The UCSD Dancesport team nailed our first competition of the year after only 10 days of practice!

A special round of applause to our newest competitors, Brian Chang, Marina Kenat, Yeya (Valeria Corona) and Rodrigo Tortoledo, who learned their routines in two weeks and absolutely nailed it! Brian and Marina, secured 4th place in Newcomer Cha Cha, 2nd in Newcomer Waltz, and finaled in Newcomer Salsa. Rodrigo and Yeya got 3rd place in Newcomer Cha Cha. We’re super excited to see what they achieve next.

Rodrigo and Yeya nailed their Cha-Cha-Cha

Huge props to Danny (Daniel Torres) and Persephone Ballatore for her Silver level debut, making the finals in Viennese Waltz, Tango, and Foxtrot, and sweeping the Rookie-Follow Latin category. Persephone joined the team just last year and has shown incredible growth over the last 12 months, helping to train many of the newer members. Greta Davis and Danny crushed the Gold Latin events grabbing first and second places in every dance, proving that they have not lost their touch after several months without practice.

Catalina Larsen and David Mazzotti have clearly been practicing during the off-season and returned with new vigor. They finaled in every single Latin dance at the Gold and Silver levels and snagged several first-place accolades from the judges! Plus, they impressed with 3rd places in Beginner Salsa and Bachata.

Blanca Martin and Willard Ford stepped up to the Open Amateur level above syllabus, and just below professional dancers. They took home first place in Novice Smooth and second in Novice Latin.

Congratulations to Alina Markova for her final placements in Bachata, Salsa, Merengue, and Hustle. Plus, her second-place finishes in the rookie-follow Cha-Cha and Rumba.

Finally, our team president Apru (Aparajita Pranjal), finalled in the gold latin event–her first time competing in this event. She and Willard also won first in most of the advanced social dances including West Coast Swing, Bachata, and Salsa. 

I also want to give a shoutout to our alumni who we bumped into at the comp. Thunder Bird competed in 14 events and made the finals in all of them. And Julie, who reached the finals in every Silver Latin style, showing her strong foundation from her time on the team. And of course our former president and recent doctor duo Matthew Panelo and Kokila Shanklar's impressive Open Novice Ballroom performance was a great addition to the event!

The Claremont Ballroom Comp was the first of many comps for the year and I'm so excited to see what's in store for us. Our team showed incredible support for each other both on and off the dance floor and we can’t wait to see what new achievements our newest members and climbing veterans will achieve this year.