🎉 2025 Year in Review: A Triumphant Year for SouL Dance Studio 🎉

From championship victories to unforgettable showcases, 2025 was our biggest year yet in Sarasota's ballroom dance community

Hello SouL Dance Family!

What a year it has been! As we look back on 2025, we're overwhelmed with gratitude for every student, every performance, and every moment spent together on the dance floor. From the very first competition in January to our triumphant finishes in December, SouL Dance Studio has experienced growth, achievement, and pure joy that exceeded even our biggest dreams.

Whether you joined us for a group Bachata class in Sarasota, cheered us on at a ballroom competition, or watched our dancers light up the stage at Cook Theater, you've been part of something special. Let's take a journey through the highlights of this incredible year!

January: Kicking Off the Year in Jacksonville

We started 2025 with a bang at The River City Mini-Match in Jacksonville, Florida—the longest-running ballroom and Latin dance competition in the region. Studio owners Sanda Lungu and Kakha Turiashvili had the privilege of serving as judges while also dazzling the audience with a professional show performance.

It was the perfect way to set the tone for the year: excellence in both teaching and performing. The energy in the ballroom that Sunday was electric, and we knew right then that 2025 was going to be something special.

February: Scott Brooks Shines at Florida Star Ball

February brought us to the glamorous Florida Star Ball, where our very own Scott Brooks captured the coveted Top Student Award!

Scott's journey with SouL Dance Studio has been nothing short of inspiring. What started as a fun hobby for this local businessman has blossomed into a competitive passion that continues to earn him recognition across the Florida ballroom circuit. His dedication to the craft and the countless hours of practice with Sanda paid off beautifully under those sparkling lights.

March: Dancing with the Stars at OWC Gala

The OWC Gala 2025 transformed into a star-studded evening featuring performances by Kakha Turiashvili, Sanda Lungu, and an incredible lineup of dance talent including Levan Gelashvili, Michael Pecina, and the Sarasota Cuban Ballet.

Our studio was proud to be part of this "Dancing with the Stars" themed celebration that brought together professional dancers and community members alike. Events like these remind us why we do what we do—to share the transformative power of dance with everyone.

April: Philadelphia DanceSport Championships

Spring took us north to the Philadelphia DanceSport Championships, part of the prestigious World Pro-Am DanceSport Series. Once again, Scott Brooks represented SouL Dance Studio with distinction, earning a Top 10 Student Award.

Watching our student shine on a national stage, surrounded by dancers from across the country, filled us with immense pride. It's moments like these that make every lesson, every correction, and every late-night practice session worthwhile.

May: Milestones at the Atlanta Open

The Atlanta Open DanceSport Spectacular in May was a landmark competition for SouL Dance Studio on multiple fronts.

A Professional Debut to Remember: Sanda and Kakha made their debut in the Professional Cabaret Division, placing an impressive 2nd place in their very first outing! This new challenge pushed creative boundaries and showcased the artistic versatility that defines our studio.

June: First Steps on the Showcase Floor

In another heartwarming milestone, Erika and Michael took the showcase floor for the very first time! Just days away from giving birth to her beautiful daughter, Charlotte Rose, Erika was inspiring to all in attendance. Their courage and enthusiasm reminded everyone that the journey of a thousand dances begins with a single step.

Summer Spotlight: Judging and Performing in Sarasota

Summer brought us home to Sarasota for the Sarasota Spotlight, an event organized by the talented Zsuzsanna Szantosi of @DancingSRQ. SouL Dance Studio was honored to both perform and have our owners serve on the judging panel.

This event exemplified what makes our local dance community so special—the collaboration, the support, and the shared passion for the art form. Seeing familiar faces in the audience and on the dance floor reminded us that Sarasota, Bradenton, and the greater Tampa Bay area have become a true home for ballroom dance.

August: Florida State Dancesport Championships

The Florida State Dancesport Championships 2025 will forever hold a special place in our hearts. Sanda and Kakha delivered a performance that earned them the Professional Rising Star Latin Division title!

September: Ultimate Dancesport Challenge: Sweeping the Latin Divisions

Just when we thought the year couldn't get any better, UDC 25 (Ultimate Dancesport Challenge) proved us wonderfully wrong. Sanda and Kakha achieved an extraordinary double victory, winning BOTH the Professional Open Latin and Rising Star Latin Divisions as well as the Pro Cabaret!

Standing on that stage with gold medals around their necks, they represented everything SouL Dance Studio stands for: passion, precision, and the pursuit of excellence. This achievement placed our Sarasota-based studio among the elite of American Latin ballroom dancing.

October: SouL in Motion – A Showcase Sensation

September brought our most ambitious production yet: SouL in Motion at the beautiful Cook Theater in Sarasota. And what a sensation it was!

This showcase represented the heart and soul of what we do at SouL Dance Studio. Students of all levels took the stage alongside professional performers, creating an evening that celebrated the transformative journey of dance. From first-time performers experiencing the magic of stage lights to seasoned competitors executing intricate choreography, every moment was crafted to inspire.

The standing ovation at the finale wasn't just for the performances—it was for every person who ever walked through our studio doors and dared to dance.

November Grand National Championships: A Rhythm Champion Emerges

The Grand National Championships saw Scott Brooks achieve yet another milestone in his remarkable 2025 season. He captured the Gentlemen Pro-Am American Rhythm Championship title!

This victory was particularly meaningful as it showcased mastery of the American Rhythm dances—Cha-Cha, Rumba, East Coast Swing, Bolero, and Mambo—that are so beloved by dancers in our community. Scott's journey from hobby dancer to national champion exemplifies what's possible with dedication, quality instruction, and a whole lot of heart.

December: Ending the Year with New Beginnings

As the year drew to a close, the South Open in December gave us one more reason to celebrate. Scott Brooks teamed up with Kim Brown to debut their Amateur/Amateur partnership, and what a debut it was!

The duo placed 1st in BOTH Championship events they entered. Watching two dancers who have trained at our studio come together to create something new and immediately succeed at the highest level was the perfect ending to an unforgettable year.

Looking Ahead to 2026

As we close this chapter and look toward 2026, we're filled with excitement for what's to come. Our studio in the Bradenton-Sarasota area continues to grow, our students continue to exceed expectations, and our commitment to bringing world-class ballroom and Latin dance instruction to Southwest Florida has never been stronger.

Whether you're in Lakewood Ranch looking for your first Salsa lesson, in St. Petersburg searching for wedding choreography, in South Tampa wanting to compete professionally, or in Venice hoping to simply learn to dance with your partner—SouL Dance Studio is here for you.

Thank you to every student, every supporter, and every member of our SouL Dance family. You made 2025 extraordinary. Let's make 2026 even better!

With love and gratitude,

Sanda Lungu
Owner, SouL Dance Studio
Sarasota | Bradenton | Lakewood Ranch | Tampa Bay

Ready to start your own dance journey? Visit sldance.studio or call us to schedule your first lesson. Private ballroom lessons, group dance classes, ballet instruction, and competition coaching available for all levels.

Tags: Ballroom Dance Sarasota, Latin Dance Bradenton, Dance Lessons Lakewood Ranch, Competitive Ballroom Florida, Wedding Dance Choreography Tampa Bay, Pro-Am Dance Competition, Dance Studio St Petersburg, Dance Classes Venice FL, Salsa Lessons Southwest Florida, Bachata Classes Sarasota, Cha-Cha Lessons, Rumba Dancing, Professional Latin Dance, Dance Competition Results 2025