Decho Kraev

Decho Kraev was born in Bulgaria and began dancing at eight, building a competitive amateur career and coaching junior couples before moving to the United States in 2003. That move marked the beginning of his partnership with Bree Watson, who became both his professional dance partner and life partner. Together they would develop a style that merged his Bulgarian competitive foundation with Watson's American training, focusing on the American Rhythm and Theater Arts divisions.

Their first nationally documented championship came in 2007, when they won the U.S. National Professional Theatrical title, followed by the Ohio Star Ball Professional Theater Arts championship that same year. Late in 2007, coach Sam Sodano began working with the partnership, undertaking a six-year process of refining their technical approach. In 2008, Kraev and Watson reached the final of the Blackpool Dance Festival's Professional Invitational Exhibition event, signaling their emergence on the international stage.

The couple's championship peak arrived between 2010 and 2013. Representing the United States, they won three consecutive World Professional American Rhythm titles in 2010, 2011, and 2012, and three consecutive U.S. National Professional American Rhythm championships in 2011, 2012, and 2013. Their earlier record also included three consecutive Emerald Ball Professional American Rhythm victories from 2009 through 2011. These results reflected a partnership that had evolved from theatrical presentation into sustained top-level rhythm competition.

Following their championship years, Kraev and Watson established a teaching and coaching practice in Arizona, offering private lessons, wedding-dance instruction, competitive coaching, and workshops across the Tempe, Scottsdale, Phoenix, and Gilbert area.