Clad in tuxedos and full-length formal gowns, the Harvard-Radcliffe ballroom dancing team dominated Saturday's Harbor Invitational at the University of Massachusetts at Boston.

The Harvard team, composed of more than 20 dancers, garnered 14 first-places and nine second-places in individual events, said Hoang Q. Vu '92, president of the Harvard-Radcliffe Ballroom Dancing Club.

Vu and Jennifer Gonzalez '91 led the individual competition with eight first-places and one second-place, sweeping the advanced Latin American/international categories.

In the team competitions, Harvard's advanced international-style team tied for first, and the two beginner American-style teams were the top two finishers, according to Vu.

The University of Massachusetts at Boston, Princeton, Brown and Yale also participated in the competition.

Swept the Field

"We swept the field basically," said Vu, adding, "Theoretically we are ranked second in the field in New England."

The Harbor Invitational was Harvard's first competition this year.

The founder of the club said he was surprised by the team's success in light of their inexperience.

"Half the people on the team just started dancing three or four weeks ago," said Chris Brengel '87, founder of the Ballroom Dancing Club. "It's pretty amazing if you ask me."

Energetic Mood

The mood of the competition was energetic, said Lynn D. Lu '93, vice president of the Harvard-Radcliffe Ballroom Dancing Club. "They would play music the whole time. There were always people on the floor," she said.

Events included the cha cha, rhumba, mambo, swing, samba, jive, waltz, fox trot and quickstep competitions.