Judges 2020

Chiara Gagliardo (Italy) – Soloist Dancer at Balletto di Siena, Graduated at Ateneo della Danza (Siena-Italy)

ABT NTC® Level 7th degree

Specialization year at Joffrey Ballet School and work experience at XAOC Contemporary Ballet - New York, USA.

She is an artist, dancer and teacher with big experience and success.

Chiara has toured in many theaters not only in Italy but in Spain, Japan and other countries.

Pambos Agapiou (Cypros) - He began his dancing career from an early age with Greek and Cypriot folk dances, dancing in England, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Russia, South Africa, Canada, Greece, Sweden and others. In 1995 he specialized in jazz ballet, flamenco, Latin and social dance (Salsa) at "Pine Apple Dancing School" - London. In 1996 he enrolled as a full-time student at the National Sports Academy - Sofia with sports dances and physical education. He specialized in flamenco at the Madrid school "Amor de Dios", at that time he also studied Cuban Salsa.

He founded his first school of Latin American dance and salsa in 1998. In the summer of the same year he went to Cuba where he specialized in "Salsa Casino Rueda" at the "Casa de cultura" at Muladas de Fuego (Tropicana) for AfroCuban style, then at Williams and the legendary Tony Menendes - teacher of Chayanne (Dance with me). Pambos participates in a seminar on flamenco and salsa in "Amor de Dios". In the same year he directed his first performance "The Call of Dance" in which, in addition to being an author and director, he also participated as a soloist. He is a PhD student on "Psychological training of dancers", lecturer at the National Sports Academy - social and Greek folk dances. He starts the show "Latino" on Demo TV.

In May 2003, Pambos and Maria formed the group Los Pambos, with which they participated as performers and instructors at numerous international salsa festivals in London, Marseille, Zurich, Prague, Milan, Hamburg, Berlin, Geneva, Paris, Athens, Vienna, Istanbul, Bucharest, Constanta, Cannes, Besancon, Monaco, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, etc. International salsa judge, part of the choreographic team on the dance stages of the American film production "Black Dahlia" directed by Brian De Palma. He participated in Slavi's show in 2006 and received an invitation to participate in the choreographic team and as a jury to the project of Slavi Trifonov - "Dance with me 1" and "Dance with me 2". Pambos is the organizer of 5 of the biggest and largest salsa and Latin events.

Marco Batti (Italy) - Founder and Director of Baleto di Siena, Founder and Artistic Director of the Professional Education course in a.s.d Ateneo della Danza where he teaches Ballet, Contemporary, Contact, Duos, Pointe Technique, ABT Affiliate Teacher. Marco Batti has studied dance methodology at The Royal Ballet School in London, studied and certified by Vaganova Academy of S. Petersburg, certified teacher in Gyrotonic Expansion System, also graduated the University of Florence- Medicine and Surgery, Sports and Physical Sciences department.

Marco has also studied in the following schools - The Ailey School (Horton method), The Martha Graham School, Limon Institute, The Merce Cunningam Studio, Paul Taylor School, Isadora Duncan Foundation, Studio Maestro, and Suzanna Marek. Marco is a guest teacher in USA, Cuba, Spain, England, Bosnia, France, and Italy and for first time in Bulgaria at MAGIC WORLD International Dance Festival.

Marco has a numerous awards as a Best Choreographer at different competitions, also in University Association UNIXTUTTI of Siena, First Italian Teacher to graduate from the American Ballet Theater ® National Training Curriculum, member of CID-UNESCO. He registers his own methods – 1) Biomechanics of Dance in Water Method, 2) The CAVALCARDANZANDO Method: a playing – educative path between horse riding and dance; 3) C.J.M.B. Method (Contemporary Jazz Marco Batti).

Little Phil (Belgium) Teacher and choreographer at Academy Talent Show. He works with Academy RAI 1 and Academy RAI 2. He is famous with participating in Dance n Hold Jim TV, Ti Lascio una canzonne RAI 1.

Phil has done the trailer’s choreography for Fame movie. He also participates in many videos of world famous singers such like Justin Timberlake (Summer Love), Craig David (Hot Stuff, Whats yr Flava), Mariah Carey (It’s like that, Shake it off, We belong), Se7en (Crazy), Britney Spears, Back Street Boys, Jeanette Biederman, Brandy, Outcast, Wu Tang Clan and many others. He works with them in their tours and concerts as a choreographer, dancer and supporting actor.

Phil is working with Nike, Adidas, Reebok, Puma, Freddy, BMW, Opel, Rifle jeans, Oneil, Interjeans, Fibbo, etc. He works in Italy very often. This year he will be again a part of the judge team at MAGIC WORLD Festival.

Dimitris Kranias (Greece) - WADF and WDC international judge, certified dance instructor. In 2002 owner of Gene Kelly Melissia Athens and since 2006 owner of other 6 Gene Kelly dance studios and in In 2007 main shareholder of 40% Gene Kelly mark and owner in 2009 of the biggest dance Club. In 2012 opens the first dance studio of “The Dance Club – The Mall of Dance” franchising and hence on the chain counts present time 30 dance studios all over the Greece and in Cyprus.

Mr. Kranias nowadays holds the 3rd biggest dance studio chain all over the world and unique in Greece, which achieves to develop and teach dances such as Arg. Tango, Salsa, Hip-Hop, and Oriental with a unique officially recorded method.

Dimitris Kranias is a Coordinator of the largest dance competition in Greece – The Mall of Dance Competition. He is a Representative of Greece in European festival of folk dances in Majorca, also corporates as dance instructor and choreographer with local famous theater artists and singers, choreographs for with famous fashion designers in Greece in various fashion shows. Participates in the most well known tv dance show, “Dancing with the Stars 1 & 2” of Greece as a choreographer and partner of the most standout personality the councilor of the Greek parliament Mrs. Fotini Pipili.

Brindusa Vitan (Romania) - Teacher of Ballet History and Classical Dance at the National College of Arts “Ion Vidu”, Timisoara. Ballet teacher at “Incubatorul de Arte” dance, music and theatre private school, Timisoara Brindusa has graduated the Choregraphy Highschool “Octavian Stroie”, Cluj Napoca, National College of Arts “Ion Vidu”, Timisoara and the Arts Academy “Gheorghe Dima”, Cluj Napoca – graduated choreography pedagogy profile. She has participated at a training course in contemporary dance called Energy and Space in Jose Limon Technique with Massimo Gerardi. In 2014 also trained a Vaganova technique held by famous teachers of this school. Since 9 years she has participated at the National Choreography Olympics where obtained many prizes. She has also achieved many prizes in ballet and contemporary with her own choreographies.

Since 2016 Vitan Brindusa has opened her private dance, music and theatre school, achieving several national and international prizes: - Daor Grand Prix Romania - grand prize and qualification for the international contest Vaib 2019 (Vienna International Experience), also with special awards for classical and character dance. - Qualification for the Dance World Cup 2019, which will take place this year in Portugal, sections classical dance and contemporary dance. Participation at Dance Star Romania Qualifier, Cluj Napoca, and qualification for the League A at the international dance contest in Croatia.

Dusan Vodlan (Slovenia) - WADF judge and official judge of the Slovenian Association of Dance Associations Saltare. Dušan Vodlan is a sport director of the Dance club Lukec, founded in 1990. For over 25 years he has been an active dancer in ST and LA dances, tap dancer, jazz dance, disco, show dances, hip hop, folklore dances throughout the former Yugoslavia. As a coach and choreographer, he worked in the domestic club for over 35 years as well as in other clubs in Slovenia.

In 2004 he received a golden plaque for his 30 year performance and successful development of dance in Krško, a plaque for the story which began in 1974. For his 40 years of work in the field of dance, he received a very rare award in 2014, named the Golden Medal for "Living with Dance" by the Association of Cultural Associations of Slovenia. In his successful career, he had won a huge number of medals at national, European and World championships with his dancers. He is most proud of the fact that his sons Sebastian and Luka fell in love with dancing as well and are more than successfully continuing his work in the dance field.

Ivan Ivanov (Bulgaria) - Graduated the National School of Dance Art - Sofia and the Academy of Music, Dance and Fine arts - Plovdiv.

Ivan is choreographer of the Professional Folklore Ensemble "Dobrudja" - Dobrich, creator, leader and choreographer of the Music and Dance Studio "Palitra" and Director of the Art Center "Palitra" with numerous activities in art.

He works in the field of Bulgarian folklore and modern dance techniques of all ages. Choreographer and director of numerous performances, won prestigious awards for his professional work, toured and taught in countries such as Switzerland, Japan and others.

Petya Milusheva (Bulgaria)– Coach of the Sport dance club "Haskovo" in "Zarya-1858" Community Centre and a member of the Bulgarian Federation of Sport Dances. She is a licensed “AN” category judge, which is the highest level in the judging system of the Federation. She takes part in state and international events and competitions. Mrs. Petya Milusheva graduates the Choreographer Institute in Plovdiv city and later on she specializes in the National Sport Academy with sport dances speciality. She teaches classical ballet as well. Already for 30 years she is working with couples, who win the prizes of the sport dance tournaments in Bulgaria and abroad. The 13 dance couples from the highest rang “International” are the reason for the club and the city of Haskovo to be proud with. Mrs. Milusheva works with a professional pedagogical style, patience and with love for the dance itself.

Since 2004 she works with Formation programs from Latin and Standard couple dances. The youth formations of club "Haskovo" are champions of Bulgaria for 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010 and semi finalists from the European Championships for Formation programs. The Child Formation "Haskovo" represents the Federation at big sport forums and is a champion for 2012.