Couples in Thailand dance their way to world record

PATTAYA - Nine couples danced their way to victory on Saturday, breaking the record for the longest dance marathon in the world in the seaside town of Pattaya, southeast of Thailand's capital Bangkok.

The couples broke the World's Longest Dance Marathon record by dancing for 35 hours, one minute and one second, gaining a spot in the Guinness World Records. The previous record was set by a Mexican couple in 2008 who danced for 35 hours.

Thailand's dance marathon began on Friday with 10 couples, including one couple from Canada.

Only one pair left the competition before it ended.

Under the contest's rules, participants, wearing pink T-shirts and flowers in their hair, had to move their feet continuously in three different dance rhythms - the waltz, cha cha and rumba - until a change of song every few minutes when they were given a 30-second break to stretch their limbs.

They were also given a five-minute break every hour to go to the toilet, said organisers.

Natsiya Noorak, 37, one of the winners, said there were times she felt like giving up and took her frustration out on her dance partner. "There were times we fought with each other because of fatigue but we made up and pushed through to the end," she said.

The world-record win, which took place at the Ripley's Believe it or Not! entertainment complex in the popular tourist town of Pattaya, comes just in time for Valentine's Day - a popular Western import in tourist-friendly Thailand.

The winners will share a 200,000 baht (S$8,300) cash prize and were each awarded a certificate from the Guinness Book of World Records.