Annual festival promises to delight existing fans and newcomers says ZOE CHRISTODOULIDES
Salsa moves will be setting fire to dance floors in the north this weekend as Kyrenia plays host to the fourth edition of the bicommunal Salsa Jam Festival. Now eagerly anticipated by dance lovers from both sides of the divide, it started back in 2006 when the well known local DJ Salsero came up with the idea of putting on a big salsa festival catering to Latin dance lovers on the island and beyond.
Quite strange when you think about it, salsa was hardly known in the country a decade ago except for a select few dance aficionados and professionals with dance schools who were intent on sharing their moves with the general public. Things have certainly changed now as schools galore have opened up with hundreds of people island-wide having gone salsa mad. There’s salsa nights, salsa clubs, salsa competitions, salsa for everyone, anywhere. There’s even a special Cyprus Latin website set up for lovers of the genre who can check details about all sorts of events in all towns. With the Salsa Jam festival now in the limelight this month, it’s an opportunity for people to come together and have a good old Latin boogie.
Kicking off this Friday, Salsa Jam promises all the usual action with dance duos jetting in from abroad to do their thing as well as DJs playing their beats at night time parties. All the action of the three-day event will be centred within the Malpas hotel.
If you can’t make it down for the full shebang, you’re also given the choice of buying a one day pass giving you to the chance to partake in a full day’s events or a simple night pass for special shows, concerts or parties.
And if we’re talking about big parties, the greatest highlight of this year’s event simply has to be the arrival of the New York band, La Excelencia. Founded by Julian Silva and Jose Vazquez-Cofresi in 2005, the group has been hailed as bringing fresh, original and totally contagious salsa to contemporary audiences. What’s more, the band aims for the vocals to address social issues of today with fans including young salseros who tend to embrace a more urban flavour than the ‘old school’ salsa lovers.
Breaking the mould and yet never letting go of true salsa roots, the group has become synonymous with hardcore salsa sounds known as ‘salsa dura’. With their music often compared to New York salsa of the 1970s, they’ve now spread the beat across the world, having performed at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the Afro Latino Festival in Belgium and the New York Salsa Congress to name a few.
After the huge success of their first Salsa Con Conciencia album, the band recently released Mi Tumbao Social which features singers Edwin Perez and Gilberto Valazquez. Hailed as one of the best salsa CDs to have come out in a long time, now’s your chance to see them up close and personal.
Let’s not forget all the performers and instructors that will be coming over to show off their moves. What with well known dance duos jetting in from Spain, Turkey, Israel, Portugal and the UK, there’ll be plenty to keep you on your toes. For a full list of all professional salsa dancers that will be at the event its worth checking out the organiser’s website for full details.
As for the DJs performing at the various parties, you’ll be dancing away to tunes by DJ Crazy Joe from Dubai, DJ Asher Cinamon from Israel, and of course our own DJ Salsero among many other international names. DJ Cinamon is particularly well known, standing as the resident DJ at Israel’s biggest salsa club, Spider. Who can say no to an extra bit of spice to liven up your September nights?
Salsa Jam Festival
A three day event with music, dancing and professional performances. September 11, 12 and 13. Malpas Hotel, Kyrenia. Tel: 0090-392-8244757. www.salsajamcyprus.com
