The first Russian Dance Sports Championship was held in Moscow

A real celebration of grace and beauty took place in Moscow from March 20 to March 29. The first official Russian Professional Dance Sports Championship brought together the country's strongest couples. Now their names have entered the history of Russian sports ballroom dancing.

Final preparations: you need to warm up, fix your makeup, put on all the jewelry, and, most importantly, the ritual of all athletes is to prepare ballroom shoes.

"It's better to tune in to the parquet floor," one of the participants explained.

The journalists watched the backstage of the championship. The best of the best are preparing to enter the parquet.

"This is Russia's first professional dance sports championship. There are 32 pairs on the floor and special attention is focused on them, if only because the official status of the championship takes it to a fundamentally new level," said Kristina Morozova, a correspondent for Izvestia.

This is not just a championship, but a unique performance with a live orchestra. The judges do not take their eyes off, the concentration is enormous. Every detail is important: choreography, musicality, chemistry between partners.

"Of course, it's alarming, but the main work has already been done in the gym," said Andrey and Anastasia Kiselyov, participants of the championship.

Two programs: Latin American — with cha-cha-cha, samba, rumba, jive and paso doble, and European — slow and Viennese waltzes, foxtrot, quickstep and tango.

"This is the first official Russian professional championship, and it is a great honor for us to become the first professional champions. It's a story, it's cool," admitted Evgeny Nikitin and Anastasia Milyutina, Russian professional dance champions (European program).

Professionals from Moscow, Bryansk, St. Petersburg, Khabarovsk and Yaroslavl are participating in the championship.

"This is very important both for the support of Russian couples and for their development. The way everything is done here is a great respect, respect and level," said Kirill Belorukov and Valeria Aidaeva, Russian champions in professional dance sports (Latin American program).

Dance sports are becoming more and more popular in Russia. The number of tournaments, championships and, of course, the number of participants is growing.

"We don't judge the rating, we judge the dance here and now, that's the first thing. The second is the educational programs that PTSD conducts so that athletes can develop. The opportunity to enter the international sports arena with your own anthem and flag is also a prospect," said Nadezhda Erastova, President of the All—Russian Federation of Dance Sports and Acrobatic Rock'n'roll.

For nine days, the capital literally circled in the rhythms of samba and waltz. The main thing that athletes are fighting for is the chance to represent our country at the European Championships.

"This is a very serious challenge, because only to go out on this parquet floor and identify yourself that you could, you coped. You, along with very cool professionals, go out on the same floor and show what you have already achieved," explained Sergey Tsyplyaev and Natalia Muiznik, participants of the Russian Amateur Championship (seniors category).

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In total, more than 3,000 athletes from 67 regions and 152 cities of Russia took part in the dance championship. According to Erastova, the selection of participants took place through competitions in the federal districts.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.