2017 Championship Events
Meet The 47th Grand National Dancesport Championship Judges
The 47th Grand National Dancesport Championships will be coming to Hollywood, Florida on October 26-28 for a weekend of ballroom dancing and ! The Grand National Dancesport Championships is the only NDCA Championship Event in South Florida. This year's event will be held at the seaside Diplomat Resort and Spa in Hollywood. Ballroom dancers from student to pro level from across the nation will put on their dance shoes and most extravagant ballroom dancewear for the 4-day competition.
From documentaries like Mad Hot Ballroom to popular television programs like Dancing With the Stars, ballroom dancing has surged in popularity and the Grand National Dancesport Championships is a chance to see the nation's best professionals and amateurs in action!
Dancers, judges, and promoters Cassandra and Peter Schneider will be coordinating the event. Adjudicator and Master of Ceremonies John Swick will host Grand National Dancesport Championships’ hundreds of competitors in the 47-year competition.
The world-class competitors at this year’s event will be evaluated by a panel of distingushed judges:
Adele Hyland, Adjudicator
Ms. Hyland is a former Professional Ballroom Dancer whose titles include 4 Australian National Championships. She also represented Australia in 3 World Championships.
Bill Sparks, Adjudicator
Mr. Sparks is a former Professional Ballroom Dancer whose titles include 4 United States National Latin Championships. He was also a 2-time finalist at the World Latin Championships.
Colin Hillary, Adjudicator
Mr. Hillary is the president of the American Dancesport Organization. He and his wife Joy are former Australasian and South Pacific Amateur Latin Champions, and Australian Imperial Professional Latin Champions.
Esther Don, Adjudicator and Invigilator
Ms. Don is a former Professional Ballroom Dancer, coach, and teacher. She authored the American Style syllabus and has been teaching ballroom dance since 1976.
Eugene Katsevman, Adjudicator
Mr. Katsevman is a former professional dancer who accomplished an 11-win undefeated tenure as the Amateur Latin United States National Champion. He is the owner of Brooklyn DanceSport Club in Brooklyn, NY.
John Swick, Adjudicator and Master of Ceremonies
Mr. Swick has more than 40 years of experience in dance and performance. He has won 8 National Championship dance titles and is a faculty member at Oklahoma City University’s School of Dance.
Keith Todd, Adjudicator
Mr. Todd’s dance career began at the age of 8. He was a UK Ballroom and Latin Junior Champion, a US Rising Star Professional Ballroom Champion, and a repeat finalist in nearly every major US Professional Latin Championship competition. He is the founder, editor and publisher of Dance Beat Newspaper.
Kristiina Ilo, Adjudicator
Ms. Ilo is a former professional ballroom dancer whose titles include 12 Estonian Ballroom, Latin and 10-Dance championships, 2 Soviet Union Champions. The was also a World 10-Dance finalist. Ms. Ilo and her husband, Rauno, hold multiple US titles, including the honor of “Top Professional Couple of the Year” title for three consecutive years.
Marianne Nicole, Adjudicator
Ms. Nicole is a former professional ballroom dancer whose titles include North American International Latin Champion, Canadian Theatre Arts Champion, and the undefeated Fred Astaire American Style Champion, Fred Astaire Theatrical Champion, and Fred Astaire International Latin Champion.
Oksana Zolotarevskaya, Adjudicator
Ms. Zolotarevskaya is a former professional ballroom dancer whose titles include the British National Professional Latin Champion, Dutch National Professional Latin Champion, US National Professional Mambo Champion, and Russian National Ballroom & Latin Formation Champion.
Polina Pilipenchuck, Adjudicator
Ms. Pilipenchuk is a former Professional Ballroom Dancer whose titles include a 2-time U.S. National Professional 10-Dance Championship.
Rick Elliott, Adjudicator
Mr. Elliott is a former professional ballroom dancer whose titles include the Florida State Triple Crown Open Professional Smooth Championship. He was also a finalist at the United States Nationals and Ohio Star Ball competing in the American Smooth Rising Star Division. Mr. Elliott is also known for his coaching, having been an instructor for “Dancing with the Stars”.
Ron Troy, Adjudicator
Mr. Troy is a former professional ballroom dancer whose titles include the Australian Champion of Champions. He was also the Australian representative to the world championships in Japan in 1969 where he was a finalist in both ballroom and in Latin dance. He is a world-renowned adjudicator, holding certification with the World Dance Sport Council and with the United States Amateur Ballroom Dance Association.
Sid Pocius, Adjudicator
Mr. Pocius is a former professional ballroom dancer whose titles include the Lithuanian National Championship. He has coached in the US and Europe, and is the founder and owner of Empire Ballroom Studios.
Wolfgang Opitz, Adjudicator
Mr. Opitz is a former professional ballroom dancer whose titles include the WDC Professional World Champions – Latin American. He is a respected long-time coach, having served as the National Coach for both Germany and Switzerland.
It's going to be an exciting event, and we can't wait to see you there! So put on your fancy shoes and come to Grand National Dancesport Championship festivity!
For more information please visit grandnationalchampionship.com