Mt Pleasant's very own dance instructors and their Latin Fire Salsa team are hitting the dance floor in Australia after being selected to represent New Zealand at the upcoming Sydney Salsa Congress.
It's the third time the team has been selected and after winning the best overall performance at the New Zealand/Pacific Salsa selections in Wellington over Easter the team is now preparing to take on the best in the world at the Congress in January 2009.
Team member and instructor/owner of Latin Fire Donna Frost says attending the congress is a great honor for the team. "Getting to go to Syndey is basically a chance for us to learn off international salsa teachers and see some of the best salsa dancers in action which is a fantastic experience."
Donna says that while they may only be a part-time team from New Zealand they intend to put on a good show and try and wow the judges. "It's always a little daunting turning up to a congress where there are so many professional dancers and there is always a really high standard and a wide variety of teams but for the two years we have been we have always had a great response which is encouraging."
The Latin Fire salsa team is made up of four women and four men ranging from their teens through to their forties but as Donna says the age difference is what makes them a success as a team. "We really find that having that age gap between us really works well for us and helps us to standout and the buzz we get from all performing together is just great."
Donna says that team salsa is growing in poularity but she would love to see more people giving it a go. "Dancing with the Stars has definitely raised the profile of dancing but unfortunately it is ballroom dancing that seems to have cashed in on people wanting to give it a try and not so much Latin. There is still a real stigma around men dancing and although Dancing with the Stars has helped to start change that it is still very much there. But the funny thing is that once men give it a go they often become almost addicted to it."