MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
The 2027 WDO World Professional Latin Championship will take place in Melbourne, Australia at the 10th Outside Change Cup & Freedom To Dance Ball on the King’s Birthday long weekend of Saturday 12th, Sunday 13th of June at the beautiful Plaza Ballroom, 191 Collins Street, Melbourne, in conjunction with the Outside Change, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Outside Change Cup & Freedom To Dance Ball.
This will be the first time in 47 years that Australia has hosted a World Professional Championship. The last time Australia witnessed a World Professional Championship was in Perth, Western Australia in 1980, where both the Ballroom and Latin Championships were held. The last time they were held in Melbourne was in 1967 which will be 60 years ago.
The World Professional Latin Champions in 1980 were Alan & Hazel Fletcher (UK), with Australia being represented by Doug Newton & Candy Lane, and Michael Baker with his then partner, with both couples making the semi final round against the best in the world.
Who will be the 2027 World Champions? Seating for the Grand Finals is very limited, you will need to go on our waitlist for a table seat by emailing us at info@outsidechange.com however, the rounds of the World Championship will be during the day session with general admission available.
We are forever grateful to the WDO (World Dance Organisation) for giving us here in Melbourne, Australia, the opportunity to host a World Professional Championship at the 10th anniversary of the Outside Change Cup & Freedom To Dance Ball. In the meantime, please enjoy some of the previous WDO World Professional Latin Championships below.
Australia has featured in quite a few World Professional Latin finalists over the years, from our research and records, here is a list of those who have reached the top 6 at a World Professional Latin Championship in the past
KEVIN GIBSON & SHIRLEY SAUNDERSON - 4th place, 1962 (Melbourne, Australia)
RAY & JUDY RIVERS - 5th place, 1967 (Melbourne, Australia)
CHURCHWOOD & CORNISH - 6th place, 1967 (Melbourne, Australia)
BARRY & CHERYL WRIGHTSON - 4th place, 1968 (London, England)
ROBERT & HELEN RICHEY - 6th place, 1978 (Berlin, West Germany)
ROBERT & HELEN RICHEY - 3rd place, 1979 (Baden, Switzerland)
JASON GILKISON & PETA ROBY - 5th place, 1994 (Tokyo, Japan)
JASON GILKISON & PETA ROBY - 6th place, 1995 (Vienna, Austria)
JASON GILKISON & PETA ROBY - 5th place, 1996 (Miami Beach, USA)
JASON GILKISON & PETA ROBY - 6th place, 1997 (Halle, Germany)
Australia has had an amazing amount of semi finalists too over the years, some of the names that we have on file are
Paul Green & Karren Rufus
Jason Roditis & Tonia Kosovich
Alex & Julie Schembri
Anthony Gauci & Diane Wills-Johnson
Anthony Gauci & Tania McGuiness
Kerry Wilson & Anne Harding
Doug Newton & Candy Lane
Michael Baker & Rosalyn Vettler
Neil & Jenny Rosenfeld
Russ & Wynne Hesketh
Joshua Keefe & Sara Magnanelli
John Byrnes
Paul Richardson
Joanne Wilkinson
Michael Hemera & Lauren McFarlane