By Sumaiya Rizvi
Dancefest  2011 was a BLAST. I haven’t been to a more energetic and enthralling  dance competition as that. It truly lived up to its expectations. Apart  from the line up of competitions the guest performances by a Malaysian  duo and Russian dancer were outstanding. The competition was held on  Sunday night at the Galle Face Hotel Ballroom
It was a  celebration of Sri Lanka’s dancing talent in terms of Ballroom and Latin  Dance which included the Waltz, Jive, Samba, Rumba and Salsa to name a  few. The contestants were competing with the highest level of energy and  their costumes spread the essence of a Brazilian street parade. The  colour, the glamour and the dance acts were a sure treat to the  audience.
The interesting point to note was that none of the  contestants went home a loser for every contestant was placed and given a  rank in the field of competition and the much needed encouragement to  look forward to the next year. It was the best opportunity for one to  get acquainted with the many forms of Latin and Ballroom dance that is  making headway in Sri Lanka.
Dancefest boasted a ten dance  Ballroom and Latin American show performed by Malaysian Dance Champions  Bernard Lim and Natalie Tan whilst the competition featured three  categories; Ballroom, Latin and Salsa. The Ballroom and Latin categories  comprised the following events; Beginners, Pre Novices, Juveniles under  12, Juniors under 16, Seniors over 45, Novices, Pre Amateur and  Amateur. The Salsa section comprised the Novices and Open events.
The  groundbreaking introduction of Salsa to the competition saw the dancers  creating their own routine. This year's competitions saw more than 150  competitors from local dance schools showcasing their talent. Thumbs up  to ‘Footwork Events’ that organized the magnificent event.
Photos : Nisal Baduge