Jennifer Aucoin
Steps Dance Studio owner and Canada Salsa Congress Founder Jennifer Aucoin took a few moments from the organized chaos that is the week before the 2007 Canada Salsa Congress to describe how Toronto became a stop on road to the 
3rd World Salsa Championships 12-16 Dec 2007 Orlando FL.
"Ever since Berlin closed its doors and I ran the Toronto Salsa Competition at the Capitol, I have wanted to do another annual competition but I was so busy with the Congress and with opening the new studio - Steps Dance Studio - that it was hard to find the time.
When I heard that Albert Torres was planning a new World Salsa Championships, I knew that it would be prestigious and well-run and that is was something that I would want to get involved in. Albert has a heart of gold and a keen business sense and he does things for the right reasons - because he truly wants to keep Latin music and dance alive and he wants the musicians and dancers to be shown the respect that they deserve for their art.
Albert asked me to judge the 2nd Annual World Salsa Championships finals in Las Vegas, December 2006. It was an honour to represent Canada on the esteemed judging panel and to work alongside Albert, Billy Fajardo and Katie Marlow, the head judge and scrutineer. Once I saw how the competition was run and Salsa Seven's vision for the future of the event, I knew that I wanted to hold a Canadian qualifying competition.
This will now be an annual event and I believe that it will help to raise the profile of Canadian salsa dancers even higher. I have seen the talent and level of performance and choreographic expertise really explode in Canada in the last 5 years and am excited to help showcase that talent to the world."
2008 Notes
Last Canadian Qualifier for the 4th hWorld Salsa Championships is Thursday 9 October at Level Night Club -- 102 Peter Street @ Adelaide. $20 cover. Doors open 8:00pm. Lesson at 8:15pm. Music at 9:00pm. DJs Henry Knowles (New York, DJ Julio, DJ Gio and DJ Nilson spin the tunes.
First place winners in On1 and On2 Divisions get airfare and a buy into the the finals. There is a Last Minute Qualifying Round on Wednesday 3 December for those who did not win elsewhere.
Rules are here.
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Portions of the 3-6 Dec 2008 World Salsa Championships - Orlando FL. will be broadcast worldwide on ESPN International and ESPN Deportes in 2009.
2008 Judges:
Billy & Katie; Tito & Tamara; Burju Hurturk; Sonia Kyriacou; Paula Videla-Rodriguez. MC Mr. Albert Torres is the MC.
Note
The Canadian Qualifier for the 2007 3rd World Salsa Championships is being held Thursday 4 October 2007 at Live@Courthouse, 57 Adelaide St. East, Toronto. $20 Cover; Doors open 9:00pm. Dancing until 11:00pm. Competition 11:00-Midnight. Dancing Midnight-2:00am.
The judges include some of the following: Head Judge - Billy Fajardo, Miami; Scrutineer - Katie Marlow, Miami; Tito Ortos, Puerto Rico; Burcu Hurturk, Boston; Ismael Otero, New Jersey; Sonia Kyriacou, Montreal; Paula Videla-Rodriguez, Toronto. Competitors, its not too late! To register and get details, visit Canada Salsa Congress.
Note: Portions of the 2007 World Salsa Championships - Orlando FL - 12-16 Dec 2007 will be broadcast worldwide on ESPN International and ESPN Deportes.