Puri Mas Boutique Resorts & Spa, one of the most intimate and private boutique resorts on the island of Lombok sparkled to a surreal event on Sunday 29th June with the remarkable Lombok International Dance Championships.

As part of Puri Mas Boutique Resorts & Spa “Holiday & Dance” program, a new concept of holidaying in Lombok which brings about different visitors to the island.

Mr. Marcel De Rijk Vice President of the World Dance Council, and Owner of Puri Mas Boutique Resorts & Spa invited top Professional and Amateur dancers to his peaceful boutique resort Puri Mas on the island of Lombok, just 30 minutes by flight and one and a half hours by boat from Bali, and a direct flight from Singapore.

Couples from fifteen countries, Russia, Japan, Netherlands, Brunei, China, Ukraine, Hong Kong, Italy, Malaysia, Philippines, Macau, South Korea, Poland, Thailand and Indonesia, participated in Professional and Amateur dance categories.

The couples joined a who’s who line up of 14 International Adjudicators from 10 countries to enjoy the beauty of Puri Mas Beach and Village Resorts, and take in the sights and sounds of Lombok Island, combining it with this International Dance Event.

Adjudicators included celebrated names from Norway, Mr. Espen Salberg, a three times World Champion in Latin-American Dance, Mr. Ralph Lepehne from Germany Ex World Finalist and Ms. Ratna De Rijk from the Netherlands also an Ex world finalist.

The dancers tripped the light fantastic to a sold out crowd of more than 300 visitors in the beautiful new convention centre of the Santosa Villas & Resort located in the heart of Senggigi Beach.

The Holiday & Dance event was supported by the Lombok Tourism Board, the Indonesian Ministry of Sport and Youth, the ICBD (the Indonesian Council of Ballroom Dancing), and endorsed by the World Dance Council, the international organization representing Professional Dancers.

This was the first time the competition, which is now in its third year was open to Professional couples, the highest category in dance.

Staying at the Puri Mas Boutique Resorts & Spa were the winners of the Professional Ballroom class Roberto Villa and Morena Colagreco from Italy, who are also recent finalists in the 2008 World Championships and finalists of the 2008 Blackpool British Open Championships (one of the most prestigious dance events in the world).

Also staying at the Puri Mas Boutique Resorts & Spa were the top couples from Russia, China Poland and Italy who competed against each other for the coveted Lombok Dance Award 2008 for the “Most Outstanding Couple”.

The audience were wooed once again by the theatrical display from Roberto and Morena of Italy as they danced the Tango, bringing the house down with a tremendous applause as they were chosen the winners by popular vote from the audience.

Long time visitors to Lombok Island and regular guests to Puri Mas Boutique Resorts & Spa were the winners of the Professional Latin-American category, the infamous Evgeny Ryupin and Yana Pokrovskaya from Russia. This outstanding couple, masters of Latin-American Dance were recent finalists of the European Championships 2008.

In the Amateur ballroom section the crowd were spellbound by the beauty and grace of winners Yibin Kong and Kangli Guo from China, two of the youngest competitors taking part in the championships, and also private guests of Mr. Marcel De Rijk at Puri Mas Village Resort. Marcel is personally training this young couple in their art of Ballroom Dance.

Contrasting in the Amateur Latin-American category with their speed and sharp moves were winners Przemyslaw Piotr Lowicki and Asta Sigvaldadottir from Poland. Mac and Asta as we know them are also regular guests to Lombok, and return annually to their favourite holiday destination Lombok and Puri Mas Boutique Resorts & Spa.

Indonesian couples also displayed prowess in the Pre Amateur Latin 3 Dance against Russia and Brunei. The winning couple was Frans & Diana.

Lombok dance students came into their own in the Pro/Am Latin, a category where the teacher dances with a student. Mr. Andi Prastio, assistant teacher with Marcel De Rijk, took second place with his partner Ibu Wenpin in the Cha Cha. He was placed second with his other dance partner Ibu Sumelia Oei in the Pro/Am One Dance Jive.

Many guests and dancers are now staying on in Lombok at the Puri Mas Boutique Resorts & Spa close to Senggigi Beach to enjoy a well earned holiday and rest.

Mr. Marcel De Rijk as owner of Puri Mas Boutique Resorts & Spa Lombok will continue to develop the concept of Holiday & Dance, and hopes that next year even more countries and individual travelers who have a passion for Ballroom and Latin-American Dance will visit the beautiful island of Lombok, and his tranquil boutique resort of Puri Mas.

This year Puri Mas Boutique Resorts & Spa opened gorgeous one bedroom private villas each with their own pool. The Puri Mas Ocean private villas were enjoyed by guests attending the Holiday & Dance event, giving them intimate, private accommodation beside the beautiful Puri Mas Boutique Beach Resort.

Many of the guests took advantage of the wonderful facilities offered by Puri Mas Boutique Resort, enjoying the luxury garden spa, diving and snorkeling in the Gili Islands, and climbing and trekking the amazing Mount Rinjani.

The Holiday & Dance concept of Puri Mas Boutique Resorts & Spa welcomes travellers from all over the world, who wish to combine their Lombok Holiday with Ballroom and Latina-American dance and social dancing.

It also gives guests to Puri Mas an opportunity to take private or group dance lessons with Mr. Marcel De Rijk and his assistant teacher Mr. Andi Prastio.