Championship Ballroom Dancing in the Heart of NYC: Manhattan Amateur Classic Dance Competition

PRLog (Press Release) - Dec 28, 2009 -
When the Manhattan Amateur Classic debuted in 1991, no one imagined that it would flourish for 20 years! In the midst of the surge in popularity of ballroom dance, as demonstrated by the hit TV shows Dancing With the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance, the MAC is back to celebrate its 20th Anniversary.

Hundreds of dancers from ages 8 to 80 will gather for a weekend of DanceSport competition in tango, waltz, cha cha, samba, swing, mambo, and much more when the Greater New York Chapter of USA Dance presents the 20th annual Manhattan Amateur Classic, from January 15 to 17, 2010. Dancers competing in this year’s event will be seeking to qualify for the USA Dance National Championships, taking place in April in Los Angeles.

"I attended the first MAC as a competitor," says Yang Chen, President of the Greater New York Chapter of USA Dance. "It is extremely gratifying, two decades later, to see not only that the MAC has continued to run year after year in New York City, one of the world's cultural capitals, but also that it has expanded to the point where some 1,000 dancers convene annually in Manhattan for a three-day weekend of exciting, high-level ballroom competition. I hope everyone comes to the MAC to celebrate our 20th anniversary with us. It is truly a milestone."

This year the MAC takes place at the Grand Ballroom at the Manhattan Center, 311 West 34th Street. Competition sessions are Friday from 3:30 pm to midnight, Saturday from 8 am to 5 pm, Saturday night from 6 pm to midnight, and Sunday from 8 am to 9 pm. (All times are approximate.)  The Friday and Saturday evening sessions will include the championship events, featuring some of the best dancers from across North America. Sunday’s session will be devoted mostly to junior and youth dancers, who represent the future of DanceSport in the U.S. The lineup of competitors will also include couples from numerous college teams and studios competing in a lively team match to be held Saturday afternoon.

The MAC has traditionally been one of the largest USA Dance-sanctioned events, and organizers are expecting approximately 1,000 dancers from across the country. Potential competitors and spectators who have never been to the MAC can get a good sense of the kind of competition it is by visiting the website at www.nyusadance.org, where they can find photos of past MACs and previous results.

Admission for spectators is $35 for Friday night, $20 Saturday during the day, $35 Saturday night, and $25 Sunday. Advanced purchase is recommended for Friday and Saturday night as the top dancers at MAC will be competing for top honors. Full-time students receive a $10 discount on admission when purchasing in advance.

For more information, please visit our web site at www.nyusadance.org.

Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/10467940/1