Lomianki 2018: Helena Kasicka’s coach connection

“I am very grateful for a lot of things in my life but mainly for doing what I love, and I love dancing.”

Before, she danced with him. Now, Slovakia’s Helena Kasicka dances for him. That is her motivation for November’s World Para Dance Sport European Championships in Lomianki, Poland.

She hopes to continue the winning tradition she had with long-time dance partner Peter Vidasic as a solo artist, with her former partner now acting as her full-time coach.

“I had a big respect because Peter is also my coach for years so I didn’t want to disappoint him,” said Kasicka about her gold from the Kosice World Cup in October, which was her first World Para Dance Sport competition in two years.

“He knows me very well, so I was trying to dance my best. I was afraid, but at the same time I was delighted.”

Their last major competition together was a dramatic occasion.

In front of their home crowd at the 2016 European Championships, the tandem won gold in the combi standard and combi freestyle class 1.

But their Achilles heel had been the Latin discipline. At the last four World Championships and in the last two European Championships, they finished in second position.

So when they were declared combi Latin European champions in 2016, the two had an emotional embrace.

Now, in this year’s edition, to be held from 9-11 November, Kasicka will only dance the women’s freestyle singles.

She tested her routine at the World Cup earlier this month in Kosice and secured the gold medal.

“Peter simply picked music, we both agreed on it,” she said. “Every time he has his own idea what he wants me to perform.”

He was also the drive to her returning to competitive form since the 2016 European Championships.

Kasicka had been training, performing, as well as teaching kids in Para dancing.

But when Vidasic received an invitation for a well-known Para dance competition called the Continents Cup in Russia, he signed Kasicka up. With the Kosice World Cup also confirmed for this year, she had more motivation to get back to dancing all together.

“Peter has tried to convince me and all the sudden I was signed for the [World Para Dance Sport] competition,” she said. “When you do not compete, it's slightly easier (to come back). You have training, yes, but you do not have to follow such a hard discipline.”

“I am very grateful for a lot of things in my life but mainly for doing what I love, and I love dancing,” Kasicka added.