Location: St. Petersburg, Russia
Atmosphere : 4.5 / 5
Hotel : 5/5
Dance level : 5/5
Music : 5/5
Food : 3.5 / 5 
Sights & sounds : 5/5
Cost: 4/5

St. Petersburg, the original capital of Russia has so much to offer in terms of history and taste. Approx. 12 hours from the America's and ~4 hours from anywhere in western Europe. This is definitely a destination competition for American dancers. 

- Atmosphere -
All organizers & competitors were very welcoming. Dancers were helping dancers and organizers always made themselves available to answer any questions. The ballroom was laid out with the floor being the main staple. The outskirts of the floor were very cozy especially as evening sessions commenced. A recommendation is to secure front row tickets for professional events as standing room will become very cramped. The competition did run 40 min. behind at times but thats to be expected with Pro/Am dancesport as on occasions dancers were not near the ballroom. A recommendation would be to have a "deck captain" present.  The schedule did get caught up with very speedy awards ceremonies. 

- Hotel -
Corinthia Hotel is a 5 star establishment with wonderful contemporary modern rooms. Your stay will include access to the fitness center which has a dry sauna attached. I highly recommend a quick sweat & steam once you arrive. This will set you on the right path for your dance weekend. Work off that airplane food & detox your muscles. 

- Dance Level -
When you think Russian dancesport, you think quality dancing. That is exactly what you will experience at Crystal Ball. Even though you may be intimidated by the sound of reading this dont be. In order to grow, you need to challenge your dancing constantly. Remember, go out there & have fun ... no one will bite you!

- Music -
The music was absolutely tremendous ! A Dj during the matinee and a live band in the evening. There were remixes of 80's & 90's jams all the way to new strictly dancesport songs never heard before. If I could give the music 5+ stars I would. It really kept you wanting to dance more evenin if it wasn't your category !

- Food -
Food in St. Petersburg ....is absolutely amazing. I will include some suggestions in this blog but hotel selection during lunch and dinner left alot to be desired. Breakfast buffet has some delicious fresh pressed juices and an omelette chef but besides that theres nothing to write home about. But... walking distance from the hotel is a restaurant named Katyusha - .en.ginza.ru/spb/restaurant/katyusha !Owned by famous owners of nightlife establishments Ginza group. This work of art transports you back in time to 1930's & 40's Russia. It is very reasonably priced for the fresh, tasty traditional Russian cuisines you'll be enjoying.

- Sights & Sounds -
There are many landmarks around the competition hotel. The most beautiful historic museum you will ever visit is named the Hermitage. This property is enormous and extremely well preserved. Make sure to look up as 90% of the lighting is original to the building. If you want night life, then just one block west below street level are multiple karaoke bars with often live music & dancing.

- Cost -
The Crystal Ball competition is very reasonable in cost all things considered. Flights are very cheap in January plus a standard hotel room at The Corinthia is about $115 per night. You can even find hotels for as low as $20 a night within walking distance. A weekend in a major city like St.Petersburg or Moscow is similar to a weekend in Los Angeles. Overall very reasonable with an average meal for 2 people costing between $30 - $50 USD. The major difference is in the high quality of flavor & produce used. I travel almost every weekend to different parts of the world & I can honestly say that classical Russian dishes will surprise anyones taste buds.

In closing, I highly recommend this competition to Pro/Am & Professionals alike.

​👠 Dance & Shop 👠

👠 Dance and Shop is a contemporary dance apparel store started by professional ballroom dancers Iaroslav and Liliia Bieliei. Following all the latest trends and innovations in ballroom dancing attire, we offer a wide selection of shoes, dance clothes and accessories by the best brands in the ballroom dance industry, such as  «Supadance», «Chrisanne Clover», «Miari», «Grand Prix», «Danza», «Strong Frame», and many more. 

👠 We always choose the latest collections from companies all over the world, looking for the best quality items at affordable prices. At Dance and Shop — customers come first. 

👠 Whether you plan to try on a pair of new ballroom dance shoes, choose a practice dress or competition accessories, or maybe you just want to swing by the photozone and take some selfies, our staff is here to help!

👠 Get your shoes from Dance & Shop at Comp Prep Camp Feb. 9-10, 2019 ! 

😍 LE FEMME 😍

​😍 Le Femme is the preferred dress designer of professionals dancers, pro/am students & actresses around the world. 
Le Femme strives to use only the worlds finest fabrics, stones & accessories. The attention to detail from inception of the design through to the final stitch is in a category all its own. We strive to offer our clients which we consider part of the Le Femme family, a shopping experience that is enjoyable, educational & easy.

😍There many ballroom dress designers. We stand alone because of the attention to detail and quality of work we put out. Le Femme originals are made only by hand. Each masterpiece has its own character so the dancer can have a dress for every mood. It is our goal to have the best priced yet highest quality ballroom attire you will find in the world.

😍Le Femme designer Anna Kovalova was raised on the ballroom floor. Wouldn't it make the most sense to trust a designer which has dedicated 20 years understanding the necessity of a dancer? From the way a design will reflect light, feathers placed strategically will give the appearance of continuous motion to stitching that gives every woman the perfect shape. Anna has been designing one of kind dresses for the past 15 years and is considered the go to adviser by other companies if they are experiencing sewing or design issues. 

😍You our client & family are most important. We are very grateful for those of you who have been with us for years and welcome all that are just learning of Le Femme with open arms.

Important News
​
​After many years of dancing & teaching. The major need is an event that suits both competitive & social students alike. A perspective on what is needed in order to place better at competitions. At Comp Prep Camp you will learn the proven secrets professionals use to get ahead. We have classes from Troels & Ina, Anna Kovalova, a secret champion exhibition couple and new standard  champions Iaroslav & Liliia ! 
Many dancers & parents wish they knew the secrets stylists use to create beautiful designs for the floor. At Comp Prep Camp you will learn from Boyko the trendsetter in dancesport !

The Gala will feature 2 dances from ALL couples ! Thats right ALL couples ! This is a first in America to have 4 champion couples performing multiple dances under one roof ... exclusively for The Dance Today Gala dinner sponsored by Le Femme. A once in a lifetime experience ... don't miss out ! This is the BEST gift a dancer in your life could ask for ... make a dream come true this winter ! Purchase your tickets now ! 

Event overview -

The BEST Top Professionals will teach & perform at Comp Prep Camp  2019 !
All workshops are intended to give you an advantage on the dance floor by our champion professionals.
You will also learn hair & make-up secrets from the best in dancesport. 

The Comp Prep Camp 

You will begin Saturday + Sunday with a professional stretch & warm up class.
Workshops will have you moving & practicing NEW techniques like you have never experienced.
Schedule a private lesson if a particular workshop isn't your cup of tea.
Dance rounds are intended for everyone even if you're solo. This is a growth weekend.
Lunch time we will have Hair & make-up secrets classes to continue your educational weekend


The Sunday Gala

Our Top latin , ballroom , smooth & show dance champions perform
Troels Bager & Ina Jeliazkova
Anna Kovalova
Iaroslav Bieliei & Liliia Bieliei
+
2 World Champion Surprise Guests
This is more than a show its a once in a life time experience 
with
Delicious dinner & cocktails !

Purchase your tickets now
Limited availability 

Anna Kovalova was only 18 years old when she first captured the hearts of dancesport. She ranked very high with her former partner Roman Kutskyy. 3 times Ohio Star Ball, 2nd place for 5 times in the U.S nationals. Later dancing with Justinas Duknauskas they placed 7th in the world!

Now lets focus on present day Anna. She has set her sites on Japan. She received an offer to dance with Shinsuke Kanetmitsu the former all Japan champion from Espen Salberg. The original agreement consisted of only performing show dances. They grew in popularity from the Youtube series created by Dance Today called "Ballroom Geisha" [www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvDBHwJdZJk&t=2s ]. The series followed the pair as they trained for their first show together and caught all the ups & downs. The second season follows them as they debut in the prestigious Blackpool competitors Commission as part of the Blackpool Dance Festival. 

On November 3rd 2018 Anna became for the first time, champion of All Japan! Shinsuke and Anna put on a strong performance though every round of qualifying which there were 6 !!! Then into the Quarter , Semi and lastly an exhausting final. You couldn't tell but Anna mentioned to us that "I couldn't see straight and our bodies felt like they will just collapse." 

​The show requests have been pouring in since they won. Now they are off to Italy.
"Notte Delle Stelle" is a beautiful dinner & fashion showcase. Espen Salberg will be hosting a runway show of his new couture collection & Anna will be a model. Congratulations to these two amazing dancers ! 


Do you want Shinsuke & Anna to dance for your next event ? 
Email us for details : Info@dancetodaybiz.com

Thank you for reading 
Dance Today will keep bringing you all the latest interesting dancesport news!

"Social Media" is slang for the "internet" or "online" 

Lets play a game! Close your eyes and say the first thing that comes to mind when you imagine "internet" . If you are between the ages of 13-25 then I bet you saw Youtube, Instagram & Facebook. If you are between 25-55 you imagined Google, Facebook & your favorite fishing website! Am I right ?

Consider this. Google owns Youtube. Facebook owns Instagram. These platforms are built on top of the bedrock that is the "internet". When you are searching for a product or servicewhere do you go ? Google for pricing and Youtube for reviews ? If you want the most up to date current events or just want to check in on the family, Facebook. Now, consider that Facebook has 2.27 billion users & Instagram 1 billion that all use these platforms for the same reasons. 

If you think logically, doesn't it make sense to market where peoples attention lives. Wether you are on a train, plane or car your eyes are glued to that digital device in your hand. When was the last time you saw a billboard, tv commercial or magazine ad that you can recall! I can tell you when, before the invention of the cell phone...if you're old enough to remember that!

But, in social media we can't avoid coming across an advertisement because its in our "stream" with no where else for us to glance. If we don't want to miss where our best friends went on holiday we have to remain focused on the screen. Bang! thats where Dance Today jumps in! We will create an entertaining ad for your event that retains the viewer's attention. But DO NOT forget that repetition equals recollection. Advertising & marketing need to be seen multiple times to evoke retention. Also remember each market has there own special needs. Diversification of ads is very important in conversions to sales.

Dance Today has over 7 years experience in marketing and sales. Whether you need to boost your sales of a competition or expand brand awareness Dance Today will create and execute a strategy for you. Send us a message today & lets get you on the path to success!
​

What is Social Media ?

The reality is “Social Media” is a slang term for the state of the internet. Let me explain. The worlds largest search engine “Google” owns the second largest search engine “Youtube”. “Facebook” the site we visit to check on friends & family is now also the platform we use for news and current events. Having an online presence means potential customers can find you 24/7. When new customers see your event & products you better “WOW” them with exciting, entertaining, informative content!
​
Does Social Media increase sales ?

In short YES ! Social Media marketing offers analytics. We will know what, where & who (including their ages) is consuming your content. This means we can better tailor advertising content for new customers to convert sales. Stop throwing away money on outdated traditional marketing like mailers, ads in magazines & email spam that offer zero insights and end up in the trash faster than they were looked at! Rather, invest in fully trackable, year round marketing with Dance Today Social Media management!
​
Is your audience on Social Media ?

Did you know that the age of an average Facebook user is between 25-55 !
On Instagram the average age of a user is 15 - 30 !
This means the students that attend pro/am competitions and the teachers which influence a students decision are ALL on social media ! It makes sense to advertise where your audience lives ! If you also attend other competitions in hopes of promoting yours. Where will everyone land after you chat ? Most likely Facebook or Instagram. Now do you understand the importance of Social Media ?

Message us for more information 

Dancesport is expanding and American style dance categories are slow entering the international market. It has taken many years for this fresh influx of dancing to travel across the Atlantic but boy are we happy its here ! Myhailo Azarov & Tetyana Makarenko danced in the final of the open professional American Smooth final displaying incredible talent. Later in the week they also captivated the audience at Kings Landing castle with exhibition dance titled "Maybe you" . (Link to showdance www.youtube.com/watch?v=job7ruazT6E ) 
My prediction for European dancesport is one of multi-level divisions. The understanding that other nations offer certain freedoms in movement can only help evolve what we know and understand as traditional dancing. This also goes for who professionals interact with students and amateurs alike. These evolutions will definitely come with certain sacrifices as most changes for the better often do. In due time we will level out and learn to live within the standards set out by each given association. 
Dance Today is the current leader in strategic set up and media advertising for all new comps and tours. We keep the dancer in mind as the dancesport community is the heart and competition is the is the public display of affection to the art form!

Are you searching for a pro/am event to dance at in September 2019 ? 
The Adriatic Pearl 2018 had some incredible pro/am dancers from all over the world ! In the clip above filmed exclusively by Dance Today. You will see Marina "Glock" Dzasokhova performing with her teacher Ivan. The attendance was a great size considering its only the second year!
The attention to detail and care for how the students felt during the day sessions was amazing. Marko and Nick tried to accommodate to every possible request within reason of course. If this is the level of service a competitor receives here than this sets a new level of standards for organizers in the European circuits.
The few things that were out of place were fixed very quickly. Firstly the order of dances were slightly staggered but the Marko was keen on adjusting that on day two. This is to be expected as Pro/am has existed in the Americas for long time and is just now crossing the pond!
As a universal consensus, every dancers came to say that this was a gorgeous well produced event in the Pearl of the Adriatic !
Dance Today would like to personally thank Marko & the entire family/team of the Adriatic Pearl for their hospitality and warm invitation! 

To watch more pro/am dancing follow @danceproam on Instagram !