Salsa in the spotlight at festival

A Carnivale-inspired festival will entice
amateur and seasoned dancers to
Homebush this weekend.

Latin music enthusiasts will gravitate
to Sydney Latin Festival at Olympic
Park to become rapt in the live music
and dance performances which begin
on Thursday, February 2.

The Festival aims to promote Latin
dance to Australians, with World Salsa
Champions, international and domestic
dancers taking the stage to perform.

The Co-director of the Sydney Latin
Festival, Angela Lau, said the event has
a good reputation in Australia. “The
whole point of the event is to inspire
Australians, and to enrich them in the
dance culture.

“There are a lot of salsa dancers
that are based in Europe and it’s a big
deal for them to come out to Australia,
because we put on a huge stage,” Ms
Lau said.

The event formerly known as the
Sydney Salsa Congress has since
changed its name to embrace all types
of Latin dance including Salsa, Samba,
Lambada, Latin Hip Hop, Rumba, Afro
Cuban, Cha Cha and Bachata.

The major draw card of the festival
is five-time World Salsa Champion
couple, Adrian and Anita, who will be
coming out from Spain to perform.

International dancer and promoter of
the Festival, Tony Lara, said the event is
a fantastic dance experience that brings
performers and the dancing community
together.

“I’ve been to hundreds of festivals,
and Sydney’s in my top three. I
normally come to Australia for two
months and I tour trying to promote
the event,” he said.

The Buchata specialist said he
considers himself to be an outside-thebox
dancer that incorporates comedy
and themed shows into his performance.

The Festival will hold live dance
performances over four nights followed
by Fiestas which will incorporate three
party rooms to ensure the celebrations
continue until the early hours of the
morning.

There will also be three days of backto-
back workshops to inspire beginners
and professionals to embrace Latin
dance and strengthen their skills.

The Tropical Soul Dance Studio is
sending 40 dancers to the festival, some
are first-time performers.

Co-owner of the studio, Juan Ruiz,
said preparations start three to four
months before the event.

“From the first day of training it’s
about their [performers’] journey. It’s
about getting together as a team, and
performing as a team,” Mr Ruiz said.

He said he will also be performing
the Bachata this year, as well as
teaching at workshops and will DJ at
the Fiestas.

The celebrations take place until
Sunday February 5 and tickets can be
purchased online or at the door.