Belarus competitors in action on the opening day of the World Para Dance Sport event in Cuijk, The Netherlands ©Twitter

The opening day of World Para Dance Sport's first competition of the year in Cuijk produced winners from Belgium, Ukraine and The Philippines.

The competition in The Netherlands is featuring 63 athletes from 13 countries and is the first time that the dancers have taken to the floor since the World Championships in Malle in Belgium last October.

Ukraine’s squad contains world champions Olena Chynka, Ivan Sivak and Illona Slugovyna.

Opening day winners from Belgium, Ukraine and The Philippines line up at the World Para Dance Sport event ©Twitter
Opening day winners from Belgium, Ukraine and The Philippines line up at the World Para Dance Sport event ©Twitter

At the 2017 World Championships, Sivak performed excellently, collecting one gold and one bronze medal thanks to superb performances in the men's single two and freestyle.

Belarus and The Philippines are looking like Ukraine’s closest challengers in Cuijk, in an event due to finish on Sunday (April 1).

It was recently announced that dance sport is being considered as a demonstration sport for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.