova Yaneva – Bulgaria
- Sergiu Luca – Germany
- Pavel Sluka – Czech Republic
- Nguyen Khanh Thi – Vietnam
- Ruslan Vysotskyi – Ukraine
- Alan Winter – Denmark
- Irina Trebunskaya – United States
- Yelena Vesnovskaya – United States
Along with excellent adjudicators come exciting prospects. After the competition concludes, the next morning will bring dancers new opportunities. Bright and early, a hotel shuttle will leave for the Basic Ballroom Dance Studio on Staten Island, and those willing to spend an extra day will enjoy a top-notch dance camp full of lessons, drills, exercises, and rounds. However, Karpov warned, “There have been a good number of sign-ups already.” Time is running out if you want to take advantage of this one.
“The Excelsior Cup is more than just a dance competition,” summarized Karpov. “It’s a high-energy, international celebration of athleticism, artistry, and culture… Whether you’re a dancer, coach, judge, or fan, you’ll experience world-class talent, global diversity, access and inspiration, and a historic moment…It’s all happening just outside of New York City, making it as accessible as it will be unforgettable.”
But what about the posts? Will there be more? Just as I was writing this…to my surprise another one popped up! This one shows Barbie (Renata Shvarts) and Ken (Karpov) driving in a car to Aqua’s Barbie Girl. Have you missed these posts? Here are the links:
- Dancing Queen (my favorite)
- I Got Rhythm (my second favorite)
- Barbie Girl
While you are at it, check out the other gorgeous posts that the Excelsior Cup organizers have put up on the Excelsior Facebook Page. I’m a little partial to the post featuring the Seniors set to “South Pacific’s Some Enchanted Evening, but what can I say?
I guess there is only one more thing to know about this competition. Might we see Karpov dancing at the Excelsior Cup, September 12-13? The answer came with a smile from an anonymous source, “We are working on this!”
I guess I will find out in September! See you at the Excelsior Cup, September 12-13!! One thing for sure…It will be different, and this DIFFERENT IS SO GOOD!
