Solo Dance Skaters from more than 20 countries around the globe battled it out in Rimini in hopes of seeing their flags fly at the 2024 World Skate Games. Four Gold Medals were awarded at Fiera de Rimini with the result being a night of decadent and history making skating.
After the first portion of Solo Dance the scores were tight in all the events. It came down to the Free Dance to see who would get to claim the title of World Champion. The skaters were confident and poised and the audience was in for a treat. With any Dance event timing is everything. The timing with the music, the timing of the elements, the time spent in training…and the moment when it is the time to put it all together at the most important competition of the year.
Mireilla Montilla of Spain won the Gold Medal in Junior Ladies Solo Dance. The 2024 World Champion skated to Pulsinella. With a whimsical style and solid elements Montilla earned 132.41 points. Quinty Lan Vare made the Netherlands proud with her Silver Medal performance. Lan Vare won 128.64 points. To the music of Psyche Greek Goddess of the Soul, she skate with speed and attack to write a new page of skating history in her country. The Italian flag flew with the Bronze Medal of Alice Vedova. Vedova displayed an engaging showy essence to Madonna-The Star. She captured 126.13 points.
Solo Dance Junior Femminile
Host country Italy clenched the Junior Mens Solo Dance title and a World record with Yuri Allegranti. With a Free Dance to Elegy for Peace, Allegranti performed with a poetic and lyrical quality with all Level 4 elements to win the Gold Medal with 146.19 points. Jeshua Folleco of Colombia is an unforgettable skater. Also with all Level 4 elements, Folleco earned 142.15 points with a dynamic and unforgettable style to the music of El Corazon Del Infierno. Vitor Castro of Portugal won the Bronze Medal. Castro has a complete and classical style in the way he performs. He scored 135.19 points to the music of Beauty and the Beast.
Solo Dance Junior Maschile
The reigning Senior Ladies Solo Dance World Champion Roberta Sasso of Italy has added the 2024 Gold Medal to her collection. She broke her own World record by more than five points with 157.77 points, Sasso was a vision to Wuthering Heights as a graceful storyteller matched by her athletic and breathtaking artistic quality. Spain’s Natalia Baldizzone was impressive with her refined Free Dance to Aleluya with all Level 4 elements. Baldizzone earned 153.94 points and the Silver Medal. The deeply emotional and dynamic Free Dance to Open Your Eyes gave Asya Sofia Testoni of Italy the Bronze Medal. Testoni took to the podium step with 148.21 points.
Solo Dance Senior Femminile
In Senior Mens Solo Dance from the moment Gherardo Altieri started his Free Dance it was as if his movements were creating the music. The stunning choreography and top Level 4 elements done with ease earned Altieri the Gold Medal and set a new World record along the way. Altieri wowed the judges and earned 159.80 points. Brayan Carreño of Colombia surged from 5th after Style Dance to the Silver Medal with a powerful and impactful Free Dance to Ave Fenix. Carreño captured 153.24 points. Skating to The Jester, Giorgio Casella of Italy was the Bronze Medalist. Casella portrayed his character throughout every part of his program and won 151.80 points.
Solo Dance Senior Maschile
Solo Dance showed the beauty of Artistic Skating. Components were on marvelous display during Solo Dance. Skating Skills, Transitions, Performance and Choreography are moving upwards. Levels were hitting the maximum on the technical side as well. Finding the perfect balance between artist and athlete is becoming more apparent. Creative vision is being channeled in a way that has never been done before. The evidence of the dedication to the sport in all aspects is flourishing.
At the end of the night four new World Champions signed their names to the Roll of Honor. Each generation creates legends. The current generation of skaters are without a doubt leaving their mark on the most incredible sport of Artistic Skating.
All of the skaters in Junior and Senior Solo Dance have earned points for the World Skate Rankings.
Congratulations to all the Solo Dance competitors for bringing it to the floor!
Competition is daily at Fiera de Rimini. Next up in Artistic Medals for the World Skate Games is Precision, Quartet and Show starting Friday, September 20 at 17:25 CET.
Catch all the action live at www.worldskate.tv.