PROFILE
DANCE: Youth Ten-Dance | PARTNERS SINCE: September 2013 | REPRESENT: USA | PLACES OF BIRTH: Sam: Kosice, Slovakia | Katka: Svidnik, Slovakia | BASED: Hacke Dancesport, NJ, USA - Click here to view website.
ACHIEVEMENTS: USA National Champions Youth Standard; USA National Champions Under 21 Standard; USA National Champions Youth Ten-Dance; USA National Champions Under 21 Ten-Dance; USA National Champions Adult Ten-Dance; USA National Amateur Latin & Standard Finalists; WDC World Under 19 - 7th; WDC World Under 21 Semi-Finalists; WDSF World Standard Youth - 8th; WDSF World Under 21 Ten-Dance Semi-Finalists; 9x USA World Representatives.
CHOSEN SHOES: Sam: 'Contra Pro' & 'Rumba Duo' | Katka: 'ICS RoundToe SingleStrap' & 'Katarina' (Click the shoe names to view)
DANCE TALK
FAVOURITE DANCE: Sam: Waltz | Katka: Rumba.
FAVOURITE COMPETITION/VENUE: Sam: Winter Gardens, Blackpool | Katka: Winter Gardens, Blackpool.
BEST MOMENT OF YOUR CAREER: Making the Semi-Final and finishing 8th at our first World Youth Standard Championship.
HOW TO PREPARE FOR A COMPETITION: We like to watch people that inspire us before we go on the floor, and go on floor knowing what we want to look like and want to acomplish.
HOW TO RELAX AFTER A COMPETITION: Get back to work ;)
MOST RESPECTED OPPONENT COUPLE: Patryk Ploszaj & Anna Kaczmarski, Madis Abel & Aleksandra Galkina.
ADVICE FOR ANY YOUNG DANCER READING THIS: Stand up for what you believe in. Have a passion for what you do, but know its quality.
DANCE WORLD ICON/INSPIRATION: Sam: Mirko Gozzoli, Arunas Bizokas, Emanuel Valeri, Evaldas Sodeika, Vaidotas Lacitis, Dmitry Zharkov, Nino Langella, Stefano Di Filippo, Sergey Surkov. | Katka: Katusha Demidova, Edita Danuite, Ieva Zukauskaite, Tania Kehlet, Anna Melnikova, Andra Vaidilaite, Ina Jeliazkova.
SHOE TALK
WHY CHOOSE INTERNATIONAL DANCE SHOES?: We choose to wear International Dance Shoes because of their innovative look and comfort. They mold to our feet and provide us with great stability and flexibility.
WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT FEATURES OF A DANCE SHOE?: Durability, flexibility and style.
AWAY FROM DANCE
FAVOURITE SPORT AWAY FROM DANCE: Sam: Basketball | Katka: Anything that makes you move
FAVOURITE HOLIDAY DESTINATION: Sam: Bora Bora | Katka: Fiji, but Bora Bora sounds nice too!
FAVOURITE FILM: Sam: Fast and Furious | Katka: Rocky
FAVOURITE MUSIC ACT/ARTIST: Sam: The Weeknd | Katka: The Weeknd
INTERESTING FACT: Sam: I started dancing when I was 11, but didn't take it seriously until I was 13. | Katka: My Facebook feed is basically all dance and cooking videos.
TEACHING, LESSONS & BOOKINGS
Sam & Katka offer Latin & Standard lessons and can be contacted via email here - samuel.katka@gmail.com, or click here to contact them via Facebook.
GET FOLLOWING
Samuel Hacke & Katarina Hermanova Official Facebook Page
Samuel Hacke on Instagram (@samhacke)
Katarina Hermanova on Instagram (@katkaher)
Photography Credits:
Main Sponsors Page - Farcon Photography (Click here)
Header Image - Farcon Photography (Click here)