Adjudicators and Officials


Arunas Bizokas	Adjudicator -


Inna Brayer	Adjudicator - NY NDCA+USA Dance+WDSF - A+ B+ C+ D+ E+
	Inna Brayer, a native of Moscow Russia, is the 3 time United States National Ten Dance Champion and a National Certified Adjudicator holding fellowship level accreditation from the N.A.D.T.A. As an ambassador and World Team Member representing the United States she has been ranked as high as ninth in the world, competing in six World Championships. Inna participated as a dancer on Season 7 of ABC-TV’s “Dancing with the Stars” and was partnered with actor Ted McGinley. In 2008 Inna represented USA Dance, Inc. when she was featured on ABC-TV’s “Good Morning America” discussing the upcoming National Championships and the benefits of ballroom dancing. She also served as the choreographer for the Rutgers University Ballroom Dance Team performance on Season 9 of “Dancing with the Stars.” As a coach her students have achieved high placements in many national and international competitions including winning Junior Latin National Championships. Off the dance floor she is actively involved with USA Dance as a DanceSport Delegate, member of the Governing Council, and DanceSport Council. Outside of dance she holds a B.A. in English and Education from the Hunter College Quest School of Education.

Hannah Cole	Adjudicator -


Bonnie Diaz	Adjudicator - NY
	Bonnie Diaz is the first World Champion for the United States, Three Times Ten Dance Representative and Eleven Times Undefeated Basic Latin Champion. She is a guest teacher at the Joffery Ballet School, Gelsey Kirkland Ballet Academy and on Faculty at Ballet Hispanico as a coach and choreographer. Her proudest accomplishment to date is her not for profit organization www.BallroomBarks.org, using Ballroom Dance to champion animal causes. She resides in New York City. Bonnie is producing her own DVD series called Diaz Dance Dynamics to be out by the end of 2011.

Andrey Dragunov	Adjudicator -


Viktoriya Drubetskaya	Adjudicator - Brooklyn, NY USA Dance+WDSF+WDC - A+ B+ C+ D+ E-
	Viktoriya Drubetskaya was a 1999 UK Open Professional Rising Star Finalist, 1999 USA Professional Rising Star Champion. 2001-2002 US and World Mambo Champion. 2002 US Professional Rhythm Finalist. As an amateur, she was a 1996 USA Amateur Latin Finalist as well as a Junior 10-Dance Finalist in Moldova. Since 2002, she has been learning about human body movement in depth in Laban Institute of Movement Studies, has studied Dance Notation via Language of Dance and Kestenberg Movement Profile. She has also been certified as Eric Franklin Level 3 movement educator. She has used her knowledge successfully, creating BESSI (Body, Effort, Shape, Space, and Imagery) to train top level junior, youth and adult competitors who were US representatives to many world championships. As of Jnauary 2016, Viktoriya became a WDSF Technical Examiner.

Dana Edwards	Adjudicator - Hilliard, OH USA Dance - Chair+ A+ B+ C+ D+ E+
	Dana A. Edwards Dana is a Licentiate member and hold my American certifications in Ballroom, Rhythm and Theatre Arts with the United States Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing and Licentiate degrees in International Ballroom and Latin with Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing. She is a USA Dance adjudicator and collegiate chairman of the judges. Dana is also the Director of Social media and will be serving on the USISTD National committee. She is retired as a American and Canadian American professional American Smooth and Rhythm Champion. She has 24 years of teaching experience. She worked for Fred Astaire Dance studios for 9 years have also owned her own dance studio called Invitation To Dance in Columbus, Ohio since 2001. Dana was the head coach for the competitive and formation teams for the Ohio State University DanceSport team from 2009 to 2012.

Shawn Fisher	Adjudicator - Idaho USA Dance+WDSF - Chair+ A+ B+ C+ D+
	Shawn Fisher is a Professor of dance for the Brigham Young University Idaho Theatre and Dance Department. He has coached youth and collegiate ballroom teams for 32 years winning many national titles as well as Blackpool. He has toured extensively both in the United States and around the world as the director of the BYU Idaho Dance Alliance performing company. As a competitor he was a bronze medalist in the World Latin Formation team championships. Holds four national Formation titles and was a U.S. finalist in Standard, Latin, Smooth, and Rhythm. Shawn was formerly the Sr. Vice President of USA Dance as well as an adjudicator with the NDCA. He is currently a WDSF adjudicator, both level A and professional, a USA Dance Chairman, National Adjudicator, and a national examiner in all four styles for DVIDA. He and his wife Janie direct the Idaho Ballroom Academy and are the proud parents of seven lovely children.

Jami Josephson-Chace	Adjudicator -


Vladmir Karpov	Adjudicator -


Elena Krifuks	Adjudicator -


Anastasia Krivosheeva	Adjudicator -


Daria Sereda	Adjudicator -


Christopher Spalding	Adjudicator - Ft. Wayne, IN NDCA -
	Christopher Spalding began his ballroom career in his hometown of Virginia Beach, VA. His passion for dancesport soon led him to Chicago, IL, where he sharpened his skills under the tutelage of such great champions as Tommye Giacchino and Gregory Day, John Swick, David Hamilton, Kimberly Mitchell, Rufus Dustin, Steve Vasco, and Sir Steven Hillier. Chris and his partner Kelly Bartlett have won numerous titles, including North American Showdance and Rising Star Smooth Champions. Chris and Kelly are also the proud owners of The Fort Wayne Ballroom Company in Ft. Wayne, IN. They continue to compete professionally while training their students of all ages and levels to reach their dance goals. Chris holds DVIDA certifications in all 4 styles.

Alex Spencer	Adjudicator -


Jeffrey Van Meerkerk	Adjudicator -


Yelena Vesnovskiy	Adjudicator - New York USA Dance+WDSF - A+ B+ C+ D+
	Yelena Vesnovskiy is WDSF `A` and USA Dance A+, B+, C+, D+ certified adjudicator. As an adjudicator, Yelena has judged many esteemed North American and European international competitions including WDSF World Championships and WDSF World Open competitions. Yelena has been teaching and training dancers for the past 40 years. From the age of seven she studied ballet, folk, modern, and contemporary styles of dance in Russia. At age twelve she discovered ballroom dancing, which quickly became her primary style of dance. As a dancer, Yelena has competed in all major European and North American championships. She has achieved S-class in Standard and Latin as an amateur dancesport athlete and continued as a professional competitor specializing in Standard. Yelena has trained with the top coaches and trainers in the world. Yelena graduated the Performing Arts University in Novosibirsk, Russia, with degrees in Choreography and Ballet Mastery. Shortly after the graduating, Yelena became the founder, executive manager and professor of the Ballroom Dance Department at the Novosibirsk University of Performing Arts. Many of her college students became coaches and dancesport club owners in different regions of Russia and even other countries. Yelena has published books, teaching materials and has been cited in numerous technique and development publications. Since 2001, Yelena has been the owner and primary instructor of Atlantic Ballroom Dance Studio in Brooklyn New York. In Atlantic Ballroom, her main focus has been to raise dancers to be determined and passionate competitors. Her education and experience from Russia and the United States create a strict and diverse curriculum, which imbeds into the dancers fundamentals that are necessary for success. Her students became Russian Youth Latin National Champions.Her couples in the USA have also reached many heights, such as Junior, Youth and Under 21 Standard National Champions, who represented USA at WDSF World Championships. Yelena has organized the Metropolitan DanceSport Championship in Brooklyn, NY since 2016.

Duarte Vieira	Adjudicator -


Yuehwern Yih	Adjudicator - Indiana USA Dance+WDSF - Chair+ A+ B+ C+ D+
	Chair of Judges - World Dancesport Federation (WDSF) and USA Dance. Certified Adjudicator - World Dancesport Federation (WDSF) Championship Certified Adjudicator by North American Dancesport Teachers Association (NADTA) and USA Dance Certified Scrutineer by National Dance Council of America (NDCA), recognized by USA Dance In addition to judging and chairing, Yuehwern and her partner, Daniel, spend most of their time being the head coaches of the Purdue Latin & Ballroom Dance Team. Yuehwern founded this college team in 1995 and it has been highly ranked in the USA Dance collegiate national events. In 2010, the Team was invited to compete on Season 10 of Dancing with the Stars on Fox, and placed second in collegiate formation team competition at the finale. Yuehwern was vice-champion in USA Dance National Dancesport Championships and later finalists in professional events in a span of 15 years. Throughout her dancing career, she is passionate about learning; teaching, and helping students find their pathways to success on and off the dance floor. Over 20 years, the competition team she works with is an incubator of many Dancesport competitors, professionals, and lifelong dancers. Each year Yuehwern is also the key person to organize the Purdue Ballroom Classic, which attracts more than 400 collegiate competitors from 20+ universities in the Midwest area for the last two decades. Yuehwern studied ballet and performed with the Lafayette Ballet Company before learning ballroom dance. Besides dancing, she completed her B.S. and Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering, specializing in smart operations and system engineering. She is currently a Full Professor in Industrial Engineering at Purdue University, the Academic Director of LASER PULSE (Long-term Assistance and Services for Research, Partners for University-Led Solutions Engine) Consortium, and the Associate Director of Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering.

Sami Yli-Piipari	Adjudicator - US USA Dance+WDSF - Chair+ A+ B+ C- D-
	Sami started ballroom dancing at the age of 10 in his native country, Finland. During his career with his wife Karita, he achieved numerous international and national titles including total 15 Finnish National Championships titles amateur and professional standard, latin, & 10-dance. He is also a former Professional World & European Professional 10-Dance Grand Finalist, United Kingdom & International Professional Rising Star Finalist, and Blackpool Professional Rising Star Semi-Finalist. Representing the US, Sami serves as a WDSF chairman and adjudicator.

Christine Zona	Adjudicator - New York, NY and Pittsburgh, PA - A+ B+ C+ D+ E+
	National Adjudicator USADance and NADTA A+B+C+D+E+ -Competed professionally in the International Standard and Latin and the American Ballroom divisions -North American Rising Star American Ballroom Champion -Chicago Harvest Moon Ball American Ballroom Champion -Published, through Human Kinetics, a how to dance book, Gotta Ballroom, which includes the American style ballroom dances. -Editor of Dance Notes, a magazine dedicated to interviews of World and United States Champions. -International Standard and American Smooth Coach for Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Daniel Calloway	Chairman - Bethesda, MD USA Dance+WDSF - Chair+ A+ B+ C+ D+ E+
	* WDSF World Championship, Grand Slam and World Cup Adjudicator * WDSF Chairman of Judges * WDSF A Adjudicator * WDSF PD (Professional Division) Adjudicator * Chairman of Judges: North American and United States Championships * Professional of the Year and Top Teacher Dan has been competing professionally, coaching and judging for over 40 years. In 1985 Dan was the youngest dual fellow in the world with highly commended fellowships in the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, the London-based society, which embodies the worlds acknowledged leaders of the dance profession. Dan is also the DanceSport coach for the competitive DanceSport teams at Georgetown University and the University of Maryland, as well as serving as guest coach at numerous other universities, congresses, and dance camps, including moderating the professional discussion panels at key events in the United States. Dan has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and Religion and a Master of Arts degree in English Literature.

Patti Panebianco	Chairman - New York USA Dance+WDSF - Chair+ A+ B+ C+ D+ E+
	Pattis dynamic energy & charisma has allowed her to become a sought after adjudicator & invigilator for numerous NDCA & USA Dance competitions as well as being the former treasurer & national committee member for the US Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing. She is the recipient of numerous championship titles in both Intl Latin & American Rhythm styles. She has choreographed & performed in various stage, TV & movie productions, throughout the world including A Tribute to Gershwin, Wallflowering, Marconi Brothers, All my Children & YoYo Mas Soul of the Tango. Working with children brings joy to her soul; she is a former Teaching Artist & Educational Liason with Dancing Classrooms Long Island. And has recently volunteered her time judging The Colors of the Rainbow Team Match for DCLI. She holds licentiate certifications in all styles of dance and is a popular trainer for professionals & amateurs for their national certifications with the U.S.I.S.T.D For the Past 17 years she has been the founder & owner of NY Dancesport Centre on Long Island where she currently resides with her husband Anthony and her two rescue cats Dolly & Puca. She enjoys touring the country coaching, adjudicating & sharing her joy & knowledge of Ballroom dance. Patti is a passionate fundraiser encompassing such causes as Ballroom Barks! & Roll Call Wheel Chair Dance

Kevin Booth	Deck Captain -


Genova Morel	Deck Captain -


Van Hoang	Emcee - Canada CDF+WDSF - Scrutineer
	Hello world

Ricky Semlitz	Emcee - Maryland
	Ricky Semlitz is an Open-level Amateur dancer who began his ballroom career at the University of Maryland, College Park. Ricky started singing in middle school and high school through choir and musicals where he discovered his ability to tap dance. Ricky found the Ballroom at Maryland team where his mediocre tap skills transferred well into standard and latin dance. Ricky has been an avid ballroom dancer ever since having organized DC DanceSport Inferno for eight years and Dance Legends in New York City for three. Ricky continues to MC events like DCDI, the MAC, Metropolitan DanceSport, and Summer Sizzler.

Todd Wakefield	Music Director - USA Dance - Scrutineer
	Todd Wakefield discovered his love for dance as a freshman at BYU.He met his wife Alison when they were set up as partners. They competed in 10-dance but mostly focused on the Ballroom style, where they were Amateur Championship finalists. They were members of the BYU Ballroom Touring Team for 4 years. Todd graduated from BYU with a degree in Statistics and is a Consumer Insights consultant. He is currently an adjunct faculty member in the Utah Valley University Ballroom Dance department. He is also a board member of the non-profit ballroom dance organization Danzinskule, a certified scrutineer for USA Dance, a music director, and co-organizer of a few competitions.In his 25+ years of dance experience, he has competed at the amateur championship level, directed college and high school teams, coached a US National Champion couple and choreographed routines for all levels of dancers. In the rare event that he has some free time, Todd enjoys just about anything that gets him outside, especially biking, skiing, golf or climbing...and even better if he can get his kids to do it with him. He and Alison have4 children and currently reside in Pleasant Grove, UT.

Daphna Locker	Registrar - New York USA Dance -
	I am a member of the USA Dance Greater NY Chapter #3004, was the Co-President of the Chapter with Janine D’Andrea from 1998 through 2002. In 2002 I moved to Denver, CO with my wife Julie and became a member of the Denver Chapter. In 2007 we moved back to NY and I once again joined the NY Chapter. I was voted for a third-time to be President of the Chapter in 2014, and continue in that position to this day. While living in Denver, in addition to serving on the local board, I became the DanceSport Delegate for Region 5 and in that role worked on many revisions of the Dress Code and rulebook. In 2005, I ran for National Secretary and I was elected for 2 terms. Upon my return to NY, I resigned from that position to become the Chair of the National Organizing Committee for Nationals 2008-2014. I currently serve as the Registrar for the ‘National Collegiate DanceSport Championship,’ am on the organizing committee for the NQE ‘The MAC,’ and am the registrar for all three of the NJ DanceSport Classic competitions, ‘Fall Frolic’, ‘Spring Fling’ and the NQE, ‘Summer Sizzler’. I have been a competitive ballroom dancer for many years, starting as a Pro/Am competitor making the Pro/Am Adult Open Championship finals at the United States Dance Sport Championships in Florida. After reaching that milestone, I started dancing Am/Am and worked my way up the ranks from Bronze to being a finalist in the Open Standard Senior I at the USA Dance National Championship in Minneapolis. I currently compete in the A level in same-sex competitions. When not working in some capacity or other in the ballroom world, I’m a full-time Psychologist working in an inner city hospital on the Psychiatric Unit with people with serious mental illnesses.

Rosemary O`Connell	Registrar -


Daniel Dilley	Scrutineer - Indiana USA Dance+WDSF - Scrutineer A+ B+ C+ D+
	National Judge, USA Dance registered; Certified by the North American Dancesport Teachers Association (NADTA) and World Dancesport Federation (WDSF); Certified Scrutineer (by NDCA) with extensive experience, and enough equipment to run O2CM wireless judging for 30+ judges. Professional Rhythm Competitor. Finalists in many US competitions; Daniel is the head coach of the Purdue Latin & Ballroom Dance Team, which has about 125 members each semester, requiring competitive coaching in all levels from Newcomer to Champ. Daniel also co-organizes the annual Purdue Ballroom Classic Competition, which attracts more than 400 collegiate ballroom dance competitors each year in the Midwest.

Benjamin Haut	Scrutineer -