Leslie Valencia, franchisee of the Saratoga Arthur Murray (75 Woodlawn Ave., Saratoga Springs), took seven students to the Mohegan Sun Casino and Resort for a competition and two couples and a young newcomer took home trophies for their respective levels.

She said this was the first time students from the Saratoga studio took part in this competition, which drew about 500 people.

Mike and Pat Thomas of Ballston Spa won for best newcomer couple and top showcase for their swing routine. The couple competed in 12 heats, where random songs are played in each genre of music and couples have to dance their routine to.

Pat said they received first place in 11 of 12 routines. This was their first competition, but danced in showcases locally and a fundraiser showcase in October.

Pat said the hardest part was doing the showcases one night and then getting up early the next day for the heats.

Mike said he was nervous, but said the support from other students at the Arthur Murray Saratoga Springs and Latham studio was definitely appreciated.

“We had a nice cheering section,” Pat said. “It was a very friendly atmosphere.”

Valencia is the instructor for the Thomas’ and Rich and Patti Vine of Wilton.

“I was surprised we won both awards,” Pat said. “Leslie was very excited we won.”

Valencia said the great part of this competition is that for the Thomas’, Marie Duval, Shawn Pounds and Michele Mehler, this was their first competition and second for the Vines’.

The Thomas’ have been taking dance lessons at the Saratoga studio for two years now.

“We originally said we were only going to do this one competition,” Pat said.

Now, they are thinking of possibly doing more.

“The competition forced us to be better dancers,” she said.

Three weeks prior to the competition they practiced everyday for a few hours each day, working on technique.

“It was more of a competition against yourself,” Mike said.

Patti Vine couldn’t agree more.

She said being with all the people and friends is what it’s all about, not competing with each other.

“We were definitely surprised,” she said. “You never expect to win; if you do it’s a bonus.”

This wasn’t the Vines’ first competition. They won in 2006, but this year was a larger competition. At the Mohegan Sun they won for the top associate bronze level couple. She said you never want people to do poorly, because it’s all about having fun.

With practicing so much before the competition, students work so hard to do their best.

“Everyone is so encouraging of one another,” Patti said. “And you get inspired by other dancers out there.”

Patti said having Valencia choreograph their routines is great bonus for them, because of her natural ability to hear the music and see the routine.

Valencia said the studio has consistently won awards with honors and brought home trophies for best overall showcase and best choreography.

“If they want to look like “Dancing with the Stars”, we’ll make it happen,” Valencia said.

Valencia credits a lot of the student’s success to her staff at the studio. She said they train with some of the best professional instructors in the country.

She compares her student’s progress and success to raising children.

“It’s like I was vicariously dancing through them,” she said of watching her student’s perform. “It is fabulously rewarding.”

She said it is seeing her own art in motion.

Patti Vine said they went to Italy for vacation and saw people ballroom dancing at an event.

“We wanted to come up with a hobby we both could do and be at the same level,” Patti said. “We started dancing in December 2005.”

She said ballroom dancing is great for couples to do something together that they enjoy and can improve on together.

For more information about ballroom dancing, go to the Arthur Murray Saratoga Studio Web site, www.arthurmurraysaratoga.com.