World-class salsa at La Carpa
By Mario Enrique Manuel Briones
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World Championships of Salsa Fri, Oct 26–Sat, Oct 27 Friday or Saturday only, 100 pesos Workshops, 70 pesos All-inclusive pass, 200 pesos La Carpa |
Beginning this year, San Miguel has become part of the international circuit for the world championships of salsa. On October 26, San Miguel hosts one of three semifinal competitions for the World Salsa Congress Championships set for November 29–30 and December 1–2, 2007 in Acapulco. The winning couple in the San Miguel semifinal goes on to compete in Acapulco. The winning couple there goes to the third annual World Salsa Championships which will be televised on ESPN.
In San Miguel, we will be honored by the presence of Victor Burgos and Gabriela Bernal. The Mexican duo danced in the World Salsa Championships in Las Vegas 2005, also televised by ESPN. In addition, Burgos was a judge in the 2006 world competitions. We will therefore enjoy international-level judging during the eliminations here in San Miguel.
Activities begin at 8pm in La Carpa, located on the grounds of Fábrica la Aurora. Before the elimination rounds, Burgos and Bernal will give a dance workshop, followed by social dancing until 11pm. Afterward, Burgos and Bernal give an exhibition of their professional skills. The elimination event starts after the exhibition and includes dance couples from all parts of Mexico. Since this is an international competition, persons of any nationality may participate.
On October 27 at noon, a roundtable discussion will be held at Mama Mia’s, a restaurant at Umaran 8 in Centro. Hosting the discussion will be Adolfo Rubio and Juan Carlos Gutierrez Monroy. Rubio hosts “El Son Sabroso,” a program that has been running for 10 years on radio station XESQ in San Miguel. He will present the theme “The Language of Dance.” Gutierrez Monroy is director of the webpage www.americasalsa.com in Mexico, the most important world-class information source on Afro-Caribbean rhythms. Participating guests will have the opportunity to ask questions of the hosts during the discussions in order to widen their knowledge of Latin rhythms.
On October 27 at 8pm at La Carpa, the Colombian dance couple Leidy y Gustavo will conduct a workshop on salsa “caleña,” a 100-percent Colombian style characterized by very distinctive and agile foot movements. After the workshop, salsa exhibitions will be performed by Leidy y Gustavo, by Andresito (an incredible nine-year-old dancer who is part of the famous group Salsa con Clave), by the Compañia San Miguel Salsa y Sabor, and by a dance pair yet to be announced.
World class instructors and judges guarantee the quality of this great salsa event. The event also will help regional dancers to advance to the level of national and international competition.