Latin Entertainment Reviews
 | ZOUK MEGA PARTY, Sydney Posted June 2011 The 2011 first Zouk Mega Party Weekend was held at the UNSW, RoundHouse in June. This event was initially under the threat of not happening at all and was rescued by Susanna Kopman and her team of helpers and pulled who managed to bring the event together in all under 5 weeks! “Thank you so much to all the dedicated instructors, amazing performers, sponsors, supporters, DJs, MCs, volunteers and fellow Sydney dancers who love to dance Zouk, who made this event possible!” says Susanna. |
The weekend began with non-stop rain and an unusual cold snap for Sydney, but it did not stop die hard dancers of 400 + from Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide, Perth and the rest of the states attending.
Over 40 instructors attended teaching workshops in a variety of dance styles such as; Zouk Lambada, Samba de gafieira and Samba the most popular of Brazilian dance styles.
There were also a variety of other non Zouk classes included in the timetable to give students an opportunity to try out new dance styles such as; Bachatango, Reggaetton, Burleque, Belly Dancing, Tango and more!
No doubt the most attended classes were those taught by the international 'Pasty & Josta' (Holland), and for the first time in Australia Carlos da Silva (Brazil) and Cwapo Moreno (France) .
In the evenings family and friends made their way down to watch the incredible talent on stage by schools groups and professional couples from around Australia, and by the international guests. When the shows were over it was party time!
The night time themed parties had everyone in the mood for non-stop dancing and fun; Friday was Heaven & Hell with Angels wings and devilish looking faces, Saturday was Masquearade, and Sunday was a Jungle Fever theme! The dance floor was full of dancers showing off their new Zouk moves!
As the weekend came to an end so did the rain. For an event which was under the threat of not happening at all and disappointing so many Zouk dancers in Sydney, it was a happy ending.
Well done to Susanna Kopman and her team of volunteers, close helpers and fellow instructors and fans who helped make this weekend.
Susanna, Carlos da Silva & Cwapo Moreno are currently taking Zouk Mega Party around Australia, and spreading the love of Zouk in all the major cities to ensure that next year the event is even more of a success!
Over the next few months, Susanna also plans to attend other festivals around the world (especially Europe) in the coming months to bring back new ideas & lots of great new TALENT to the 2012 Zouk Mega Party (ZMP) event - so stay tuned. Photo Gallery Open | www.zoukmegapartyweekend.com.au
Written by
Julie Sultana Posted June, 2011
 | REVIEW: 2011 Darwin Latin Festival Posted June 2011 It was all smiles, along with some surprises at this years Darwin Latin Festival. The festival kicked off on the Friday night with a Latin beach party on the beautiful Casuarina sands, followed by 2 days of dance workshops and night time parties and shows. |
Instructors made the big journey up from Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney and Perth to share with locals their expertise. One very keen couple from Spain were Gregory Campillo y Jesica Diaz. Sadly, Jesica was unable to perform due to still recovering from surgery but this did not stop the couple attending. Gregory also managed a stunning solo routine.
Expected to perform and teach were Giancarlo and Marsha (Latinissimo) New Zealand, whose flights got cancelled due to the Chilean ash cloud.
Joao Pereira the organizer shared with us his thoughts on this years event.
“There were many highlights over this weekend and I am still in a daze. It was just so great to see the attendance up by about 25% I finally can say now my efforts of 7 years are being recognized locally and internationally. I am still receiving offers from internationals to come and teach here.”
When I asked which show was a stand out he replied “an act by the ‘Divas’ local Drag Queens. Their dance show was to a mix of Latin music, it was wonderful to see the audience enjoy it.” I have a feeling we might see this act again very soon!
As the event came to a close, Joao also announced publicly his resignation as official organizer of the Darwin Latin Festival, and encouraged anyone to continue on his work and introduced fresh ideas for 2012, with all his support.
Joao will continue on running his Salsita Latin Dance school.
Written by
Julie Sultana Posted June, 2011
| REVIEW: COPACABANA INT AMATEUR COMPETITION, VIC May, 2011  Michael Aldersea & Lisa Madeira walk away with $1,000 in Cash! | Winning Results May 2011 Beginners 1st – Elisa Mak + Lyndon Rowlands 2nd – Crystal Jaffe + Ashish Saxena 3rd - Natalie Duszynski + Andrew Wight Intermediate 1st – Esti Formoso + Hugh Jackson 2nd - Rebecca Spiteri + David Spiteri 3rd – Kristy Miller + David Kirk Advanced 1st – Lisa Madeira + Michael Andersea 2nd – Kate Barraclough + Michael Cao 3rd – Rachael Cayley + Brett Thacker |
The Copacabana Club hosted one of Melbourne’s few amateur salsa competitions last Friday with great success.
Not a seat could be found in the iconic Smith St Latin club as family, friends and curious onlookers came to see beginners, intermediate and advanced dancers vie for first place.
The free-style salsa format certainly tested the nerves of the dancers but the relaxed atmosphere from the capacity crowd gave the night a feeling of fun rather than fierce competition.
Only five beginner couples were brave enough to take to the floor but they didn’t shy away from the occasion. They proved simple moves done well and with a smile are often better than complex moves gone wrong!
Both the intermediate and advanced categories had two heats of competition and featured some of Melbourne’s best amateur dancers.
While the judges conferred, the crowd was kept entertained by professional Brazilian themed performances in samba and the martial arts based capoeira.
Only a select few couples were welcomed back to the floor to decide the final placings with various styles catching the eye of the roving judges.
In the end, Lisa Madeira and Michael Aldersea took out the $1,000 in the advanced category, Esti Formoso and Hugh Jackson won the intermediate and Elisa Mak and Lyndon Rowlands took home the beginners cheque.
The best part of the night however was glancing over to the social dance floor well after the competition had ended and seeing the numbers still pinned to the clothes of the contestants and everybody still enjoying the night.
Written by
Alexander Cork Posted May, 2011
 | REVIEW: DOU DOULE LATIN DANCE CAMP - Gold Coast, Qld May, 2011 Dou doule!? Yeah Baby!! After attending my first Doudoule Latin Dance Camp in 2010 it was a ‘no brainer’ to go again in 2011 and as I left Melbourne Friday lunch time, I hoped for sun and fun over the weekend and the Gold Coast and Dou doule delivered. |
From my flight, a total of 7 of us caught a taxi together (cost effective) getting that party atmosphere started early. (A local bus to the centre is also available for $5.40 one way.)
Now this is a ‘camp’, not a hotel, so upon check-in you collect your own bedding, make your own bunk bed and share a bathroom with your cabin buddies. Each cabin has all the basics needed, including a security code for entry (so no key to carry).
Saturday was filled with a choice of 26 workshops by local, national and international instructors covering a great mix of styles and levels from beginner to advanced for Salsa (On1, On2, Cuban, Paris style moves), Zouk, Bachata, Cha Cha Cha, Samba de Gaffiera, Samba, Lifts & Tricks (Cali Style), body movement, musicality, styling, spinning techniques, lead/follow and shines, including two beach workshops (Beachata and Samba) or your choice of beach fun, nana naps or a combination of all three.
Meals were at set times and all served buffet style in the dining hall (and boy were we well fed; even the people with special dietary requirements), which really helped to fuel the community spirit and provide time to get to know more about fellow dancers!
The performances and parties over the weekend were fantastic and loads of fun, with great variety including a beatboxer named Jonny Drama (aka Dr Rhythm) wowing us with his crazy mix of sounds (and yes I did ask the secret of beatboxing) and two mesmerising 5 minute performances by Terry and Cecile (from France), which meant the audience was not left wanting. Once the social dancing began, Terry and Cecile accepted a dance with anyone that asked and if no one was asking Terry, he would do the asking!
The Austin Powers theme Saturday night added its own spot of craziness and fun with some people almost unrecognizable in their get-ups and this was followed by the ‘official’ Saturday after party on the beach for those that wanted to party until sunrise.
A Remedial Massage Therapist (Bryan) was also available for bookings. I took advantage of a half hour massage for $35 (a Doudoule special), that was worth every cent and more.
On Sunday, for those that had the energy to get out of bed, there was breakfast and four workshops on offer (funky Bachata, Lifts & Tricks (Cabaret style), Spanish Bachata and On1 shines/styling). Then, as happens with all good things, the weekend neared its end and it was time to each lunch, strip your bed, return the bedding, get rid of the rubbish in your cabin, perhaps have that one last bit of sun/beach fun and say your good-byes.
As Latin Festivals go, Doudoule is fantastic value for money (my weekend cost less than $500 for the camp, flights, transfers, party goods and massage), is loads of fun, offers a great variety of workshops and performances by local, national and international talent, provides the unique advantage of nature at it’s best (sun and a beautiful beach at your cabin door) and encapsulates a real community spirit. Would I go again next year? Yeah Baby!
Written by
Susan Hill
 Picture by Adam Rogers | Check out Gallery | REVIEW: SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL BACHATA FESTIVAL April 27, 2011 The fourth Sydney International Bachata Festival held over the Easter weekend was a tremendous success and showcased a variety of bachata styles and performances. The event, which included a live performance by New York bachata band, Xtreme, was held at the University of New South Wales Roundhouse for the first time to accommodate a record number of participants to the event. Instructors from America, France, Singapore, New Zealand, Malaysia and Australia pushed the traditional concepts of bachata and introduced many people to hybrid styles such as Bachata R&B, Bachatango, Crunkchata, Bachazouk, Bachata Moderna and Bachaton. |
This bachata buffet made for a social dance floor melting pot as people experimented with different styles throughout the night with occasional salsa songs giving couples a chance to disentangle sweaty bodies.
Performances on all three nights from both students and professionals impressed the crowd but the loudest applause was saved for the American Bachata stars Jorge Ataca and Tanja La Alemana.
The crowd could barely contain their excitement when Xtreme invited Jorge and Tanja to the stage to perform their famous youtube choreography to Te Extrano with Xtreme providing the live music.
The latin feel of the festival was further enhanced by some fantastic South American food stalls operating at the venue much to the enjoyment of hungry dancers.
The festival has steadily increased in popularity since its humble beginnings and no doubt salsa exclusive clubs around Australia will start to feel pressured to play bachata music to meet growing demand.
Written by
Alexander Cork
 Natalie Montano, Jessica Raffa, Luda Kroiter, Pauline Montano | REVIEW: MELBOURNE LATIN FESTIVAL – for true Latin Lovers April 27, 2011 The Melbourne Latin Festival held at the Darebin Arts and Community Centre over the past weekend ended all too quickly. Three nights and two days of workshops, performances, dancing and socialising had most participants needing a good lie down but left smiles on their tired faces. The big hit of the festival was the Argentinian tango workshops. The weekend featured three sessions dedicated to the elegant and technical style. For many of the participants, it was their first chance to tango their way around the room. Fabio Robles taught a two hour workshop on Saturday to a fascinated collection of first time tango dancers. “I am going to teach you the A, B, C, D and E of tango,” Robles said, “From there you can form words, from the words comes conversation, from conversation to poetry and eventually, you can write a book.” |
The usual salsa, bachata or zouk dancers were enamoured with the subtle concepts of balance and leading, so different to many other styles.
The social tango however would have to wait for another time as people took breaks from the floor to catch a glimpse of superstars Oliver and Luda, Kadu and Larissa or Mariano Nevis and Vera Rowe on the social dance floor.
Many dance schools from Victoria and abroad performed to a supportive and enthusiastic audience.
A surprise crowd favourite of the performances was the Dance Star Academy from New Zealand.
Stayz Te Atamira Raukawa is the director and founder of the Academy which focuses on school aged students.
Mr Stayz says the students he brings across are “the cream of the crop” and had to “earn their stripes” to come to Melbourne.
The Academy along with all performers, teachers and social dancers did themselves proud during a fantastic weekend celebrating latin dance.
Written by
Alexander Cork Posted April 27, 2011