Making its first trip to the Nataional Collegiate Dancesport Competition, the Claremont Colleges Ballroom Dance Company performed well enough to win the Latin Formation competition, the team’s only event. The Championships, which were part of the 2001 Ohio Star Ball in Columbus, ran the weekend of November 16-17. Every judge of the Latin Formation event–which is a tricky combination of Cha-Cha, Samba, Rumba, and Paso Doble–awarded the Claremont team a first place vote.

Twenty-seven teams took part in the championships; six teams competed in the Latin Formation final round (two teams from Arizona State placed second and third, behind Claremont). Coached by Wes Acker, the Claremont team, which accepts members from any of the 5-C colleges, has 14 members: Julia Denning PO ’02, Kathy Garcia CMC ’03, Marcus Lee PO ’03, David Lin PO ’03, Kay Lindsley SC ’05, David Niu ’03, Anjani Polit PO ’03, Brett Shapiro PO ’02, Nathan Sharp PO ’01, Emily Steele PO ’04, Keith Stevens HMC ’04, Sandy Uyekubo CMC ’04, Tracy Wang CMC ’04, and Tristan Zajonc PO ’03.

Following its performance at the Championships, the Claremont Dance Company–which incorporates a total of nearly 250 students who compete or take lessons within the 5-C company–co-hosted the inaugural Pacific Dancesport Festival this past weekend of November 30-December 2.

The PDF featured teams from USC, the University of Arizona, Caltech, and Stanford, as well as the Claremont team. Moreover, top professional and amateur dancers from all over California and other western states competed in the three day event.

"It was a lot of fun to be able to see a lot of high-level dancers perform, and to watch our team keep up with them," said Mark Hendrik-Melief PO ’05, a member of the Claremont company who volunteered at the festival. Indeed, two Claremont dancers, Denning and Zajonc competed at the champioship level.

Of course, a great feature of the PDF was the opportunity it gave many of those who are relatively new to competition dancing a chance to compete, as well. Indeed, a "Holiday Hop" was held in the Edmunds Ballroom Friday night, and hundreds of dancers graced across the floor; competitions were held at Harvey Mudd’s Linde Center on Saturday, and, finally, Sunday workshops were offered throughout the 5-C’s that gave young and old, novice and experienced the chance to learn from some of the world’s best dancers.