Video and photos by Sebastian Montes; article by Karen Kullgren

Energy and artistry lit up the stage at The Music Center at Strathmore on Monday night at the 12th annual MCPS Latin Dance Competition, with Clarksburg High School taking the evening’s two top awards ahead of Watkins Mill and defending champ Einstein.

Seven schools—Blake, Clarksburg, Einstein, Gaithersburg, Rockville, Seneca Valley and Watkins Mill—vied for trophies in six categories for couples (Cha-Cha, Merengue, Salsa, Bachata, alumni, parent-child) and two categories as a team (best in show and audience choice).

Clarksburg nabbed seven trophies, winning Best in Show and being the overwhelming favorite in the competition’s first-ever Audience Choice award, as well as:

• 1st place, Bachata
• 1st place, parent-child
• 2nd place, Salsa
• 3rd place, Merengue
• 3rd place, alumni

Einstein also claimed seven awards:

• 1st place, Cha-Cha
• 1st place, Salsa
• 1st place, alumni
• 2nd place, Merengue
• 2nd place, Bachata
• 2nd place, parent-child
• 3rd place, Best in Show

Watkins Mill took home four trophies:

• 1st place, Merengue
• 2nd place, Best in Show
• 2nd place, alumni
• 3rd place, Cha-Cha

Blake finished third in Salsa and parent-child. Gaithersburg took second in Cha-Cha, while Seneca Valley took third in Bachata.

The After School Dance Fund organizes the competition. The nonprofit’s mission is “to develop youth leadership and promote wellness, heritage and unity through Latin dance education,” according to its Website. ASDF provides artistic, technical and financial support for the establishment of after school Latin dance programs in all Montgomery County Public Schools. Anywhere from 10 to 50 students from each club participate in the annual competition, which they practice for all year, said ASDF founder and executive director Ricardo Loaiza, a native of Colombia, who has taught, choreographed and performed in more than 500 events around the world.

Earlier this year, ASDF partnered with Silver Spring-based production company HIPtv for their documentary, “The Road to Strathmore,” which centers on the lives of four students and their sponsors from two schools who competed last year.

This year's judges were Stracey Diaz (movie stuntwoman and professional dancer), Rudy Guernica (general manager of Univision DC 14), Eliot Pfanstiehl (Strathmore’s CEO), PsyiiGianni Scott (personal trainer and professional dancer), Vianette Silva (dance instructor and performer), Johnny Yataco (president and CEO of Washington Hispanic) and Douglas Yeuell (executive director of the Joy of Motion Dance Center).

The competition was sponsored this year by the Jim and Carol Trawick Foundation Inc, Verizon, Visionary Ophthalmology, The Ana G. Mendez University Systems, Amerigroup Real Solutions in Healthcare, Montgomery County Latino Health Initiative, Aldanas & Associates, House to Home Solutions, National Hispanic Communications Group, Joy of Motion Dance Center, Fiesta Travel and the TMN Corporation.