Melinda Torokgyorgy

Overview

Melinda Torokgyorgy always liked to dance for as long as she could remember, but began serious training at the age of 13. At this time, she began learning relatively complex figures and movements of Ballroom Dance, giving preference to the Latin American style.

Melinda's first competitive dance partner was Simon Szucs. With him, Melinda won the Hungarian National 10 Dance Championship among adult Amateurs 2 times, even though the couple was still in the category of Youth. This success opened up a bright future for the couple and became an incentive for them to enter the international arena.

Amateur

The couple began officially dancing in the Amateur division. However, all plans were soon broken off as the couple sustained injuries from a car crash. The couple showed a fighting spirit and after recovering from their injuries, continued to perform and improve their skills.

In late 1998, in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, Melinda met Maurizio Vescovo with whom she continued her competitive career. In January 1999, she moved to Dolo, Italy where the couple worked hard to prepare for their debut. Their first performance took place at the Balaton Dance Competition in Melinda's home country of Hungary in the town of Keszthely. They became the Amateur Latin champions.

Some of their best results in the Amateur Division include first place at the 2007 German Open Championships, first place at the 2007 International Championships in England, and 2007 Blackpool Dance Festival Champions.

In May 2008, the couple decided to proceed into the Professional arena.

Professional

One of the best results for the couple was winning the Hungarian Professional Latin National Championship of 2009. Maurizio and Melinda were also British Open Finalists, WDC European Latin finalists, as well as Champions of the German Open Championships.

In June 2009, Melinda began dancing with Andrej Skufca with whom she represented the country of Slovenia.

From their first step into the international arena, the couple already took a leading position in the world of Latin American dancing. Their debut took place at the International Championships in England where the couple took fifth place. 

2010 was a very good year for the couple. Andrej and Melinda took 2nd place at the German Open Championships (GOC) in Stuttgart, 2nd place at the the United States Championships in Orlando, as well as 2nd place at the Embassy Ball in Irvine, California (USA).

In April 2011, they won the Professional Latin All England Championship.

Melinda and Andrej were sponsored at the World Championships in Innsbruck and at the European Championships in Germany in 2011 by a famous company known as Exclusively by Swarovski. 

Some of the couple's highest achievements include taking first place at the Autumn Moscow Cup in 2014 and taking first place at the 2015 Professional Latin WDC European Championship.

On May 27, 2015, Andrej Skufca and Melinda Torokgyorgy announced their retirement from competitive dancing at the Blackpool Dance Festival.

Life After Competition

Andrej Skufca and Melinda continue to instruct dancers around the world, traveling around the globe to participate in lectures and various dance camps.

In 2016, the couple was married.

Accomplishments

• 8-time Blackpool Professional Latin Finalist (2008-2015)
• 5-time UK Open Professional Latin Finalist (2010-2013, 2015)
• WDC European Professional Latin Champion (2015)
• Autumn Moscow Cup WDC World Series Professional Latin Champion (2014)
• Golden Gate of Siberia Open Dance Festival Professional Latin Champion (2014)
• All England Championships Professional Latin Champion (2011)
• Nagoya Open Championships - Asian Tour Professional Latin Champion (2011)
• Imperial Championships Professional Latin Champion (2010)
• United States Professional Latin Vice-Champion (2010)
• Embassy Ball Professional Latin Vice-Champion (2010)
• Hungarian Professional Latin Champion (2009)
• German Open Professional Latin Champion (2008)
• Blackpool Amateur Latin Champion (2007)
• International Championships Amateur Latin Champion (2007)
• Amateur Latin German Open Champion (2007)
• 2-time Hungarian National Amateur 10 Dance Champion (1997-1998)
• Junior Hungarian Latin Champion (1996)
• Junior II Hungarian Latin Champion (1995)

Dance Partners

• Andrej Skufca (2009 - 2015)
• Maurizio Vescovo (1998 - 2009)
• Simon Szucs (? - 1998)

Entrepreneurship

• Instructor
• Adjudicator
• Choreographer