For the first time, both Swiss couples qualified directly - i.e. without a redance - for a second round at a European Championship. The Swiss champions Volodymyr Kasilov/Yulia Dreier narrowly missed the third round and finished in a very good 25th place. Davide Corrodi/Maja Kucharczyk placed just behind them in 29th place. The Lithuanian pair Evaldas Sodeika/Ieva Zukauskaite were able to defend their title in Bucharest.
After a two-year break due to the Corona, the European Standard Championships in Bucharest took place in one of the magnificent halls of the Romanian parliament building. The Swiss couples experienced a premiere, qualifying for a second round without a redance for the first time. Both couples were thus able to confirm their upward trend. Kasilov/Dreier achieved a very good 25th place, only a little further away were Corrodi/Kucharczyk in 29th place. The performance density at a European Championships is usually a bit higher than at a World Championships, since couples from "exotic" countries are missing in the preliminary round. The Swiss champions from DUZ only missed 3 marks for the round of 24.
Anyone who has been to the European Championships, World Championships or Grand Slams knows how to appreciate this performance. From the round of 24 onwards, you really only find very good couples on the floor. For both couples, it has now paid off to focus on international tournaments and international coaches for years. Both Swiss couples regularly get know-how in Italy and other big dance countries to train and compete in their competitive environment. This shapes and spurs them on - and brings success. This has also had an effect on the WDSF World Ranking; Corrodi/Kucharczyk are in 44th place after the European Championships, Kasilov/Dreier in 81st.
In this historic and festive setting in the Romanian metropolis, the Lithuanians Sodeika/Zukauskaite secured their second European title. In the final, however, they had to give up the Tango to the Italian couple Francesco Galuppo/Debora Pacini, who were already convincing in the preliminary round with dynamism, emotion and a lot of joy in dancing. The later winners danced very reservedly in comparison, especially Sodeika lacked the well-known positive charisma. Already in the round of 24, they only achieved second place in the points classification. In the semifinals they were rated very close to the Italians, and also in the final the difference was only 0.8 points.
In this historic and festive setting in the Romanian metropolis, the Lithuanians Sodeika/Zukauskaite secured their second European title. In the final, however, they had to give up the Tango to the Italian couple Francesco Galuppo/Debora Pacini, who already convinced in the preliminary round with dynamics, emotions and a lot of joy in dancing. The later winners danced very reservedly in comparison, especially Sodeika lacked the well-known positive charisma. Already in the round of 24, they only achieved second place in the points classification. In the semifinals they were rated very close to the Italians, and also in the final the difference was only 0.8 points. So far, the reigning Lithuanian world champions have always won by at least 6 points. This will be an exciting duel in the future. The Estonian couple Madis Abel/Aleksandra Galkina also attacked from the beginning and danced dynamically. What they conjured up on the floor in the Tango thrilled in every round. Abel/Galkina were rewarded for their performance with bronze for the first time at an international championship, which also allowed them to benefit from the absence of the Russian and Belarusian couples.
European Cup Latin
At the same time, the European Cup Latin took place in Bucharest. David Buechel/Flavia Landolfi from the TDSC competed for Switzerland. Unfortunately, the likeable couple narrowly missed qualifying for the 2nd round in the Redance. Our" Alessia Gigli, who lives and trains in Bremen and competes for the German DanceSport Federation, was luckier. With Daniel Dingis she danced very convincingly to 3rd place.
Text/Pictures: Reini Egli
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