USA DANCE HOSTS MANHATTAN AMATEUR CLASSIC
Ballroom dancing entered mainstream media with the introduction of television shows like Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance. But ballroom dance is not just something to watch on TV. The ballroom dance community is full of competitive dancers, social dancers, and dance enthusiasts throughout the world and the Manhattan Amateur Classic, hosted by the Greater NY Chapter of USA Dance, brings competitive ballroom dance to the forefront each January. USA Dance is the United States Olympic Committee recognized National Governing Body for DanceSport in the United States. Competitive ballroom dancing is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as DanceSport.
The Manhattan Amateur Classic, known more commonly as the MAC, is back for its 24th year as one of the largest amateur ballroom dance competitions in the country. Over 1000 dancers from all over the country travel to New York City to compete at the MAC each year for this exciting three-day competition. Dancers range from the youngest in the Pre-Teen category to the most experienced in the Senior categories and dance a variety of dances including waltz, cha cha, tango, rumba, foxtrot, samba and more.
The MAC also serves as a national qualifying event for the USA Dance National DanceSport Championships which will take place in Baltimore, Maryland from March 28 to 30, 2014.
The MAC has returned this year to the Grand Ballroom at the Manhattan Center, after hosting last year’s competition at Chelsea Piers. The Manhattan Center is an iconic venue which provides an elegant and beautiful backdrop for the dancers and spectators alike. The Manhattan Center is located on 34th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues.
This year the MAC is also thrilled to be hosting the World DanceSport Federation Junior II Standard and Latin competitive events which will be sure to bring out some of the top young dancers who are on their way to take their place among the world’s top dancers in their own right. The World DanceSport Federation is the international governing body for DanceSport. Junior II is the age category for 14 and 15 year old dancers.
Yang Chen, the newly elected President of the National Chapter of USA Dance and one of the emcees at the MAC, states: "We are always excited to be hosting dancers of all ages, categories and skill levels from all across the United States to compete at MAC each year. This year that excitement is enhanced by the introduction -- for the first time -- of World DanceSport Federation events at MAC. We can't wait to see our Junior II dancers presenting world class form on the competition floor!"
The competition starts on Friday, January 17 from 9am to 6pm and is followed by the Friday night session from 7pm to 1am, the Saturday day session from 8am to 5:30pm, the Saturday night session from 6:00pm to midnight, and the Sunday day session from 8am to 9pm. (All times are approximate.)
Dancers include collegiate competitors from dance teams in some of the nation's top universities. Also, the MAC showcases many adult competitors who dedicate much of their leisure time to pursuing competitive ballroom dance as a serious avocation.
The Friday and Saturday evening sessions will include the semi finals and finals in the Adult Championship events, featuring some of the best dancers from across North America who are all vying to qualify for USA Dance Nationals where the United States world representatives to the World DanceSport Federation championships will be chosen. Preliminary rounds for the Championship events will take place during the Friday and Saturday daytime sessions.
Sunday’s session is dedicated to the junior and youth dancers which represent the future of DanceSport.
Admission for spectators is $30 for Friday matinee session, $30 for Saturday matinee session, $45 for Friday and Saturday night sessions, and $35 for all day Sunday. Limited VIP and Reserved Seating are also available.
For more information, please visit their web site at www.nyusadance.org/mac.
ABOUT USA DANCE
USA Dance Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit membership organization, is the National Governing Body for DanceSport in the United States and official member organization of the U.S. Olympic Committee and the World DanceSport Federation. With 160 local chapters, USA Dance officially represents all social and recreational ballroom and latin dancers throughout the country. The Greater New York chapter fulfills that mission in the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, Long Island and parts of New Jersey and Connecticut. For more information, please visit www.nyusadance.org.
Photo Courtesy Of: Ryan Kenner
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