Colombia’s second largest city, Medellin, is gearing up for four days and nights of salsa madness this July 9- 13.
Colombia’s sixth annual Salsa Festival will showcase more than 1,000 dancers – from professionals at the height of their careers, to amateurs and even young children – competing in 20 different salsa categories. The winners are automatically guaranteed a chance to compete in the World Latin Dance Cup, according to the organization’s official website.
Guest judges and workshop instructors include internationally acclaimed dancers Gatica Brodin from Norway, Sergio Jasso from Mexico, and Bianca Chapman from the US.
Child prodigies put us all to shame
Expect to be amazed, and feel slightly inadequate, if you get the chance to see youngsters competing in the children’s cabaret category. Last year there were 23 couples under the age of 13 competing in the first elimination round, with Valentina Velasquez and Cristian Duran taking out first place overall in the children’s cabaret category. See their incredible performance here:
Soccer meets salsa
Event organizers have all their bases covered by including a scheduled two-hour break in the program for participants to watch the World Cup finals on July 13.
Tickets range from $5 to see the dancers compete, to around $85 to participate in a dance workshop.