Over 200 creatures of cha-cha, boogie, tango and the swing will dance the night away at the graduation ball tonight following three months of classes organised by the Filipino Dance Club-Dubai (FDC).
The event, to be held at the Jumeirah Ballroom of the Crown Plaza Hotel, culminates feverish preparations by the different groups of students and the top five pairs - mentored by club's star choreographers - who will slug it out in a battle of jitterbugs.
"Dance is both a language and art, involving both the body and soul," said Gina Salazar, the group's president. "But it is also a good form exercise and socialisation. We just know how to have fun and do it the big and wholesome way."
In tonight's graduating batch, 91 are from the basic class and 120 from advance (jive) class. The club, with more than 1,000 members, is one of the numerous Filipino groups under the auspices of the Philippine Embassy, and Office of the Labour Attach.
It holds basic and advanced dance classes during weekends - for free - as a way to help Filipino workers overcome homesickness and create an atmosphere of camaraderie.
The club (there are also similar groups in Ajman, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi) is known for its extravagant graduation events held in the city's top hotels where the batch's best dancers compete against each other. Groups also compete against groups, following sleepless nights of practice.
"This is quite fun... but we do it quite seriously," said one participant. "The good ones get punished because they are asked to do more."
The elaborate outfit bought by the competing pairs exclusively for the competition may sometimes be more valuable than the prizes or electronic goods that await the top dancers.
During the event, 86 trophies will be given out to winners in different categories, including the 10 top male and female graduates. The basic class involves three-hour sessions over 10 Fridays at the Rocky's Caf, Regent Palace Hotel.
Gulf News 2003
