Judges & Officials
Our 2025 Panel of Adjudicators
Arunas Bizokas
Arunas Bizokas
Born in Vilnius, Lithuania. Graduated from the Lithuanian Sports University with a Master’s degree of Science of Educology.
Dance Career; Amateur – World, European, International, UK and British Open Champion, 11 times Lithuanian National Champion (with Edita Daniute). Professional – 10 times World & USA National, 9 times UK & International, 8 times British Open Champion (with Katusha Demidova).
Chairman of the World Dance Competitors Commission 2011-2019. Founder and Chairman of the World Dance Organisation (from 2019) Adjudicator: WDO World Championships, Most Major Championships such as International Championships & UK Open Championships.
Daniel Calloway
Chairman of JudgesDaniel Calloway
Daniel Calloway
Chair of Judges (WDO, WDSF, USA Dance)
WDSF A and Professional Division Adjudicator
ISTD Fellow (Ballroom, Latin, Smooth, Rhythm)
- World Championship Chair of Judges
- World Championship Adjudicator
- Chair of Judges at over 200 competitions, including World, North American and US National Championships
- 48 years teaching, competing professionally and adjudication
- Multiple “Professional of the Year” and “Top Teacher” titles
- Over 20 television and film appearances as performer and expert commentator, including Comcast’s
- North American Championships and United States DanceSport Championships
- Lecturer/Coach at over 200 Congresses and Training Camps
- Author of articles and columns for numerous books and publications, including American Dancer,
- Dance Beat, Topline, DanceWeek and Ballroom World Dance Book
- Trainer of over 100 professionals’ teaching and judging exams
- Youngest dual fellow in the world (1985)
Craig Draper
Craig Draper
Finalist in all major amateur championships.
Semi Finalist in The British Open and International Professional Championships,
3x United Kingdom Closed champion.
Viktoria Druberskaya
Viktoria Druberskaya
Anya Goldman
Anya Goldman
Anya Goldman is a renowned dance professional with a 34-years of experience spanning diverse disciplines, including classical Russian Ballet, Dance Theater, International Competitive Ballroom (10 Dance), Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical, and Folk dance. She has a distinguished competitive history, representing both Ukraine and the USA on the international stage and achieving numerous National and International titles in all ages Junior to Amateur in both International Latin and International Ballroom styles.
Anya’s dedication extends beyond performance. As a certified coach and adjudicator registered with UNESCO-CID, DSF, AAU, and IDSA credentials, she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, recognizing the unique potential in each dancer; fostering individual growth by tailoring her instruction to their specific needs and aspirations. This personalized approach has proven highly successful, with her students achieving remarkable results in competitions. Her passion is for nurturing the next generation of International Dancesport champions. Her school- Mystique Ballroom Company has gained widespread acclaim, with couples consistently achieving top rankings in both national and international competitions. Notably, Mystique Ballroom has secured a personal invite to the prestigious Open Worlds Championship in Blackpool, a testament to the exceptional caliber of its dancers and the studio’s dedication to excellence. Mystique Ballroom’s reputation extends beyond the competitive arena, with its showdances recognized for their artistry and innovation on a global scale.
Maria Kurnosova
Maria Kurnosova
Maria Kurnosova 06/09/1984. Professional dancer, coach, judge. In 2011 Maria graduated with honors from the Moscow State University of Culture and Arts at the Faculty of Choreography.Coached 37 national and international multiple year champions, judged 82 national and international competitions, she was awarded by Moscow Dance Sport Federation for preparing couples-winners and prize-winners on National championships many times. Her students became finalist and winners of Blackpool Festival and championships of World. She moved to the United States in 2023 with her family to continue her professional career here.
Yana Mazhnikova
Yana Mazhnikova
Tatiana Meshcheryakova
Tatiana Meshcheryakova
Top Professional Canadian ballroom dancer, teacher and judge from Montreal,Quebec.
Moscow champion, Master of Sports of Russia, many times bronze medallist and few times vice- champion of Canada in Professional ballroom program. Successful Competitive dancer with over 30 years of competition experience around the World in international standard and Latin program as well as American smooth. Tatiana became a winner of many local and international competitions.
With over 18 years of teaching experience successfully running Montreal dance school “Generation” – dancers of the school most strong representative in competitive international 10 dances program in Canada.
Tatiana is a coach and teacher many provincial and canadian finalist and champions since 2010 as well as certified highly recommended judge.
Patti Panebianco
Patti Panebianco
Patti Panebianco’s dynamic energy and passion brought her from Social Dancer, to
Amateur Performer, to Elite Amateur Competitor, Professional Competitor, right on
through to her current status as a National & World Class Adjudicator, National Coach,
Chairperson & Invigilator.
When she’s not serving as an Official at one of the many USA Dance Championships,
World Dancesport Federation and World Dance Organization events, Patti can be found
volunteering on numerous committees to help dancers and USA Dance. Currently, she
is , the Ballroom Certifications Director. She is the former Director of the College
Network Committee (Now a committee member) which helps to organize the National
Collegiate Dancesport Championships. She has also been an avid member of the
Greater NY Chapter since 1987, helping the board with any number of projects ranging
from the MAC, when it was the country’s largest amateur event to local dance lessons
and performances to bring the joy of dance to the community. She’s also donated her
time teaching at the Green Mountain Chapter’s monthly dances for numerous years.
Always interested in helping at the National level, Patti is the former treasurer &
national committee member for the US Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing
(USISTD). Her expertise has called to choreograph & perform in various stage, TV &
movie productions, throughout the country, including:
A Tribute to Gershwin, Wallflowering, Marconi Brothers, All my Children & YoYo Ma’s
Soul of the Tango.
Her lifetime love of animals has been a catalyst in working with Ballroom Barks! as the
Treasurer. Ballroom Barks! is dedicated to placing fur babies in loving, caring homes.
Working with children brings joy to my 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 & Fellow certifications in all styles of ballroom dance with
U.S.I.S.T.D, I.S.T.D. and Terpsichore and is a certified teacher in all styles of performing
arts and lifetime member of Dance Educators of America. She is an “A” licensed World
Class Adjudicator with World Dancesport Federation, “A” licensed Standard and Latin
Showdance Adjudicator as well as Chairperson of Judges.
For the Past 25 years she is the founder & owner of NY Dancesport Centre on Long
Island, has been dancing for 48 years and teaching professionally for 42 years. Prior to
that she worked at various studios in Manhattan, including Stepping Out, Dance New
York, Ballroom on Fifth and more.
8 years ago she co – founded Roll Call Wheelchair Dance LI after becoming a certified
teacher for Roll Call Wheel Chair Dance. She loves working with people with all types of
abilities for numerous years.
Anna Pelypenko
Anna Pelypenko
Anna Pelypenko is a 5 times Canadian Champion, Blackpool, International, Uk finalist, and World semifinalist.
Martin Smith
Martin Smith
Alexander Spencer
Alexander Spencer
Ballroom Dance Professional | Coach | Adjudicator
With 30 years of experience in ballroom dance, Alexander Spencer is a certified instructor, choreographer, and USA Dance adjudicator. As Head Standard Coach at Volga Dance Academy, he trained youth dancers to become regional and national champions, representing the USA internationally.
Alexander is certified by Dance Vision, WDSF, and ISTD, and has represented the U.S. in professional ballroom competitions worldwide. A member of NDCA and USA Dance, he is known for his expertise in dancer development, choreography, and competition coaching.
Valentin Voronov
Valentin Voronov
Valentin Voronov is a 2-time Canadian Champion, a Blackpool, International, and UK finalist, and a World Semifinalist.
Our 2025 Officials & Staff
Len Diana
Registrar, ScrutineerEmily Dickman
Account Executive, Event CoordinatorBenjamin Haut
ScrutineerFrederic Havez
DanceComp, Web Designer