Archive for the ‘General News’ Category

As Christmas is getting closer, we are putting together a little fundraiser for the Children’s Refuge that my husband’s parents run in Mexico. Pam and Alan Skuse care for over 40 children on a daily basis to improve the quality of life they live. Most of these children are victims of abuse, extreme poverty and in some cases orphans.

We are selling Christmas Cards to help the Mission Mexico Refuge.

A pack of 10 cards is $10. All cards were designed by the children. 
If you would like to support this fundraiser, please email me; talaricol@hotmail.com with the quantity you would like. Please let all your friends know.

Deadline for orders is the 1st of December 2009.

For more information on Mission Mexico Refuge, please visit: www.lovelifehope.com

By Lupita
Instructor | Latin & Alternative Dance Studio Maryborough
0423 505 434

Proudly supported by the Salsa Group & Design House:

Saturday night was the hugest Salsa Party to date with over 200 people dancing up a Salsa storm @ the Bayswater. 

The fun started at lunch time with Hervey Bay’s Jeanette Maynes from Design House and event manager of the Salsa Group parading the incredible Latin dance performers from Vida Latina Dance Co. along our Esplanade at Torquay promoting their upcoming performance; Latin Fantasy “Lolita’s Story’ creating quite a stir for tourists & motorists. This production will be staged at ZPAC Theatre, Scarness on the 18^th & 19^th of December 2009 with tickets on sale now at Mary Ryan’s Bookstore.

Design House is the major sponsor of the Salsa Group and is also sponsoring and providing advertising and media assistance to Latin Fantasy “Lolita’s Story’ & The Vida Latina Dance Co. “I feel the Fraser Coast needs more fun social alternative’s for all age groups and being able to attract such friendly and professional performers to our area through the Salsa Group and promote them utilising Design House is just an amazing opportunity”, says Jeanette.

The party started with some Latin music to put everyone in the mood, and led into a performance from local Latin dance students followed by a Salsa basics lesson with their instructor Taylor Harte from ‘I Harte Latin’ dance studio in Hervey Bay. 

Then the Vida Latina Dance Troupe really got the party pumping, interacting and dancing with attendee’s, many commenting on their down to earth attitude for such professional & talented performers. They held a male and female dance competition to win tickets to their performance In Dec, being quite hilarious especially the “Bum Shake” comp. Next the Vida Latina Ladies paraded in their petite feathered Samba costumes adding to the excitement of the crowd with several jaws dropping in admiration and photo’s being snapped. 

The party wrapped up close to midnight with a fun high energy night of socialising & dancing had by all …. The next Salsa ‘Christmas’ Party is on Sat Dec 19^th at the Bayswater with the Vida Latina Dance Troupe attending again for their performance after party. 

A big Thank You to the Vida Latina Dance Troupe, I Harte Latin, the Bayswater Hotel, Design House, Fraser Coast Chronicle & the Salsa Group and all those who attended making these nights possible!!!!

By Jeanette Maynes

Friday night my friend Naomi & I booked into Jupiter’s Casino to watch Lady Salsa!!! What a sensational, electric & high energy performance. We thoroughly enjoyed the show and even went up on stage and did some Salsa! The show is a must see!

Shake your maracas and shimmy on down for the sauciest stage show in Jupiters’ history.
Hit the steamy streets of Havana and take a dip in the red hot world of Rumba, Mambo and Salsa for the dancing revolution that changed the world.
Lady Salsa is a stunning dance spectacular that charts Cuba’s vibrant and amazing history through the music and rhythm of this intoxicating island.
This whirling kaleidoscope of dazzling colour and seductive glamour features the red-hot rumba, mambo, cha-cha-cha and the sensational salsa. Gorgeous dancers in an incredible array of glittering, sexy costumes and an impossibly funky band, transport you to the steamy streets of Havana and the world of Salsa, rum and revolutions.

Saturday it was off to DouDouLe Latin Dance Camp 2009 for a full day of dance workshops plus a party and some amazing performances!!! This camp is organized by Jean-Luc Lambs whom I met and found to be an extremely pleasant, professional and helpful person. The thank you speech at the end of the night seemed to sum up his personality with the comment, “Heart of Gold!” What Jean-Luc is doing for the Australian Latin Dance Community is sensational and even with all the pressure of organising such a huge event he displayed no signs of stress. The 368 Latin enthusiasts in attendance had the choice of over 20 different Latin workshops in a range of levels throughout the day, followed by a huge party with the Sauciest & Hottest Latin Dancing I have ever come across.

The Party included performances from some of Australia’s most famous and talented Latin Dancers. It was an amazing experience to be part of such a huge Latin dance event and to feel the electric energy run through your body. I can’t wait for next year’s camp!!!

Saturday Nights Performers: 
1.     Jaime Jesus & Mary (Jaime organises the Sydney Salsa Congress)
2.    Latin Motion Rising stars
3.    Kevin & Chelsea
4.    Carlos & Elli (Australian Salsa Cabaret Champions)
5.    Csaba & Val
6.    Kadu & Larissa (who made Zouk famous in Australia)
7.    CDA Samba
8.    Modus Vivendi
9.     Oliver Pineda & Luda Kroitor  (the current 5 times World Salsa Champions from ‘Dancing With The Stars’)

Right on the beautiful beaches of the Gold Coast….DouDouLe Latin Dance Camp was founded in 2008 by Jean-Luc Lambs , who is also the Organiser for Brisbane Number 1 Latin Club “Casablanca Sunday Salsa Seduction”. Jean-Luc is also the Official MC to many Latin Parties, Festivals , Congresses and Concerts around Australia and has built himself a reputation for being partly involved in bringing the Latin Community together in his home town Brisbane.

DouDouLe Latin Dance Camp is designed to bring all Latin Dancers from different schools and cities under 1 roof, in a different setting and environment to your Dance Halls. A relaxed, Holiday environment makes this Latin Event one of its kind and it’s right on the Beaches of the Famous Gold Coast. His ideas of everyone together under 1 roof is to bring Unity and Love and also bring Dancers closer together by sharing more personal time together and the Passion that everybody brings with them , which is Latin Dance. For more information please click here .

[Info via Jupiters Casino & DouDouLe Latin Dance Camp]

A great day out in Hervey Bay was had to the lively and captivating sounds of ‘Fiesta Tropicale’ at the Fraser Coast Cultural Festival on the Scarness Esplanade foreshore. The band really added another eliment to the Festival with people stopping to dance in the streets!

Over 150 people enjoyed a fantastic time last night at the Fraser Coast Cultural Festival , ‘Fiesta Dance Party’ at Pepper’s Pier Resort in Hervey Bay.

The meal was delicious and the band ‘Fiesta Tropicale’ from Brisbane was extremely entertaining keeping the dance floor full all night!

By Jeanette Maynes

Wednesday night it was off for my first dance lesson with Taylor Harte a new Street Latin Salsa Teacher in Hervey Bay at Stafford Park Sports & Leisure Centre (Seagulls Football Club).

I took part in two lessons learning the basics of the progressive Jive, Cha Cha and Salsa and had a good time thoroughly enjoying the exercise.

Taylor knows her stuff and her lessons are strictly FUN!

There was a good turnout for the first night with over 20 dance enthusiasts attending thought it always great to attract more, especially guys. So if you’re keen please contact Taylor and come on down to the classes. For more information please click here.

Taylor Harte
I Harte Latin
0408 055 203 
taylor_7683@hotmail.com

‘I Harte Latin’ on Facebook please click here.

HAVE YOU WATCHED GIANNE! 

GIANNE ABBOTT from Brisbane Queensland is in the Top 12 of “So You Think You Can Dance” on Sundays Channel 10 at 7.30pm 

Let’s support Gianne on SYTYCD by voting for her and keeping her in the competition.  

Send SMS message to 19 10 10 and type in Gianne or call check the number from the show - changes weekly

[Image Via So You Think You Can Dance}

 ‘I Harte Latin’ on Facebook please click here.

Street Latin Salsa, Cha Cha, Rumba, Samba & Jive

When:  Wednesday Nights (starting the 18th March 2009)
Where:  Stafford Park Sports & Lesiure Centre (Seagulls Football Club)
 187 Bideford St. Torquay
Time:  7pm (50mins) Beginners
 8pm (50mins) Beginners
Cost:  $10 a lesson
Bridal & private lessons available

Call Now to Enrol, Please Contact….

Taylor Harte
I Harte Latin
0408 055 203 

About 1pm today I went over to Enzo’s Cafe on the Esplanade in Hervey Bay for some lunch and a coffee to check out the sounds of Soul’Sa (Fleetwood, Shannon & Reza) a newly formed local band that play Afro Cuban & Latin Grooves and were performing all original material inspired by “Soukous” which is very popular in Africa. 

The music was very relaxing and just right for the beautiful beach setting with a cool summer breeze flowing through.

It was lovely to catch up with Lupita the Fraser Coasts Latin and Alternative Dance Instructor from Maryborough and her family, several members of the Fraser Coasts Groupo Latino plus other business people I knew. There was quite a large turnout.

As it was the bands first ever performance I think with some more practice they may become quite popular in the area.  

I personally had a fantastic day out! 

Please click on images to view larger size.