For those that may be interested, for a relatively small sum, you can subscribe to DSI and watch the annual UK ( Open to the World) Championships. This is one of the best competitions there is, anyone who is anyone in the dance world, will be there competing. The Worlds top couples will be here at this event. Competitions are for Rising Stars, Amateurs and Professionals in both Ballroom and Latin over 3 days at the BIC venue in Bournemouth, 19th -21st January.
Neil and Katya Jones will be competing in the Professional Latin event. - as seen on Strictly !
More details at: www.dsi-london.tv
Really comes highly recommended

Thanks for that info. Jennifer

Always enjoyed Bournemouth very relaxing atmosphere for competitors

The recent works carried out to the area have also made it a very smart inviting visit

Don't forget that this begins today.

I believe that Karen Hardy and Ian Waite are among the judges for today's events.

Yes, really looking forward to it. Will be a great 3 days of fierce competition. Already subscribed and all set to go !

Just a reminder that its the last day of competition today featuring Amateur Ballroom and Professional Latin, where Neil and Katya Jones, who have choreographed and danced on Strictly, will be dancing their hearts out to try and reach the final. Really worth a look if you can.

They came 4th!

Hi Ann - wish they had, but they were 5th sadly. Evgeny Smagin from Russia came 4th. Not sure if you recall, but years back, Evgeny danced with our own Rachel Heron they were the No 1 British Amateur couple at the time,
Thoroughly enjoyed the 3 day competition but so sad to see that our No 1 Amateur Kyle Taylor had to withdraw from the Amateur ballroom evening session, due to injury sustained in an earlier round.

Oops yes, I can't count !

(I remember Rachel Heron dancing but not her partnership with Evgeny.)

Yes, shame about Kyle Taylor.

I thought it was fascinating to see how many Russian (or Eastern European) women were in the top 12.

1st Riccardo Cocchi & Yulia Zagoruychenko (she's Russian (though is now American))
2nd Maurizio Vescovo & Andra Vaidilaite (she's from Lithuania)
3rd Stefano Di Filippo & Daria Chesnokova (she's from Ukraine)
4th Evgeni Smagin (Russian) & Polina Kazatchenko (she's Russian)
5th Neil Jones & Ekaterina Jones (she's Russian)
6th Dorin Frecautanu & Marina Sergeeva (she's Russian)
8th Nino Langella & Anna Melnikova-Duknauske (she's Russian)
9th Justinas Duknauskas & Anna Kovalova (Ukraine)
10th Roman Kovgan (Russian) & Dariya Palyey (Ukraine)
11th Pavel Zvychaynyy (Russian) & Angelique Meyer
12th Stefano Moriondo & Daria Glukhova (she's Russian)

There's a tiny video clip of the Joneses dancing here (it's on Mrs Jones' twitter feed)...

https://twitter.com/Mrs_katjones/sta...42233451696128

Certainly as far as Latin is concerned, that really is the case, they are simply fantastic, they lead the world as you have shown here.

The "change" of dress went down very well with the audience. The Jones' danced really very well and are continuing to improve. It was a great competition, thoroughly enjoyed it.

Loved Neil & Katya's intro dance to the final; his little "jokey messing" reminiscent of Sammy Stopford who could never resist putting a little "extra" into his intro dances.

For anyone interested, 8th placed Anna Melnikova used to partner Strictly's Kevin Clifton.

Yes, I remember sitting in what we called the "Clifton corner" in the Wintergardens at the Nationals ( when we weren;t dancing), when Kevin was dancing with Anna. We thought they were amazing, but think they were beaten on that occasion by Darren & Lily Bennett. Jo was partnering her former Italian partner, Marco Cavallero and the place just erupted when either were dancing, you could barely hear the music..

Kevin and Anna also did the cabaret one year during the Kremlin Cup. They looked so young and very very nervous!

There's a video of Kevin and Anna dancing in the link just below.

There are several couples on the floor. They are couple #8. Anna is in the deep blue dress.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qY9qWtVVnAE

I didn't realise. That's quite a contrast to Slavik, personality-wise.

I saw this earlier and thought it was very clever! Their dancing is just fabulous to watch

Indeed! Slavik was always one of my favourite Latin dancers, but unfortunately his temperament let him down badly. I remember seeing an interview with Joanne Leunis not long after she had dumped him as a partner - what she was saying wasn't complimentary by any means!

hi everyone and a happy new year to you all. Good result for Neil - shame for Kyle - know his parents well another dancing family

He was certainly my favourite, but I agree that his temperament did let him him down!

Happy New Year to you as well, Bendy - let's hope 2016 is a good one!

I used to love his partnership with the fabulous Karina Smirnoff. I agree, that from what I have read ( and heard) , he can be a little "difficult".

Belated Happy New Year to you too Bendy.