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 of African back ground (Cape Verde Isl.), was first introduced to dancing by his mother and father, at the age of eight. Joao kept his dance interests mainly in social and party gatherings; it was not until much later in life that he was reintroduced to dancing, only this time things came in with different perspectives. Joao, started by learning Ballroom Latin and about a year later he decided to learn the street dance with Colombian style. Not long afterwards, in Sydney, he was introduced to the LA style, which he subsequently started teaching in Darwin. Joao, has visited many schools throughout Australia, South America, Cuba, England and Paris where he's learned a variety of styles and met some interesting instructors. Today, Joao and wife Barbara Paterson are the main figures of Salsita Dance School, teaching some sixty (60) students per week.
Joao is also teaching in the adult night classes every Thursday at "Casuarina Senior College" and every Saturday morning at the Charles Darwin University.
He has executed several performances for Ausdance NT, main feature in the promotion for "Lady Salsa", "Maximo de Cuba" shows presented by "Darwin Entertainment Centre", main feature performing in the "Noche Latina" hosted by MGM Darwin Casino, several fundraising events performances including 2005 Aids Gala Ball, performed and DJ at NT Latino Association inaugural event and master minded the historical event, the first annual Darwin Salsa Xtravaganza 2005, featuring Jamie Jesus and Little Liz Australia?s number one from NSW, Jose Martinez, Mary-Grace 2003 Brisbane champions, from QLD and Mike McKoy Australia?s leading event coordinator known as Mister Salsa.
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
