CHA-CHA-CHA IN THE WHITSUNDAYS
For the first time since 1993 the Whitsundays will host the Great Barrier Reef Dancesport Open Championship and the Whitsunday Sailing Club is pleased to announce that Dance Masters' International has chosen the Sailing Club as a venue for this exciting event which runs from 2 – 4th September 2011.
Rarely held in a regional area, the promoters have a vision of promoting the Whitsundays with an open air marquee and the glistening Whitsunday waters as a backdrop to the glamorous dancers. Televised by WIN TV, the event will attract over 1000 visitors to the region and will include opening and closing functions and spectacular dancing competition throughout the weekend.
Dancesport is what used to be referred to as competitive Ballroom Dancing and it is now recognised by the International Olympic Committee as a sport. There are thousands of dancers registered in Australia and the organisation is part of Sports Australia. The competition is suitable for all ages and categories cover age groups from six years to over 50. Areas of specialty include Standard (traditional waltz), Latin American and New Vogue and there are a further five grades within each group. As with many of the popular dance shows on TV, it is a fantastic spectator sport as well as a wonderful pastime for many participants.
Competitors will come from all over Australia, Japan and Indonesia and bring family and friends as support and spectators. One dance school from the Gold Coast has already confirmed over 180 participants and family. Dancesport is the third most popular sport in Japan and the Australian promoters plan to hold this event in Airlie Beach annually for the next ten years. Similar events in Europe get audiences of over 35,000 so the potential economic benefit to the Whitsundays is enormous.
David Seymour, chairman of Dance Master's International Association (Qld) says, "I believe the future for this area is in event-driven tourism and we believe this should become a major event in the next few years and provide an attraction for the mainland which is not totally weather or water dependant. We are investing a lot of money on the set-up and promotion of the event and we want to form partnerships with key stakeholders and local businesses to guarantee the success and future of this Championship."
The Whitsunday Sailing Club facilities will be used for the Welcome Cocktail Party, VIP guests and media, open-air dancing for competitors and a stunning location for spectators to enjoy the weekend competition. This event fits in-between a heavy social and sporting calendar with The Whitsunday Sailing Club host and sponsor of Airlie Beach Race Week in August and the annual Fun Race on 10 September. For further information go to www.dmiaqld.org or call David Seymour on 0415 729 230 or the Whitsunday Sailing Club at www.whitsundaysailingclub.com.au.
