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.

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.