4th Annual Canadian Salsa Championships and 2nd Annual CSC Amateur & Pro-Am Salsa & Hustle Competition

 

Canadian Salsa Championships, Oct. 7, 2010

The 4th Annual Canadian Salsa Championships will be held on Thursday, October 7th, 2010 as part of the Opening Night Gala for the 8th Annual Canada Salsa Congress. The Canadian Salsa Championships will now have 6 divisions – a professional division (qualifier for the World Salsa Championships), an amateur division, 2 Pro-Am Salsa Divisions and 2 Pro-Am Hustle Divisions.  These competitions will provide an opportunity for salsa dancers to showcase their talent and creativity to Canada and to the rest of the world.

We are proud to announce that the professional division is an official qualifying competition for the World Salsa Championships. First and second place winners in the professional division will represent Canada at the 2010 World Salsa Championships to be held in December 2010. The World Salsa Championships, produced by Albert Torres and the Salsa Seven, is now in its 4th year and has earned the reputation as being the most prestigious, most respected, and most watched salsa competition in the world. The finals of the World Salsa Championships will be broadcast worldwide on ESPN International, ESPN 2 and ESPN Deportes.  For more info on the World Salsa Championships, please visit www.worldsalsachampionships.com

 

Location:

Westin Harbour Castle Hotel, 1 Harbour Square (corner of Bay St. & Queen's Quay)
The event is open to the public and is an all ages event.

 

Time:

6:00pm-7:00pm	Competitors can test out floor
7:00pm	All competitors must check in with the stage manager - choose the order in which they will be competing, hand in their CD and receive their printed number sign
8:00pm	Doors open.  Social dancing.  All competitors must be ready, in costume, backstage.
8:30pm - 10:00pm	Canadian Salsa Championships, CSC Amateur & Pro-Am Salsa & Hustle Competition
10:00pm - 2:00 am	Social Dancing with guest DJs including DJ Henry Knowles from New York City.

 

Tickets:

Tickets are $20 per person in advance (available online and at Steps Dance Studio and several Salsa schools in Toronto). Tickets will be $25 at the door. Doors open at 8:00pm.  This is an all ages event and is open to the public.

 

Overview of Professional Competition:

This competition will be a “one – shot” deal meaning that each couple will present a 2 minute choreographed routine using their choice of music. The international panel of judges will judge each couple and the 1st place and 2nd place winners will represent Canada at the World Salsa Championships in Florida in December.  We are only accepting 10 couples in the professional division.  Couples will be registered on a first come, first served basis.  Entry fee must be paid to reserve your spot in the competition.

 

Overview of Amateur Competition:

This competition will be a “one – shot” deal meaning that each couple will present a 2 minute choreographed routine using their choice of music. The international panel of judges will judge each couple and the winners will receive prizes and trophies.  An amateur competitor is considered anyone who has not been paid to teach or to perform.  We are only accepting 10 couples in the amateur division.  Couples will be registered on a first come, first served basis.  Entry fee must be paid to reserve your spot in the competition.

 

Overview of Pro-Am Competition:

The Pro-Am competitions consist of one Professional dancer dancing with an amateur or a student.   A professional is considered anyone who has been paid to teach or to perform. 

Pro-Am Salsa Showcase Format - This competition will be a "one shot" deal meaning that each couple will present a maximum 2 minute choreographed routine using their choice of Salsa music.  The international panel of judges will judge each couple and the winners will receive prizes and medals.

Pro-Am Salsa Heated Format - This competition will consist of heats where several Pro-Am couples will social dance at one time on the floor to a Salsa song chosen by the DJ.  After each 2 minute heat, several of the couples will be eliminated by the judges.  In the final heat, the remaining couples dance again, all at one time, to a song chosen by the DJ, and the judges will select the top 3 couples.  The winners will receive prizes and medals.

Pro-Am Hustle Showcase Format - This competition will be a "one shot" deal meaning that each couple will present a maximum 2 minute choreographed routine using their choice of Hustle music.  The international panel of judges will judge each couple and the winners will receive prizes and medals.

Pro-Am Hustle Heated Format - This competition will consist of heats where several Pro-Am couples will social dance at one time on the floor to a Hustle song chosen by the DJ.  After each 2 minute heat, several of the couples will be eliminated by the judges.  In the final heat, the remaining couples dance again, all at one time to a song chosen by the DJ, and the judges will select the top 3 couples.  The winners will receive prizes and medals.

 

Timing:

Couples in all Salsa divisions may dance on 1 (dancing on the downbeat, LA style) or on 2 (dancing on the upbeat, New York/Puerto Rican style).  Consistency in timing is most important.

 

Registration:

Couples in all divisions must register in advance.  There will be no last minute registration allowed on the day of the event.  To register, please email Jennifer@stepsdancestudio.com. We are only accepting 10 couples per showcase division and 20 couples per heated division. Spots will be filled on a first come, first served basis. Your spot will only be held once payment is received.  The competition is open to all local, national and international dancers. 

 

Fees:

All Professional and Amateur couples competing will be required to pay an entry fee of $50 per couple. This fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.

All Pro-Am couples competing will be required to pay an entry fee of $30 (usually paid for by the Amateur competitor).  This fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.

Please note that spots are limited and will be given out on a first come, first served basis.  Your spot will only be reserved once payment has been received.

Competitors can pay by credit card over the phone or by cheque.  If you prefer to pay by credit card, please call Jennifer at 416-656-7837 (weekdays, 10am-7pm).  If paying by cheque, please make cheque payable to Salsa Congress and mail to:
Steps Dance Studio
1643 Dufferin St., 2nd floor
Toronto, ON
M6H 3L9

Competitors will be on the guest list on Thurs. Oct. 7th and will therefore not have to pay the $20 admission fee for the Opening Night Gala.

 

Judges:

There will be an international panel of invited judges, including several judges from the panel for the finals of the World Salsa Championships.
Head Judge: Billy Fajardo, Miami
Scrutineer: Katie Marlowe, Miami
Judges: Tito Ortos (Puerto Rico), Tamara Livolsi (Puerto Rico), Burju Hurturk (Boston), Sonia Kyriacou (Montreal), Paula Videla-Rodriguez (Toronto)
Please note that absolutely no private filming, video cameras or photography will be allowed at any time.