Move they did!

By Marisa de Silva. Pix by Saman Kariyawasam.

The night was a kaleidoscope of colour, glitz and glamour, the atmosphere electric, with an overwhelming sense of expectation in the air! The Mobitel International DanceSport Championships 2007, held last Sunday (June 10) at the Hilton Colombo, was not only a platform for the many talented up and coming local dancers but, also for contestants from seven other countries across Asia.

DanceSport kick started with a dazzling opening act featuring some of the local dancers (a mix of competitors and non-competitors) dressed in an assortment of glamorous costumes and head-gear! They shook their hips and moved their feet to the rhythmic Latin beats, giving the audience a sneak preview of what was to come!

The dancers, both local and foreign displayed an abundance of confidence, charisma and especially stamina as many of them competed in events back-to-back. Gliding across the dance floor with so much ease, they managed to cover up the minor hiccups caused by the lack of space at times, with grace and flair.

What’s more, the competitors exhibited a true spirit of sportsmanship in the face of both victory and defeat. The enthusiasm and energy levels generated amongst the contestants seemed to be quite contagious, trickling down from the oldest competitor, right down to the youngest!

Arun Dias Bandaranaike, the compere for the evening, kept the audience entertained with his numerous jokes and anecdotes.

However, the highlight of the evening was the grand finale, an exhibition dance performance by four-time B.D.F Award for Outstanding Performance in Latin (1993, ‘95, ‘97 and ‘98) winning couple, Jukka Haapalainen and Sirpa Suutari from Finland. Having performed the Tango, Rhumba, Samba, Jive and Cha, Cha, Cha, they kept the audience spellbound with their smooth moves, flashy costumes, slick manoeuvres, precise timing and amazing synchrony!

All in all, a night like no other! Kudos to the ‘movers’.