Pefect weather framed the first Salsa in Toronto Festival at Ontario Place. Organized by Tele Latino Networks (TLN) New York's Kevin Kevin Ceballo sang three sets! Local musicians, including Daniel Stone and Lusito provided passionate tight orchestration through the entire evening.
Various Hot Spots throughout the park included travelling musicians Jorge Sanchez & The Unforgettable Trio / Trio Los Inolvidables, Mapale, and Imbayakunas.
Rhythmic Fire offered free lessons and performed several routines at their spot, while
Salsa for Singles were running demos.
Swizzle Sticks towered over the crowd and even danced a little samba with Maracatu's dancers and drums.
DJ Julio was the event DJ before and in between Kevin Ceballo sets.
Kevin Ceballo sung many salsa anthems that kept the crowd dancing throughout the evening.
Salsa in Toronto reached out through part of Toronto's CNE grounds by the Automotive Building, the notes floating in the fragrent summer perfumed with Linden blossoms.
Salsa Competition
Street dancing ruled at the first Salsa in Toronto / Salsa on Saint Clair Competition at Ontario Place Thursday 10 July.
With a very sticky "non-skid" stage, dancers powered through turns, danced right out of their shoes and entertained the onlookers with their sabor seldom seen!
Organized and Co MC'd by Steps Dance Studio's Jennifer, Dance to Live's Paula, iFreeStyle's Angus, and
Salsa for Singles's Betty Colon judged this very fast paced contest held between sets of the Kevin Ceballo concert.
DJ Julio spun some very interesting tunes that entertained the onlookers, but gave the competitors a chance to really show their stuff in this high stakes contest.
Prizes were substantial with the
1st Place Amateur winning a Trip for 2 to Mexico;
2nd Place Amateur winning 2 Saturday night tickets to the Canada Salsa Congress & 2 tickets to TLN Latinfest; and
3rd Place Amateur receiving 2 tickets to TLN Latinfest!
The 1st Place Semi-Pro won Trip for 2 to Mexico;
2nd Place Semi-Pro: won 2 tickets to the Professional Development series of dance workshops and seminars on Fri.10 Oct. at the Canada Salsa Congress & 2 ticktets to TLN Latinfest; and
3rd Place Semi-Pro: 2 tickets to TLN Latinfest!
In the end it was experience from dancing in street festivals that pushed a pair of Rhythmic Fire dancers, Katty Valdivia Giuria & Partner over the top to win the Semi-Pro class.
Manuela Astudillo & Steven Lopez won the Amateur class. Silvana Rotti & Angelo De Torres came in second int the semi-pro class.
congratulations to all who entered and put it all on the line on a tough stage before judges and a screaming crowd.
Videos coming soon.
