The Virginia Peninsula Community College ballroom dance team earned six medals at the National DCDI Ballroom competition Nov. 2-3 at the University of Maryland.
“I’m really proud of our team,” said Pam Roberts, the team’s coach and adviser. “This was such a huge competition, the first one of the season. Everyone had to move up to a new division this year.”
With more than 500 participants representing more than 20 colleges and universities, it was the largest dance competition in which this team has competed. The event was so big it was divided into two days.
Most everyone competed in the Bronze Rhythm division (American cha-cha, rumba and swing) as well as Bronze Latin Division (International cha-cha, rumba, samba, jive). The team earned two second-place finishes, one third, one fifth and one seventh.
In the Gold Latin division, the Gators had one couple, which placed fifth. Their dances consisted of International cha-cha, rumba, jive and samba. There were 24 couples in the division, much more than the usual six or eight.
The Bronze division participants were Victoria Feliciano, Sarah Fank, Zsofi Raborn and Ming Cunniff. Lawren Speight competed in the Silver division, and J.D. Ellis and Charis Hutton were in the Gold Division.
“All of the divisions were really large and very competitive,” Roberts said.
The team plans to compete in February at the University of North Carolina and in March back at the University of Maryland.