Dance TV News - Anthony Hurley Reports on the Asian Open Dance Championships - Tokyo 2025

The magnificent Hiten Banqueting Hall and Ballroom was once again the venue for this year’s Asian Tour presented by the Japan Dance Council. With its mother of pearl ceiling, large floor and ample seating, it is no surprise that it is so popular with Japanese dance organisations.

Mr Isao Nakagawa, the retiring President of the Asian Tour, had some time ago a vision to bring together the world competitors and adjudicators. Over the years, it has now become one of the most important events in the international calendar

The Asian Dance Organisation is led by the new president, Mr Terence Lay. Who, apart from organising, sponsored a welcome dinner for all the adjudicators and guests. The food, wine and company were excellent.

It was a very popular announcement that the World Dance Organisation have now included the Asian Tour in their ranking series.

This popular tour event attracted amateur and professional couples from various countries who joined the Japanese competitors in both Ballroom and Latin American Styles.

The very busy timetable commenced at 8.00am with the professional closed Ballroom and Latin American events. The standard was very high and even, which must have been difficult for the International Board of Adjudicators. They were to be worked extremely hard throughout the day and evening sessions.

In all there were competitions for every class and in the many groups, and it is far too difficult for me to report on them all.

However, I must mention the pro-am ballroom simply because it was a pleasure to see Arunus Bizokas and Domen Krapez back in competitive mode. I was excited to watch these two past champions guiding their Amateur ladies with care, and their floor craft was amazing, they looked for space and used it. You can’t beat experience.

Another floorcraft highlight was watching the Blind dancers, especially in the leading category. Never a bump and always with the line of dance.

THE AMATEUR ASIAN OPEN BALLROOM

NOTED COUPLES IN THE EARLY ROUNDS.

Kosei Soutome & Eika Soutoime.

Very nice clean dancing without exaggeration

Kazuki Tanaka & Kasaumi Hioki.

A good understanding of the waltz findamentals.

Ming Li & Yu Chui Law.

Another attractive Chinese couple.

In the Tango, only a few couples attracted me with sound tango characters.

Frank Shen & Amy Ju. Xanru Li & XinerWang showed good reflex action, which is so important in this dance. Many couples display aggression and facial pain, which is not part of the tango.

Moving onto the final it was apparent that the semi final and final were dominated by Chinese couples.

1st, Yujie & Aini Zhao are currently the number one couple in the amateur world. They are stylists who maintain a good topline and they move as though they are riding on the wind. They only dropped three first places from one adjudicator out of a possible 65.

2nd. Congxian Xie Yuting Luo. Excellent shape very attractive feet and leg action in all dances but especially in the Waltz.

3rd. Kosei Soutome & Eika Soutome. One of my favourite couples throughout the competition. A very good swing action in the waltz and Foxtrot. Attractive choreography that suited their style and physiques.

4th. Frank Shen & Ami Ju. They had final marks from 2nds through to 6ths. I thought they could have challenged for a higher place. They were 4th in all dances.

5th. Andrew Lan &  Yulia Liu. Please ask your coach to check your sway action in the Viennese Waltz. They have a nice compact connection in the Tango.

6th. Andrei Tudor & Ami Ju. I was attracted to this couple in the early rounds, especially in the Slow Foxtrot They had a nice flow without exaggerated choreography, but the judges must have seen something they did not like.

PROFESSIONAL ASIAN OPEN LATIN AMERICAN.      

From the first round, it was clear that it was going to be an excellent championship with 63 entries. From the second round, which included the seeded couples, the audience immediately showed their support, for their Japanese or overseas favourites.

I must confess that doing a complete satisfactory report on these championships is not possible as although I requested the marks, I only received the final analysis in three events. However, I made a few notes of my own on the successful couples making the final.

1st. Nino Langella & Andra. A very polished performance winning four dances and 2nd in the jive. I particularly liked their Rumba. It was as though Andra had so much time in the music.

2nd. Massino Arcolin & Laura Arcolinova. This couple always attracts me with their overall performance. Laura’s body speeds, culminating in a calm or non-progressive mode, are musically stimulating. Massimo partners so well.

3rd Pasha Zvychaymyy & Polina Teleshova. Clearly third according to the adjudicators marks with everything from 1sts through to 5ths. They have a very strong and attractive floor personality and a very nice character shown in the Paso Doble.

4th. Guiseppe Nonnis & Dasha Chesnokova. A couple that attracted me in the early rounds. My notes mentioned them in three dances, namely Samba, Rumba and Jive. So, I was pleased to see they made this very good final. They were 4th in all dances.

5th. Damir & Anna Haluzen.  With marks ranging from 3rd to 6th places, it was, however, no surprise that they made this high-standard final with some attractive choreography. From my notes, I noted their rhythmic Samba was challenging for the final.

6th. Minje Kim & Hyebin Ham. They had to be satisfied with the place no one wants, having made a final. However, my notes once again come to the rescue. They are a compact couple with a good understanding of the latin rhythms, their best dance for me was their ccc. They must have been happy to be included in this final.

PROFESSIONAL ASIAN OPEN BALLROOM.        

As previously stated in my notes, my report on the professional ballroom and the lack of a final analysis sheet do not allow me to publish how the couples finished in each dance.

Like the early rounds in the Latin, the ballroom was packed with so many talented couples, including Blackpool and United Kingdom finalists.

Some couples who attracted my attention:

Takafumi Kanigawa & Lo Sinpo. A very nice shoulder line which was maintained  throughout their choreography.

Alexey & Daria Bredikina One of the many overseas competitors who challenged well and earned a place in the semi-final. They were particularly good in tango.

Paul Kim & Juana Sung. I think they are from Korea. So many improved partnerships are coming out of this country. Paul has a good shoulder line that frames Juana very nicely.

I must record that the general standard of the early rounds was very good. The majority of the men had acceptable shoulder lines, and the ladies were returning to a soft feminine look without severe backward shapes. This creates a partnership and not two individuals.

The first general piece of advice I would offer is to listen to the music and capture the character of each dance. I know you hear the music but make sure you listen to what it is telling you. For example, in tango, most couples were attacking the music because of over progression, which also leads to untidy and leg actions. The quickstep...why is it becoming a race around the floor without any step and swing actions? There are no prizes for how many times you circumnavigate the competition floor. I am sorry to say there is insufficient care and study to portray attractive and productive feet from the majority.

PROFESSIONAL BALLROOM FINAL.             

1ST By winning all four dances, the reigning British and United Kingdom Champions Stanislav Zelianin & Irina Cherepanova were comfortable winners. However, I would like to offer a little advice that I mentioned to them after the results. Please when hopping in quickstep, point your toes towards the floor. And remember a dancer’s line is measured from head to toe.

In no PARTICULAR ORDER, I hope the following comments are helpful.

Dima & Anna Dakhnovskyi  They are a very attractive couple, but I would like to see a more relaxed shoulder and arm line. Remember it is a frame for your partner Dima.

Alex Gunnarsson & Ekaterina Bond. Alex & Ekaterina have certainly posted their intentions to challenge those couples who are just a few places in front. I particularly like their clean shape and quality of movement

David Cockram & Rosie Ward, I like their lightness and personality on the floor, which I am sure attracts adjudicators for a closer look. On this particular evening, they thoroughly deserved their final place. In Quickstep, when you use a kick action David, make sure you point the foot towards the floor, not the ceiling. It’s not a high kicking contest.

Madis Abel & liis End. Obvious finalists, I thought their Blackpool performance was better than they showed tonight, albeit I would have had them a place higher. I thought Madis got a little rough which detracted from their usual performance.

Igor Reznik & lika Dikaya. A very nice, compact position. I would like you to introduce your music to Dikaya, and remember the thought should be you finish your action and music through your partner. She is the final extension.

Last observation a message to all couples . Please study the production of sway, which is mostly preceded with CBM. Sway starts from the ankles. It is not a tilt from the waist.

SUMMARY.                                                                                                         

The overall standard of dancing in both styles and all categories were very good, and the organisers must be congratulated on arranging a programme to serve all grades, especially the blind and partially blind. This section has been a long dream of Isao Nakagawa, and it was pleasing to note that eighteen couples entered the ballroom and the Latin American events.

Twenty top international adjudicators were engaged, and it was an enjoyable part of the weekend catching up with so many friends.

I would like to place on record my gratitude to the JDC President, M Masaki Seki. The retiring president of the Asian tour, Mr Isao Nakagawa, and Mr Terence Lay, the current president, for their hospitality in welcoming my daughter Cherrie and I to the 2025 Asian Tour.

It was also very humbling and an enormous surprise for me to receive the 2025 Asian Tour Award for my contribution to competitive dancing. This was presented to me by Mr Isao Nakagawa and Mr Terence Lay.

Plans are already in place for the 2026 Asian tour. They take place in Japan, Korea and Taiwan.