Dancing Team Attends National Competition

The Fairmont State ballroom dancing team participated in the 2006 National Collegiate DanceSport Championships held on Nov. 18 and 19 in the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. Reflecting the increased national interest in the sport, the competition included a record number of 850 student dancers from 60 participating institutions.

The Fairmont State team consisted of Captain Mariko Tsuruta and Jacqueline Albright, dancing at the bronze level, and Willa Brown, dancing at the newcomer level. Competing at the newcomer level of American smooth, Albright (leader) and Brown entered the waltz, tango and foxtrot, reaching the quarter final in the foxtrot. At the newcomer level, Tsuruta (leader) and Irene Yiu of the University of Pennsylvania danced the cha cha, rumba and swing of American rhythm reaching fourth place in the final round of the rumba.

Competing at the bronze level, Eric Weinberg of Rutgers and Albright danced the waltz, tango and foxtrot of American smooth and reached the quarter final round in the waltz and tango. Doug Manley of the University of Delaware and Tsuruta competed in the Viennese waltz of American smooth where they attained the quarter final round. Tsuruta (leader) and Albright competed in the waltz and quick step of the international standard.

On Saturday night the students watched the finals of the professional dancers' competition of the Ohio Star Ball, a program televised by the Public Television System and viewed nationally during the month of February.