Sponsorship Info

The Beautiful Spirit of Canada • The Passion of Dance • The Intensity of Competition • The Drive for Excellence • Unifying a Community of Dancers • Celebrating Talent and Creativity • Promoting the Culture, Flavour and Style of Salsa…The 2008 Canada Salsa Congress!

The Canada Salsa Congress is an annual event which celebrates the diverse and creative talents of salsa dancers coming together from across the country and all over the world. Over the past 5 years, the event has motivated, enhanced and elevated the dance training of over twenty thousand dance teachers, students, performers and dance aficionados- and this year only gets better!

We are pleased to announce that the Canada Salsa Congress will play host for the second year to the Canadian Salsa Championships. This official qualifying competition will send first place winners in each division to represent Canada at the 2008 World Salsa Championships in December to be held in Disney World, Florida and broadcast by ESPN.

This year’s Canada Salsa Congress features an outstanding lineup of performers, elite instructors, and intense competitors. This event has realized significant growth, generated media interest and achieved international exposure as one of the best-run Salsa Congresses in the world.

Event Highlights
• Largest Salsa event held in Canada.
• Over 5000 attendees at the 2007 Congress!
• World-renowned instructors from Puerto Rico, Spain, Colombia, New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Boston, and across Canada.
• Opening Night Gala on Thursday October 9th, 2008 featuring the Canadian Salsa Championships.
• Live band featured on Saturday Night; Johnny Polanco y su Conjunto Amistad, direct from Los Angeles.
• Over 50 electrifying dance performances by some of the world’s greatest salsa dance companies with professional staging, sound, lighting and 2 large screens.
• All of the events – workshops, performances, parties, trade show, accommodations – take place under one roof at the Sheraton Centre Hotel, providing constant day and night exposure for sponsors and vendors.
• Over 51, 000 square feet of meeting space has been reserved for the event and we have committed to selling a minimum of 400 room nights.

Our goal is to provide a forum to showcase Canadian talent and to expose the Canadian dance scene to some of the most innovative and inspirational instructors and performers from around the world. We strive to promote salsa as being accessible to all ages, all cultures, all walks of life. In doing so, we hope to promote healthy lifestyle choices, respect for all cultures, a greater appreciation of the performing arts, and an increased interest in both Toronto and the Spanish speaking countries where Salsa originated as tourism destinations.

Venue
• Sheraton Centre Hotel, 123 Queen St. W, Toronto
• 3 spacious workshop venues, Grand Ballroom (the largest hotel ballroom in Canada), trade show and attendee accommodations all under one roof.

Attendees
• 500 – 800 workshop attendees each day.
• 1800 – 2200 performance and party attendees each night
• A multicultural mix of people, most between the ages of 20 and 45 years.
• Participants from all over the GTA, across Canada, the U.S.A. and the Caribbean.

Media
• Media coverage and promotion has included the Toronto Star, 24 Hours (a division of the Toronto Sun), Telelatino, OMNI TV, CIRV Radio, CBC Radio, Yahoo.ca, NOW magazine, Correo Canadiense, Compra y Venta, Toronto Hispano magazine and TorontoHispano.com, Vida Latina magazine, REDto.com, Toronto.com, LiveWithCulture.ca and numerous salsa websites.
• Promotional campaigns will take place at various cultural events and Latin festivals across Ontario including Salsa on St. Clair, Hispanic Fiesta, TLN Latinfest, Harbourfront summer weekend events and numerous international Salsa Congresses in Puerto Rico, Los Angeles, Miami, New York and Montreal.

Testimonials
-I was amazed at how busy it was. It was fabulous… Also, I wanted to thank you for the opportunity to sell my shoes…they were a hit, like you said!! Please reserve a vendor spot for next year!
Elizabeth, Comme Il Faut Shoes

-I had an amazing time at the Salsa Congress. I was impressed with all the logistics, performances and organization of the Congress. Toronto Hispano Magazine

-I was very impressed with your Congress. I’ve been to many over the years, all around the world (as a musician with Spanish Harlem Orchestra)…everything went smoothly and professionally. Pete Nater

-I really want to thank you for what I consider to be the best weekend I have had, ever….The Congress went well beyond my expectations…I thought I wouldn’t stay late for dancing… But I couldn’t leave…I stayed till 4 every morning. Elissa

- The Salsa Congress was fantastic. A bunch of us drove in from Detroit and we all thought it was truly worth the trip. We look forward to coming again next year. Glenn

-I danced a lot, met old friends, made new ones, I WILL put next years date in my calendar! Nellie

-I had a fabulous time at the conference. It was my first salsa congress and I absolutely LOVED it. Can’t wait until next year. Katie

For additional details and the complete Sponsorship Package, contact Jennifer Aucoin at 416-656-STEP (7837) or jennifer@stepsdancestudio.com