About Salsa Dancing
Besides being a spicy sauce, Salsa is a partner dance originating from Cuba, to a form of Latin music. Several countries, such as Columbia, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, LA and New York have all contributed to the development of salsa. However, it is Cuba that is the "home" of Salsa.
Salsa has a pattern of six steps danced over eight counts of music. In Salsa, turns and dips have become an important feature. We must give credit to Cuba for the origin and ancestry of the creation of Salsa. It was in Cuba that Contra-Danze later called Danzón, was brought from Haiti, and began to mix itself with Rhumbas of African origin and added to the Són of the Cuban people, which was a mixture of the Spanish troubadour (sonero) and the African drumbeats, flowered with a partner dance to the beat of the clave.
About Salsita Dance School
Salsita was founded by Joao Pereira in 1998, making it the longest running Salsa dance school in the Northern Territory. Also the major sponsors of the “Darwin International Latin Dance Festival” the larger Latin dance festival ever staged in the Northern Territory.
For the past 12 years, Salsita has had the privilege of bringing the joys of Latin dance to hundred of dancers in the Darwin community, teaching the spicy and sexy moves of a variety of Latin dance styles such as: Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, Zouk-Lambada and Cuban Salsa.
The founder, Joao Pereira who is from African back ground ( Cape Verde Isl.) was first introduce to dancing by his mother and father at an early age.
Joao kept his dancing interests mainly in a social level. It was not until much later in life that he was reintroduced to dancing, only this time it came with a diferent prespective. He started by learning Latin Ballroom, and about a year later he was introduced to a Colombian Salsa street style, then introduced to LA Salsa On1in Sydney by the late Jose Pratas at the Gleebe Town Hall, which subsequently started to teach this style in Darwin for the first time.
Joao has visited many school throughout Australia, South America, Cuba, England, Paris where he learned a variety of styles and met with interesting instructors, which has given him his unique style. Today Joao and wife Barbara are still the main figure behind Salsita Dance School, which teach some sixty (60) students weekly.
Joao’s wealth in Salsa dancing has derived from some of the best instructors around the world such as:
AUSTRALIA - Felipe Pailez Darwin NT, Jaime Jesus (LDA), Nestor (MV), Oren (SV), Oliver (LM) from Sydney NSW. Juan (JRDA) from PerthWA. Kadu (RR) from Brisbane QLD and Gaspar Ribeiro From Adelaide SA.
USA – Al Liquid Silver, the creator of the Millennium Salsa style. Edie the Salsa Freak, spinning queen of Salsa dancing. Alex Lee, the Acro-Salsa.
UK – Isabel, Peterborough. El Niko, Peterborough. Nelson, London.
CUBA – Adelaida and Wilky Habana
PORTUGAL – Nuno and Vanda
SINGAPORE – Jason and Jerrine
Joao was awarded for his uotstanding contribution to the "Latin Dance Industry" at the Sydney Salsa Congress 2010, an award that he shares with all the Northern Territory Salsa dancers past and present.
Joao has executed several performances for Ausdance NT events, was the main feature for the promotion of productions direct from Cuba such as "Lady Salsa", "Bar at Buena Vista" and "Maximo de Cuba" hosted by the Darwin Entertainment Centre. He performed in numerous of fundraising events such as 2005 Aids Gala Ball. Performed, MCand DJ at the Latino Association annual parties, "Noche Latina" hosted by the MGM Casino Darwin and master minded the creation of the "Darwin Latin Dance Festiva" in 2005, bringing for the first time to Darwin dancers like Jamie Jesus and Little Liz Australian Champions in 2005 from Sydney NSW, Mary-Grace Jose Martinez Qld champions from Brisbane and Mick McKoy Australian leading events promoter known as "Mister Salsa".
Over the years this event have attracted both international and national finests instructors including australian's only 5 times world champions Oliver Pineda and Luda Kroitor, Jason and Jerrine Singapore, Nuno and Vanda Portugal.
Contact Us
To contact Joao Pereira or Barbara please call:
During Lesson Hours: 24, Musgrave Cres. Coconut Grove
Business Ph/Fax: 61 8 894 80221
Mobile: 61 417 843785
To receive our news letter or any other information about Latin dance in Darwin just send us an e-mail to: joao@salsita.com.au
