Mia Linnik-Holden and Andrei Toader North of England Junior Ballroom Champions for third year

Mia Linnik-Holden

Local dance talent Mia Linnik-Holden and Andrei Toader have retained their championship crown at their last-ever Blackpool Junior Dance Festival.

On the first day of the contest, the Middleton couple maintained their 2016 and 2017 wins, again placing first in the North of England Junior Ballroom category, dancing the Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango and Quickstep.

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/138/community-news/109676/mia-linnikholden-and-andrei-toader-at-blackpool-junior-dance-festival

The dedicated duo, who have rapidly gone from strength to strength over the years, also dominated across the board in the British Junior Ballroom Championship, taking home another champion title. Last year they placed fifth.

Mia and Andrei also shot up the ranks in the British Junior Latin Championship, placing sixth of over 200 competitors – up from eighth place last year and 32^nd in 2016. They danced the Cha-cha-cha, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble and Jive.

The Blackpool Junior Dance Festival has been running since 1947 with young dancers up to the age of 16 visiting Blackpool from all over the world to compete. This year’s competition will be the last Blackpool Junior Festival for Mia and Andrei in their final year dancing as juniors.

Mia’s mum, Maxine Holden, said: “Mia and Andrei placed sixth in a super tough British Open Latin final - from 210 competitors from all over the world and after competing all day till 11.00pm. We are thrilled. 14 rounds of dancing over two days.

“Andrei and Mia were also top U16 10 dance couple in the world; they were the only couple out of all competitors (210 in Latin and 200 in ballroom) to reach both finals - winning ballroom. What a way to end their junior career. So, so proud. You blow me away guys and you gave it everything this week.”

The talented 15-year-olds from Middleton began their partnership in May 2015 and quickly rose to become champions in the U14 ballroom and Latin ranks. 

Mia began dancing at the age of six after asking her parents for lessons, and Andrei, who is originally from Romania, started dancing at the age of three.

Since their partnership began, Mia and Andrei have continued to rack up the junior titles, including retaining their champion statuses for the second year running at the British Nationals, placing first in the Junior Ballroom and Junior Latin at the British Dance Federation’s Star Championships, and placing as vice champions at the UK Closed Championships. 

They also beat international couples at the 2017 World Dance Nationals in Paris to become the world U16 Ballroom Champions, and placed 11th following a “very tough” semi-final in the U16 Junior Latin.

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/114705/mia-linnikholden-and-andrei-toader-u16-ballroom-world-champions