October marked a historic milestone for DanceSport Europe (DSE) with the launch of an exciting new competitive format: the DSE Team Challenge Cup. Held across two vibrant cities – Rome, Italy, and Sibiu, Romania – the events showcased not just individual technical brilliance, but the power of national cohesion. In a display of versatility and artistic flair, Team Romania swept the board, claiming victory in both the inaugural event in Rome and the subsequent competition in Sibiu. A New Era of Team Competition While DanceSport is traditionally focused on individual couples, the DSE Team Challenge Cup shifts the spotlight to national pride. The format was strictly defined to test the depth of the competing nations, with each country represented by four couples. The competition challenged these teams across a grueling multi-stage format: The Single Dances: Couples competed in three Ballroom (Standard) dances and three Latin American dances. The “Syllabus” Challenge: In a unique twist designed to test fundamental technique, one Standard dance and one Latin dance had to be performed using only syllabus figures. This stripped away open choreography, forcing judges to evaluate the pure technical foundation of the athletes. The Group Show: Following the individual heats, the four couples returned to the floor together to perform a choreographed group formation show. The final evaluation was a test of balance: 50% of the score was derived from the single dances, and 50% from the group show performance.

The Rome Debut (October 3rd) The series kicked off in the Eternal City on October 3rd. The atmosphere in Rome was electric as European nations gathered to test this new format for the first time. Team Romania set the standard immediately, balancing high scores in the restricted syllabus dances with an engaging group show to become the first-ever champions. However, the fight for the podium was intense. Team Spain delivered a passionate performance to secure 2nd place* while Team Poland showcased strong technical skills to take 3rd place and the bronze medals.

The Sibiu Showdown (October 31st) Fast forward to the end of the month, and the action moved to Sibiu, Romania. With the home crowd behind them, the pressure was on Team Romania to defend their title against a shaken-up field of competitors. The unique 50/50 scoring split once again proved to be the deciding factor. Team Romania rose to the occasion, repeating their success to secure their second gold medal of the month. The silver medal went to Team Italy, who traveled to Sibiu determined to improve on their result from the Rome leg. Meanwhile, Team Bulgaria impressed the judges with their consistency, rounding out the podium in 3rd place.

A Winning Formula The success of the Team Challenge Cup highlights a growing appetite for team-based events in the DanceSport world. By weighing the artistic group show equally with the technical individual heats, DSE has created a format that rewards well-rounded dancers and national teamwork. Congratulations to Team Romania for an undefeated run in October, and to Spain, Poland, Italy, and Bulgaria for their podium finishes

For the first time ever, Estonia proudly hosted a DanceSport Europe competition on 20–21 September 2025 in the beautiful city of Tartu. The event brought together young dancers from across Europe for two exciting days of rhythm, energy, and elegant movement.

Our talented dance couples competed in the Juniors and Juveniles categories, showing their skill and passion on the floor. The atmosphere was full of enthusiasm—from the first warm-ups to the final rounds, every dancer gave their best performance.

Adding to the excitement, the organizers prepared special trophies for all the couples—beautifully designed keepsakes to remember their hard work and memorable moments from Tartu.

This event was part of the DanceSport Europe series, which brings together young dancers from many countries to share their love of dance, meet new friends, and grow through healthy competition. Hosting this international series for the first time in Estonia marks a wonderful milestone for our dance community.

Thanks to the Estonian federation as well as Martin Parmas.

DSE Team Challenge Cup – Ballroom Dance Reimagined

DanceSport Europe is proud to launch a brand-new competition format that brings a fresh twist to the international stage: the DSE Team Challenge Cup. This exciting project introduces a unique team battle between countries, blending tradition, creativity, and a touch of everyday flair.

Each national team will be made up of four couples:

• Two Adult couples (one in Standard, one in Latin)
• Two Youth couples (one in Standard, one in Latin)

This mix ensures both age categories shine, uniting generations under one flag in pursuit of teamwork and artistry.

The structure itself is as innovative as the lineup:

• In the group stage, every team will perform three dances. In one of these, all couples are challenged to dance using basic steps only, highlighting the beauty of simplicity and pure technique.
• After the group stage, the spotlight turns to creativity: teams must present a team show, with their own music and concept, offering full freedom of expression.

Another refreshing twist? The event steps away from the heavy formality of traditional DanceSport costuming. Competitors are encouraged to dress in a style that feels closer to normal daily life—still elegant and expressive, but more relaxed. This not only makes the contest more relatable and vibrant for audiences, but also brings a whole new aesthetic energy to ballroom dancing.

The very first edition of the DSE Team Challenge Cup will take place in Rome on October 3rd, 2025, followed by the second round in Sibiu, Romania, on October 31st, 2025. With nations battling side by side through discipline, creativity, and passion, the Cup is set to become one of DanceSport Europe’s most exciting and groundbreaking projects.

This is not just another competition—it’s a new way of experiencing dance: spirited, collaborative, and closer to life, while still celebrating the highest standards of performance.

Detailed Rules