Competitive ballroom dancers will once again strut their stuff in Nanaimo’s for the return of the 28th annual Island Fantasy Ball.
In the two-day event, couples of all ages and abilities from across Canada, the United States, and even internationally, will dazzle spectators June 4-5 at Beban Park social centre.
President of the Nanaimo Ballroom Dance Society, Sarah Au-Yeung, will also return this year from her 2019 debut. When not competing together with partner Josh Moroz, she can also be spotted volunteering during the event.
Island Fantasy Ball, Au-Yeung said, is made possible thanks to the hundreds of volunteers who work both on the core organizing committee as well as the volunteers who work during the competition.
“There are lots of moving parts. And we’re a passionate group of dancers,” she said.
Attendees can expect to not only see the Nanaimo Ballroom Dance Society, but the UBC Dance Club and Kelowna Ballroom as well.
“The Kelowna group is bringing in the American style [of ballroom dancing] … This year we have a lot of amateur American style, which is new for us,” Au-Yeung said.
Polish National 10 Dance champions Armand Fazullin and Klaudia Iwanska will be among the top international couples battling for top honours.
On Saturday and Sunday, competitions for championships, newcomers, and students will be showcased. Although, Au-Yeung did note there will be more amateur category competitors than in previous years. The competition will host seven judges, a scrutineer and, as a sanctioned event by the governing body for amateur competitive ballroom dancing, a DanceSport B.C. representative.
While table tickets for Island Fantasy Ball have already sold out, risers tickets are still available through www.porttheatre.com.
READ MORE: Local competitive ballroom dance couple competing together for the first time
mandy.moraes@nanaimobulletin.com
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