The Galaxy Dance Festival's 35th Annual Ballroom Dance Competition took place recently at the Phoenix Biltmore Resort.
Competitive amateur ballroom dance partners and Ahwatukee Foothills residents Ron Smith and Pamela Gottlieb danced in the Smooth, Rhythm and Latin categories. They competed in a total of 54 dances including Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Viennese Waltz, Cha Cha, Rumba, Salsa, Samba and Paso Doble and were awarded first place in every dance. They were also awarded Top Amateur Couple.
This was their second ballroom dance competition. The first was the People's Choice Ballroom Dance Competition in May, where they were also awarded Top Amateur Couple after posting 42 first place wins for their dances.
Smith and Gottlieb have been dancing together since last November and take lessons four times a week. They are coached by Nathan Gilson, instructor/coach at Dance For Life in Ahwatukee Foothills. Gilson, a competitor in International Latin Amateur Competitive Ballroom Dance, has won numerous ballroom dance competitions as a dancer and has been dancing for over 10 years.
Dance For Life, located at the Foothills Dance Studio, 16815 S. Desert Foothills Parkway, Suite 101, is a 2,300 square-foot facility and features a "floating" maple dance floor.
Gilson offers private lessons and group lessons in ballroom dance. Group lessons are from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. every Friday and are only $15 per person, no partner required.
For details, call Nathan Gilson at (480) 293-4364.
