Organized by Dream Dance Co., Ltd. in Thong Nhat Ward, the one-day competition was held at the Pleiku Palace Hotel in Pleiku Ward, bringing together athletes ranging from children to middle-aged participants.
Competitors took part in a wide range of disciplines, including sports dance, hip-hop, folk dance, fitness dance, classical dance, shuffle dance and modern dance. A total of 494 sets of medals were awarded across different categories and age groups.
The competition created a vibrant atmosphere as athletes demonstrated their technical skills and performance abilities across the various dance styles.
Gia Lai fielded 250 athletes from 11 clubs. Their performances reflected extensive preparation, with athletes delivering confident routines and demonstrating strong technical ability.
Among them, Le Nguyen Huong Giang, born in 2011 and a member of Dream Dance Club in Thong Nhat Ward, won first place in the junior 2 solo five-dance standard category.
“I have been training in sports dance since second grade at Dream Dance Club. To date, I have competed in many domestic and international tournaments,” Huong Giang said.
“Achieving a top result at this event makes me very happy, especially with the support from my teachers, friends and family. I will continue to work hard, improve my technique and strive to become an excellent dancer, achieving more for myself and my club,” she added.
Dream Dance Chu Se Club in Chu Se Commune also made a strong showing. Its 30 athletes competed in several categories, earning first prize in the children’s group sports dance performance and third prize in the middle-aged group performance.
The club also received the overall first prize for its contribution to the development of sports dance, in addition to numerous individual awards.
“This is a large-scale tournament, bringing together many strong teams and a wide range of events,” said Tran Thi Oanh, a coach at Dream Dance Chu Se Club.
“To achieve these results, our athletes trained hard for a long time. We hope there will be more annual and similar competitions so that the children can interact, learn, improve and develop a stronger pool of high-level athletes,” she said.
Sports dance remains a relatively new discipline in Gia Lai. Its development began in 2018, when the province held its first sports dance championship.
A major milestone came at the 2022 National Sports Games, when the Thong Nhat Ward duo of Tran Nam Dung and Le Phuong Thao won a silver medal in the Standard Tango category, giving Gia Lai its first sports dance medal.
Since then, the movement has continued to expand, with more clubs established and participation increasing. The annual Gia Lai Provincial Sports Dance and Entertainment Championship has also helped promote the discipline among the wider community.
The province now has more than 10 sports dance clubs, with about 400 athletes regularly training.
Hoang Thu Trang, an international sports dance judge and member of the Vietnam Sports Dance Council who has followed the movement in Gia Lai since its early development, said she was encouraged by the progress of both athletes and coaches.
“I am delighted to see the sports dance movement in Gia Lai developing so strongly, with clear improvements in the expertise of both athletes and coaches,” Trang said.
She noted that young athletes in Gia Lai had continued to achieve results, following previous generations who had won medals at national competitions.
“This is a positive sign, reflecting the right direction in local training and development efforts,” she said.
Trang said sports dance could improve physical fitness while contributing to practitioners’ physical and personal development. She emphasized the importance of developing local athletes, organizing competitions and expanding access to the sport, particularly in schools.
“Support from local authorities, the sports sector and families is essential to motivate young people to pursue sports dance,” she added.
Tran Nam Dung, head of the organizing committee and director of Dream Dance Co., Ltd., said organizing this year’s tournament had been more challenging because it took place following the recent provincial merger.
The difficulties in gathering teams also raised the standard for the event, he said. Despite those challenges, participation exceeded expectations, with teams arriving from numerous provinces and cities.
Dung said the strong turnout was a positive indication for continuing the tournament annually, providing a competitive platform for athletes and supporting the future development of sports dance.
The event also helped identify talented athletes with the potential for further training and future achievements.
