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)