Nearly 350 students from Montgomery County public high schools participated in the 22nd Annual Latin Dance Competition on Monday at The Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda.
2022 JUNIOR CATEGORY WINNERS (schools that have participated less than four years at Strathmore)
Chacha
1. Seneca Valley
2. Damascus
Merengue
1. Seneca Valley
2. BCC
3. Springbrook
Bachata
1. Blake
2. Seneca Valley
3. Springbrook
Salsa
1. Damascus
Parent/Student
1. Damascus
2. BCC
3. Blake
Best in Show/Group
1. Blake
2. BCC
3. Rockville
2022 SENIOR CATEGORY WINNERS (schools that have participated more than four years at Strathmore)
Chacha
1. Gaithersburg
2. Einstein
3. Northwest
Merengue
1. Gaithersburg
2. Einstein
3. Northwest
Bachata
1. Gaithersburg
2. Northwood
3. Einstein
Salsa
1. Gaithersburg
2. Einstein
3. Clarksburg
Parent/Student
1. Clarksburg
2. Einstein
3. Gaithersburg
Best in Show/Group
1. Gaithersburg
2. Einstein
3. Clarksburg
The annual MCPS Latin dance competition has been taking place at the Music Center at Strathmore since 2010 and is the culmination of Montgomery County’s elite high school Latin dance program which started in 1999 at Seneca Valley High School, according to the website. The main objective is to strengthen the social emotional well being of our students and promote health, exercise, and unity through Latin dance education. Students compete in the Junior and Senior categories showcasing their choreographies in Duets/Partner: Salsa, Chacha, Merengue, Bachata, Jack and Jill, Parent/Student, and Best in Show (Group).
The MCPS Latin Dance Competition is presented every year by the non-profit organization Baila4Life. Its executive director and founder Ricardo Loaiza is a DC area Latin Dance legend. Originally from Colombia, Ricardo has been a self-taught dance educator for some of the most prestigious dance institutions in the area.
