August has just wrapped up, and Danceful Vienna 2025 is already shaping up to be one of the most anticipated ProAm events of the year. With more than 1,000 entries confirmed months ahead of the December date, the excitement is undeniable. 

But with demand soaring, there are a few important updates every dancer and guest should know. 

Accommodation Update: Rooms Are Going Fast 

Our original room block at the Hilton Vienna Park – the official event venue – sold out faster than expected. 

The good news? Hilton has just released an additional block of rooms exclusively for Danceful Vienna participants. If you want the convenience of staying right at the event location, we recommend booking as soon as possible. Rooms are disappearing quickly, and this may be your last chance to secure a spot onsite. 

Duel of Legends™: Final Spots Available 

The Duel of Legends™ has been generating incredible buzz, and the competition is nearly at capacity. Only two spots remain in the Latin division before entries officially close. 

If you want to be part of one of the most thrilling formats in ProAm, this is your moment. Don’t wait – once these final spots are taken, the door closes. 

Why Danceful Vienna Stands Out 

Danceful Vienna isn’t just another competition – it’s where tradition meets innovation. Alongside the classic single and multidance categories, you’ll experience formats designed to excite and inspire: 

• ProAm Icons™ Championship 

• The breathtaking Viennese Waltz Masters™ 

• The adrenaline-fueled Duel of Legends™ 

• Uncontested Categories for dancers who want to shine on their own terms 

And that’s just the daytime program. 

On Friday evening, Vienna’s magic truly comes alive with an exclusive social experience: 

• Sacher Soiree, ending with a slice of the world-famous Original Sacher-Torte. 

Danceful has always been a pioneer of innovation in ProAm, and Vienna is the stage where those ideas come to life. 

Don’t Miss Out: Register Today 

With entries already breaking records and hotel rooms nearly sold out, now is the time to secure your place at Danceful Vienna 2025. 

📅 Bonus: Entries received before September 30th come with a 10% discount. 

✨ We can’t wait to welcome you to Vienna this December. See you on the dance floor! 

Discover the Exclusive Danceful Vienna Experiences 

The Danceful Vienna Dance Festival isn’t just another ProAm event. It’s a celebration of passion, artistry, and the spirit of ballroom taken to an entirely new level. With four exclusive competition formats, each designed to inspire and challenge you in its own unique way, how do you decide which one is right for you? 

This is exactly what we’re going to find out today. Let’s break all new formats down so you can find the perfect match for your dance goals, personality, and style. 

1. The ProAm Icons™ Championship 

For dancers who want to leave their legacy. 

The ProAm Icons™ Championship is your chance to shine on an open stage and compete for a title that lives on. Six finalist couples each year will become ProAm Icons™, their names recorded in the history of the event and on the official website for generations to come. Even more, the previous year’s Icons can skip the first round, honoring their status as living legends. 

If you’re looking to build a legacy and test yourself against the best, the Icons™ Championship could be your calling. 

2. The Duel of Legends™ 

For those who thrive on adrenaline. 

Forget the usual elimination rounds. In the Duel of Legends™, you face off other couples at the same time, in a thrilling dance duel announced moments before you take the floor. Each round half of the participants will be eliminated. And the ones passing through to the next round, are decided by judges immediately. Duel of Legends is a true test of skill, endurance and pressure. 

This head-to-head format is exclusive to Danceful Vienna and brings an electrifying sense of challenge and excitement. If you love intense competition and rising to the moment, the Duel of Legends™ is made for you. 

3. Viennese Waltz Masters™ 

For the romantics and lovers of tradition. 

Vienna is the birthplace of the waltz, and the Viennese Waltz Masters™ is your chance to write yourself into its rich story. Compete among the very best ProAm dancers, with the top six finalists immortalized in the event’s history books. 

As the ultimate honor, the champion will perform a solo victory dance to “The Blue Danube”, the waltz of waltzes. If you want to experience pure ballroom elegance in the heart of Vienna, there’s no better stage than the Viennese Waltz Masters™. 

4. Uncontested Categories 

For dancers who value pure pleasure over competition. 

Not ready to compete? No problem. The Uncontested Categories let you take the floor in the same magnificent setting without being judged or ranked. You’ll dance among others who share the same love of movement, with a participation award to commemorate your performance. 

Whether you’re new to performing or trying to re-spark your love for dance without focusing on winning, this category offers you a chance to enjoy the thrill of performing while focusing on fun and connection, the Uncontested Categories are your perfect choice. 

So, Which Format Will You Choose? 

Whether you dream of becoming an Icon, crave the intensity of a one-on-one duel, long to waltz into history, or simply wish to savor the dance without the pressure of competition, Danceful Vienna offers a format tailored to you. Participation is not limited to one format only so you can try out as many as you like. 

Ready to make your choice? 
Join us at Danceful Vienna and take your ProAm journey to the next level.  

Your stage is waiting. 

Ask Emanuele Spampinato where his most creative ideas come from, and you might expect him to name a studio, a stage, or a specific routine. 

Instead, he says: the kitchen. A museum. A concert. 

For Emanuele, dance is inseparable from life — not just in the way it’s performed, but in how it’s felt, observed, and shared. His philosophy is grounded in joy, guided by emotion, and made personal through the small rituals and big revelations that shape a dancer’s path. 

In this interview, he shares five truths about creativity, presence, and the kind of movement that lingers long after the music fades. 

Emanuele Spampinato. 

⁠Is there a belief or philosophy that guides how you train or perform?  

Yes. I believe that dance should always come by joy and happiness. As a teacher, I encourage my students to focus on intention over perfection and feeling the moment of what they are doing. Technique is important, of course, but it’s the feeling afterwards the dance experience that push you forward. Dance a samba and be a samba , there’s the difference.  

How do you stay creatively fresh when competitions demand consistency?  

It’s easy to get caught in the cycle of clean routines and polished tricks, but creativity is the lifeblood of dance. I make time to experiment outside the classroom — whether it’s improvisation, trying a new style, or just dancing for myself. I honestly admit the best routine or idea comes to me always outside the dance floor.; sometimes during a visit to a museum or I’m in concert or watching a movie. Sometimes even during cooking. Dance is art, probably this is the reason.  

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Do you have any quirky pre-comp rituals that no one knows about?  

Absolutely! Before every competition or performance, I usually use a perfume, I like the idea during you moving on the floor you can catch attention even with your dancer scent.  

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Has dance changed how you walk through life? literally or metaphorically?  

Without a doubt. Dance has taught me discipline, resilience, and empathy. It’s changed how I see people — how I listen, how I move through challenges, how I connect.  

With no doubts, I catch myself marking cha cha lock steps while walking through the grocery store. Metaphorically, it’s made me more open, expressive, self-confident and grounded. 

Looking back, what was one moment that changed everything, even if you didn’t realize it at the time?  

I remember during a contract for the World Tour in Costa Cruise Ship, I receive a booking lesson from a lady in the wheelchair. I was a bit confused about it, but when she arrived at the lounge for having the class with me, she just stands up and ask to let her enjoy sometimes with a tango. I was speechless. She had a partial issue with her legs; therefore, she usually went by wheelchair. She could finish the whole session, but with tears in her eyes, saying, “I felt something today.” That was the moment I realized my role wasn’t just to teach steps — it was to guide people toward discovering themselves through movement and let them feel alive, able to do.  

It shifted everything for me. 

When we asked Konstantin Panchenko about the toughest technical challenge of his career, we expected a step, a sequence, maybe a style. 

Instead, he gave us something deeper. 

It wasn’t a move—it was a moment. A leap of trust during a performance with his wife, Nadiia, while she was pregnant with their son. That story set the tone for an interview filled not just with technical reflections, but with hard-won wisdom about artistry, fear, discipline, and what it really takes to devote your life to dance. 

From the rush of stepping onto the floor at the Royal Albert Hall, to the quiet rituals that calm his mind before a competition, Konstantin shares the kind of perspective that only comes after years of dedication—and the courage to end a chapter with grace. 

Here are 5 questions, 5 honest answers, and a wealth of insight from one of ballroom’s most thoughtful voices. 

Your favourite moment in your dance career? How did it shape your approach to the sport? 

My favourite moment was at the International when we received the qualification envelopes confirming that we had qualified to dance at the Royal Albert Hall. It was particularly special because it became the last competition of our dance career. Ending our journey at such an iconic venue was truly unforgettable. 

This moment itself didn’t change my approach to dancing, but dance for me has always been more than sport—it’s primarily an art form. Dance is about mastering and controlling your body, expressing art and emotions through movement. The athleticism is the tool, but the foundation is always artistic storytelling Your favourite moment in your dance career? How did it shape your approach to the sport? 

Do you still get nervous before a competition? If so, what helps you stay calm and focused? 

Yes, I do—but it’s not exactly nervousness; it’s more of an adrenaline rush, a state of readiness before something important. When I do feel anxious, I have a little trick: I clap my hands very hard, as if giving powerful applause. It releases all the built-up energy, and even if it stings, it helps me calm down. 

⁠How would you describe your personal style in your routines? 

My personal style is a blend of tradition and innovation. It’s always rooted in the classic English style of Standard dancing, with strong fundamentals—balance, body control, and precise technique. This foundation is non-negotiable. But beyond that, I love experimenting and adding new elements, exploring artistic ideas without losing the essence of the basics. My teachers taught me the importance of mastering the fundamentals but also reminded me that dance is, above all, an art. 

⁠What has been the most difficult technical move or aspect of dance you’ve had to master, and how did you overcome the challenges along the way? 

The biggest challenge was psychological—performing show routines involving lifts and complicated elements with my wife, Nadiia, who was pregnant with our son Maxim at the time of the European Championship. 

The way I overcame this barrier was simple: I stopped overthinking and just did it. Sometimes acting despite the fear is the best solution. 

⁠Most important piece of advice you’ve ever gotten? 

If you want to gain something, you must give something. To achieve your goals, sacrifices are inevitable—time, energy, money, education, even relationships. There are no shortcuts or magic tricks. Hard work, dedication, and sacrifice are essential. That’s my advice to every dancer who dreams big. 

Want to see artistry like this live? 
Join us at the Danceful Vienna — where elegance, emotion, and excellence come alive on the floor. 

🩰 Save your spot now — tickets and info available here. 
Whether you’re a dancer, supporter, or first-time guest, you won’t want to miss the moments that make this sport unforgettable.