Blackpool History – Amateur Rising Star Latin

Well, what a brilliant way for Australia to make their mark on this event the very first year it ran in 2004 with Victorians Arsen Kishishian & Alarna Donovan being crowned the champions. Australia has won this event twice since it’s inception in 2004 with both winning couples coming from Victoria.  Firstly, Arsen Kishishian & Alarna Donovan and then again in 2007 with Mirco Sciolan & Nuria Santalucia . Darren Morrissey from Western Australia, was crowned the champion in 2021 with British partner Zoe Woodhall, to make him the first dancer from WA to win this title.

ARSEN KISHISHIAN & ALARNA DONOVAN (VIC)
Champions, 2004

Australasians have featured in this final a few times with Michael Miziner & Valeriya Kozharinova (USA) also making the final.  In 2007, Arkady Bakenov & Rosa Filippello finished in 5th position which was the year Mirco & Nuria were crowned the champions.  Other finalists we see are Joshua Keefe & Sara Magnanelli who placed 4th in 2008 and we see Arsen Kishishian return with new partner Yulia Nikitenko to place 4th in 2009.  Yulia is now married to former World & British Professional Latin Michael Malitowski.  2019 saw former New Zealander Sarah Nolan and her American partner Nikolai Tarasov place in the runners up position. Sarah was the first New Zealand dancer to feature in the top 24 of the Amateur Rising Star Latin until 2021 when her former partner, Brian Dibnah with his British partner Georgiana Muja, reached the final and placed 6th. Brian & Georgiana placed in the runners up position in 2022 after what many had said they should have been crowned the champions.

NIKOLAI TARASOV & SARAH NOLAN (USA)
Runners Up 2019, Sarah being the highest placed NZ dancer in this events history

CHAMPION

  • 2004 – Arsen Kishishian & Alarna Donovan (VIC)
  • 2007 – Mrico Sciolan & Nuria Santalucia (VIC)
  • 2021 – Darren Morrissey & Zoe Woodhall (UK)

RUNNERS UP

  • 2019 – Nikolai Tarasov & Sarah Nolan (USA)
  • 2022 – Brian Dibnah & Georgiana Muja (NZ)

4TH PLACE

  • 2004 – Michael Miziner & Valeriya Kozharinova (NSW)
  • 2009 – Kishishian & Yulia Nikitenko (VIC)

5TH PLACE

  • 2007 – Arkady Bakenov & Rosa Filippello (WA)
  • 2008 – Joshua Keefe & Sara Magnanelli (WA)

6TH PLACE

  • 2012 – Denys Samson & Yulia Nikitenko (UK)
  • 2021 – Brian Dibnah & Georgina Muja (UK)

SEMI FINAL

  • 2005 – Trent Whiddon & Peta Murgatroyd (NSW) 7th place
  • 2005 – Joshua Keefe & Annalisa Zoanetti (WA) 12th place
  • 2006 – Joshua Keefe & Annalisa Zoanetti (WA) 9th place
  • 2006 – Mirco Sciolan & Nuria Santalucia (VIC) 11th place
  • 2007 – Craig Monley & Sriani Argaet (VIC) 7th place
  • 2007 – Joshua Keefe & Annalisa Zoanetti (WA) 8th place
  • 2008 – Arsen Kishishian & Yulia Nikitenko (VIC) 8th place
  • 2008 – Arkady Bakenov & Rosa Filippello (WA) 11th place
  • 2009 – Craig Monley & Sriani Argaet (VIC) – 14th place
  • 2010 – Michael Hemera & Lauren McFarlane-Hemera (NSW) 9th place
  • 2010 – Manuel Favilla & Yulia Nikitenko (WA) 14th place
  • 2011 – Vladimir Litvinov & Yulia Nikitenko (Russia) 11th place
  • 2012 – Julian Tocker & Annalisa Zoanetti (SA) 9th place
  • 2013 – Michael Hemera & Lauren McFarlane-Hemera (UK) 9th place
  • 2017 – Nikolai Tarasov & Sarah Nolan (USA) 12th place
  • 2018 – Justin & Amy Sharrock (QLD) 13th place

QUARTER FINAL TOP 24

  • 2004 – Joshua Keefe & Peta Murgatroyd (WA) Equal 13th
  • 2005 – Aric Yegudkin & Masha Belash (NSW) 24th place
  • 2006 – Patrick Helm & Sharna Burgess (NSW) 22nd place
  • 2006 – Michael Miziner & Anastasia Belykh (NSW) 23rd place
  • 2008 – Bjorn Bitsch & Ashli Williamson (Denmark) 22nd place
  • 2013 – Sigurdur Sigurdsson & Annalisa Zoanetti (SA) 13th place
  • 2016 – Justyn & Amy Sharrock (QLD) 19th place
  • 2020 – Lewis Istrezi & Jessica Bull (UK) 23rd place

TOP 48

  • 2005 – Patrick Helm & Sharna Burgess (NSW) Equal 41st
  • 2005 – Harley Baas & Tatyana Ostapovich (New Zealand) Equal 49th
  • 2007 – Trent Whiddon & Veera Kinnunen (NSW) Equal 32nd
  • 2008 – Craig Monley & Sriani Argaet (VIC) Equal 29th
  • 2009 – Jeremy Basile & Megan Wragg (VIC) Equal 32nd
  • 2010 – Craig Monley & Sriani Argaet (VIC) Equal 28th
  • 2010 – Jeremy Basile & Megan Wragg (VIC) Equal 37th
  • 2011 – Julian Tocker & Annalisa Zoanetti (SA) Equal 32nd
  • 2011 – Craig Monley & Sriani Argaet (VIC) 47th place
  • 2012 – Craig Monley & Sriani Argaet (VIC) Equal 40th
  • 2013 – Craig Monley & Sriani Argaet (VIC) Equal 35th
  • 2014 – Sigurdur Sigurdsson & Annalisa Zoanetti (SA) Equal 45th
  • 2015 – Sigurdur Sigurdsson & Annalisa Zoanetti (SA) Equal 39th
  • 2019 – Darren Morrissey & Klaudia Zaniewska (UK) Equal 35th
  • 2021 – Lewis Istrezi & Jessica Bull (UK) 25th place
MICHAEL HEMERA & LAUREN MCFARLANE-HEMERA
9th place in both 2010 & 2013