White Gold in Motion
11th August 2026
Anna Sloukova at Blackpool 2026
Some dresses command attention through colour. Others through silhouette. And occasionally, a dress creates its impact through the way it transforms once the dancer begins to move.
For DSI Elite Performer Anna Sloukova, this white-gold Latin dress was created to do precisely that.
Worn with Lloyd Perry at the 2026 Blackpool Dance Festival, the design combines the brilliance of white and silver with warmer flashes of gold, creating a look that continually changes as Anna moves across the floor.
It is unmistakably glamorous, but its real character lies in movement.
A Dress Designed to Dance
Latin couture presents an interesting design challenge.
A dress needs to create an immediate visual identity when the dancer is standing still, but it must become even more expressive once the dancing begins.
Anna's dress achieves this through layers of texture and movement rather than relying upon a conventional solid silhouette.
The bodice is heavily embellished, creating an intensely sparkling focal point around the upper body. From there, cascading strands and individual fringe break away from the body, allowing the dress to react independently to Anna's speed, rotation and changes of direction.
The result is almost kinetic.
Every action creates another reaction from the dress.
Rather than simply following the dancer, the costume appears to continue the movement.
White, Silver and Gold
The colour story is particularly important.
At first glance, the dress reads predominantly as a brilliant white and silver creation. Look more closely, however, and warmer gold tones begin to emerge.
That contrast prevents the design from becoming visually flat.
The metallic detailing catches the ballroom lighting differently with every movement, while the combination of embellishment, fringe and reflective surfaces creates changing points of brilliance across the body.
The warmer gold elements provide another dimension, particularly against Anna's skin tone, giving the overall design a richer and more luxurious character.
It is a sophisticated interpretation of metallic Latin couture: not one metallic colour, but several tones working together.
Movement as Part of the Design
Fringe has always had an important place within Latin fashion, but when used thoughtfully it is far more than decoration.
Its purpose is movement.
The individual strands exaggerate acceleration, rotation and rhythm. They momentarily remain in motion after the body has changed direction, visually extending Anna's actions and making the choreography appear larger.
That principle runs throughout this design.
Nothing has been added simply because it looks beautiful in isolation. The embellishment, proportions and placement of the moving elements have all been considered in relation to a dancer in motion.
This is where performance couture differs fundamentally from conventional fashion.
A competition dress is never truly finished when viewed on a mannequin.
It has to be seen dancing.
Created for Anna
The most successful couture should never overwhelm the person wearing it.
It should reveal something about them.
Anna brings a particularly strong, contemporary presence to the Latin floor, and her DSI wardrobe increasingly reflects that personality. There is confidence in the silhouettes, glamour in the embellishment and, importantly, a willingness to explore different ideas rather than simply repeat familiar Latin formulas.
Working with DSI London designer Svetlana, each new dress therefore becomes part of an evolving creative relationship.
The objective is not merely to create another beautiful competition dress.
It is to create Anna's dress.
A garment conceived around her proportions, her movement, her personality and the way she wishes to present herself on the floor.
Made in London. Made to Perform
Anna's dress was created by our couture team in the DSI London workshop, where design, pattern cutting, construction, fitting and embellishment come together under one roof.
That proximity between designer, maker and dancer matters.
Performance couture frequently evolves during its creation. A proportion may need refining. Movement may suggest an alteration. Embellishment can be adjusted once the garment is seen on the body.
It is a collaborative process in which craftsmanship serves performance.
And ultimately, that is what DSI Fashion is about.
Not simply recording what our Elite Performers wore, but preserving the ideas, craftsmanship and creative decisions behind the garments, and perhaps inspiring the next dancer to imagine something entirely their own.
Inspired by Anna?
This dress forms part of the DSI Elite Collection and DSI competition dresses are available to purchase or hire.
Alternatively, if Anna's look inspires an idea of your own, our couture team would be delighted to work with you to create a bespoke DSI London dress designed specifically around you and your dancing.
For dress sales, hire or couture enquiries, please contact Emma at emma@dsi-london.com.
Photography: Tomasz Reindl
