This past weekend featured the Pacific Northwest’s most exciting annual ballroom dance competition, the Seattle Star Ball, and Briora’s dancers represented our studio with style, class, and of course, amazing dancing!
If you are new to ballroom dancing, you might be wondering, why compete? There are many benefits – first of all, it is a fun experience! At a competition, you’re surrounded by people who share your passion for dancing, and you get to perform to great music on a great floor in a beautiful ballroom. Competitions also provide motivation to get better, and last but not least, dancing at a competition is exciting and leaves you with a feel good glow after you dance! Want to learn more? Just ask any of the dancers who participated this weekend.
Briora’s dancers of all ages and levels rocked the floor at Seattle Star Ball, and had lots of fun doing it! We even brought home a Top Studio trophy for Briora!
In the youth divisions, Briora was represented by Mikhail Miroschnichenko and Allyson Suevsky, Anton Boudzko and Keylee Milania Hoberock, Cisco Keanu Hoberock, Donae Sherman dancing with her teachers Ruslan and Umario, Ivan Sinelnikov and Olivia Sherman, and Erik Griffin and Rachel Malamud. These young dancers placed in the top of their divisions and have very exciting futures ahead of them!
In the adult Pro/Am and mixed Amateur divisions, Briora was represented by Slava Stefanov dancing with Diana Dean and Linda Duncan, Ruslan Kaliuzhyni dancing with Lynn Borgatta and Sue Ikai, and Gleb Makarov dancing with Michiko Black. These gorgeous women and their teachers represented Briora with grace and elegance, and won nearly all first places!
In the Adult Amateur divisions, Briora was represented with style and energy by Kevin O’Farrell and Yingying Chen, and Don Walker and Pamela Nygard.
On Saturday night, the pros took the floor, where the highlight of the event was the Open Professional Smooth division, described in DanceBeat (the popular ballroom dance news source) as “the largest and best division.” In this exciting event, Briora’s directors, Slava and Jessica Stefanov, took 3rd place in a performance described by DanceBeat as “very fluid” and “a level above the field.”
Jessica and Slava with Briora’s Top Studio Trophy!
Finally, as part of the festivities on Saturday evening, Briora was awarded a top studio trophy thanks to the amazing performances of all our dancers. Thanks again to all our teachers and students for representing Briora this weekend with class, grace, a fun spirit and beautiful dancing! We can’t wait to do it all again next year!
Briora Ballroom 
Awesome job guys!