Dancers get into the groove
at 1st Philippine Star Ball

The First Philippine StarBall held at the Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila gave dance enthusiasts a sampling of the world’s most talented amateur and professional ballroom dancers. The audience was captivated with the energy and grace of the contestants in their glitzy costumes.

The most applauded numbers were the tango, fox trot, Viennese waltz and the cha-cha. Dancers competed in several categories including amateur Latin, amateur standard, pro-am Latin, pro-am standard, professional Latin and professional standard. Participants also competed under the following divisions: Beginner, novice, junior, pre-Teen, under 21, senior divisions and hip hop.

The grand ballroom was transformed into an arena with a wooden dance floor.

he guests enjoyed a sumptuous dinner prepared by the culinary team of the Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila, starting with asparagus soup with paprika cappuccino followed by assorted fresh salad with dressing. A deliciously healthy Mediterranean-inspired main course followed with roasted chicken breast stuffed with ricotta, arugula and spinach served with green Baguio beans and mushroom shitake fricassee and rosemary jus, white snapper in lemon butter sauce with rice and a unique dessert with a local twist, caramel hazel nut mousse cake with pandan sauce.

Michaela "Pinky" Puno, chair of the organizing committee, led the awarding ceremonies with Games and Amusement Board chairman Eric Buhain, Council of United Professional Dance Teachers of the Philippines, Inc. (CUPDTP) president Jojo Cariño, CUPDTP vice president Jerswin Poloyapoy, Consul Erik Nielsen and wife Madame Dawn Nielsen of the Royal Consulate of Denmark, Madame Cosetta Fedele, US deputy chief of mission Paul Jones and his wife Catherine.