DANZ QUARTERLY No 4 June 2006

Setting Their Pants on Fire

by Francesca Horsley

If it is possible, Jambalaya was even hotter this year. The Latin dance festival, held in Rotorua over Easter and now in its fourth year, has become a sensation. Just the stats alone are impressive – 600 people had festival passes, 2000 people came on the weekend, some classes were 200 – 300 strong, the Carnival parade had 7000 people lining the streets, their six shows attracted about 2600 people…

One of the organisers, Heidi Hughes says that the number of festival goers that come from all over the country is steadily growing year by year by 15 – 20 percent. Added to that, the number of local people who come to the shows and events is also growing.

“I think we are getting more familiar with the local community and the events are becoming more familiar to them. Initially it was quite foreign.”

“This year we made a lot of the workshops, especially the dance workshops, quite big and open. In the gonga and rumba workshop five charismatic Cuban dancers were up in the front getting people to feel the grove; it was lots of fun.”

The most popular style is the well-established salsa. “We have beginners, loads of intermediates, and a few advanced dancers. We get teachers in from overseas and people come from all over the country and Australia to do salsa at the festival.” Also popular were the Cuban rumba and West African styles.

Heidi says Rotorua is a great place to have the festival. “It is quite a big place, with lots of cultural activities, arts and music; really interesting things going on with motivated people. Plus Te Wãnanga o Aotearoa’s Performing Arts School is getting involved. But the best thing is the hot pools. It’s a great combination of doing dance all day and then hanging out in the hot pools. It has saved us every year from falling apart.”

Return to Contents page of DANZ QUARTERLY N0 4 June 2006