NSW delegates Gerry Garcia and Shirley have been crowned for the seventh time as champion dancers in the Latin Open competition.

Philippine delegates to the NCDC Charles Lagara and Ronnie Vergara flanked by the writer (right) and Ofelia Kasilag. Charles and Ronnie, first place in Latin last year, placed fifth in the recent dance fest.

NSW delegates Gerry Garcia and Shirley Law (holding their championship trophies), first place in Latin Open competition for the last seven years, with the writer, Ofelia and Shirley’s friends, Gladwyn and Malou.

*** Reports and photos by Neria N. Soliman JP CMC. Neria is a community leader and a regular contributor of The Filipino Australian.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5oA-xXK8eI

Samantha and Josh no 35 Samantha Cruz is in pink and long ponytale with pink ribbon. Came up 1st Angelique and Glenn no 44 seen towards the end of video.

One can only mesmerize on the exotic varied moves, the lavish and creative gears of the competitors.

Adjudicators with Media Team. L-R: Leanne Bampton, Neria Soliman, Neale Byrnes, Ofelia Kasilag

2009 is yet another year of marathon dancing, hot and dazzling dancesport competitions all over Australia to showcase the creamiest of the cream in the dance arena.

One can only mesmerize on the exotic varied moves, the lavish and creative gears of the competitors. This year’s East Coast Classic Championship, held at Rosehill Grand Pavillon last 25 October, was sponsored by Etienne Lawyers of Sydney. This is a yearly event organised by the prestigious ADS (Australian Dancing Society) participated by ballroom dancer-competitors from Sydney and other capital cities of Australia.

Once again the Filipino Australians cannot be outdone in this intramural of dance competition. Gerry Garcia, a Filipino resident of Sydney who is one of the creamiest male competitors and his partner, Shirley Law who are known as the undefeated dancing couple in the Latin category was again 1st place in the Master 1 & 11 Open.

Another visible and dynamic Filipino competitor, Rommel Catap and his partner, Nora Chen got into the tough final competition placed 5th among the 6 couple finalists. Brian Lorenz Babon, a brilliant Filipino dancer doing bridging course in Sydney got the trophy for Adult Level 4 Latin American with his Australian partner, Michelle Geale.

Popular Filipino lady competitor Vilma Enriquez- Smith and her partner Joey Simeon, another Filipino dancer to reckon with, placed first in Latin Masters 1 & 11 Level 3. Vilma and her husband, Neil Smith came 3rd in the New Vogue.

The Filipino contingent is proud to have very promising Juvenile and Junior competitors with Samantha Cruz, Angelique Aguas and Glen Gaspi in their group.Samantha and her partner Josh 0’ Grady got 1st in Level 2&3 Latin and 2nd in the New Vogue Finals. Glen and Angelique were 1st in Junior New Vogue Level 1&2 and 3rd in Standard Ballroom.

Brian Lorenz Babon and Michelle Geale, winners of Adult Level 4 Latin, Vilma Enriquez Smith and Joey Simeon, winners of Masters1 & 2 Level 3 Latin

Seemingly each competition is unique in itself and carries a flair of passion all its own. There is no boring moment. You only have to appreciate dance as an art which expresses emotion, sets a mood and tells a story. A story is told indeed in every dance. History tells of Isadora Duncan, the free spirited woman of the 1900’s who pioneered modern dance when she performed with her feet bare and her garments loose fitting to allow her freedom of movements. She allowed no background scenery lest it stole the spectators’ attention. Oh yes, when one emotes thru creative body moves it’s just like concocting a recipe with exquisite flair.

ADS officials with Media Team. L-R: Ian Hayes, Ofelia Kasilag, Neria Soliman, Melinda Hayes, Shirley and Barry Wall

Organisers, Ian and Melinda Hayes lined up a strong panel of adjudicators including Mr. Alan Shingler of United Kingdom. Chairman of adjudicators was the vivacious Shirley Wall who is the ADS secretary of the state and husband Barry the newly elected ADS President NSW Branch.

The coming competition dates for 2010 are as follows:

• Sunday, 16th May -> City of Sydney Dancerama at Hall of Legends, Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre, Homebush
• Sunday 8th August -> Australian & Jazz Ballet Championship at Hall of Legends, Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre, Homebush
• Sunday 12th September -> Grand Prix, Hall of Legends, Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre, Homebush
• Sunday 7th November -> East Coast Classic Championship

Shirley Law and Gerry Garcia, winners of Masters1 Latin Open, and Nora Chen and Rommel Catap, who came 5th.

Angelique Aguas, Glenn Gaspi and Josh O’Grady and Samatha Cruz – Junior competitors

The 2-day dancesport championship yet again saw the participation of dance enthusiasts and competitors including Filipinos who showcased their dancing prowess.

The undefeatable Gerry Garcia and his long time Malaysian partner, Shirley Law once again garnered 1st in the Master 1 Latin American Open in all the 5 categories, Samba, Rumba, cha cha cha, Paso Doble and Jive.

Multi-talented Brian Lorenz Babon who has brought pride to the Filipino community with his singing awards was 1st place in Adult Latin American Level 3 with his partner Michelle Geale. This winning elevated them to Level 4. The vibrant and promising young Filipino dancers, Angelique Aguas, Glen Gaspi and Samantha Cruz all got into the Final Rounds in the Junior category competitions.

Filipino Dance Enthusiasts with Dance Champions from L to R - Albert Dimarucut, Oliver Pineda, Aric Yegudkin, Ofelia Kasilag, Michael Glikman, Neria Soliman, Arlene Howe

Mr Craig Wilson, CEO of the Federal Association and Producer of the event, was proud to mention in his welcome message that the entries for this year surpassed the recent years and saw an increase of over 140 dances taking the entries to more than 800 dancers from every state of Australia and from countries as far as Japan, New Zealand, Indonesia, Hong Kong, China and the United States of America.

FATD President Ms Penny de Kauwe in her message also uplifted the image of the association by mentioning the Federal Association as the longest established dance teachers association in the Southern Hemisphere, having been established in 1931 and has a long history of excellence. The yearly South Pacific Championships is an important part of the tradition.

The evening showtime intermission featured the ‘String of Fires’, consisting of violinist Trio and a Fire Magician.

As a journalist covering this yearly event, I noticed the ‘face lift’ in the evening proceeding which started a year ago is now part of the formality which enhanced the grandioseness of the event. The entire cast of competitors who made it to the finals paraded in the stage to the welcoming applause of the audience. As well, the prestigious adjudicators from all parts of Australia were proudly and decorously introduced. Friends of the Neria and Ofelia’s Danz Gig, Neale Byrnes, one of the office bearers of the FATD as Councillor and wife Nicole, and Alex Schembri, Paul Green, Margaret Reeve, Julie Shembri, Ian and Melinda Hayes and Tony Gauci were adjudicators along with Mark Wilson, Leeane Bampton and Helen Richey of the TV Dancing with the Stars in the 2-day dance tournament. Robert Steele, the well loved advisory consultant of the association, presented the awards to the event’s top winners.

At the end of the show, l took time to interview the 1st place winner of the Master 11 Standard Ballroom Level 4 who came all the way from Shianghai China, Jack Xin Yu Wang and Cora Shuckuji Hayashi. Cora who is actually a Japanese but resides in China due to her business was proud to mention that she and dance partner Jack have been competing worldwide, Canada, USA, Korea, Taipei and Manila.

The coming events of the FATD are as follows:

Sydney Olympic Park Dancesport Fiesta – 6 December 2009 and 27 November 2010

Atutumn Festival – 11 April 2010 at Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush Bay

National Capital Dancesport Championship – 25-27 June 2010 at AIS Canberra

Crown Championship – 18 April 2010 at Crown Casino Melbourne

Winter Festival – 18TH July 2010 at Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush Bay

South Pacific Dancesport Championship – 2-3 Ocotber 2010 Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre Darling Harbour.

*** Neria N. Soliman JP CMC is a community leader and a regular contributor of The Filipino Australian.

FATD Official and Adjudicators with the Media Team – L to R - Craig Wilson, Neria Soliman, Mark Wilson, Ofelia Kasilag, Neale Byrnes

Adult Latin Level 3 Winner Brian Lorenz Babon with coach, Neale Byrnes, and partner, Michelle Geale

Masters 1 Latin Champions - Gerry Garcia and Shirley Law

Junior Filipino Dancers - Samantha Cruz with partner, Josh O’Grady, and Angelique Aguas with Glenn Gaspi

Neria Soliman, Bob Steele, Ofelia Kasilag

Hot Mamaz cast and crew in September 2007 launch

Australia’s Leukemia Foundation will benefit from the Hot Mamaz’s fund-raising event, “Dance for a Cause,” tonight.

The charity event, a dinner-dance affair, is to be staged at the Concord RSL Club in cooperation with the Philippine Community Council of NSW.

The dance program will comprise a mixture of public dancing of varying styles, from Latin American to swing, jive, ballroom, and new vogue, according Hot Mamaz president Arlene Howe.

”Halfway through the night, we will be showcasing roughly a 20 minute dance exhibition,” Ms Howe said.

Performing dance routines will be Violy and Brian (Rumba), Samantha and Josh (Jive), Shirley and Jerry (Samba), Vilma and Neale (Modern Medley), Liza and Michael (Cha Cha), Michelle and Elmer (Rumba).

The program will also feature a Hot Mamaz Sing-A-Long Dance presentation with Ms Howe, Sheila Collantes, Neria Soliman, Vi Bryant, Michelle Vallejo, Angel Laney, Bernadine Williams, Vilma Enriquez-Smith, Nonna Aguas and Luzette Saez.

The night will be capped by a raffle for lots of prizes.

”We will be celebrating and congratulating many families for the courage they have shown as their loved ones suffered from leukemia,” Ms Howe said.

”Our fund-raising event is to show that we, the Hot Mamaz, and the people who are supporting our cause on the night do care for those who are sad and in pain.

”Our objective is to show that we support each patient’s fight to live and be able to continuously raise more funds to help our nominated charities.”

By coincidence, Mothers’ Day is tomorrow, Sunday, 10 May.

”With the Hot Mamaz being all mothers, the timing comes perfect. Our celebration is a great occasion for the Hot Mamaz and the rest of the mothers to shine, celebrate, make a difference and bond with each other.”

Hot Mamaz is a Sydney-based, vibrant group of married and widowed women whose passion in life is fashion, friends, fun and fund-raising. Outside Hot Mamaz, the group members are professional models, choreographers, dancers, business executives, lawyers, writers, educators, and housewives.

Hot Mamaz launched in September last year with a fashion parade at St Marys.