Dancefloor dazzlers!

This year at the UK Open was an unforgettable one – not least for the absolutely amazing performances of our DSI Elite Performers and sponsored dancers who really did us proud in Bournemouth. But what they wearing?

First up are superstars Igor Reznik and Mariia Polishchuk, who came third in the UK Open Amateur Ballroom this year. Mariia started off in the earlier rounds wearing a stunning Coral ballroom dress and then changed into a very elegant Champagne gown for the final.

Both dresses featured a high turtleneck collar with a low-keyhole back and were heavily stoned with a mixture of our Preciosa crystals including Sun AB, Light Peach and Crystal AB. The body of both dresses had georgette floats attached to the arms draping all along the front and back, with the bodice also stoned in Sun AB, Light Peach and Crystal AB. For the skirt, our design team decided on V-shaped georgette godets and finished this look off with a heavily stoned border along each godet.

We were extremely proud of DSI Elite Performers Stanislav Zelianin and Irina Cherepanova who came a fantastic fourth in the Professional Ballroom Championship. Irina took to the floor in a very striking Lime and Black number, which had a V shape in the front and back using our Limited Edition Black Beaded Fringe. The body was stoned again using Preciosa crystals: Citrine, Citrine AB and Crystal AB with shading of Jet crystals under the fringe.

Not only was the colour of Irina’s dress extremely striking, but the skirt was also amazing with hand-glued individual Lime feather boas attached all across the skirt, as well as individual feather boas attached to the wrist to create a shading effect in Lime and Black. We don’t like forget about our men! Stanislav showed off one of our custom-tailored tail suits – and wasn’t that topline world class?!

Next up, among our very best Elites are our first-time finalists Michal Le and Sandra Jablonska, who took a very deserving sixth place in the prestigious Amateur Ballroom final.

Sandra showcased a stunningly classy number using our Navy Riga. This dress featured a dramatic deep V-shaped neckline with a classic low back stoned in a border of Cobalt and Sapphire SS16, SS20 AND SS30s. The body was stoned following the lines of our Riga Burnt Out Velvet, again using Colbalt and Sapphire SS16s. We finished off this look with eight Sunray Georgette and Satin godets and a luxury Navy feather boa hem.

The last of our ballroom girls, but certainly not the least, is DSI Elite Performer Bettina Hatfield, who also took to the floor in another striking Lime yellow dress. But you know us: we never do two dresses the same, so, of course, this had a completely different twist.

Bettina’s fabulous dresses featured a high mesh neckline stoned using Preciosa’s Citrine, Citrine AB and Crystal AB, with a corset-style belt also stoned in Citrine, Citrine AB and Crystal AB.

The skirt was a traditional full ballroom skirt cut into eight panel godet points using our Georgette and Pearl Chiffon, with a luxury Lime feather boa hem and Lime pompom-style floats to finish off this gorgeous look.

Our fiery Latin DSI Elite Performers Lloyd Perry and Rebecca Scott danced their way into the top 24 of the Amateur Latin Championship. Rebecca rocked a sexy black number. Using our Black Crepe, we created a one-shoulder Latin dress with a diagonal hem stoned in Jet and Crystal AB, with an exposed left side to show off Rebecca’s fantastic legs and feet. Wasn’t this one a show-stopper? Lloyd complemented her perfectly in his classy Black Crepe Latin shirt with small Satin detailing.  

We could chat all day about the dazzling dresses we create for our DSI Elite Performers but it would be quite unfair to leave out our male dancers! DSI Elite Performer Gunnar Gunnarsson fought his way into the semi-final of the Professional Latin, despite the fact his partner Marika Doshoris broke her foot during the early rounds!

And didn’t Gunnar pull off a classy look?  He stepped away from his signature waistcoat and decided to try something new with a couture Monte Carlo-style shirt with Satin piping detail on the front and back with a Satin pocket square.

Who better to conclude with than style icon Austin Joson?! DSI Elite Performer Austin yet again secured himself a place in the Amateur Latin final, in which he came sixth with his partner Nino Dzneladze. Austin decided to change his look and add our Gunnar waistcoat to his current Crepe shirt and couture trouser. We have to admit: we do love his style!

Photos: Fredric Frennessen.