When it comes to dancing, Tauranga tops Auckland according to the results of the Le Bop Tauranga Modern Jive Dance Off.
Tauranga dancers won 11 of the 13 first places up for grabs at the competition held at Otumoetai College Performing Arts Centre on Saturday, October 31.

It's getting hot in here - the Otumoetai College Performing Arts Centre's stage was alive with smooth moves of modern jive dancers on Saturday.

There were six main categories in the competition: Dance with a Stranger, Freestyle; where couples dance to

Tauranga's Kerry Gainfort and Ray Murray took second place in the advanced freestyle section with stunning moves like this.

randomly selected music, Girls versus Boys, Showcases; where couples danced a choreographed routine to a pre-chosen piece of music, Team Routines and Cabaret, which allowed competitors to demonstrate other dance forms.
Dance with a Stranger and Freestyle categories included sections for beginners, intermediate and advanced dancers.

Results:
Dance with a Stranger
Beginners Ladies = 1st Robyn Shelton, Tauranga; 2nd Rhea Shears, Auckland.
Beginner Guys = 1st Barry Bullen, Tauranga.
Intermediate Ladies = 1st Jude Devantier, Tauranga; 2nd Andy Bennett, Tauranga; 3rd Karen Reeves, Tauranga.
Intermediate Guys = 1st Avinash Perera, Tauranga; 2nd Derek DeVries, Tauranga; 3rd Don West, Tauranga.
Advanced Ladies = 1st Mia Lozano, Auckland; 2nd Sarah Morrison, Tauranga; 3rd Brynja Bell, Tauranga.
Advanced Guys = Brett Fairweather, Tauranga; 2nd Xan Guinness, Tauranga; 3rd Peter Prescott, Auckland.

Footwork like this impressed the judges in the freestyle finals.

Freestyle
Beginners = 1st Robyn Skelton and Barry Bullen, Tauranga; 2nd Shaun Armstrong, Tauranga; 3rd Shantini Oorjitham and Michael McCurran, Tauranga.
Intermediate = 1st Karen Reeves and Dirk DeVries, Tauranga; 2nd Jude Devantier and DonWest, Tauranga.
Advanced = 1st Sarah Morrison and Xan Guinness, Tauranga; 2nd Kerry Gainfort and Ray Murray, Tauranga; 3rd Mia Lozano and Joe Chang, Auckland.

Girls versus Boys
1st Sarah Morrison and Brynja Bell, Tauranga; 2nd Dana Tanuvasa and Kaori Murray, Auckland; 3rd Paul Tanuvasa and Joe Chang, Auckland.

Showcases
1st Sarah Morrison and Brett Benseman, Tauranga.
2nd Tiffany and James (Marysia Depczynski and Peter Prescott) Auckland; 3rd Kerry Gainfort and Ray Murray, Tauranga.
Team Routines
1st Auckland - Love is King, 2nd Team Tauranga - The Pink Panther.

Cabaret
1st The Wannabies - Grease lightning, Tauranga; 2nd Marysia Depczynski—Bollywood, Auckland.

Most Fun Couple
Kerry Gainfort and Ray Murray, Tauranga.

Best Dressed Lady
Marysia Depczynski, Auckland.
Best Dressed Male
Brett Benseman, Tauranga.
The Spirit of Le Bop Trophy
Brett Fairweather, Tauranga.