Competitive ballroom dancing returns to Arizona PBS with the 2017 World DanceSport GrandSlam Series. The best competitive dancers in the world vie for the most prestigious titles on Sundays at 3 p.m., beginning July 7.
In every step, from the poses of the paso doble to the staccato action of the tango, the couples are on a never-ending quest for excellence and ultimately a championship. Their performances are assessed by twelve experts using a revolutionary judging system which makes the entire process of adjudication more transparent for viewers at home. Four components are considered: two focus on the technical aspects and two on the artistry.
Follow the world’s best couples from France, Italy, Germany, Lithuania, Moldova, and Russia on a year-long journey as they compete in cities across the globe. Six hour-long episodes capture the action as the couples dance their way to the final showdown in Shanghai, China. The cameras are trained on every step they take!
July 7: World DanceSport GrandSlam Standard in Helsinki, Finland
Follow the rivalry between Dmitry Zharkov and Olga Kulikova of Russia, and Simone Segatori and Annette Sudol of Germany as the couples go head to head. The Russian team is hungry for a win, especially after their defeat by Segatori and Sudol at last year’s GrandSlam.
July 14: World DanceSport GrandSlam Latin in Hong Kong
As top Latin dance couples compete in Hong Kong, will Gabriele Goffredo and Anna Matus of Moldova continue their winning streak, or will Russian rivals Armen Tsaturyan and Svetlana Gudyno claim the title?
July 21: World DanceSport GrandSlam Standard in Stuttgart, Germany
The fight between the two top couples is as tight as ever, threatening to eclipse the great dancing put in by a team from Lithuania, whose confidence is growing with every time they take the floor.
July 28: World DanceSport GrandSlam Latin in Moscow, Russia
The Moldovans, who have four wins to their credit so far this year, will dance in Moscow for the very first time. They know they have to go up against the Russians, who have won here multiple times. Who will take this leg of the competition?
August 4: World DanceSport GrandSlam Series Latin Final in Shanghai, China
With the defending GrandSlam Champions out of the competition, who will step up to take the lead in the Latin final?
August 11: World DanceSport GrandSlam Series Standard Final in Shanghai, China
The door is open for new couples to spring to the top of the dancing world, and it could be a variety of talented teams. Will a dark horse take home the championship, or will the runners-up step into the limelight?