Zhang Chanwen 1215820631@qq.com THE 18th World Cup Ballroom Dance Championship was held at Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center in Futian District from July 12 to Sunday. The competition was one of the three most prestigious dance competitions in the Asia Pacific. After a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic, this highly anticipated event made a triumphant comeback and attracted more than 5,800 contestants from 16 countries and regions. The competition caters to participants ranging from age 3 to 72. The organizing committee invited over 10 international judges including 81-year-old Robin Short, honorary chairman of World Dance Council, and Joanna Leunis, the Latin dance champion for eight consecutive years, alongside more than 100 Chinese judges. Ultimately, in the professional category of modern dance, Stanislav Zelianin and Irina Cherepanova from Singapore secured the championship. And in the professional category of Latin dance, Nino Langella and Andra Vaidilaite from Italy claimed the top spot. Alex Gunnarsson and Ekaterina Bond from Iceland won the title in the amateur category of modern dance, while Tang Yiming and Huang Xinyi from China claimed the championship in the amateur category of Latin dance. The teenage section held Friday was joined by teenage dancers from countries including Britain, Italy, Singapore, Australia and Denmark. The section created a friendly atmosphere for communication between young dancers of different nationalities and laid a good foundation for the future of China’s ballroom dance. As the most influential sporting event of its kind, the championship has been held in Shenzhen every year since 2003. It is also listed in the Shenzhen Culture Menu. Hosts of the event include China Culture Administration Association, Shenzhen Municipal Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports Bureau, Shenzhen Federation of Literary and Art Circle, the Publicity Department of the Futian District Committee of the CPC, Futian District Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports Bureau, and Gang Long Dance. | 