Pattaya youth groups won two of three categories at the To Be No. 1 Dancercise eastern-regional finals in Pattaya, winning berths to the national championships in Bangkok next year.
Chonburi Deputy Gov. Phawat Lertmukda handed out awards to junior, pre-teens, and young adults at the royally sponsored competition at Central Festival Pattaya Beach Nov. 15.
Pattaya schools swept the Pre-Teen (age 10-14) category, with Pattaya School No. 8’s Hit Me Dance Crew taking first, the Sea Sky Crew from Pattaya Arunothai School placing second, and the Sea Sand Sun Team from School No. 3 placing third.
Consolation prizes went to teams from Ayutthaya and Chai Na provinces.
The Junior division winners take to the stage with judges and benefactors at the end of the event.
The independent Team Zion Dance Crew – a perpetual winner – again took first place in the 15-22 “teenage” bracket. The New Dawn Team from Siryanusorn School in Chantaburi placed second and third place went to Fida Dance School in Lopburi.
Pattaya School No. 7 and a team from Ayutthaya took consolation prizes.
The top two finishers in each bracket will compete at the national championship at The Mall in Bangkapi in Bangkok Jan. 23-24.
The only category where Pattaya students failed to quality for the nationals was the Junior (age 6-9) bracket, which was won by a kindergarten in Chai Nat. Second place went to Wat Chodtintaram Municipal School in Rayong and Team Begin Again from Pattaya School No. 3 placed third.
Established by HRH Princess Ubolratana, the To Be No. 1 Foundation aims to keep youths away from drugs through sports and public service.
Jetsada Chokedamrongsuk, director-general of the Department of Mental Health and foundation secretary, said the organization has been working for 13 years to help develop youth via activities to put their abilities to good use.
