Judges and Officials
Judges

Sami Yli-Piipari
Sami started ballroom dancing at the age of 10 in his native
country, Finland. During his career with his wife Karita,
he achieved numerous international and national titles
including 15 Finnish National Championships titles. He is
also a former World & European Professional 10 Dance Grand
Finalist, United Kingdom & International Professional Rising
Star Finalist, and Blackpool Professional Rising Star
Semi-Finalist. Representing Finland, Sami serves as a WDSF
chairman and adjudicator.

Marie Crowder
Marie is a five time USA Dance Amateur Champion in Latin
and a 3-time USA representative to the WDSF World Latin
Championships. Marie has won numerous Regional Standard and
Latin Championship titles and was a Standard finalist in the
USA DanceSport National Championships.
Marie is a WDSF World Class A+ Adjudicator, National
Championship Adjudicator and a proud member of the Imperial
Society of Teachers of Dancing (the ISTD). She is currently
the Membership Director of the USISTD.
Marie, along with her husband Wayne Crowder, organize the
Carolina Fall Classic DanceSport Championships.
www.carolinafallclassic.com

Wayne Crowder
Wayne Crowder F.I.S.T.D. Wayne is a five time USA Dance Amateur Champion in Latin and a 3-time
USA representative to the WDSF World Latin Championships. Wayne has won numerous Regional
Standard and Latin Championship titles and was a Standard finalist in the USA DanceSport National
Championships. Wayne is a WDSF Adjudicator, Professional Division Adjudicator, National Certified
Adjudicator and a Fellow Member of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (the ISTD). Wayne
served two terms as the President of the United States Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing. He
currently serves on the Dancesport Council of USA Dance as Chair of Certifications as well as the WDSF
Adviser to the President of USA. Wayne has judged WDSF Grand Slams, World Cups, World
Championships, Continental Championships as well as Open events. To see a complete list, go to
www.worlddancesport.org under the "Officials" tab.

Dana Edwards
Dana is a Licentiate member of the United States Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing and has
American certifications in Ballroom, Rhythm and Theatre Arts, as well as Licentiate degrees in
International Ballroom and Latin. She is a USA Dance adjudicator and collegiate chairman of the judges.
Dana is also the Director of Social Media and will be serving on the USISTD National committee. She is
retired as an American and Canadian American professional American Smooth and Rhythm Champion.
She has 24 years of teaching experience. She worked for Fred Astaire Dance studios for 9 years has
also owned her own dance studio called Invitation To Dance in Columbus, Ohio since 2001.
Dana was the head coach for the competitive and formation teams for the Ohio State University
DanceSport team from 2009 to 2012.

Sandra Fortuna

Vladimir Karpov

Patricia Panebianco
Patricia Panebianco is an adjudicator and
invigilator for many USA Dance competitions.
She is the founder and owner of New York
DanceSport Center. She has won over 25
professional titles in the International Latin
Rising Star and Open categories and she has won
first place in the Professional American Rhythm
category.

Ross Pearce

Inez Sahlin

Kimberly Smith
Kimberly Smith has been teaching dancing for 34 years and has owned and operated Dr. Dance Studio,
Inc. in Birmingham for 28 years. Kim has enjoyed a fulfilling career as a professional competitor, pro/am
competitor, teacher and currently coaches amateur and professional couples. She holds both
Memberships and Fellowships with the North American Dance Teachers Association, Licentiates with the
USISTD and is a WDSF adjudicator. She also serves as the DanceSport advisor for the 2021 World
Games. Kim is a member of the National Committee and proudly serves as Treasurer of the United
States Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing.

Phillip Stephens

Glenn Weiss

Yuehwern Yih, Ph.D
Yuehwern Yih is a Championship Licensed Adjudicator in all four styles by the
North American Dancesport Teachers Association (NADTA), Licensed Adjudicator
with World Dancesport Federation (WDSF), Certified Scrutineer with the
National Dance Council of America (NDCA), and Certified Chair of Judges with
USA Dance. In addition to judging and choreographing, she is also the faculty
advisor and the head coach of the Purdue Latin & Ballroom Dance Team. In 2010,
when the Team was invited to compete on Season 10 of Dancing with the Stars
on Fox, she and her partner, Daniel, coached the dancers to a 1st round
victory, and placed second in collegiate formation team competition at the
finale. Yuehwern is the founder of the Purdue Latin & Ballroom Dance Team and
the Team is one of the top ranked teams nationally. Yuehwern and Daniel also
organize the Purdue Classic Ballroom Competition, which attracts more than 400
collegiate ballroom competitors each year in the Midwest area in the last two
decades.
Officials

Yang Chen - MC