Dancing with the Stars – SAME-SEX Style

California Dreaming 2008

First time ever, World & U.S. Same Sex Ballroom & Latin Champions to compete and perform in SF Bay Area Competition & Show on Oct 18th.

On Saturday, October 18th, 2008, the Bay Area will play host to the second annual California Dreaming Same Sex Partner Dancing Competition and Dance Show at Just Dance Ballroom in Oakland. A whole day and evening of partner dancing--from sizzling rumba to Astaire Rogers foxtrot to down-home two-stepping. California Dreaming, along with its sister competition April Follies, have become the biggest same-sex dance events in North America in terms of competitors and audience participation.

Attracting some 150 same-sex dance couples from across the United States and beyond, the competition boasts events in both the International and American Ballroom Dancing disciplines (known as International Standard and Latin, and American Smooth and Rhythm), together with events in Country & Western, Night-club two step and Salsa dance styles. Spectators from all around the greater Bay Area will watch the North American Women's Standard Champions from Oakland and Men's' Latin Champions from NYC and cheer all other competitors ranging over various levels of experience.

The same-sex competition dance community in the Bay Area has grown tremendously over the last 3 years, a key milestone being Gay Games in Chicago and OutGames in Montreal in 2006. Dancers from all over the greater Bay Area are preparing to represent Northern California in the upcoming OutGames in Copenhagen, in July 2009.

California Dreaming is in its second year, following the phenomenal success of the inaugural competition last year, and its sister competition, April Follies, which has been ongoing for half a dozen years, is now home to the annual California Same Sex Dance Championships. Both these competitions are sanctioned and supported by NASSPDA, the North American Same-Sex Partner Dance Association.

Following the competition is 'Love & Marriage – our way' an evening Dance Show featuring 15 professional same-sex dance stars of international fame. Some of the highlights of the show are:

World and European Women's Same Sex Standard Champions Caroline Privou and Petra Zimmerman (Germany) will perform a full International Standard demonstration for the first time in the SF Bay Area.

North American Men's Latin Champions Jacob Jason and Willem deVries (New York) will perform a selection of International Latin dances. This will be their debut appearance as show dancers in the SF Bay Area.

3 times Canadian Champion Dale Neale be dancing with the finest Bay Area dance professionals Jeff Chandler and Heintje Soriano (originally from Philippines) .
New to the Bay Area, but winner of many European competitions Robert Tristan Szelei (Hungary) will be performing with David Estrada (USA), the reigning California Men's Latin Champion.

The evening celebrates California's recent a adoption of equal marriage rights for same-sex couples. In support of that effort, National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) Board member Kristina Militante will make a brief appearance.

Tickets for both the Show and the Competition are on-sale now at http://www.caldancechamp.com/priced at $25 and $15 respectively. This event is expected to sell out quickly so early purchase is advisable.