Dance Team Makes Strong Showing at Competition

SAN JOSE-A contingent of the UC Berkeley Ballroom Dancers had a successful run in a national competition that ended Sunday, taking home multiple top honors including two first-place finishes.

The eight members-in four couples-of the university's ballroom dance team competed in many events over the course of the three-day USA DanceSport National Championships at the San Jose Civic Auditorium, which began Friday.

"We've done really well against some really good people," said sophomore Sharla Roberts, the team captain and a finalist in three events with partner sophomore Daniel Frank.

The UC Berkeley students competed in a variety of standard and Latin dances with numerous other couples from around the country, finishing in the top six in at least eight events.

Team members sophomore David Shis and alumna Diana Lee stood out, getting first place nods in the Adult Gold Latin and Adult Silver Latin.

The other competitors can be very intimidating because many have been dancing on the competitive level for much of their lives, said Roberts, who started as a freshman.

"You're out there with a lot of amazing couples," Roberts said.

Preparation for the competition was also intensive and included professional instruction. Roberts herself spent the past two weeks practicing daily.

But fundamentally, Roberts said, "dancing in general is a fun thing to do."

While the DanceSport National Championships was judged on the basis of individual couples, the team is tightly knit and offers a support structure and a great group of friends, Roberts said.

UC Berkeley Ballroom Dancers was founded in 1957 and offers instruction and dance events for students of all levels.

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