Salsa and Latin Dance enthusiasts and experts alike are warming up for the forthcoming Noumea Salsa & Latin Dance Festival being organised by Sydney Salsa teacher SHERYLANNE McLEOD. We spoke to her at her Salsa Republic dance studio in Chippendale ...
"Anyone can come," says Sherylanne McLeod, of the forthcoming Noumea Salsa & Latin Dance Festival to be held in Noumea, New Caledonia in early May 2011.
Where exactly is New Caledonia, I ask, being sadly out of form when it comes to travel in my own region!
"It's an island in the Pacific, two-and-a-half hours flight from Sydney or Brisbane," she replies in her typically breezy Sherylanne way, a positive vibe which has made her one of the most popular salsa teachers in Sydney.
Is it only salsa dancers from Sydney who can attend, I ask.
"People can come to this festival from anywhere and from any walk of life, They certainly don't have to be a salsa dancer, and they certainly don't have to be part of the Sydney community," she says.
"People are coming from Asia, Europe, New Zealand - and Australia of course.
And there will be plenty of beginners classes as well as intermediate and advanced.
"I actually think this venue is going to be one of the best in the world to ever host three days of workshops and parties of this type."
Picture this: You have a yummy continental breakfast in your room, you leisurely stroll across to the exquisitely-designed tropical pool, have a quick dip, then go and join a couple of super-fun dance workshops, grab a delicious yet very cheap lunch of baguettes & salads that the hotel's exclusively providing to festival attendees, then sashay across the road to the beach to swim in the turquoise blue waters of the Pacific ... to commune awhile with glorious nature ... while deciding whether to spend the afternoon shopping, sightseeing, doing more dance workshops, or for absolute fanatics, booking in for a private class with one of the festival's world class dancers.
Then more beach, sightseeing, or dreamily drifting into a siesta, before dressing up for the superb buffet dinner with an exciting Tahitian dance show- by the pool!
Then ... into the spacious Venezia Room to watch spectacular performances followed by a party with top DJs. And if you think you'll be outshone on the dancefloor, Sherylanne is there to help even the most awkward novice.
"My specialty is making people who can't dance look like dancers by giving you a set of simple moves that look complex and molding the moves to your capabilities - and only choosing moves that you look good doing."
If you're a beginner, what an intro to the world of dance - in such a relaxed atmosphere, meeting plenty of the best dancers you could ever encounter, all in the one place - in an atmosphere of celebration and inclusive community.
As Sherylanne says reassuringly, with a laugh, "Don't worry, the Salsa Police are not coming to this festival!"
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