COUPLE: PETAR DASKALOV & ZIA JAMES
PROFILE
DANCE: Amateur Latin | PARTNERS SINCE: September 2013 | REPRESENT: England | PLACES OF BIRTH: Petar: Dobrich, Bulgaria | Zia: Reigate, England | BASED: Matico, Croydon, UK.
ACHIEVEMENTS: Winners of the British Open Amateur Rising Star Latin Championship 2014, Winners of the VM Cup (Denmark) 2014, Winners of the Amateur Latin UK Closed Championship 2015, Top 20 at the British Open Amateur Latin Championship 2015, Top 20 at the International Championship 2014.
CHOSEN SHOES: Petar: 'Rumba' | Zia: 'Mia T-Bar' (Click the shoe names to view, and click here to view some of Zia's Bespoke Mia T-Bar shoes on Instagram!)
DANCE TALK
FAVOURITE DANCE: Petar: Paso | Zia: Paso & Rumba.
FAVOURITE COMPETITION/VENUE: Petar: Blackpool | Zia: Blackpool and the UK Open in Bournemouth.
BEST MOMENT OF YOUR CAREER: By far winning the British Open Amateur Rising Star Latin Championships in 2014.
HOW TO PREPARE FOR A COMPETITION: To focus ONLY on your dancing and what you want to show the audience. Stay open minded to changes and keep an open communication with your partner.
HOW TO RELAX AFTER A COMPETITION: With chocolate and crisps on the sofa on a Sunday watching a good film!
MOST RESPECTED OPPONENT COUPLE: All our opponents are respected. We belive that competition is healthy and brings out the best in people. So without all of our opponents we would never have become what we are now.
ADVICE FOR ANY YOUNG DANCER READING THIS: To never doubt your inner belief that you can reach your dreams. Be patient and seek the opportunities, and there is no reason why you can't be amongst the small percentage whom actually make it, so keep going!
DANCE WORLD ICON/INSPIRATION: Petar: Slavik Krykklyvy, Sergey Surkov, Donnie Burns & Michael Baryshnikov. | Zia: Carmen, Anna Bezikova, Cyd Charrise, Ksenia Kaspar.
SHOE TALK
WHY CHOOSE INTERNATIONAL DANCE SHOES?: International Dance Shoes are the absolute best shoes on the market. First of all they have a huge range of models and they can make the shoes to exactly what you need. You can order Bespoke shoes in any fabric or colour and they will accomodate you and make Bespoke shoes. Service like this is not often found. Secondly, the support of the shoes is above any other brand. Support is so important when dancing and International Dance Shoes provide this. They also last a very long time and don't wear out fast. This is fantastic as so many other shoes look nice for about two competitions and then you can't use them anymore. (Click here to view some of the Bespoke 'Mia T-Bar' shoes Zia had made up for the UK Open 2015!)
WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT FEATURES OF A DANCE SHOE?: For the lady, absolutley the shape of the heel. This is the most feminine part of the shoe. Again, International Dance Shoes gives you every option you can wish for! For the man also the heel, but more for the comfort and placement of the heel. Also the shape of the front to keep the foot in place.
AWAY FROM DANCE
FAVOURITE SPORT AWAY FROM DANCE: Petar: Football | Zia: None, I like ballet
FAVOURITE HOLIDAY DESTINATION: Petar: Sardegna | Zia: Sardegna & Marbella
FAVOURITE FILM: Petar: Never Back Down | Zia: The Notebook & Notting Hill
FAVOURITE MUSIC ACT/ARTIST: Petar: Shinedown, Bob Marley & Eminem | Zia: Nat King Cole, Amy Winehouse, Sammy Davis Jr. & Beyoncé
INTERESTING FACT: Petar: I had to choose between becoming a dancer or a footballer. I was offered to be part of the national football team at 12 but said no and went to the dancing. | Zia: I believe I was born in the wrong era. I fit to the 50s and love old Hollywood glamour and I'm a fan of Dita Von Teese.
TEACHING, LESSONS & BOOKINGS
Petar & Zia are available for teaching and demonstrations for Latin only and are also available for Pro-Am. We have great teaching experience as we have been connected to a big dancing school in Denmark with over 2,000 students. Contact Zia on +44(0)7599 875612 or via email at ziajames@hotmail.com.
GET FOLLOWING
Follow Petar Daskalov on Facebook
Photography Credits:
Main Sponsors Page - Rob Porter Photography (Click here)
Header Image - Ivo Dimitrov (Click here)