The Harlem Festival has been in full swing for more than ten years and draws in dancers from all around the world.
Vilnius, Lithuania doesn’t seem like the most likely location for a swing dance competition but hey, it’s working for them.
Laying it all out on the dance floor, swingers perform to the live music of one of New York’s best jazz bands, Professor Cunningham & His Old School.
The competition between solo dancers is fierce! And only the best make it to the finals.
Talented guys and gals come dressed in their 1940’s inspired attire and take turns dancing in the spotlight, hoping to wow the judges who sit on the stage in front of the live band.
The first dancer, Nejc Zupan, takes to the stage looking dapper and sporting a smile from ear to ear.
He has some serious moves and seems to be winning over the audience, but he’s just the first.
Evgeniia Zlatina comes in with a feminine flair and fancy footwork (try saying that five times fast!), giving Nejc a run for his money!
We’re introduced to Kirill Rodionov next, who wastes no time with basic dance moves.
He immediately gets the crowd going with lots of spinning, an impossibly fast Charleston, and ends his first round with a high kick.
You can’t keep your eyes off him!
Alina Sokulska brings more female talent to the floor in an all white shirt and pants combo paired with gold shoes.
Her swing dancing seems to have a little more of a modern influence compared to the other competitors that we’ve seen so far.
She goes head to head (or is it toe to toe) with Kirill.
It seems like it might be a tight match, but then Kirill comes back with some stunners, like a full back bend down to the floor.
It’s so smooth and effortless… he’s got so much skill!
Yana Sanamyants is next up on the floor to dance battle against Kirill. She’s full of sass and personality, making for a fun exchange between the two.
Instead of sticking to her own side of the dance floor though, Yana uses her time in the spotlight to dance on Kirill.
Like I don’t just mean near him, but right up close.
Basically against.
It’s a lot.
[imgsrc caption="YouTube Screenshot" link="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS6EgAkv2Ek"]
And Kirill stays very cool throughout the whole performance. He continues crushing his side of the dance battle even when Yana stands on the sidelines doing a little dance of her own and trying to distract him!
As we get down to the wire, Kirill becomes the clear crowd favourite, and the battles become more intense. Everyone is pulling out the big stops!
There’s even an intense chicken dance moment.
[imgsrc caption="YouTube Screenshot" link="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS6EgAkv2Ek"]
And some dramatic splits!
[imgsrc caption="YouTube Screenshot" link="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS6EgAkv2Ek"]
And for poor Nejc, a small slip up which may cost him the competition.
He and Kirill are up against each other, pulling out all their best stops in the very final round, when Nejc loses his footing.
[imgsrc caption="YouTube Screenshot" link="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS6EgAkv2Ek"]
He makes an amazing recovery, but the fall it doesn’t go unnoticed by the judges.
A massive kart wheel and splits combo by Kirill demolishes every other move by his competition and ultimately wins him the gold!
Just look at the faces on everyone from judges to other dancers – pure amazement!
[imgsrc caption="YouTube Screenshot" link="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS6EgAkv2Ek"]
Congratulations to the amazing Kirill Rodionov for a well-deserved win!
See his amazing swing dancing – and that of all the other competitors by watching the video below.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
