The UCSD Dancesport Team began its 2022-2023 competitive season with a strong start at the Claremont Colleges Intercollegiate Showdown held at Pomona College. After putting in many hours of practice to ensure their dances are performance-ready, new members and returning dancers competed against collegiate teams from across California and Nevada and came out of the competition with many wins. 

Throughout the day, our dancers gave beautiful performances in the American Smooth, International Standard, International Latin, and Nightclub categories. In American Smooth, Willard Ford and Blanca Martin placed 1st in Silver Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, and Viennese Waltz, while Coby Dulitzki and Alise Bruevich placed 2nd in Silver Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, and Viennese Waltz. In the Rookie-Vet category, where experienced Silver and Gold dancers pair up and compete with Newcomer and Bronze dancers, Willard and Apru Pranjal placed 2nd in Rookie Follower American Waltz. 

In International Standard, many of our dancers gave impressive performances, especially in the Silver and Gold categories. Our Newcomer dancers performed well at their first dancesport competition, including Edward Tang and Ivy Luu, who made it to the final rounds of Newcomer Waltz, Newcomer Tango, and Bronze Tango. In Bronze Standard, Greta Davis and Apru placed 3rd in Waltz, Tango, and Foxtrot and 2nd in Viennese Waltz. George Troulis and Kelly Chow also placed 2nd in Bronze Foxtrot. Standout couples include Willard and Blanca, as well as Thunder Bird and Alise. Willard and Blanca placed 1st in all five dances in Silver and Gold, while Thunder and Alise tied for 1st in Gold Tango and Foxtrot, placed 4th in Silver Waltz and Quickstep, and placed 2nd in Silver Tango, Foxtrot, and Viennese Waltz and also in Gold Waltz, Quickstep, and Viennese Waltz. Additionally, George and Kokila Shankar placed 3rd in Silver Waltz, Quickstep, Tango, and Foxtrot, and Daniel Torres and Kokila placed 3rd in Silver Viennese Waltz. In the International Standard Rookie Follower category, Willard and Lili Olah placed 2nd in Waltz, Willard and Catalina Larsen placed 1st in Tango, Thunder and Alexis Garcia placed 3rd in Tango, and Willard and Apru placed 1st in Viennese Waltz and 2nd in Foxtrot and Quickstep. In the Rookie Leader category, David Mazzotti and Blanca placed 2nd in Waltz and Tango. 

UCSD Dancesport also wowed the crowd in International Latin, with many dancers called back to the finals in all levels. In the Newcomer category, David and Persephone Ballatore placed 3rd in Cha Cha, and Edward and Ivy placed 4th in Cha Cha and 3rd in Rumba. In Bronze, Elizabeth Peng and Sela Peters placed 2nd in Paso Doble and 3rd in Jive, while Greta and Apru placed 3rd in Paso Doble. Willard and Blanca continued their winning streak and placed 2nd in Gold Cha Cha and Rumba and 1st in all five Silver dances as well as Gold Samba, Jive, and Paso Doble. Coby and Lara Derderian placed 1st in Gold Cha Cha and Rumba and 2nd in Gold Samba and Jive. Thunder and Alise placed 3rd in Silver Samba, Jive, and Paso Doble, as well as Gold Samba and Jive. They also placed 2nd in Gold Paso Doble. Daniel and Matthew Kolosick placed 3rd in Gold Cha Cha and Rumba. In the International Latin Rookie Follower category, Willard and Lili placed 1st in Cha Cha and Rumba, Daniel and Persephone placed 3rd in Rumba, and Willard and Apru placed 3rd in Samba and 1st in Jive. In the Rookie Leader category, David and Blanca placed 1st in Cha Cha and Rumba. 

During the evening session, our dancers showcased their impressive social dancing skills and enthusiasm in the Nightclub category. In Beginner Nightclub, Greta and Sela placed 1st in Merengue, 2nd in Lindy Hop and Salsa, and 3rd in Bachata. Willard and Apru placed 1st in Argentine Tango, 2nd in Nightclub Two-Step, and 3rd in Lindy Hop and Blues. Greta and Apru also placed 3rd in Hustle. In Advanced Nightclub, veteran couple Thunder and Kate Luitjens placed 1st in Argentine Tango and 3rd in Nightclub Two-Step, Merengue, and Hustle. Daniel and Blanca placed 2nd in Bachata and 3rd in Salsa, Coby and Lara placed 2nd in Salsa, and Coby and George placed 3rd in a high-energy Polka. Near the end of the night, our team came out on top and placed 1st in the team match. We also enjoyed watching the Open level dancers’ fantastic performances. 

Congratulations to all of our dancers who gave it their all on the dance floor! We started off the year with a successful and memorable competition, and we are looking forward to improving and dancing our very best in upcoming competitions in winter quarter!