With the winter quarter well underway, our dancers visited Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo for their annual Mustang Ball competition. In the first competition of the new year, our dancers made a great showing at all levels!

After a full day of traveling the hills of California, the dancers rose with the sun to get started on competing in Standard on Saturday. In the newcomer category, Michaelangelo Sansano and Julia Svajda placed third in Quickstep, and second in both Tango and Waltz. For our bronze category, Karsten West and Mars Bau placed first in Foxtrot, second in Quickstep, third in Tango, and fifth in Waltz. In the Silver category, Karsten West and Mars Bau also placed sixth in Foxtrot and Tango, and seventh in Quickstep, while Alexander Tahan and Persephone Ballatore tied for fourth place in Quickstep and placed fourth in Viennese Waltz. 

Moving onto the Latin category, our team swept the board. Starting with Newcomer, Julia leading Lyssa Lashus placed first in Cha Cha, and second in both Rumba and Samba. In the Bronze category, the pair also placed eighth in Rumba, seventh in Jive, and fifth in Rumba and Samba. Pair Chloe Care and Ebone Brower placed sixth in Jive. Couple Cole Spencer and Cadie Sparks placed fifth in the Paso Doble. Our star Latin couple, Brandon Torres and Yeya Corona, placed first in Cha Cha, Rumba, and Jive, as well as Second in Paso Doble, being beaten only by Karsten West and Mars Bau, who also placed third in Rumba and second is Paso Doble. In the silver Category, Brandon and Yeya placed first in all dances except Paso Doble, where they placed fourth! Alexander and Persephone placed third in Samba, fourth in Rumba, and seventh in Jive. Toby Anderson and Marina Kenat placed fifth in Cha Cha, and sixth in Rumba, Samba, and Jive. Gold couple David Mazzotti and Catalina Larsen placed sixth in the combined Cha Cha and Rumba dances. 

Moving into the next category, many of our dancers enjoyed themselves in the Nightclub. Julia Svajda and Lyssa Lashus placed fifth in 2-step, third in beginner Salsa, West Coast Swing, Bachata and Merengue, and sixth in beginner Hustle. Chloe and Karsten placed third in beginner Merengue, fifth in Hustle, and fourth in beginner Salsa, followed by Rodrigo Tortoledo with Hanna Wei in fifth in Salsa and sixth in Bachata. Cadie leading Hanna placed fourth in West Coast swing and eighth in beginner Hustle. Mars leading Naomika Nadkarni placed second in beginner Hustle and fifth in Lindy Hop. Naomika and Cadie placed first in Blues, fourth in 2-step, and fifth in Bachata. Toby and Cadie placed first in the Polka. Brandon and Yeya placed first in Merengue, second in advanced Salsa, and second in Advanced Bachata.

At the end of the night, we had several dancers compete in the Open events. Jesse Ren and Blanca Martin placed first in the Novice Latin category, and Catalina and David placed first in the Novice Paso Doble.

After a good night's rest, our dancers prepared for the Smooth category. In the newcomer division, Michaelangelo and Julia placed first in Foxtrot, second in Tango, and third in Waltz. Moving onto the Bronze category, Karsten and Mars placed second in Tango and V. Waltz. Cole and Cadie placed fifth in Foxtrot and V. Waltz. Michaelangelo and Julia placed seventh in V. Waltz. Onto silver, Cole, and Cadie placed sixth in V. Waltz. Karsten and Mars placed eighth in V. Waltz and third in Tango. Alexander and Persephone placed second in Foxtrot and sixth in Waltz. Moving into gold, Alexander and Persephone placed sixth in both the Tango and V. Waltz, as well as seventh in the combined Foxtrot and Waltz.

At the end of the second day, and the competition, Rhythm was a challenge, but our dancers faced it without fear. Cadie leading Naomika, our resident Rhythm dancers, placed third in Bolero and Cha Cha, and fourth in Mambo, Rumba, and Swing in the Bronze category. They placed fifth in Bolero and Sixth in Mambo silver.

The two-day competition was a long one, but the rewards were reaped from the long hours our dancers put into honing their craft!