Meet Liis End & Madis Abel: A Partnership Built for Success
At Chrisanne Clover, we are delighted to fabric sponsor one of the world's leading Professional Ballroom dancers, Liis End. Together with her partner, Madis Abel, she has established herself as a formidable presence on the international Ballroom scene.
Representing Estonia, Madis and Liis formed their partnership in November 2022 and have enjoyed a remarkable rise through the professional ranks. Since making their competitive debut together in Bournemouth, England, in January 2023, they have consistently impressed audiences and adjudicators alike with their elegant style and technical excellence.
Today, the couple are ranked No. 5 in the world and No. 1 in Estonia in the Professional Ballroom category, cementing their position among the sport's elite competitors.
As World Professional Ballroom Vice-Champions and regular finalists at some of the most prestigious competitions in the world, Madis and Liis continue to inspire dancers and audiences alike. At Chrisanne Clover, we are proud to support their journey and look forward to seeing what they achieve next.
What brought you and Liis together, and what do you like most about each other?
Madis/ Liis: What brought us together was probably a combination of luck, shared goals and simply being a good match. Of course, every partnership requires work, determination and commitment from both people, and I think we share many of the qualities that allow us to keep developing and creating something unique together.
Madis: One thing I value enormously is the trust Liis has in me. She trusts my decisions and my point of view, and to me that is priceless. It allows me to be completely open with her, and she can be equally open with me. We don’t avoid the obstacles that appear on the way towards our goals — we face them together.
I think that trust is one of the foundations of our partnership. We can rely on each other instead of working against each other. At the end of the day, we are one team moving towards the same goals.
Liis: What I really admire about Madis is how smart and focused he is when it comes to our dancing. No matter whether a result is good or disappointing, he always stays positive and looks for what we can improve. Instead of blaming outside factors, he focuses on what we can do better ourselves, and I really value that about him
Looking back at your dance journey from your first competition as a child in Tallinn to competing internationally today, what has changed the most in your dancing and in the way you approach competitions?
Madis/Liis: It is an interesting question because, in a way, everything has changed — and at the same time, nothing has changed.
The places, the scale of the competitions, the level of dancing and my own ability have all changed enormously. But the love for dancing, the thrill of competing, the curiosity and the excitement are still the same. Internally, the core has remained unchanged, while everything around it has grown as a result of years of work, experience and determination.
Because that core is still the same, my approach to competition has not changed that much either. I still want to impress people through the skill, quality and emotion of my dancing. I always remind myself that there may be someone in the audience seeing me dance for the very first time. I cannot expect that person to enjoy or connect with my dancing if I am not willing to truly perform for them.
That mindset keeps every competition meaningful, regardless of where in the world it takes place.
Ballroom is such a physically and mentally demanding sport — how do you and Liis prepare together in the lead-up to a big competition?
Madis/Liis: In a sense, I believe we should always be prepared. I don’t think our attitude should suddenly become completely different just because a major competition is approaching.
Whether it is a small competition, a show or one of the biggest events in the world, every appearance contributes to the reputation and image we build as dancers. The major competitions may be the highlights, but all the smaller performances are important parts of the bigger picture.
That is why staying healthy, developing physically and mentally, and continuing to improve technically and artistically are not things we do only before an important event. They are part of a constant, never-ending process.
I see competitions as milestones and checkpoints along that journey. They show us where we are at that moment, but the development itself never really stops.
You continue to choose Chrisanne Clover fabric when getting your competition dresses made — what keeps drawing you back to it?
Liis: For me, it’s the quality. I really like that I can get different types of fabric in exactly the same colour from one place, which makes designing a dress much easier. I also trust that Chrisanne Clover colours will look beautiful under competition lights, even in venues where the lighting may not be as strong.
Do you have a favourite Chrisanne Clover fabric or colour palette you find yourself returning to for your looks?
Liis: I think it’s quite obvious that my favourite colours are black and white! This year alone, I’ve already had three white and three black dresses. But I also really love shaded fabrics — one of my favourites was the satin chiffon in Tiffany fading into white.
For the dress itself, I usually prefer stretch net and Lycra for the body, with georgette for the skirt. I love the comfort and flexibility of the stretch fabrics combined with the lightness and movement of georgette.
What would you say to other dancers who are choosing fabric for their next competition dress?
Liis: When it comes to colour, I would choose something you genuinely feel good in. All Chrisanne Clover colours look beautiful on the floor. If you want to stand out more, choosing a less common colour can be a great option, although trends always change. Personally, I wouldn’t choose something simply because it is very fashionable at the moment. I would rather go for something you don’t see everywhere in everyday fashion or on the red carpet.
How does the fabric itself affect your performance on the floor — comfort, movement, how it catches the light?
Liis: Fabric makes a big difference because a competition dress has to perform with you. I’ve seen dresses made with fashion fabrics that are not really designed for dancing, and they can break or get damaged on the floor. When choosing fabric, you have to remember that you are going to dance in the dress, not just pose in it. During a competition, you shouldn’t be thinking about protecting your dress — you should feel completely free to perform. For me, the fabric has to be strong, comfortable, reliable and move beautifully on the floor.
What advice would you give to young dancers just starting out, especially those hoping to dance internationally one day?
Madis/Liis: My advice to young dancers would be to find a genuine love for dancing and never give up on it.
The road is not always easy. There will be difficult practices, disappointing results, doubts and days when things simply don’t feel right. But the journey can also be incredibly rewarding and exciting if you learn to appreciate the process rather than only waiting for the result.
Enjoy that journey with your partner and surround yourself with teachers and people you genuinely trust. Stay curious, keep learning and understand that not every day needs to feel perfect for you to be moving forward.
If you truly love what you are doing, keep working and give yourself enough time. Some of the most meaningful achievements are built slowly, through thousands of ordinary days when you simply choose to continue.