Nicholas and Sophia Kartashov, the 2023 USA National Dancesport Champions.
Nicholas and Sophia Kartashov don’t let their age get in the way of their dancing.
The twins, who will turn age 10 on April 10, having been learning ballroom dancing since they were 4.
On March 11, the brother and sister won the national title in the PT1 division at the United States National Amateur Dancesport Championships at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.
Their parents, Danila and Nuria Kartashov, owners of the Arthur Murray Dance Center of Cranford arthurmurraycranford.com were delighted.
“As dance teachers, it’s natural to want to teach your children,” said their father, Danila Kartashov. “Our kids really enjoy it. It was so exciting.”
The 2023 USA National Dancesport Final PT1 Division.
Dances included waltz, tango, the Viennese waltz, the foxtrot and the quick step.
The children are no stranger to competitions or to victories. Their parents have taken them all over the United States and overseas to compete. Last year, the brother and sister represented the United States at the World Amateur Dancesport Championship in the Netherlands. They placed second.
But the competitions and the victories don’t come easy for the children or their parents.
Sophia and Nicholas Kartashov waiting for their results during competition at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.
The family’s day starts at 4 a.m. They leave Basking Ridge at 4:30 a.m. for Montclair State University for figure skating with their coaches before heading to school in Basking Ridge. After school, it’s Ballroom Dance practice at the Arthur Murray Center in Cranford. They start doing their homework in the car.
The parents are no strangers to intense practice. Danila started Ballroom dancing at age 6 in Russia and Nuria was 5 when she started Ballet in Spain. “Dance has done so many things for all of us,” Danila Kartashov said. “As kids we learn confidence and self-awareness, balance, posture and we make friends, we interact and get involve in a physical activity without even realizing it.”
“This is healthy exercise that we need now more than ever,” Danila Kartashov said. “We’re so proud that our kids realize how important this is.”
For more information about ballroom dancing, contact the Cranford studio at 908-272-7955 or [email protected]