10th Anniversary of the
Swiss-Inter-Cup
The Highlight of the Year |
An outstanding organization, fascinating dance couples, attractive shows, a charming star-singer and a well-known big band - the TISSOT Swiss-Inter-Cup in Zurich-Regensdorf was the highlight of the year of the gala dance-balls in Switzerland!
The beginning
10 years ago the organizer of the TISSOT Swiss-Inter-Cup, Mr. Peter Siegrist, had a splendid yet daring idea: he wanted to organize an invitation contest of international top dancers in a circus! In between the dancing rounds there should be shows by the circus artists.
Before this Mr. Siegrist had already proved his abilities in organizing the World Amateur 10 Dance Championship 1989 and the World Amateur Latin Championship 1993, both held in Zurich, and other events.
Mr. Siegrist managed to overcome all difficulties and convinced the sponsors, the circus director and the Swiss television of his unique idea. The event was a huge success and has remained so ever since.
1995
Over the years the format of the event changed, the invitation contest became an IDSF International Open Event both for the latin-american and the modern dances. The circus got too small as the crowd and the number of participants grew bigger and bigger and therefore the event was held in various places until it finally reached the Hotel Moevenpick in Zurich-Regensdorf.
1996
Zurich-Regensdorf is an ideal place for such a marvellous event like the TISSOT Swiss-Inter-Cup: situated not only in the heart of Switzerland but in the heart of Europe, only a few kilometres away from the Zurich International Airport (10 km), and easily accessible from everywhere.
1999
The Participants
Most of the leading couples of the world have participated one or more times at the TISSOT Swiss-Inter-Cup:
In the latin-american section e.g.:
Charlotte Egstrand and Holger Nitsche, Denmark
Kristina Juel and Peter Stokkebroe, Denmark
Nicole and Matthew Cutler, England
Sabine Kramski and Michael Torres, Germany
Anita Pocz and Neilas Katinas, Germany
Melinda Törökgyörgy and Maurizio Vescovo, Hungary
Julie Fryer and Louis van Amstel, The Netherlands
Jasna Koselj and Matej Krajcer, Slovenia
Janja Lesar and Matej Krajcer, Slovenia
Anastasija Novozilova and Misa Cigoj, Slovenia
Beata Onefater and Michael Wentink, South Africa
Nicole Hansen and Hubert Pierzchalo, Switzerland
In the modern section e.g.:
Marianne Eihilt and Brian Eriksen, Denmark
Michelle Barry and Robert Villa, England
Kylie Jones and Jonathan Crossley, England
Hazel Newberry and Christopher Hawkins, England
Donna and Alan Shingler, England
Pia David and Stefan Ossenkop, Germany
Monica Baldasseroni and Michele Bonsignori, Italy
Alessia Betti and Mirko Gozzoli, Italy
Alessandra Bucciarelli and William Pino, Italy
Alessia Manfredini and Massimo Giorgianni, Italy
Silvia Pitton and Paolo Bosco, Italy
Edita Daniute and Arunas Bizokas, Lithuania
Anastasija Novozilova and Misa Cigoj, Slovenia
Katarina Venturini and Andrej Skufca, Slovenia
What names, what personalities!
The Generosity of the Sponsors and the Organizer
The title sponsor TISSOT from Switzerland, one of the world's leading watch manufacturers, many other sponsors and the organizer himself were extremely generous in their appreciation of the couples performances: apart from the prize-money (Euro 200 - 700 depending on the result) every finalist (ladies and gentlemen) received a very special Tissot watch. The top three couples were given in addition the traditional rock-crystal.
For the 10th anniversary of the TISSOT Swiss-Inter-Cup TISSOT produced a limited edition of special sets of watches for couples consisting of two exclusive watches and a matching bracelet for the lady. The winners in both sections as well as the organizer were thrilled to receive presents of these beautiful sets „Limited Edition TISSOT Swiss-Inter-Cup Dance Trophy 2004“.
What a marvellous idea, what generosity!
On the organizer's homepage there are two film trailers of the TISSOT Swiss-Inter-Cup:
The Judges
This year's IDSF International Open Competitions at the TISSOT Swiss-Inter-Cup were as always judged by 9 adjudicators from 9 different nations:
Svetlana Di Paolo (Switzerland)
Gianni d’Oria (Italy)
Milan Stiavnicky (Slovakia)
Barbara Nagode (Slovenia)
Lubos Novotny (Czech Republic)
Johann Pauritsch (Austria)
Diana Pedersen (Denmark)
David Simon (The Netherlands)
Ute Streicher (Germany).
152 dancers from 15 different nations (from Russia to the USA) participated. The event was broadcast on television for the 10th time in succession!
IDSF International Open Latin
This section was dominated by the top couples from Slovenia, all three participating couples making the final! The very charming and natural Tatsiana Lahvinovich and her partner Zoran Plohl were the clear winners.
Tatsiana Lahvinovich and Zoran Plohl (Slovenia)
The runners-up in the German Championship, Petra Kostovcikova and Christian Polanc became second. What a harmonious couple in every respect! Petra Kostovcikova was the former partner of Jan Kliment, the reigning Swiss Champion.
Petra Kostovcikova and Christian Polanc (Germany)
Lisa Darby, another lady dancer with great personality, and Gregor Rebula from England were second in the Cha Cha Cha and the Jive, 3rd in the Samba, but "only" 5th in the Rumba and the Paso Doble, which placed them overall 3rd. The couples from 2nd to 5th place were very close together.
Lisa Darby and Gregor Rebula (England)
Two Swiss Top Couples among the Top Eight!
What an achievement both for Laura Hafner and Jan Kliment (4th place) and Fabienne Liechti and Sven Ninnemann (8th place). Sven Ninnemann had fully recovered from a long and severe illness.
Laura Hafner and Jan Kliment (Switzerland)
Fabienne Liechti's presentation was an eye-catcher: not only because of her new and witty hairstyle and her beautiful dress but also because of her excellent dancing. Everything was tasteful and very professional. What a great lady-dancer! Both Fabienne Liechti and Sven Ninnemann danced one of their best ever performance.
Fabienne Liechti (Switzerland)
Fabienne Liechti and Sven Ninnemann (Switzerland)
Gracefulness, Charm and Aesthetics
These special attributes really fit Janja Lesar from Slovenia. She is, with different partners, one of the most loyal participants of the TISSOT Swiss-Inter-Cup and has won the trophy several times. Her beautiful dancing is always very appealing and shows an extraordinary sensitivity for aesthetics and gracefulness. This year with her partner Krzystof Hulboj she finished in 5th place.
Janja Lesar (Slovenia)
Janja Lesar and Krzystof Hulboj (Slovenia)
Anastasija Novozilova and Misa Cigoj
The third Slovenian couple, the reigning World Amateur Ten Dance Champions, danced again in both sections and thrilled the public with their performances. They combine beautifully technical accuracy and show in their dancing. Everybody likes their individual style: the public, the adjudicators and the other couples! They made both finals, deservedly so, and finished in the latin-american section in 6th place and in the modern section in 3rd place. Very well done!
Anastasija Novozilova and Misa Cigoj (Slovenia)
Anastasija Novozilova and Misa Cigoj (Slovenia)
Anastasija Novozilova and Misa Cigoj (Slovenia)
The results:
Source:
Prize Ceremony IDSF International Open Latin
IDSF International Open Modern
No surprise: in the modern section the Italian couples dominated the field with three couples making the top four.
Silvia Pitton and Paolo Bosco
The superstars from Italy were outstanding and the couple of the day! Their technical accuracy and their musicality was far superior to all other couples and they deserved every first placing they received (45 out of 45). Paolo Bosco entertained everybody on and off the floor, played with the music, the public and the other couples, moved sometimes like a whirlwind round the floor and used every inch of it. Very professional indeed! His very attractive and beautiful partner, Silvia Pitton, is exceptionally talented and a perfect match for him. Her heelturns are an eye-catcher and their harmony must be seen to be believed. Everybody was very thrilled indeed. Bravo, bravissimo!
Silvia Pitton and Paolo Bosco (Italy)
Silvia Pitton and Paolo Bosco (Italy)
Silvia Pitton and Paolo Bosco (Italy)
Corinne Roost and Thomas Szegoe
The only Swiss couple meeting international standards in the modern section danced at their very best and fully deserved inclusion in the semi-final! And the semi-final was the best ever round we have seen from them in all the years we have followed their career. They smiled and danced relaxed as never before without losing the power, dominance and harmony for which they are well-known. The opposition of the other couples was very strong. Nevertheless they finished in 10th place. Very well done!
Corinne Roost and Thomas Szegoe (Switzerland)
Corinne Roost and Thomas Szegoe (Switzerland)
Later in the evening, well after the finals, they announced that they were turning professional. As an acknowledgement of their great achievements (e.g. twice Swiss Amateur Modern Champions, 6 times Swiss Amateur 10 Dance Champions) they received each a beautiful TISSOT watch from the organizer Mr. Peter Siegrist and a well-deserved and long final applause from the public. All the best for their future!
Corinne Roost and Thomas Szegoe (Switzerland)
The Results:
Source:
Prize Ceremony IDSF International Open Modern
Show-Time
In the evening between the rounds a variety of shows was presented from the "Catwalkers“ from Schwammendingen (near Zurich), the "Starbugs" with their prize-winning performance, very witty and entertaining dances with show elements, and finally the star-singer, the charming Francine Jordi from Switzerland, who is very successful in all German-speaking countries of Europe.
Show-Time: The Catwalkers
Show-Time: The Starbugs
The Star-Singer of the Evening: Francine Jordi
To Sum It Up
10 years ago Mr. Peter Siegrist had a splendid idea. His plans and his professionalism convinced everybody: the sponsors, the participants, the show-stars, the television, the spectators. It is a giving and a receiving - and all gain from it. The TISSOT Swiss-Inter-Cup has become and is undoubtedly the highlight of the gala balls in Switzerland. Many thanks to all involved - cheerio to the last 10 years, and welcome and hello to the next 10 years!
Michael Scherer
Hedi and Peter Siegrist, the Organizer
Link to the organizer:
The next TISSOT Swiss-Inter-Cup takes place on: 5th November 2005
Francine Jordi
Many thanks to:
Dr. Morrin Acheson, our friend from The Queen’s College, Oxford, for his comments on the manuscript.
More thanks to:
Felix Stadelmann, Fellow IDTA, our friend and web server, a dance enthusiast like ourselves, who made our homepage possible!
Text, photos, design:
© Michael Scherer
Ballroom Dancing in Switzerland
