SalsaBangkok Fiesta 2009, the fifth year of this multi-cultural dance and music festival, will present dance showcases of renowned international and local artists under four different themes at four different venues in Bangkok during November 5 – 8. The event is being organized by SalsaBangkok, a community-based dance network established in 1999 aiming to promote Salsa and other cultural dances in Thailand, in collaboration with His Excellency Felipe Frydman, Ambassador of Argentina to the Kingdom of Thailand. Highlights this year include the Salsa and Argentine Tango dance extravaganza, to be held on November 6th at two big ballrooms (one room for Salsa and one room for Argentine Tango) of the Grand Millennium Sukhumvit, with the first time live Argentine Tango band from Argentina. A special performance at the SalsaBangkok Fiesta 2009 will be presented by Nestor Manuelian from Australia’s Modus Vivendi Dance Productions, who is 6-times Australian Salsa Champion, 3-times world Salsa Championships finalist and Asian Salsa champion in 2007. His coaching and choreographing skills has also given him the opportunity to coach and choreograph for the Channel 7 hit show — “Dancing with the Stars”.

Mexican-American Latin dancer Ana Masacote, widely known as a dance diva with sensual body movements, will feature breathtaking performances in Salsa together with her husband Joel Simeon Masacote, a talented dancer and gifted musician who has merged his skills in music and dance. Ana and Joel Masacote, who run Boston-based Masacote Entertainment, have travelled to 14 countries performing and teaching around the world.

Marsha Yuan, an American actress and model in Hong Kong and pole dance champion in the “Pole Art” category of the 2008 International Pole Dance Championship in Manila, will make her Pole Art Performance debut in Thailand at Dream Hotel on November 8th — Salsa de La Rosa night.

More artists from Canada, Malaysia, India, Vietnam, and Thailand will also present their dance showcases at the event this year.

After the performance, international DJs — DJ Rodrigo from Kyoto and New York-based Henry Knowles, known as the world’s top Salsa disc jockey, will create an ambience for Salseros to dance all night through their breadth of knowledge about Salsa music and its history.

The four-day SalsaBangkok Fiesta 2009 also includes a unique Social Dance Competition on Saturday 7th November to be held at Emporium Parc. Dance lessons from international dance instructors will be provided for beginner to advanced levels at rumPUREE dance studio. If you can walk, you can dance!

SalsaBangkok Fiesta 2009 is officially sponsored by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Embassy of Argentina in Thailand, Emporium Department Store, the Grand Millennium Sukhumvit Hotel and Dream Hotel Bangkok.

Tickets are available at the following venues:
rumPUREE dance studio (BTS: Chidlom) 081-430-6684, 081-439-0200
Salsa Hacha (BTS: Saladang) 02-634-3383, 081-374-7320
La Rueda (BTS: Asoke) 084-714-7074

ABOUT SALSABANGKOK
SalsaBangkok is a community-based dance network founded in 1999 which aims to promote Salsa and other cultural dances in Thailand. The group, mainly run by rumPUREE dance studio and Salsa Hacha Dance Studio, has organized dance workshops from international dance professionals and conduct dance activities with prestigious organizations such as the United Nation, UNESCO, embassies, Chamber of Commerce and Women’s Club of Thailand.

Every year, SalsaBangkok Fiesta is organized to promote Salsa and cultural dances in Thailand. The event presents different dance activities such as dance parties, dance performance from international artists, dance competitions, dance workshops, and other related activities.

Participants to the SalsaBangkok Fiesta has increased every year, from 200 participants in 2005 to 2,000 attendants last year of the four-day festival. 40 per cent of the participants travel from outside Thailand.

PROGRAMME

November 5, 2009 / Thursday THE AMATUER NIGHT VENUE: CLUB CULTURE
8.00 pm – 1.00 am	SalsaBangkok welcomes you to the SalsaBangkok Fiesta 2009 by showcasing dance performances from students and semi-professionals from dance studios in Thailand and dance demonstration from international guest artists. Dance all night as DJ Henry Knowles, the world’s most famous Latin DJ from New York, teams up with DJ Rodrigo, top Asian DJ from Japan. Dress Code – No Slippers Ticket THB 500 (discounts with early purchase)
November 6, 2009 / Friday SALSA — ARGENTINE TANGO EXTRAVAGANZA VENUE: GRAND MILLENNIUM SUKHUMVIT HOTEL
8.00 pm – 1.00 am Ana & Joel Masacote © SalsaBangkok Fiesta 2009 Nestor Manuelian © SalsaBangkok Fiesta 2009	SalsaBangkok together with HE Felipe Frydman, Argentina’s ambassador to Thailand, proudly presents this first-time-in Bangkok Salsa and Argentine Tango dance extravaganza at the Grand Millennium Sukhumvit and live Argentine Tango band direct from Argentina.The other highlights includes a 1.30-hour dance showcase from dance professionals from around the world featuring Ana and Joel Masacote, from the USA who perform and teach around the world, and Nestor Manuelian from Australia, who is 6 times Australian Salsa Champion, 3 times world Salsa Championships finalist and Asian Salsa champion in 2007. Other dance professionals from Malaysia, India, Vietnam and Thailand will also be participating. Dance all night in two beautiful ballrooms at the 5-star Grand Millennium Sukhumvit with DJ Henry Knowles and DJ Rodrigo. Dress Code – No Slippers Ticket THB 800 (discounts with early purchase)
November 7, 2009 / Saturday DANCE WORKSHOPS VENUE: rumPUREE dance studio
12.00 pm – 5.00 pm	rumPUREE © SalsaBangkok Fiesta 2009 Learn from the best 10 master classes from international dance instructors. Classes range from beginner to advanced. If you can walk, you can dance! Ticket THB 600 per class (discounts with early purchase)
SALSA BANGKOK SOCIAL DANCE COMPETITION VENUE: EMPORIUM PARC
7.00 pm – 12.00 am	Salsa dance lovers from around the world will be competing to win the title. Enjoy the lovely outdoor atmosphere in the hub of Bangkok where everyone dresses up — ladies in printed dress and gentlemen in white pants. International performers will entertain you with world dance showcases from the Caribbean to Thailand. DJ Henry Knowles and DJ Rodrigo will spin Salsa and Latin music to get you dancing. Dress Code – Dress for Ladies, White Pants for Gentlemen Ticket THB 800 (discounts with early purchase)
AFTER PARTY @ inBLU, GRAND MILLENNIUM SUKHUMVIT VENUE: GRAND MILLENNIUM SUKHUMVIT HOTEL
1.00 am – 4.00 am	The night’s just started. Continue dancing in the chilled-out atmosphere at inBLU, Grand Millennium Sukhumvit. No cover charge. This party is open to full party pass holder only! No Cover Charge (Full party pass holder only)
November 8, 2009 / Sunday SALSA DE LA ROSA VENUE: FLAVA, DREAM HOTEL
8.00 pm – 1.00 am Marsha Yuan © SalsaBangkok Fiesta 2009	Ladies dress in red and gentlemen in black for the romantic theme night and farewell to the festival. The highlight of the event will be the first-time-in-Thailand Pole Art Performance by Marsha Yuan, pole dance champion of the International Pole Dance Championship in Manila 2008 together with many sensual performances from performing dance artists. The winner of Salsa Bangkok Fiesta 2009 opens the dance floor. Super surprise performances by the sexiest dancers in town. Dance until dawn at the popular venue, Flava at Dream Hotel. Dress Code – Ladies in Red, Men in Black Ticket THB 500 (discounts with early purchase)

HISTORY OF SALSA
Salsa is another social dance from Latin America. Salsa has origins in Cuban music but credit for its worldwide popularity belongs to the Puerto Ricans of New York.

Born in Cuba and popularized in New York City, the word “Salsa” first emerged in New York around the mid-1960s. Originally the term was only used for music that was developed from Son Montuno (Cuba). Cubans and Puerto Ricans who migrated to New York developed and combined it with big band featuring more complex instrumentals and named this great mix of instruments, “Salsa”.

The term salsa, much like the term jazz, is simply a word used to describe a fusion of different rhythms.

Interest in Latino musical styles has increased throughout the world, partly a consequence of American economic and social imperialism. Popular artists used lyrics that told a story about the struggles experienced by an average Puerto Rican in New York. Other artists expressed more emotional feelings about their aspirations for the future, the patriotism towards their country, and romance.

Big band leaders such as Puerto Rico’s Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez and Cuba’s Machito were credited with forming the musical foundation for the creation of Salsa.

With the popularity of Salsa, Salsa Congress or Salsa Festival has been organized in all continents. The first Salsa Congress was initiated in Puerto Rico about 15 years ago. Salsa Congress/Salsa Festival is a venue for dancers who love Latin music to develop their dance skills as well as to enjoy music and dance performances all through the festival time, which normally takes about 2 to 7 days.

Check complete info at http://www.salsabangkok.com/fiesta2009

More information, please contact 086-303-4776
E-mail: salsabangkok_fiesta@hotmail.com