PY Salsa Blog

Sydney Salsa Congress - January 07

The Sydney Salsa Congress is one of the best events I’ve been to for about a year, and I personally rate it as one of the top five in the world.  Jamie Jesus, Marcia and Angela run it and they have done a fantastic job: the organisation was second to none.  It’s very rare that I walk into a place and am so immediately impressed by the planning, presentation, and attention to detail and sheer professionalism of the staff.

 And, then there is the fantastic location in the Sydney Olympic Park, which is a truly awesome structure. Because of the distance, there were only a few international stars including Hacha y Machete and Santa Rica, but they made up for this in the way the whole thing is run: the workshops were well organised, the parties well run and the shows were top class. 

Australia has only had salsa for seven or eight years, but they are catching up standard-wise with Europe.  They have two of the best dance couples in the world in Jamie Jesus and Little Liz and world champions, Oliver and Luda, and have an enormous amount of student groups and salsa schools.

Australians have a real can-do attitude and are very competitive, and the dancers and student groups have a real sprit for the dance and a desire to learn as much as they can. I predict in the next two years their performance standards will equal and even surpass most of Europe.

 The only down side of the Sydney Congress was that the parties finished too early, at 2 am.  An after party from 2 till 4 would have been good, although as I was jetlagged, 2 am was actually mid-day to me!  

Yes it is a long way to go for a salsa congress, but after my experience there, if anyone gets the chance to go, you will definitely not be disappointed.

 www.sydneysalsacongress.com