2003 United Kingdom Salsa Congress - music festival

Latin Beat Magazine, Feb, 2004

Some 2,000 salsa lovers mamboed, shimmied and dipped their way from all corners of the globe to take part in a celebration of salsa music and dance at the UK International Salsa Congress at the Butlin Resort, West Sussex in September, 2003.

Organized by salsa dance promoter Salsa UK, this was biggest salsa dance festival ever staged in the UK, just 90 minutes by car from London. A dance marathon, there were three all night parties until 5 a.m., the best DJs on the scene, over four hours of breathtaking showcases from international performers, more than 40 of the world's top salsa teachers and performers, and an intensive two-day program of over 80 workshops.

On Saturday night, the highlight was the European premiere of the hit New York show, Latin Madness--a high energy musical and dance performance celebrating the history of mambo in the U.S. and starring over 20 top NY dancers, comedians and musicians. This was the first time the company has appeared outside the U.S. and the performance was exclusive to the Congress.

On Sunday night, the Spanish Harlem Orchestra entertained an audience of 2,000 with numbers from their hit album Un Gran Día En El Barrio (a musical tribute to salsa's roots in Spanish Harlem). The SHO is an ensemble of some of NY's freest salsa musicians, including founder, pianist and arranger Oscar Hernández, Ray de la Paz and Frankie Vázquez. With a unique appeal for both salsa and jazz lovers, the SHO is a widely acclaimed group, winning Best New- Artist category in the 2003 Billboard latin Awards and nominated for "Best New Album" in the 2003 Grammy Awards. The orchestra's gig at the Congress was one of only two confirmed dates on this, its second UK tour.

Top salsa dance teachers and performers included personalities such as Edie the Salsa Freak; Johnny Vázquez, the world's greatest exponent of speed salsa; Cuban cousins Raphael and Janet, current Salsa World Champions; NY stunt woman and Latin hustle expert Stracy Diaz and from the UK, Super Mario, "The Million Moves Man." (Photos: Alison Williams).