Carolyn has been very busy after Blackpool and only now had been able to sit for a moment and finish everything. One positive thing, it is still less than the usual 2 month of waiting. See the Amateur Latin.
YOU CAUGHT MY EYE
4 22 37 41 44 45 50 70 71 76 78 82 83 89 90 101 109 111 121 124 131 133 137 141 142 149 151
4 Nikita Brovko and Olga Urumova from Russia
A fantastic couple right from the beginning. Nikita being a very rhythmical and elegant dancer and Olga being the perfect compliment to him. What I admire about them is their simplicity. So readable and clear. Olga has improved in her mechanics making it more feminine and softer compared when she was dancing with Stefano di Filippo. What I would like to see more between them during their performance is the conversation... I find that too many times it is Nikita who takes the spotlight (correctly so) and Olga stays behind the spotlight, it would be nice if Olga has more to say as a woman. At times it is too silent. They done an amazing sliding doors in Rumba, so refreshing to see it done without too many frills. Long live the simplicity. They were my winners right from the first round, even though with a very strong challenge from Morten and Roxy. A two couple race. Totally breaking away from the other couples.
22 Cristian Priori and Eleonora Riccardi from Italy
Completely on a high after their good result in the Rising Star, and that enthusiasm gave them another excellent result in the Amateur. Great.
28 Alexander Chernositov and Arina Grishanina from Usa
I was always a great fan of Arina when she was dancing with Sam, but today I found her a little too busy and untidy.
37 Kirill Kartavtsev and Evgenia Golikova from Russia
A very good performance right from their first round. A good balance between the man and woman, making it very pleasing to the eye to watch. Fabulous Rumba with simplicity. So refreshing to see.
41 Morten Löwe and Roselina Doneva from Denmark
Wow what a competition today. They are the most interesting couple on the floor. Morten being one of the best men on the floor. They were the only couple in competition with Nikita and Olga. Two couple race. The difference they have compared to Nikita is, they have more shades and intensity to their dancing. 50 shades of Morten! Amazing. Roxy is an amazing lady dancer, her feet talking constantly. She's done a closing in fan to die for. An excellent example to give inspiration to other girls. It must have been really tough for the judges to make a decision between the two couples. Glad I was not judging. Was nice to see the playing between them and Kirill and Ekaterina, very much like Riccardo Cocchi and Franco Formica in the past.
44 Kirill Belorukov and Ekaterina Nikolaeva from Russia
Dancing right from the first round, this new partnership is great already, just think when they have more time together. Both for me have changed for the better. More activity between them, which sends out very clear messages... Striving for excellence. Kirill looking more free and easy and less stressed than before, having a girl at his side that is very independent, is a good thing, but later on would like it to be more intense, but I am a 100% sure it is only because of the newness. Looking forward to seeing them in the next major competition. I am sure it is going to be a big challenge on the first two couples. This is what we are needing in the Amateur field, because lately it seems that everyone was waiting for the result and not challenging the result. So I am waiting for the International to see the excitement. I hope....
45 Denys Samson and Yuliya Nikitenko from England
Always well groomed, Yulia with the most fabulous detailed Vesa dresses on. I would like them to put as much quality detail into their dancing as they do in their look.
50 Sergey Matsuk and Mariya Spitsina from Russia
Wow what a dress.... Super. They have improved from the last time I saw them, and are producing a very good performance. Just has to be careful in Samba, a little ahead of the music at the beginning of the choreography.
70 Anton Nesterko and Dariya Maryuschenko from Ukraine
I am usually a fan of this couple, always beautifully groomed and a model-like couple, but right from the beginning I found them very careful and very quiet, compared from the UK. Still good dancing, but I found them not attacking to get a better result but defending what they already had. Pity because this approach for me cost them the final.
71 Adam Fedko and Joanna Fedko from Poland
Lovely beginning of Paso Doble.
76 Volodymyr Sharapov and Ewelina Mikolajewska from Poland
So glad she kept the blue dress on today, looks better. I thought they danced better today than the Rising Star.
78 Alon Davidovsky and Elina Shustin from Israel
As the rounds went on they "warmed up" better toward the actual performance, less places where the boy keeps his head in the right place and not always looking down, but could still do better and look more up and towards his partner.
82 Daniils Kutuzovs and Maria Shalvarova from Canada
Gorgeous grooming and outfits. Today they were looking a thousand much better, being more confident and a positive approach. Their faces were much more relaxed.
83 Ernest Jelen and Anna Khrycheva from Poland
Very nice back rocks in Samba. Could not understand why they just walked right through Nikita and Olga, when they could have easily used a little more thought on floorcraft to get round them?
89 Darren Hammond and Milla Lykke from South Africa
Every time my eye falls on this couple Darren is smiling and has a positive attitude. Love it. Both very positive and motivated and great performers. I would like them to be a little bit earthy and grounded so they could produce more inner body movement which will then give them more volume. A very talented couple.
90 Aleksandr Porozov and Arina Sokolova from Russia
Amazing sliding doors.
101 Pasha Pashkov and Daniella Karagach from USA
One of my favorite couples to watch. Always a great approach making everything look easy, which is not an easy job indeed.
109 Petar Daskalov and Zia James from Denmark
Wow, a new Petar, so slim and matured so much. Love the idee of Zia's dress, but I found there was too much material which distracted me from seeing her body movements. Loved Petar's jump and double knee drop in Paso.
111 Luca Urso and Alessandra Tripoli from Italy
Always excellent taste in grooming. A very distinct style and image, which many couples do not have the courage to develop. The beginning of their Rumba is simply amazing. They have done a lot to develop in their way, what I found was missing this time was the motivation to challenge for the final but dancing to confirm what they already have, like most of the semi finalists. Alessandra has improved her legs and feet and Luca is becoming a very matured man in leading and taking more responsibility within the couple. They have still a lot to offer, they just have to challenge more.
121 Bogdan Oligov and Evelyn Vidal from Canada
Danced a 100 times better today.
124 Eric Testa and Federica Brezzo from Italy
Very powerful boy, but it sometimes makes him look a little stiff in the back. The girl could be a little more detailed and use her feet better to control the movements.
131 Danyyl Podlesnyy and Elizaveta Voloshanenko from Ukraine
Nice approach.
133 Daniele De Castro and Sara Foti from Italy
Has to pay more attention to the music, way ahead of the timing in Samba.
137 Sigurdur Thor Sigurdsson and Annalisa Zoanetti from Australia
Having some mixed results lately, maybe because it is not always constant performance. I found them very hard to find on the floor, but on other occasions have never had that problem. In Rumba and Cha Cha they do not use enough shape or design, too vertical. Would love if they could explore a little bit more into their style and approach, they have so much to offer.
141 Ruslan Khisamutdinov and Elena Rabinovich from Russia
Amazing today compared with the Rising Star. They look much more at home in the Open Amateur. Today they were motivated, challenging, positive.... Totally a different story. This is how it should always be.
142 Dmytro Pankov and Olesya Pankova from Ukraine
Love the idea of the outfits, now that was cool. Whether someone likes or not, I really do not care but they stood out to be seen, and very nice dancing.
149 Konstantin Chigirev and Daria Mikhalskaya from Russia
The boys shoulders look better today, so may he was just stressed a little before or maybe his shirt collar is making it look as if he lifts the shoulders too high. Would check it out.
151 Li Di and Zhao Lei from China
Great beginning of Paso Doble. Good character and choreography.
Carolyn Smith
The views and opinions expressed above are those of Carolyn Smith and do not necessarily reflect the views of dancesportinfo
