Best of the East Dance Competition

Written by Kate Harner

Willimantic, CT -- Eastern Connecticut State University's student group, Men Achieving Leadership, Excellence and Success (M.A.L.E.S.) will host the Fourth Annual Best of the East Dance Competition on March 12 from 8 to 10 p.m. in the Francis E. Geissler Gymnasium. Admission is free for Eastern students. Windham-area students will be charged $5 with student ID. Outside guests will be charged $7.

The dance competition, which is co-sponsored by Hip Hop International, will feature nine dance teams from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey and Vermont. Performers also include Ricky Tan, Phunk Phenomenon, Slap Bracelets, 8 Count, Disfunctional Soules, YNot Dance Crew, Academy of Phresh, Urban Dance Alliance, We Run This and Project D Dance Company. The winning dance crew will receive $2,000 in cash. The second prize is $500, and the third is $250.  

Music will be provided by WZMX's (Hot 93.7) DJ Bigg Man. G-Money Da Prince, host of a morning talk show on the station, will emcee the event, which was attended by 1,200 guests last year.

Proceeds from the event will go toward the M.A.L.E.S. Endowed Scholarship Fund, which benefits a Windham High School student.

"We were thrilled to have raised more than $5,000 in the first year of this competition in March 2008," said Michael Pina, a M.A.L.E.S. member. "The ultimate goal is to raise $10,000 every year to continue enhancing the scholarship funds and to award a deserving student with a scholarship on an annual basis."

"Not only do we intend to provide Eastern students, Windham residents and other guests with an eventful and memorable night, but our main goal is and always will be to give a deserving high school graduate the opportunity to attend college," said Omar Rodriguez, president of M.A.L.E.S.