COE News

The NMSU DanceSport competitive team will be sending team members to the USA Dance 2011 Championship in Baltimore in April

For the first time, the New Mexico State University Dance Program ballroom dancers have qualified to compete in a national event. The NMSU DanceSport competitive team will be sending team members to the USA Dance 2011 National DanceSport Championship in Baltimore the weekend of April 8. Two couples advanced to nationals on Feb. 19 when they competed in the regional qualifier at the Phoenix DanceSport Challenge. In Bronze International Latin (Cha-Cha & Rumba), Luciano Orozco and Perla Castillo won first place. First place in Smooth Bronze (Waltz & Foxtrot) was Jonathan Neiser and Ariel Freilich; this couple also won second place in Silver Smooth (Waltz, Foxtrot and Tango).

Other medaling NMSU DanceSport couples included Robert Zimmerman and Freilich in Bronze and Silver Standard (Waltz, Foxtrot and Quickstep). Leonard Thurman and Danee Gerbitz placed in Bronze and Silver Rhythm (Cha-Cha, Rumba and East Coast Swing); and Miles Mojica-Freeland and Amber Brockman in Bronze Rhythm (Cha-Cha & Rumba).

The community has an opportunity to see several of these talented dancers perform with local celebrities in the upcoming ballroom competition, "Look Who's Dancing", held at the Pan American Center at 7 p.m. April 16. For information, contact the NMSU dance office at (575) 646-2070.