Dance addicts are all set for four days of non-stop workshops and parties says DEBBIE HATHWAY.
A YEAR’S worth of planning and preparations culminates in over 40 dance workshops and 30 performances over four days when the third Mzansi Cape Town Salsa Festival opens at The River Club in Observatory on Thursday.
Organiser Theo, aka TeddyBear, Mseka says it takes that long to pull off such an event, which is now firmly established on the calendar of international salsa congresses. Assisted by a committee of equally passionate dance addicts, he offers a platform for local and foreign dancers to perform on the same stage, and to learn from each other in workshops and on the social dance floor while they enjoy the sensational music playlists of South African and international guest DJs.
Some of the featured acts include return visits from Zerjon Abebe and Nina Kollbrunner from Scandinavia, who specialise in a fusion of salsa and hip-hop, as well as Terry Tauliaut and Cécile Ovide from France who continue to surprise and delight fans with their choreographic innovation.
“Germany's Mitchell Province and his partner, Monica Melito, will also be performing a demonstration of their Latin jazz take on salsa. They are pushing boundaries,” says Mseka. “Manuel Dos Santos and Flavie Merise, originally from Angola but living in Canada, join us for the first time this year. They are extremely energetic and amazing to watch especially when they dance kizomba.”
Over the past three years the Mzansi Cape Town Salsa Festival has played host to four of the top five female salsa dancers globally.
This year, premier salsa and bachata dancer Jorjet Alcocer follows in the footsteps of Alien Ramirez, Magna Gopal and Karel Flores to share her passion for her craft.
The workshops offer a wide variety of training from beginner to master level across a range of styles, including salsa on 1, salsa on 2, Cuban-style salsa, bachata, kizomba, Latin jazz, body movement and styling. Some of the new additions to the programme include kuduro, an uptempo dance that originated in Angola, and Afro fusion bootcamps bound to test participants’ coordination and stamina.
This year, there is also a session on how to DJ.
Registration is on Thursday, followed by a pre-festival party and surprise show. The official opening is on Friday with a party spanning two dance floors – one strictly for salsa, and the other for the more sensual dance styles such as kizomba and bachata.
Shows are scheduled every night and the workshops run from 10am to 6pm on Saturday and Sunday.
l Tickets: R2100 all-access pass. If you want to party until the sun comes up, entry to all four evening events: R1500. Full-day workshop and same-day party: R1400 for Saturday and R1200 for Sunday. Afrofusion bootcamps: R1000, but you score if you buy a combo bootcamp deal and an all-access pass for R2500. Individual party access at the door: R300 to 500. DJ, instructor, workshop information and booking: www.alloutsalsa.com