HKBU duo finds the perfect rhythm
A pair of Latin dancers from Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) came second in each of the three categories they entered at the fourth Hong Kong Interschool Dancesport Championships held in January.
Yu Dick-kwan and Holly Yau Sin-ting, who took part in the cha cha cha, rumba and jive, said they were excited about the results.
'We are thrilled. However, we were both out of breath after our dance,' Yau, 20, recalled.
The girls performed their three dance routines - cha cha cha, followed by the rumba and jive - non-stop in front of the judges.
Yau played the female role, while Yu acted as her male partner.
'There were more than 40 parts within the one-minute jive dance. Our bodies had to move swiftly to go along with the music,' said Yau, a Year Two humanities student.
Yu, 23, who has obtained a teaching certificate from the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, said each dance has its own difficulties.
'Cha cha cha is the most well-known type of Latin dance in Hong Kong. There are a lot of hip movements in the dance. It is easy to learn, but takes time to master,' said Yu, a Year Four physical education and recreation student.
'Smooth body movements were very important in the rumba because the song was about first-time lovers dancing together. It described how they felt being in love.'
Both dancers agreed that jive is the toughest to master.
'It is a light-hearted dance. The two partners have to be in perfect tune with each other,' Yau said.
The girls said they had to pair up because of a shortage of male Latin dancers in their age group at HKBU.
