In the ballroom of the Hilton Colombo on the evening of Dancesport 2011, there are more sequins per square metre of fabric than you could reasonably expect to find anywhere else in Colombo. Everything dazzled – from the stage to the contestants themselves. The latter were divided into a number of categories – ranging from the beginners to the novices, from the pre-amateur to the professional – every level was represented.
While the professionals (lamentably Sri Lanka was not represented in this category) would walk away with a generous cash prize should they win, the amateurs were in it purely for the pleasure and the glory.
The most adorable were the contestants under 12. Competing in Latin and Ballroom categories they were surprisingly adept, and particularly in the Latin section brought a great deal of showmanship and energy to their moments in the spotlight.
Joining them on the floor were couples from Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, India and Hong Kong. Local participants were drawn from Sri Lanka’s leading dance schools and included representatives of El Latino, Antonio’s Dance Circle, Dance Lanka, X Arena, Sanaro, Vision Dance and Artistic Dance World. Michelle Morbier coached the young ones.
The event was essentially a showcase, with couples in each category being put onto the dance floor together where they had a few minutes only to impress the judges as they attempted to out cha-cha the competition. Several forms of dance were included, from the dramatic pasodoble to the intense tango, from the light elegance of the quickstep to the sweeping majesty of the waltz.
Judging the event were a panel of international adjudicators: Isao Nakagawa, the Vice President of World Dance Council, who addressed the gathering that night was the Chief Adjudicator. Dharshan Wijesooriya, the President of Lanka Dancesport Council and the President of National Dance Council of Sri Lanka under the World Dance Council, was the main organizer of the event.
The event was endorsed by the World Dance Council, the Asia Dance Council and the Sri Lanka Dancesport Council.
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