Over 150 dancers are expected to descend on KinVillage Community Centre in Tsawwassen for the Delta Cup, a first-time ballroom dance competition, later this month.
Dancers, some of whom are making the trip from Seattle, Edmonton, Vancouver Island and the Vancouver area, will be competing in various dances under both the international and American styles. Examples include the waltz, tango, cha-cha and rumba.
The event is being organized by dance instructors and former Tsawwassen residents George and Wendy Pytlik. The husband-and-wife team is hoping to make the Delta Cup an annual occurrence.
There will be a range of skill levels, as well as age groups, taking part in the competition, which will see a total of 16 trophies awarded.
"We have some fiveyear-olds competing right up to 60-plus," says Wendy.
At each level competitors are allowed to dance a few more step patterns, George explains, noting at the open level (the highest level) they can do anything they want.
It takes years of work to get there, he adds.
The judges are marking different things at different levels, he explains.
"When they're watching the lower level dancers they're watching how good is the technique. Are they closing their feet? When are they moving? Are they on time? Things like that," he says.
"It's fun because you're seeing people who are enthused about dancing, getting into it and working hard."
Audiences at competitions can get loud as they cheer for the dancers, he says.
"It's really cool because when you have a full house, it's just great for the dancers."
The Delta Cup is set for Saturday, Oct. 17 at KinVillage Community Centre, 5430-10th Ave.
Doors open at 8:30 a.m. for the daytime session and the competition gets underway at 9:30 a.m. There is an evening session with doors at 6 p.m. and a 7 p.m. start.
There is a waiting list for tickets on the event's website, www.deltacup.dance. Pytlik expects more to become available as competitors clarify their ticket needs.
The cost is $30 for an evening ticket or $20 for a daytime ticket.
He says half the proceeds will be going to KinVillage.
The Pytliks started teaching dancing there last year. They offer a 12-week beginners program that repeats throughout the year. They also run intermediate and advanced programs.
More information about their classes can be found at www.delta.dance.
