And just like that…it was over!
For a year, our USA Dance Athletes have been Waltzing, Cha Cha-ing, Tango-ing, and Bolero-ing. They have practiced, taken countless lessons, competed at qualifying events, and danced…hard! All this to compete at the 2025 USA Dance National Ballroom DanceSport Championships, March 28-30. Was it worth it? OH YES!!!!
The USA Dance National DanceSport Championships returned to the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Downtown Hotel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for 2025, and it exceeded all expectations. This year’s team of organizers, led by President Chuck Garrett and seasoned professionals Renata Shvarts and Daphna Locker, hosted over 700 competitors, aged 8 to 80, from across the United States, including Hawaii. The competition was packed with excitement and energy.
Those who attended the 2024 Nationals once again enjoyed their time at the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Downtown Hotel. The hotel featured a large ballroom that accommodated a 40’x80’ dance floor, room to walk around, a spacious dais, and ample seating. Dancers could warm up on the large practice floor and then walk across the hall to the main ballroom unless they were distracted by the fabulous vendors. Additionally, there was a separate social dance and workshop floor, as well as roomy changing areas.
Vendors included three excellent hair and makeup companies – Love Image Studio by Kris, Lashes and Brushes, and Envy Image Studio. Former USA Dance competitor Maurice Algarra of MemMaurice captured beautiful moments with his photographs and videography support. Plus, Showtime Dance Shoes came fully stocked for dance footwear requirements, and Dance Hidez and Perlina Dance Designs presented their ballroom gowns and Latin/Rhythm dresses.
These vendors were all kept busy. However, the booth that stole the show when the dancers were not competing was the USA Dance Consignment Shop. Dresses, dance shirts and pants, shoes, sparkles and spangles were everywhere. Dancers could be seen dropping off, searching through, admiring, bartering, trying on, and making purchases from the moment the shop opened in the morning until it closed each evening. The ladies who ran this year’s shop never sat down. They ensured that everyone walked with a great deal and a smile.
Evening social dancing was available for those seeking a break from the competition, and many took advantage of the workshops offered throughout the weekend.
- Standard – Instructors Egor Bezukladnikov & Irene Lee
- Latin – Instructor Aleh Kulyba
- Smooth – Instructor Alex Romanov & Anna Blagodyreva
- Rhythm – Instructor Amanda Wolf
Dancers who competed at the 2025 USA Dance National DanceSport Championship were required to pre-qualify at USA Dance competitions held throughout the year. They then competed at their qualified levels — Pre-Bronze, Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Open to the Championship level – and in different age groups — Pre-Teens, Juniors, Youth, Adult, and Seniors through Senior V! The majority of the dancers fell into the Amateur-Amateur category, but there were also Professional-Amateurs, Solo Proficiencies, Teacher-Students, and Professionals! The dances included International Standard and Latin, American Smooth and Rhythm, 10-Dance, 9-Dance, and Show Dances, as well as Night Club dances. Add to that a very loud and exciting College Team Parade, Match, and Formation Team Competition.
Activities in the main ballroom commenced on Friday morning and continued late into each night through Sunday. The floor was a flurry of activity, and there was never a pause. Dancers stretched and practiced until they were lined up in the on-deck area. They then excitedly rolled out to showcase their beautiful costumes as they took their places, and the music signaled the start of their events.
There was not a moment to lose; the schedule was tight and needed to be adhered to.
Despite long hours, the team of stalwart adjudicators enjoyed the beautiful performances, made their selections, and prepared for what was next. Their scores were then combined to determine the placements for each event and determined the 2025 United States National DanceSport Champions.
The 2025 Nationals’ panel of judges led by Chair Dan Calloway and Co-Chair Patti Panebianco included United States Adjudicators:
- Inna Brayer (New York)
- Hannah Cole (New Mexico)
- Bonnie Diaz (New York)
- Andrey Dragunov (California)
- Viktoriya Drubetskaya (New York)
- Dana Edwards (Ohio)
- Shawn Fisher (Idaho)
- Jami Josephson-Chace (New Jersey)
- Vladimir Karpov (New York)
- Anastasiia Krivosheeva (California)
- Christopher Spalding (Indiana)
- Alexander Spencer (South Carolina)
- Yelena Vesnovsky (New York)
- Yuehwern Yih (Indiana)
- Sami Yli-Piipari (Georgia)
The panel also included International Adjudicators:
- Arunas Bizokas (Lithuania)
- Elena Krifuks (Ukraine)
- Daria Sereda (Italy)
- Jeffrey Van Meerkerk (Netherlands)
- Duarte Viera (Portugal)
Rounding out the National Officials were:
- Van Hoang – Co-Emcee
- Ricky Semlitz – Co-Emcee
- Todd Wakefield – Music Director
- Alison Wakefield – Assistant Music Director
- Daniel Dilley – Scrutineer
- Ben Haut – Assistant Scrutineer
- Daphna Locker – Registrar and the lady who took all our questions
- Rosemary O’Connell Assistant Registrar
- Genova Morel – Deck Captain
- Kevin Booth – Deck Captain
- Liz Bradley – Clean Sport Director
- Taylor Kasinkas – Awards Coordinator
- Michael Kasinkas – Award Coordinator
- Myra Coffield – DanceSport Rules Official – Lead
- Margot Garnick – DanceSport Rules Official
- Sharon Jones – DanceSport Rules Official
- Andrea Mirenda – DanceSport Rules Official
The entire dance-filled weekend was fun and exciting, featuring friends, strong competitions, cheering crowds, great music, billowing gowns, polished tailsuits and tuxes, fun skirts, crazy Latin shirts, trophies, and those ever-important medals.
The final awards, revealed both new and some very familiar faces, including:
Amateur Adult Champions:
- Yevgenii Taraniuk & Laura Makinen – International 10-Dance
- Justin Chiou & Hannah Chiou – International Standard
- Kairat Algadaev & Julia Seleznyov – International Latin
- Kairat Algadaev & Julia Seleznyov – International Latin Showdance
- Justin Chiou & Hannah Chiou– American Smooth
- Jasper Yu & Alison Tseng – American Rhythm.
- Jasper Yu & Alison Tseng – American Smooth Showdance.
Professional Champions:
- Denis Filonenko & Anna Sergeenko – International Standard
- Edgaras Brazas & Tessa Murphy – International Latin
- Alexander Romanov & Anna Blagodyreva – American Smooth
- Denis Filonenko & Anna Sergeenko – American Rhythm
Collegiate Teams Champions:
- University of Minnesota – Top School
- University of Hawaii – Highest Point Average
For a complete list of the 2025 United States National Champions, see the results carousel below or go to the USA Dance 2025 Competition Calendar page. For the listing of all placements at Nationals, see the O2CM Results.
After midnight on Sunday, as the last dancers left the floor, the final Champions were crowned, the music softened, and the lights dimmed, everyone could say that the 2025 USA Dance National DanceSport Championships was a highly successful event. Congratulations and thank you to Chuck Garrett, Renata Shvarts, and Daphna Locker. You and your team of Volunteers did it again! Best of luck to our Champions who will be competing at the WDSF World Championships.
Did you miss it? Don’t miss it next year. It is time to get qualified! As a reminder, there are many USA Dance competitions already in place for the rest of this year.
- Helluva Dance Competition in Atlanta, Georgia – April 12
- Desert Challenge in Las Vegas, Nevada – April 25-26
- Florida Sunshine Challenge in Tallahassee, Florida – May 16-18
- Kansas City Dance Classic, in Kansas City, Kansas – June 28-29
- Excelsior Cup Challenge, in Newark, NJ – September 12-13
- Midwestern DanceSport Regionals – October TBD
- Hot Ballroom DanceSport Challenge in Los Angeles, CA – December 5-7
- The MAC in Newark, NJ – January 17-19
Start now because the 2026 USA Dance National DanceSport Championships are scheduled to return to the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Downtown Hotel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, March 27-29, 2026.
Don’t let another year pass!
Are you reading American Dancer? You should!
American Dancer is keeping up with the growing list of competitions. Check out the 2025 USA Dance Competition Calendar.
