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 Dance School was found in 1998 and today it is the largest Salsa School in the Northern
Territory.
The founder, Joao Pereira who is from African back ground ( Cape Verde Isl.) was first introduce to dancing by his mother and father at the age of eight.
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 ayear 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.
Joao has visitedmany school throughout Australia, South America, Cuba, England, Paris where he has learned a variety and meet with interesting instructors, which has given him his unique style. Today Joao and wife Barbara are the main figure behind Salsita Dance School, which teach some sixty (60) students weekly.
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" 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.
Joao was awarded for his uotstanding contribution to the "Latin Dance Industry" at the Sydney Salsa Congress 2010, an award he shares with all the Northern Territory Salsa dancers past and present.
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
