Constitution State Dancesport Championships 2025 – A Memorable Ballroom Dance Competition Weekend in Stamford

From October 2–4, the Constitution State Dancesport Championships 2025 took place at the elegant Stamford Marriott Hotel & Spa in Connecticut. For the Boston dance community, this competition holds a special place in our hearts—Stamford is only about a three-hour drive from Boston, making it feel like a “local” event. It’s also just two hours from New York City, attracting a fantastic mix of talented dancers and creating an exciting, high-energy weekend full of elegance, artistry, and friendly competition.

This four-day ballroom dance competition featured the four major categories: Rhythm, Smooth, Standard, and Latin.
Sunday is traditionally dedicated to the children’s divisions, so our students did not compete that day.
Representing MI Fiesta Dance Studio were Stewart Hou and his teacher Mariam Izmaylova, who proudly showcased both their talent and the Boston dance community’s spirit.

Stewart is known for his dedication and enthusiasm—when he enters a competition, he doesn’t stop at just one division. He loves to dance as much as possible and challenge himself across every category. His passion and work ethic make him a true inspiration for anyone pursuing excellence in the Pro-Am ballroom dance world.

👉 Learn more about the four main ballroom dance styles!

The event began with the Rhythm dances, where Stewart performed exceptionally in the Silver category.

In the Scholarship rounds, he achieved outstanding results:

• 🥇 1st Place – Gents 4-Dance Scholar Closed Silver GB American Rhythm (CC, R, SW, B)
• 🥉 3rd Place – MA Silver 4-Dance Scholarships Closed Silver C M/F American Rhythm (CC, R, SW, B)

The afternoon featured the Night Club division, themed the Elegant Nightclub Session. Competitors dressed in stylish, creative costumes, filling the ballroom with energy and charm.
Stewart and Mariam delivered top-notch performances, winning every division they entered — and Stewart even debuted in the Night Club Two Step for the first time!

riday celebrated the grace of American Smooth dancing. Stewart once again competed in the Silver division with Mariam.
In the MA Silver 4-Dance Scholarships Closed Silver C M/F American Smooth (W, T, F, VW) category, they placed 4th among ten strong couples.
In the Gents 4-Dance Scholar Open GB American Smooth category—open only to male students—they achieved another 1st Place finish.

Between rounds, several Boston-area teachers and students enjoyed a group lunch at Quartiere, a cozy Italian restaurant nearby.
Moments like this remind us what ballroom dance is truly about—not rivalry, but community, passion, and friendship.

👉 Discover our American Smooth technique group classes in Waltham!

Saturday brought the International Latin and International Ballroom (Standard) divisions.
If you’re curious about the difference between American and International ballroom dance styles, check out our detailed guide here:

👉American vs. International Ballroom Styles

Stewart and Mariam earned 3rd Place in MA Silver 4-Dance Scholarships Closed Silver C M/F Int’l Latin (CC, S, R, J) and 1st Place in Gents 4-Dance Scholar Closed Silver GB Int’l Latin.

The highlight of the weekend came in the International Ballroom section, where Stewart danced at the Gold level—a higher division than Silver—and truly shone:

• 🥇 1st Place – Gents 5-Dance Scholar GB Int’l Ballroom (W, T, VW, F, Q)
• 🥇 2nd Place – MA Open Scholarships Closed Gold C M/F Int’l Ballroom (W, T, VW, F, Q)

These victories were the perfect finale to a wonderful weekend—a celebration not only of results but also of artistry, teamwork, and the love of dance.

A heartfelt thank-you goes to Evgeny Dyachenko and Inna Ivanenko, the talented organizers who once again hosted a high-quality, beautifully run event.

The competition season doesn’t stop here!
Our next adventure will be the Paragon Dancesport Championships, also held in Stamford from October 23–26.
Stay tuned for our next recap post — and follow us on Instagram for behind-the-scenes stories and updates from the floor!

If this story inspired you to start your own dance journey, come visit us in Waltham on Moody Street at the Supershag West Studio, home of MI Fiesta Dance Studio.
Experience the joy of movement, music, and connection through ballroom dance lessons for adults — whether your dream is to compete, perform, or simply enjoy dancing.

👉 Book your introductory ballroom dance lesson today and discover your own rhythm!

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