MIDTOWN — The annual Manhattan Amateur Class (MAC) drew more than 1,100 ballroom dancers desperate to wow judges on the first day of the prestigious competition that will send the lucky winners to the national championships.
“People are flying from many time zones to be here and we’re very excited to host them this weekend,” said Yang Chen, the president of New York Chapter of USA Dance Inc and organizer of the Manhattan Amateur Classic.
The competition itself has transformed significantly since the first time Chen participated as a competitor more than 20 years ago, becoming one of the most important competitions in the nation and now needing three days in order to get through all the competitors.
“Twenty years ago when I participated as a competitor, we could do the MAC in one day,” said Chen. “I don’t know if we had 200 competitors in the first time.”
In the practice room, Hirofumi Sakamoto, 50 and his partner Benita Iparraguirre, 18, were trying to synchronize their rumba sequence.
“We heard of the competition just last week and we have just practiced couple of days,” said Sakamoto, a member of the Lovin’Life Ballroom in New York. “We’re excited with this event."
Winners of the MAC 2012, which will continue until Sunday, will compete in the national championship in Baltimore by the end of March.
