I'm so excited! Can't wait to see Michael and Joanna and Slavik and Elena fight it out on the floor! I'm just so torn over who to support, I absolutely love them both!!!!

I know who will always be my favourite, purely because of individuality and purity of the dancing.

On the other hand, strength of the partnership and better connection could win it.

Although, I think whoever it goes to is well deserved. Exciting!

Yep, both couples are great so will be deserved either way! Either could win, but I think Slavik and Elena will get it.

I confess I know nothing about competition dancing so please excuse my possibly dumb question: is there any prize money to be won or is it all about winning titles?

Thanks in advance for your answer(s).

I have never heard of these people, I have only heard of the dancers of strictly.

I'm sure there is a little prize money, as there is at the British, but not much at all, only a couple of hundred.

It's more about the title than the prize, though!

Thanks for that Becca. I just wondered how the dancers support themselves financially and whether there was any money to be made in going after these titles. I guess if any have the appropriate license to teach they could generate an income that way, or by doing shows, or have other means to support their passion.

Although Bryan Watson + Carmen Vinceji are the World Champions and completely dominate the Latin World, having not been beaten for years, they don't tend to compete at the UK open or many other competitions anymore.

Michael Malitowski + Joanna Leunis and Slavik Kryklyvyy + Elena Khvorova are the two best couples in Latin behind them and are the favourites for the UK title. They are both absolutely fantastic! Slavik and Elena have only been competing together since last March, but both had hugely successful partnerships with other people before they teamed up. Michael and joanna have been very successful together for some time.

Since March the two couples have been head to head, taking all of the major titles that Bryan and Carmen didn't win. At the moment it is always extremely close between the two couples when they compete against each other. Slavik is widely considered the best male, but Joanna is considered the stronger lady. Slavik and Elena are very pure dancers with amazing technique, but Michael and Joanna are hugely charismatic with great choreography. The only thing that has seperated the two couples so far is that Michael and Joanna have been working better as a partnership, as they have been together for many years, whereas Slavik and Elena are a new team.

There is a common thought that when Slavik and Elena begin to really click and show magic as a true partnership (which I think they've begun to do) that they will overtake Michael and Joanna and will eventually become the next World Champions when Bryan and Carmen retire. The interesting thing is when and indeed if this will happen. However at the moment it is incredibly close between the two couples which is why the UK Open will be so exciting!!

Hope that helps to give you some background and you will find lots more about the top dancers and links to videos in the Latin Supremacy thread.
Last edited by Erinfan : 07-01-2007 at 14:31

re prize money, I thought that some competitions such as the Kremlin Cup and US and Asian Open paid quite well??? As people have said the top dancers make most of their money through teaching, lectures, shows etc. There is a lot of money out in Asia especially as dancing is huge over there, many pros go there to teach and do a lot of shows. Titles are very important and do end up helping financially as well - titles give the dancers higher status and so allow them to charge more for teaching and shows etc!

Sorry, it's me again! Just a quick one to say Karen HArdy is on the list to judge the pro Latin.

To my knowledge, the Asian Open has the highest amount of prize money.

I bet either Jukka or Sirpa, or maybe even both, are judging?

Jukka is judging pro Latin, not sure about Sirpa

I love them both, especially him though!

Sorry to bring this up again .....

For the thrusday evening ... what is the dress code?

Pretty smart.

Sorry to be a pain but ... How smart?

Like posh dress smart?

Or Black trousers smart?

Yeah, blokes will be in suits, so a nice dress will be just right.

Black trousers and a lovely top would also suffice.

Brill, thank you

Yep, it's very smart! Some people in long ballgowns, but I'm sure black trousers and a lovely top will be fine. I hope so - that's what I wore last year!!

Well, I am very excited as I am going to the UK Champ!!!

Thanks for the info on here about the dress code- otherwise I would have turned up in Jeans!!

when are you going? I am going on Thursday night

I shall be there then

best night I say Can't wait. And you know Karen is judging