The elegant Viennese, the sensual Salsa, Cha cha and Rumba and breathtaking Jive…these dance styles coloured this year’s Dancefest competition too as some 48 couples took the floor, vying for the honours at the Galle Face Hotel ballroom last Sunday.
The evening commenced with a parade of the glamorous contestants in their slinky ballroom and Latin dance costumes. The first to hit the dance floor was the Salsa competition. Interestingly, this event was somewhat different from the rest of the items where each couple came on the dance floor individually to present their choreographed Salsa act. Their fiery salsa steps with amazing hip moves, sharp twists and turns kept the audience spell bound.
When the floor was open for the Ballroom session, the audience was treated to the Waltz, Quick step and Viennese styles performed in admirable rhythm and technique. A new addition to the show was the Viennese waltz competition which was open to the audience.
The junior Latin and Ballroom event, is gathering momentum every year with a large number of talented youngsters taking part in the competition. The highlight of this year’s Dancefest was the 10 Dance Latin and Ballroom performances by Malaysian champions Bernard Lim and Natalie Tan who went through a dazzling array of dance moves, changing costumes to suit each dance style. The belly dance performance- ‘Petals of Fire’ and the Indian fusion dance performance by the Russian dancer Christina Vlasova also enhanced the evening’s enjoyment.
The Latin dance competition segment featuring the Jive, Cha cha, Samba and Rumba saw the contestants in an energetic and lively mood.
The show was concluded with the awards ceremony. The panel of judges comprised Stevan Han, Belman Salihovic, Antonio Fernandez, Shiromi Perera and Langston Comester. The Sunday Times and Daily Mirror were print media sponsors for the event.
Winners at Dancefest 2011:
Novices Salsa
1st place- Thamara Dananjaya and Kavindi Pathirage
2nd place – Dhanushka Prasad and Shanika Madushani
3rd place - Kashi Gaya Suraweera and Devni Nevindee
Open Salsa
1st place – Chamara Sandakelum and Harshini Perera
2nd place – Shahan Fernando and Ann Fernando
3rd place – Chathura Lakshika and Mathishani Dissanayake
Beginners Waltz
1st place – Thusitha Habarakkada and Nimesha Edirisinghe
2nd place – Suranjith Rathnayake and Madupali Premathunga
3rd place – Sadun De Silva and Asanthi Perera
Pre Novices
1st place - Thusitha Habarakkada and Nimesha Edirisinghe
2nd place - Suranjith Rathnayake and Madupali Premathunga
3rd place - Sadun De Silva and Asanthi Perera
Juniors Standard
1st place – Damien Perera and Melisa Algama
2nd place – Joshua Fernandez and Trisha Fernandez
3rd place – Aston Peter and Malathi Wijetunge
Open Viennese Waltz
1st place- Prabash Wanigatunga and Tharini Navaratne
2nd place – Suranjith Ratnayake and Madupali Prematunga
3rd place- Kalpa Navaratne and Nuari Samarasinghe
Beginners Jive
1st place- Thamara Dananjaya and Kavindi Pathirage
2nd place – Sasiranga de Silva and Manori Perukanda
3rd place- J.M.D.H Roshan and Udayangi Nadeeshani
Pre novices Latin American
1st place- Chamara Sandakelum and Hashini Perera
2nd place - Thamara Dananjaya and Kavindi Pathirage
3rd place- Sasiranga de Silva and Manori Perukanda
Juniors Latin
1st place- Damien Perera and Melisa Algama
2nd place – Tharindu Abeywardena and Sithmini Liyanapathirana
3rd place- Navindu Perera and Vishvi Wijetunga
Novices Latin American
1st place- Chamara Sandakelum and Hashini Perera
2nd place - Thusitha Habarakada and Nimesha Edirisinghe
3rd place – Chatura Sampath and Sashila Perera
Pre Amateur Latin
1st place- Chandima Siriwardane and Shevani Nanayakkara
2nd place- Thusitha Habarakkada and Nimesha Edirisinghe. |
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