There are three parquet flooring areas arranged in the pavilion. Participants of various ages (juveniles, juniors, youth, grown-ups) and various grades (C, D, E) will dance there. International competitions arranged by the World Dance Sport Federation (WDSF Open) among juniors, young people and grown-ups and a block of all-Russian ballroom dancing competitions (championships, tournaments, grand prix) are taking place at the same time. According to a decision by the organizer, the Russian Dance Sport Federation, they now take place in various regions of the country, an arrangement that was introduced not long ago.

“Now juniors, between 14 and 15 years old, compete on this parquet floor, dancing the slow foxtrot – couple 69 is demonstrating the feather step, left wave, triple step, classical figures, curved feather, and now they will start the left weave”, Petr Verkhovtsev, a competition judge with 27 years’ experience, explains. “The judges appraise musicality and rhythm: the children must keep the rhythm, while the grown-ups need to show music with their movements. We also assess position, that is, stance, arm lines, leg lines, the position of each of the competitors, choreography – how they dance, how they present themselves, and their technique – where the heel is, where the instep is, where they dip.”

According to Petr, students from more than 80 St. Petersburg dance sport clubs – Federation members – take part in the competitions. Competitors dance three programs: European (slow waltz, tango, Viennese waltz, slow foxtrot, quick step), Latin American (samba, cha-cha-cha, rumba, paso doble, jive), and combination (all 10 dances). After the competitions, the champion winners earn the right to be awarded the rank of Candidate to the Master of Sports and Master of Sports. 

Petr Verkhovtsev says that this system was set up in England at the beginning of the 20th century. Dance schools where rich people came and learned to dance sprang up there, and instructors assessed their skills at special ballroom dances. “Later, figures were systemized, as were dances and tempos. English instructors described each figure in their books: where the toe should be, where the heel, when to open, when to close, when to turn. Then this system spread to other countries”, Verkhovtsev explains.

These days, world championships in ballroom dancing are mostly won by Russians, he continues. They also represent other countries: for example, Petr’s student, three times champion of St. Petersburg and 20th in the world ranking, is training in Russia now but representing Romania in competitions. “What you see now is based on enthusiasm, it’s our mentality: to invest everything in our children. We would like to see more attention on the part of the government: we need premises and support for this kind of sport. People love it; ballroom dancing has many fans.”

According to Ekaterina Maslova, Director of the Executive Committee of the St. Petersburg Dance Sport Federation, competitions in ballroom dancing on such a scale are taking place in St. Petersburg for the first time. “We’ve got this opportunity thanks to the new venue for holding competitions – the Expoforum. For the first time in the history of the Cup, competitions are being held on three dance floors at the same time”, Ekaterina comments. “We want to show that St. Petersburg is capable of holding major competitions in ballroom dancing, and the St. Petersburg Dance Sport Federation is accredited to hold professional competitions.” 

The ballroom dancing competitions will be held until April 24.