Every champion is made through hard work and dedication.
Although sometimes we say that legends are born, in some aspects like dancing, champions are made.
From countless hours of practice, stumbles, and falls, dancers hone their talents to become the best of the best.
Also, dancing has come a long way, and even though there are already tons of modern dances now, a lot of people are still into old dances such as swing.
Apart from the Rock That Swing Festival, another famous competition is being held to showcase the best Lindy Hop dancers around the globe.
The International Lindy Hop Championships.
The International Lindy Hop Championships or ILHC’s mission is to show respect and honor for Lindy Hop.
It does this by organizing big competitions where dancers from all over the world come together. These events are well-planned, and the judging is top-notch.
The dance event believes in giving back to the community.
That’s why they support the Frankie Manning Foundation and have programs for young dancers, and they even have special competitions for them.
They also run a swing dance museum during their big event in New York.
They pick only the best!
They meticulously choose who to teach, judge, and help out. It’s not just about how good the dancers are at dancing or their achievements.
They also want people who treat others with respect and act professionally.
When it comes to picking the best of the best in swing dance and Lindy hop, there is one couple that will always be in the top tier of it.
It’s none other than Nils and Bianca.
Bianca Locatelli and Nils Andrén are passionate Lindy Hop and Boogie Woogie dancers, teachers, and performers.
They’ve dedicated the past decade to sharing their love for these dance styles rooted in African American culture.
According to their site, their journey started with a shared love for swing dancing when Bianca moved to Sweden, leading them to perform and compete together.
Now, they travel the world teaching workshops, competing, and performing, winning numerous titles including Swedish championships and international competitions like the International Lindy Hop Championship and European Swing Dance Championship.
Their aim is to create a positive learning environment and inspire others through their exceptional performances, showcasing creativity and musicality on stages worldwide.
They battle not for glory but to promote the craft that they love the most.
Just last year during the battle rounds of the ILHC 2023 held in the historical Alhambra Ballroom in Harlem, New York, Nils and Bianca pulled off some jaw-dropping stunts.
As we all know, swing dance is not a typical choreographed type of dance. It oftentimes is a free-flowing series of movements that are mostly dependent on the dancers.
This is why having the right partner is important in this type of dance because coordination plays a crucial role in its entirety.
Nils and Bianca are no strangers to bringing what’s expected from dancers of their caliber.
During the battle rounds of the ILHC 2023, they didn’t just take part, but they absolutely took over the competition with their crazy maneuvers.
From the highest hops to the biggest steps, their duo was simply ALL IN!
Nils was tossing and flipping Bianca into the air like it was nothing. On the other hand, Bianca was doing some crazy movements in mid-air!
They fought against equally talented duos of Sylvain and Marion, Vassia and Alexandros, and Aj and Laura. However, Nils and Bianca were just too much to handle.
They absolutely dominated the competition which to no surprise favored Nils and Bianca’s duo. They’ve once again proved that their duo should be feared in every swing dance competition.
Watch them battle it all out in the video below!
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