Salsa congress
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Salsa music
In 1997, this term was used for the first time to describe a salsa festival that met some of the characteristics of a professional congress. Since then, they have become popular in almost every country.
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Introduction
A professional congress is a conference for specialists or researchers to present and discuss their work.
Professional congresses have a set of common elements: presentations, lectures, panel discussions, roundtables, workshops, etc.
Congresses provide an important channel for exchange of information between attendants.
However, a salsa congress is mainly a meeting of professional and amateur salsa dancers to enjoy salsa. Salsa congresses also have a set of common elements: Shows, workshops, social parties, live bands, booths, master classes or competitions.
When does a salsa festival reach the level of a salsa congress, an international salsa congress or a world salsa congress? Several criteria can be used: Number of participants, international lineup, media coverage or prestige are the most common.
Puerto Rico Salsa Congress
The first salsa congress in the world took place in Puerto Rico in 1997. The promoter was Eli Irizarri. The number of participants of this first edition was 375, coming from 19 different countries.
In 1998, the number of participants was 550 from 23 countries and 32 salsa companies performing and teaching. In 1999 the participants were 800 from 34 countries with about 56 salsa companies performing. In 2008, three Puerto Rican couples, Licelott Maldonado & Kelvin Hernández, Christian Santiago & Jackeline Ramos and Jessica Quiles & Edwin Nieves, reached the finals of the 2008 edition. This edition of the “World Salsa Open”, concluded with Spain (Anita Santos and Adrián Rodríguez) winning the first possition, Puerto Rico (Licelott Maldonado and Kelvin Hernández) as runner-up and Argentina (Fernando Alonso and Ayelen Gauna) in the third place. The first two spots of the junior category were won by Puerto Rico, with Gabriela Morales & José Pabón winning the world championship and Jessica Muñoz & Emmanuel López being the runner-up couple. Spain’s María Garrido and David Martín concluded third.
Congreso mundial de la salsa
The All Stars Entertainment company and Bacardí promoted between 1999 and 2001 a salsa tour, called the “Congreso Mundial de la salsa” in several locations including New York, Los Angeles, Curaçao, Denver, Tokyo, Bombay, Calcuta, Valencia, Roma, Torino, Milan, Santiago de Compostela, Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, London, Amsterdam, Miami, Mexico, Panamá, Colombia, Venezuela, Guayaquil, Osaka, Buenos Aires, Sydney, Paris or San Juan de Puerto Rico.
West Coast Salsa Congress
In 1999 and 2000, one of the cities visited by the Congreso Mundial de la salsa was Los Angeles. The promoter Albert Torres and Bacardí made one of the most successful salsa congresses in that city.
Since 2001, Albert Torres produced that event without the help of Bacardí nor the Congreso Mundial de la salsa tour. That first year, 2001, the event had about 3000 participants.
The West Coast Salsa Congress is a salsa congress created by Albert Torres and the Bacardí team of the Congreso mundial de la salsa in 1999, two years after the first salsa congress in the world, the Puerto Rico Salsa Congress.
In 1999 and 2000, one of the cities visited by the Congreso Mundial de la salsa tour was Los Angeles. This was the beginning of this successful salsa music event. Since 2001, Albert Torres produced that event without the help of Bacardí nor the Congreso Mundial de la salsa tour. That first year, 2001, the event had about 3000 participants.
Salsa congresses in Europe
There is not many information about the early days of salsa congresses in Europe. There seems to be some festival in Holland and Pontins (UK) in 1997.
Then the Bacardí tour came to several European cities between 1999 and 2001. Then in 2001, Paris (France) and Murcia (Spain) salsa congresses took place for the first time.
In 2002, many of the most successful and relevant salsa congresses in Europe were started: the UK Congress, salsorro, Simposium de la salsa (Madrid), Rome, Hamburg, Switzerland Salsa Congress at Zurich etc.
In 2005 started Tallinn Salsafestival (TSF) in Estonia.
References
- ^ “Pasan a la ronda final del Salsa Open tres parejas boricuas” (in Spanish). Primera Hora” (2008-07-25). Retrieved on 2008-07-28.
- ^ a b “Revalida España como campeón” (in Spanish). Primera Hora (2008-07-28). Retrieved on 2008-07-28.