Phl couple fifth in prestigious Blackpool Olympics

MANILA, Philippines - Filipinos Rodel Espinosa and partner Marinette Alarilla advanced to the finals after five successive days of grueling elimination, eventually finishing fifth among 90 couples from around the globe in one of the best finishes by a Filipino pair in the Blackpool, the Olympics of Ballroom Dancing, at Winter Gardens in Blackpool, the UK last month.

It was the second time a Filipino had gone that far in the Senior Latin Championships, after their coach John Co and partner Edna Ledesma won the title in 2005.

Espinosa and Alarilla went through five rounds of elimination that reduced the 90-team cast to only six finalists in the category for 35 years and above on the fifth day of the nine-day competitions.

They did five compulsory routines – the cha cha cha, rumba, samba, paso doble and jive.

The couple has been competing locally and internationally but it’s their first time in Blackpool. They are among the country’s best couples in the Latin ballroom dancesport, having been the National 4-dance champions and 5-dance finalists but were a bit nervous about going to Blackpool, where the winners are considered world champions in their own category.

Blackpool gathers the world’s best dancers in international Latin and standard ballroom dancing among couples under 21 years old, adult amateur, 35 years and up and professional. Additional categories are Latin formation, standard formation and exhibition dances.