The HKBDFI Cup organized by HKBDI was supposed to be held in February or March at Hotel Regal Riverside (“HRR”). This year it was fixed on 1st April (Easter Sunday) due to HRR fully booked (similar situations as last year) ! The number of dance competitions or parties are flourishing in Hong Kong in recent years. The popular venue for dance events like HRR is difficult to secure. I had had the mental preparations of less participants at 7th HKBDFI Cup on April Fool’s Day 2018 as a lot of HK people go out for Easter Holidays! Beyond my expectations, the comparison statistics was not that bad :

6th HKBDFI Cup on 9/4/17 83 Couples 99 Solo dancers 19 tables
7th HKBDFI Cup on 1/4/18 81 Couples 96 Solo dancers 18tables

The top four events were more spectacular than last year : – Open Professional Standard & Open Amateur Standard were taken by two highly skillful Italian couples Gaetano & Emanuela, Daniele & Nicole ; Open Professional Latin Champions were from South Africa Ryno & Mira. They showed their appreciations to HKBDI (who helped them entered for this year’s Blackpool Dance Festival) by dancing at 7th HKBDFI Cup , their first competition after over one year’s break. The audience enjoyed their passions & total dedications in their first time competition in HK；a partnership of HK/China youngster Power & Mimi was crowned Open Amateur Latin Champions . They were blessed with talent & chance – they won two consecutive HKBDI Ranking events on 10/12/17 & 1/4/18, coincidently Denys & Yuliya (England) and Federica & Federico (Italy) both withdrew from both events at the last moment.
When “Hong Kong Permanent Resident Amateur Standard” (“HKPRAS”) event was first introduced by HKBDI at 1st HKBDFI Cup six years ago, all participating couples were Senior couples. This year this meaningful event was won by a brand new vibrant partnership Dovano, aged 18 & Victoria, aged 15. Actually Dovano with ex-partner Tracy was 2017 All Year Round Champions of HKPRAS. I am happy this event has become the landmark of HKBDI and more HK young & upcoming couples are supporting HKBDI.
Photos : (a) Open Professional Standard Champions Gaetano Iavarone & Emanuela Napolitano (Italy) ; (b) Open Professional Latin Champions Ryno Van Den Berg & Mira Tokarenko (South Africa) ; (c) Open Amateur Standard Champions Daniele Ruscito & Nicole Cartigiano (Italy) ; (d) prize presentations of Open Professional Latin ; (e) prize presentations of Pro-Am 5-Dance Standard

Lawrence Chan
President , HKBDI