Stage set for dancesport showdown

CEBU, Philippines — Dance athletes representing their respective schools and barangays will converge this afternoon for the Dancesport Grassroots Challenge and Cebu Schools Athletics Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) dancesport competition at the Robinsons Galleria Cebu atrium.

More than 85 couples are set to compete in the last of a nine-round circuit that began in September this year.

Dancesport-Team Cebu City head coach Crisaldo “Loloi” Rendon said the circuit was created to provide venues where aspiring athletes are given opportunities to join dancesport competitions.  The nine successive events spread within a period of three months will likewise enable current member athletes of the DTCC to hone their skills and have continuous on-site training.

The first leg was held last September 24 at the Labangon Elementary School.  The second to the seventh legs were held at the following dates and venues: September 30 at the Barangay Cogon Ramos Sports Complex, October 14 in Barangay Guadalupe, October 22 at the Mabolo Elementary School, October 28 at Pardo Sports Complex, November 11 at Tejero Sports Complex, and November 18 in Barangay Tisa. The eight leg was held in Barangay Hipodromo on November 25.

The ninth and final leg of the Dancesport Grassroots Challenge spearheaded by the Cebu City Sports Commission still features the elementary (six to 12 years old), high school (13 to 16 age group), and college (17-above) divisions.

In each leg, the competitors will compete in at most 12 categories that include the Latin, Standard, closed bronze and open routine.

The CESAFI event, on the other hand, will have the Latin and Standard category in both secondary and college levels.

Tokens, medals, trophies, and certificates will be given away to the top six couples, while those who will make up the top 12 finalists will be given slots to train under Dancesport-Team Cebu City and be part of its growing training pool. (FREEMAN)