Dance competition

Stars of all five series of the BBC's famous programme Strictly Come Dancing are performing a special ballroom routine at the Gulf's very own version Dubai Can Dance. In addition to seven amateur dance couples who will perform live in front of an audience of more than 500 people, the highlight of the premiere dance competition will undoubtedly be Anton Du Beke and Erin Boag.

The competition - which will take place at the Crowne Plaza Dubai on Friday, May 23, at a formal black tie dinner and entertainment gala night - has been devised by the Transguard Group.

When competing, Anton and Erin were ranked amongst the world's top ballroom dancers and can well understand the excitement, nerves and drama that the seven couples will be experiencing.

"We are so happy that Anton and Erin are coming to Dubai as guests of Step by Step," said Kim Webb, director of Step by Step Dance School, which is training the competing couples. "It will help us to bring ballroom and Latin dancing to the forefront not just locally but to the whole of the UAE. They will perform their own cabaret act. Erin will have as many as four costume changes, while Anton entertains the crowd."

Anton and Erin will also join Kim and professional dance instructor Jackie Sweed ­as judges for the evening. The final deciders of who managed to glide through the Waltz or Cha-Cha without missing a step, however, will be the audience themselves through a special electronic voting system from Satellite.

For more information contact Mark Povey of Transguard at mark.povey@transguardgroup.net or call 04-2995774 during office hours.