KEEPING DANCERS ON TOES
THERE are “showy” dancers and then there is Martin Organ-Fletcher and Allana Hartley.
The Gold Coast couple will be one of 180 to take part in the city’s biggest livemusic dance competition at the Runaway Community Centre on Saturday.
Mr Organ-Fletcher, 31, and Ms Hartley, 28, have been together for one year and practise for nine hours a week, but this will be their first time dancing together without choreography to live music.
“We will just try and stay really classic with our choreography and look,” Ms Hartley said.
“Some people are quite showy but our plan is to keep strong and traditional.”
Dancers will spend the day showing off their best moves before finalists are selected for the Ballroom Extravaganza.
Gold Coast Classic event organiser Rhett Salmon, a professional dancer of 26 years, said he expected more than 360 competitors and another 300 spectators.
Three panels of seven professionals will judge the competition. Mr Salmon said they were from the UK, Western Australia, North Queensland, Victoria and the Gold Coast.
“We have $3500 in prize money to give away,” Mr Salmon said.
“The unique part about this is that it’s a live-music dance competition. There’s no routine.
“You can’t choose what song you want to perform to.
“You have to dance to whatever is played by the nine-piece band.”
Former Dancing with the Stars contestants Craig Monley and Sirani Argate will perform on Saturday night.
To register to compete, visit dancesport.org.au.
The Ballroom Extravaganza finals event is open to the public and starts at 6pm on Saturday. Tickets can be purchased at gold coastclassic.com.au/tickets.