National Dance Sport C'ships set for July

National Dance Sport C'ships set for July

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Dance Sport Championships will be
staged for the first time in the country on July 14 at the
Senayan Assembly Hall.

"By staging the event, we hope Indonesians become more
familiar with ballroom and Latin American dance and we also hope
to groom athletes to represent the country at international
events, particularly considering the International Olympic
Committee's decision to admit dance sport in the 2008 Olympics,"
Tjut Shahnaz, spokesperson of the organizers told a media
conference on Tuesday.

The organizers are expecting 75 pairs to compete in both
ballroom and Latin America events performing at junior through to
senior levels.

Ballroom dance in Indonesia had its heyday during the 1960s
when Oei Pie Eng and his wife won tournaments in Malaysia,
Singapore, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei and Australia. (yan)