I used to hear about this place called “BJ’s” in Bondi Junction, which was the prime spot for Salseros at the time.  One of the first Salsa competitions in Australia was organized there – “The Best of the Best” –  where big names like Jaime Jesus, Nestor Manuelian, Yvonne G Laycy, Patricia Falciola, Carlos Galiano, Daniel Paredes, to name a few (yes, I’m talking about years ago!), have competed. I didn’t get to watch the competition, but I know it was an important one in the history of Australian Salsa.

Due to bad management and promotion, BJ’s popularity died down, and other venues raised to be the prime spot for salseros such as: Watershed, Equilibrium, V-Bar, etc…

Now, I’m proud to say that we are going back to our roots! Copacabana Bar and Grill (formerly known as BJ’s) has new management and they have remodelled the place. When I walked into the venue, I knew that this was going to be the next big thing in the Sydney Salsa Scene (again). The wooden dance floor is huge, the sound system is perfect, and the second room is also very spacious (for our Zouk lovers).

Therefore, I’m personally inviting you to join us on the grand new opening of “RUMBA CAFE” at Copacabana Bar and Grill. The will be one SALSA/Bachata room and one dedicated ZOUK room.

We have the support of lots of schools and dancers already, with top performances by:

• DUNCAN & YVONNE with their brand new Zouk routine
• JOSIE & DANIEL will show us their winning salsa performance
• MICHAEL & KRISTIN new salsa routine that was performed at the Hawaii Salsa Congress
• SALSA REPUBLIC SAMBA GIRLS hot, hot, hot!
• SALSA REPUBLIC SALSA TEAM with their funky Salsa choreo
• LATINO FIRE BACHATA TEAM get ready for some hot Bachata
• CLUB SALSA performance team

Our DJs for the night

SALSA / Bachata / Latin Rhythms

• DJ SaRumba
• DJ Mambo G
• DJ AV El Cubano

ZOUK / Brazilian Rhythms

• DJ Allan
• DJ Amit

For more information go to our facebook event
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=346709103427&ref=ts

or get your tickets online
http://www.bachateros.com.au/2010/02/rumba-cafe-13-of-march/

Hope to see you there!
-Juan

RUMBA CAFE

(the very first big event will be Saturday 13 March)

SALSA / BACHATA ROOM
plus a dedicated ZOUK ROOM !!!
we will also be mixing it up with some Samba and Gafieira

beautiful luxurious LARGE dancefloor and state of the art sound system, the venue is huge with space for over 800 people

5 DJ’s plus plenty of shows (acts tba)

$15 prepaid (available until Friday 12 March)
or $20 at the door
- free Bachata and Zouk class 9-9.30pm
- party from 9.30pm
AND WE ARE OPEN TILL AT LEAST 2 AM !!!

with $5 cocktail/drink specials (Sangria, Redbull and Vodka, Havana Sunrise)

in the fabulously newly renovated and refurbished
Copacabana Bar and Grill
195 Oxford St (in the Mall)
Bondi Junction

GET YOUR TICKETS	METHOD
Online $15 + $1 for online fee
By phone	0402 993244 (visa or mastercard over the phone)
By cash	at Salsa Republic and Bachateros classes and Coolabar

DRESS CODE
girls – frilly, colourful, off the shoulder
guys – essential hat and something white

Prepare for the biggest Salsa and Latin dance event ever to be staged in Adelaide!
3 sizzling days and nights of workshops, performances and parties!

Some of the biggest names in Salsa and Latin dance – performers, instructors, musicians and DJ’s alike – will come together to create an unforgettable weekend!

The 2009 event was AMAZING – 2010 will be even bigger and better! New artists! More workshops! Even crazier parties!

SCHEDULE & VENUES -

Friday March 26 | Workshops & Welcome Party
Arkaba Hotel, 150 Glen Osmond Rd, Fullarton

Saturday March 27 | Workshops & Gala Evening
Norwood Concert Hall, 175 The Parade, Norwood

Sunday March 28 | Workshops & Farewell Party
Arkaba Hotel, 150 Glen Osmond Rd, Fullarton

THE PARTIES -

Adelaide’s Salseros and the amazing interstate and international artists will all be dancing up a storm each and every night to the finest Latin DJ’s Australia has to offer!

Australia’s premier Salsa band Hugo Salcedo & his TNT will bring the house down with their Cuban and Colombian rhythms, Caribbean breezes and New York vibes!

THE PERFORMANCES -

Experience the sultry Salsa, sizzling Samba, smooth Bachata and Zouk and the explosive Afro-Cuban Rumba all in one spectacular show with over 50 of Australia’s and the world’s best performers including – celebrity dancers from ‘Dancing With The Stars’ Luda Kroitor and ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ Gianne Abbott, Cuban dancer extraordinaire Eric Turro and 5 times World Salsa Champion Oliver Pineda and many more!

THE WORKSHOPS -

Learn from the best of the best in the Latin dance industry! From the Absolute Beginner to the Advanced dancer, there is something for everybody. You can choose from Salsa, Bachata, Spins, Cha Cha Cha, Mens and Ladies Styling, Cuban Salsa, Afro-Cuban Rumba, Rueda, Samba, Samba Axe and Zouk!

Buy tickets here

Where: Darebin Arts and Entertainment Centre, Crn Bell St and George St Preston

The theme for 2010 is CIRCUS CARNEVALE – be prepared to be enchanted and entertained!!!

Featuring dancers from: ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ & ‘Dancing With the Stars’

Melbourne Latin Festival 2010 bringing you an even more exciting and entertainment filled weekend with some great celebrities joining us like: Charli Delaney (DWTS,Hi5, FoxFM), Gianne Abbott (SYTYCD),  Jess and Gerrad (DWTS)  just to name a few!

“3 EVENING OF SHOWS & PARTIES, OVER 150 LATIN DANCERS, 6 LATIN DJ’S, LIVE LATIN BAND 50 DANCE WORSKSHOPS OVER 60 HOURS OF FUN!”

Workshops range from the complete novice to the professional latin dancer including Salsa, Bachata, Zouk, Samba, Cha Cha, afro dance, flamenco& even hip hop

The Artists include some of the best local, interstate, and international dancers such as

The Internationals

Jhesus Aponte and Cristina Rodriguez – New York/Puerto Rico, Orville and Sabrina – Salsation Dance Co (Amsterdam), Giancarlo and Masha – Latinissimo New Zealand

The Locals

Manual and Florencia, Candela Dance, Gene S (CDA), Cheryl and Paul, Dance 101, Fabio Isaks, DC, JC Reyes IUAC, Donovan (Latinize Dance Co), Alex Bryan and Ebony, Latitude Dance Co, Liz Tashounidis, Melbourne Latin Dance, Anika Xenides, Melbourne Salsa, Sharon Pakir, Spin City Dance, Kristina Diaz…and more

The Interstaters

Adrian Medina (NSW), Bachateros, Hugo & Julia, Latin Groove (SA), La Bomba (SA), Jaime and Liz, Latin Dance Australia (NSW), Krin Bajour, Latin Dance Sensation (NSW), Debby Smith,  Latin Energy Productions (QLD), Carlos and Elli, Latin Steps (QLD), Nestor and the Modus Vivendi team (NSW), Kadu & Larissa & Rio Rhythmics QLD), Kevin and Chelsea ( Salsa Connections (SA)), Becky Lee and Fernando Providal (Salsa Suave (NSW)), Urban Artistry (QLD)….and more to come

Buy tickets here

Randwick Labour Club – 135 Alison Rd

Let’s support Buena Vista on their road to win the Cubamemucho trophy performing their Salsa Rueda routine!

Performances by Sydney’s best Latin Dance Schools…

• Latin Motion
• Modus Vivendi
• Bachateros
• LDA
• Buena Vista Dance
• & all the way from Cuba…”Pochoman” Cuban Rapper

Dj Mani from Casa de la Salsa

Sponsored by Viva Magazine

Great raffle prizes to be won!!!

Doors open @ 7 pm till 12.30am
$15 prepaid / $20 @ the door

Randwick Labour Club – 135 Alison Rd

More details:contact 95183274 to reserve your tickets or purchase them @ Buena Vista School.

Description: Bachata and Latin Dance dancers from Australia and the world; this event is for you! Come and experience an amazing, inspiring weekend. After 2 successful years we can not wait to inspire you all with more Bachata love this year at the 3rd Annual event.

The 2010 event will host International dancers Ataca & La Alemenia, Jorge & Leslie, Ava Apple & Rodolfo. It will also feature a hot Bachata Group UNIQUE, Live in Concert.

The festival focuses on celebrating Bachata, a sexy and sensual partner dance from the Dominican Republic and includes other popular Latin Rhythms like Salsa, Merengue, Zouk and Kizomba.

The Bachata Festival comprises of 2 days and 3 nights of Latin Dance Workshops, World-Class Performances, Prestigious Parties and an urban Bachata concert!

We look forward to seeing you on the Anzac Day Weekend, 23th to the 25th of April 2010.

June 18 – 20

After a great success in 2009, here we are again to make 2010 a greater success. All under the same roof,  The Darwin Entertainment Centre

Darwin Latin Dance Festival is undoubtedly the biggest and best Latin dance event ever to be staged in Darwin. We invite all of the Salseros and Salseras who want to escape the routine of everyday life to our 6th ever Darwin Latin Dance Festival in the Northern Territory of Australia. This Festival will offer you lots of fun, sun and Latin Dancing. On a grand scale, this spectacular event is sure to entice anyone who is in love with the Latin rhythms. The Festival includes the Main event FIESTA CALIENTE, featuring Shows and Parties. So, now is your time to shine and enjoy doing what you like most! This is your opportunity to increase your knowledge by learning from the best instructors from around the world. The Festival also includes many Workshops, covering Salsa Casino Rueda, Zouk-Lambada, Cha-Cha, Bachata, Merengue, Ladies and Men Styling, and much more… It caters for Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Levels.

Invited Instructors are:

• Nuno and Vanda, Portugal
• Kadu and Larissa, Brazil
• Jason and Jerinne, Singapore
• Juan Ruiz and Samantha, Australia

Bachata for Haiti Emergency Appeal

at Dance Alive Studios
107 Regent ST
Chippendale NSW 2008

More info: Click here

Friday 5th February

7pm til 9pm

Our good friend, Santino di Fede from Buena Vista dance is offering a 2 hour Bachata (Dominican Passion) workshop in return for a small donation to the Haiti Emergency Appeal (the Dominican Republics neighbor).

100% of proceeds will be going directly to the Australian Red Cross Emergency Appeal for Haiti.

You have all seen the news and images of the earthquake hit areas. The UN has described the Haiti earthquake as the worst humanitarian disaster the world has faced in decades with death toll confirmed at 150,000 and rising.

Over a million people urgently need our help with 80% living in extreme poverty even before this tragic event.

Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere and this disaster has truly devastated many communities.

The Australian Red Cross will be collecting your donations directly at the door and we are asking for a minimum donation of $20.

In the immediate aftermath of the disaster, local Red Cross staff and volunteers were on the scene and continue to assist the injured and support hospitals struggling to cope.

Drawing on resources around the world the Red Cross is carrying out a huge emergency response operation.

Pre-positioned relief goods were released immediately within Haiti and from other warehouses in the region. These consist of kitchen kits, shelter kits, personal hygiene kits, blankets and containers for storing drinking water.

As well as distributing vital supplies the Red Cross is providing medical aid and water for survivors.

So come along and enjoy 2 hours of Dominican Bachata Passion and give a little help to our friends in Haiti because every little helps after all.

Workshops taught by Santino Di Fede from Buena Vista dance academy

The evolution of Bachata begun with a change in the music itself, let’s look the past few decades… In the early 90’s, Luis Vargas and Antony Santos, both from the Dominican Republic, started to popularize Bachata to the Caribbean market. These guys decided to include the use of electric guitars, something that was not done before. In 1992, Dominican born singer Juan Luis Guerra won a Grammy for his album “Bachata Rosa”, his Bachatas blended the traditional romantic Bachata sounds with Bolero. The popularity of his music helped raise the profile of Bachata music throughout the world. When Aventura was formed in New York in 1994, they started blending rnb, hip hop and reggaeton tunes to the Bachata rhythm. This new rnb/hip hop infused Bachata was, and still is, a major factor in what makes Bachata music what it is today.

Notice here how the music evolved!

Similar to the music, the dance itself has evolved from its origins As the music is from the Dominican Republic, of course this is where Bachata dancing was born. As the music spread across the globe, so did the dance. Different cultures around the world have embraced Bachata and they have created their own interpretation of the dance, creating a beautiful fusion of different styles into the Bachata steps. There is no written evidence of this ‘evolution’ to date however, we can all witness the evidence ourselves when we attend dance events and even the vast amount of material on community sites such as YouTube (Keyword “Bachata dance”).

Without this evolution and the various creative interpretations from the various talented dancers and performers, Bachata would not be experiencing the growth and popularity it is today. Nowdays, there are 3 major styles of Bachata danced around the world: Dominican Style, Standard/Traditional Style (being the most popular) and the Moderna Style. I’m sure this is only the beginning, as we will see more instructors and dancers create new dance forms and new dance steps based on the basics of the Bachata steps (lately, Bachatango being a famous style in Europe).

If it is changing, it is because it’s growing and it is because it’s alive! If it’s not growing, then it’s dying. Bachata is changing, Bachata is growing, and therefore Bachata is alive!

Let’s embrace this evolution! Let’s collaborate and support all performers, dancers, instructors and promoters that want to share their love of Bachata to the world regardless of which style they teach or dance. I encourage you to try and learn all different styles of Bachata, and then, make it your own.

Bachateros from all over the world respect and are thankful to the Dominicans for creating such a beautiful dance and rhythm. I don’t think Dominicans imagined how popular Bachata was going to become. So, THANK YOU for giving Bachata to the world!

PS. If you know of more variations of Bachata, I invite you to share it with the community! The more we work together on this, the bigger Bachata will become!

Written by – Juan Ruiz. Juan is the director of Bachateros Online Magazine and a bachata instructor, pioneer of the Bachata Moderna style