Transguard sponsors a dance competition

The search is on for up to a dozen couples with no formal dance experience to team up with professional choreographers to learn the grace, timing and entertainment of ballroom dancing from the Tango to the Pase Doble.

After eight weeks of intensive training, they will shimmy and twirl their way through a demanding competition in a dance-off in front of a live, voting audience to discover Dubai's answer to Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

The Dubai Can Dance competition - which will take place on Saturday 19th April 2008 at a spectacular formal black tie dinner and entertainment gala night - has been devised by the Transguard Group, the company responsible for the highly successful White Collar Boxing events in Dubai.

Loosely modeled on the TV shows Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing with the Stars, Dubai Can Dance competitors will also receive the individual attention of a team of makeover stylists to ensure they look their best on the night as they demonstrate their fancy footwork.

Training starts next month with a mix of general classes and private lessons for the competing couples who will learn a series of individually choreographed routines.

Competing couples will be coached in a series of dance disciplines which could include the hot and spicy Salsa; the expressive and staccato action Tango; the sedate and formal Waltz; the gliding Foxtrot; the swinging shimmy of the Quickstep; the Rumba, the dance of love; the rock 'n' roll Jive; the Pase Doble gypsy dance; and the classic Latin Cha Cha.

Dubai Can Dance organiser Mark Povey said: "This is a fun event with lots of the glamour and the magic of ballroom dancing. We will have professional judges to comment on the performance of the dancers but, ultimately, it will be the audience of gala night guests who will be voting for the winners.

"So that everyone who attends gets the chance to take part, at the end of the evening all guests will have the opportunity to glide across the dance floor to compete for spot prizes."