This Saturday, November 17^th, the World DanceSport Federation will be sanctioning one of its most prestigious events of the year – the Standard World Championship. This event will be taking place as part of the Austrian Open Championships, a renowned event that usually sanctions a WDSF World Championship each year. It is popularly known to host the WDSF Latin World Championship and last hosted the Standard World Championship in 2014.

The Anticipation Begins

81 couples are registered thus far and what a grand sight it will be at the Multiversum Schwechat Sports Arena to witness another DanceSport spectacle, especially because we will be anticipating another win for the current reigning Standard World Champions. Representing the Russian Federation, Dmitry Zharkov and Olga Kulikova will be in the running to secure their 4^th undefeated World title in a row! In the year of 2014 when the WDSF Standard World Championship was last hosted in Vienna, Dmitry and Olga became the Vice Champions for the first time in their careers. In 2015, they finally secured their first World title and have been undefeated since. Now they will be back in Vienna, but this time we look forward to them achieving the most victorious step on the placing pedestal.

A Line-Up of Possible Finalists

The Vice-Champion slot is officially up for grabs! Last year’s runner-up couple represented the country of Germany - Simone Segatori and Annette Sudol. They have transitioned into the Professional Division and are now dancing as a couple of the World Dance Council. Therefore, we also have a slot open for the final as well. Anton Skuratov and Alena Uehlin, also of Germany, took seventh in the World last year. They missed the final by 0.414 of a point! Maybe the time has come that one German couple made way for another German couple to dance in the final of a WDSF World Championship. However, by the WDSF World Ranking List, Anton and Alena are ninth on the list, meaning that eight couples are higher in rank. Take a look below:

WDSF World Ranking List

From the above list, the couples marked in bold will be in attendance of this World Championship. We have 7 couples highlighted but only 6 slots available for the final.

We can also take a look at last year’s results of the Standard World Championship – the top 12 - and compare those standings with the current standings of the WDSF World Ranking List.

2017 WDSF Standard World Championship Ranking #1-12

From this comparison, we can expect changes coming our way since last year’s Championship. First of all, currently ranked third in the World by the WDSF Ranking list is a couple of the Russian Federation, - Alexey Glukhov and Anastasia Glazunova, a couple that placed sixth last year, but will not be in attendance of the event this year. For this reason, we have another slot open in the final!

Evaldas Sodeika and Ieva Zukauskaite of Lithuania were Bronze Medalists last year and we expect them to take the Silver this weekend. Ranked second in the World Ranking List, they have been taking third place at the WDSF World Standard Championship for 4 years in a row, since 2014, when the Championship was hosted in Vienna! We shall be awaiting their final awaited rise!

A Tough Fight for the Final Placements

From Italy, Francesco Galuppo and Debora Pacini rank fifth in the WDSF World Ranking List and took fourth last year at the Worlds. They have tough competition against Evgeny Moshenin and Dana Spitsyna of Russia, who are ranked fourth in the Ranking List and did not compete at Worlds last year. Also, ranked sixth in the Ranking List is a couple from Estonia, Madis Abel and Aleksandra Galkina who took eleventh place last year, close to the bottom of the semi-final. However, this couple has been on the rise to the top and we expect some incredible dancing to exude from them this Saturday.

All in all, results can never be predicted, especially when such dedicated athletes strive for their goals, a chance to fulfill their dreams dancing at a World Championship. A flame is ignited the moment of entrance to the arena where their whole life can change in the blink of an eye. For those few moments in the spotlight, hours, endless hours, are put into the striving work to achieve those few moments of pure enjoyment on the floor. It is an addiction. We look forward to witnessing incredible dancing here in Vienna, from incredible people that live their passion every day.

Stay tuned on FloDance!