Australian Representatives Shine at 2025 World Para DanceSport Championship in Košice, Slovakia
Australian dancers Lizz Bleakley and Simon Mills represented Australia with distinction at the 2025 World Para DanceSport Championship, held from 21 to 23 November in Košice, Slovakia. Their performance in the Combi Class 2 Para Dance Standard and Freestyle events was outstanding: they achieved a world standing of 6th place in Standard and 13th place in Freestyle against a truly world class field of competitors. This is a marvellous result for Australian athletes on the world stage.
The World Para DanceSport Championship is widely regarded as the jewel in the crown of the Para DanceSport calendar, drawing the world’s best athletes in adaptive dance. 230 athletes from 24 countries gathered in Košice to compete across multiple divisions, showcasing the elegance, athleticism and competitive spirit of Para DanceSport.
The results achieved by Lizz and Simon are especially noteworthy. Many of their competitors have extensive experience on the world stage, and for a partnership to reach a final and finish in the top ranks of a World Championship field is a testament to their dedication, technical skill and competitive maturity.
The host city, Košice, covered in snow, welcomed dancers, officials and spectators to the Spoločenský Pavilón for three days of competition. A full programme included Combi and Duo Latin and Standard, as well as Freestyle and Single events for men and women across three Para Dance classifications.
The 2025 World Championships also saw the continued evolution of the sport, with Powerchair events included in the programme as part of efforts to broaden accessibility and competitive categories. This reflects the ongoing development of Para DanceSport under the governance of World Abilitysport, one of the world’s leading organisations for Para sports development.
While Para DanceSport is officially recognised as a Paralympic sport, it has not yet been selected for inclusion in a Paralympic Games, a matter of ongoing discussion and advocacy within the community.
The Western Australian government has provided funding for a feasibility study and to prepare a business case to host both the Special Olympics National DanceSport Competition in 2027 and an International Para DanceSport Competition from 2028 in Perth. Work is currently underway to bring these two prestigious events to WA, enabling local Para Dance, Vision Impaired (VI) and All Ability / Intellectual Impaired (II) athletes to compete in national and international competitions. Sponsors are currently being sourced for these events, which will showcase the great work DanceSport is undertaking in access and inclusion for our sport.
Para Dance was first formally introduced in Western Australia in 2018, supported by seed funding from the WA Department of Sport and Recreation, enabling DanceSport WA to initiate a pilot programme. That early investment has helped foster a generation of athletes who are now competing internationally, and whose performances continue to raise Australia’s profile in the sport.
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