Putting their best foot forward for a feast of dance

GLITZ, glamour, style, elegance - any number of superlatives can be used to describe a major, five-day dancing event which began in Tralee last night.

More than 2,500 well-dressed competitors from 48 countries are taking the floor during the Celtic Classic and Irish Open Dancesport Championships, in the Brandon Hotel conference centre.

Several world champions are showing off their class with foxtrots, tangos, waltzes, quicksteps and Sambas as they display all that is best in Latin American and ballroom dancing.

The Tralee championships are fifth in the world rankings and important for picking up points for world ratings.

Dress is formal, with the men turning out in traditional tails and the women in a huge variety of colourful and stunning, jewel-encrusted costumes.

Fashion is a huge part of the occasion, with costumes costing from €2,000 upwards, according to organiser Ann Gibson.

“Some of the finest dancers in the world are here and they give spectators an opportunity to see dancing at its very best. They can be breath-taking to watch,” Ms Gibson, of Dance Masters Ireland, said.

Irish dancers form a small minority of competitors and the championships feature a form of dancing that has not yet quite caught on here.

“Many people mightn’t realise it, but dancesport is recognised as a sport by the Olympic Council. The BBC Come Dancing programme has also made some people here more interested,” Ms Gibson said.

The championships, being held in Tralee for the seventh time, will finish on Sunday.

Irish dancers Geraldine Ferns and David Roberts are thought to have a good chance of finishing close to the top in the senior two, over-45 category.