Dear Athletes, Organizers, and Dance Enthusiasts,
We are pleased to officially announce that, after numerous meetings in our offices with Unique Dance Hong Kong and Asia Pacific Dance Sports & Development Center we are honored to announce that, thanks to the vision of our President, Mr. Dario Pizzo, we have created a new discipline called:
Trio Elite / Duo Elite.
This new discipline was created to breathe new life into Latin American, Ballroom, American Smooth, American Rhythm, Argentinian Tango, and Caribbean Dance competitions in response to the decline in participation in the couple and solo categories we have observed in recent years, both in Asia and Europe. The goal is to restore enthusiasm, stimulate participation, and encourage both male and female athletes to get back into the game, and to organize regional and national championships, as well as European and World Championships.
The *Trio Elite* and *Duo Elite* categories will be divided into three formats:
• *Trio/Duo Elite Solo* (three single athletes): Must consist of two athletes of one sex and one athlete of the other sex. Trios of three athletes of the same sex will not be permitted. This rule is intended to encourage male participation in solo dance and maintain gender balance.
• *Trio/Duo Elite Couples*: Consisting of three couples.
• *Trio/Duo Elite Couples Pro-Am*: Consisting of three Pro-Am couples.
Seven key criteria will be evaluated during the Elite Trio/Duo competitions: Technique, Musicality, Connection, Speed, Interpretation, Choreography, and Charisma.
Each athlete or pair in the Elite Trio/Duo will be judged on a single specific criterion, to best showcase their individual qualities within the group.
We hope this new discipline will inspire renewed enthusiasm among competitors, foster harmony and team spirit among athletes and schools, and contribute to a significant increase in competition participation.