Bendigo stars Sam Brown, 18, and Berkley Wood, 17 returned to competitive dancing last weekend at the 2021 ADS State Super Star Spectacular.
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The state-level competition marked the first time the pair had competed in more than 15 months due to COVID-19 restrictions - and upon their return to competitive dance they finished with several top results.
The pair competed in the Under-21 division and won all three dancesport disciplines in Ballroom (standard), New Vogue and Latin American.
They also successfully tested themselves in the Adult Open events, taking out first in the New Vogue, second in the Ballroom and fourth in Latin American.
"It was great to be out on the dance floor and competing again," Wood said.
"After 15 months without competitions I think we were so excited and happy to be competing again that we just gave it everything, I think that's why we did so well."
The pair has been dancing together for years, but just recently were able to increase their time practicing after Brown relocated from Shepparton to Bendigo to study physiotherapy at La Trobe, while Wood is currently undertaking Year 12 at Victory Christian College.
"It's great to be living in the same city after competing together for the last eight years," Brown said.
"We are finally able to practice every day which is helping our fitness and preparation for competitions.
"As Berkley and I will both be studying at La Trobe University over the next few years it will make it so much easier for us to maintain our elite-level dancing. We are so lucky to have the University it is such a great facility in Rural Victoria."
The pair train at IDance Studio in Bendigo and are preparing for a strong year together, including competing on home-soil at the ADS Bendigo Dancesport Classic competition in October.
After the impact of cancelled events and limits on international travel during 2020, the pair missed out on the opportunity to compete at several international events.
They were set to compete at the Under-19 10 Dance World Championships in Spain and the Under-21 Ballroom World Championships in Russia.
However, it has only increased their determination to succeed in the future.
"Although COVID has delayed our international dance careers it has made us hungrier to one day represent our country in the future," the pair said.
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