PARTIES – New Zealand Salsa Congress

2024 PARTIES

FRIDAY

Warm Up party at The Grand

8pm – 1am

@ The Grand – 69 Courtenay Place

COST – $30 Entry payable at door.

Not included in Full Pass.

3 PARTY FLOORS:

Zouk Room

Kizomba Room

Salsa Bachata Room

SATURDAY

Showcase + Grand Latin Ball

7.30pm Doors open

8pm SHOWCASE

Featuring incredible performances by the worlds top Latin dancers plus our kiwi faves!

GRAND LATIN BALL until 2am

4 Party Rooms! Zouk, Kizomba, Salsa & Bachata, Latin Club.

COST – Included in Full Pass and Saturday Pass.

Other Price Options:

ADULT Saturday Show and Party – $60

YOUTH Saturday Show and Party – $35

SUNDAY

Latin Party Central

8pm – 2am Party

4 Party Rooms! Zouk, Kizomba, Salsa & Bachata, Latin Club.

COST – Included in Full Pass and Sunday Pass.

Other Price Options:

ADULT Sunday Party – $45

YOUTH Sunday Party – $25

Party DJs & Schedule

SALSA & BACHATA ROOM

Michael has been DJing on and off for the past 10 years and is a semi-regular feature on the Christchurch Scene. A dancer of many styles, Michael is always on the lookout for new tracks from break out and well known artists and enjoys a mix of the modern and the classics which is sure to get you out on the dance floor!

I’m Walker chavez from Lima Peru.I started dancing salsa 7 years ago. I came to New Zealand 6 years ago my first time was in Wellington then I moved to Queenstown looking for new challenges and opportunities .

I love Latin music, specifically Salsa and Bachata songs.I started playing music in Queenstown at Passion salsa (4 years ago)and Latin dance soul (recently).

I’m playing music at different events here in Otago (Queenstown ,Cromwell,Dunedin)and Southland ( Invercargill) . I created a online radio “Sbradioinnz “ if you want to follow me in Instagram. I’m looking forward to sharing my tunes with everyone in the salsa Congress.

ZOUK ROOM

Adam has led the Zouk community in Wellington since 2012, when he began teaching for Salsa Therapy and also later WeZouk.

Having a large amount of experience in many dance styles including Salsa, Bachata, Brazilian Zouk, Merengue, Bolero, Forro, Samba de Gafieira, Tango, Flamenco, and Polish folk dancing, as well as rocking it out in a band for 10 years has led to his dancing being heavily focused on musicality.

So certainly this great love with all aspects of musicality comes out in his DJing sets. Blending a great mix of familiar old tunes, and popular new ones DJ Adu is guaranteed to get you onto the dance floor to float the night away on a cloud of blissful sound.

KIZOMBA ROOM

Dj Lukaloko has been in the game since 2013 when officially certified as a Dj in 2019, his speciality is to Kizomba of any style however is versatile in many genres including Afro, latin, dance, lo-fi and Hip-Hop.

Playing not only for social dance nights, but he also Deejays at night clubs, special events, festivals and even creates performance and Zumba Mixes for clients of all sorts.

The crowd pleaser is back! His videos have gone viral throughout the Kizomba community in Africa and Europe – welcoming back DJ Switch – resident DJ for Danca Kizomba Wellington! With a flair for showcasing clean transitions and deep knowledge of kizomba, zouk, semba and Urban – you are guaranteed to hear energetic mixes from this talented DJ.

DJ Switch grew up in New Zealand without much in common with Kizomba. However, music and performance has always been a large part of his life, being trained as a concert pianist for almost 20 years.

Kizomba became an obsession after discovering it in 2018. Fascinated with the dance and wanting to learn more about the music and culture, he also started to DJ. With his music theory knowledge and strong work ethic, his progress has been exponential since then. He was fortunate (and terrified!) to be invited to perform at several festivals shortly after.

He quickly caught the attention of several international artists and dance teachers for his energetic and musical sets.

DJ Switch is currently a resident DJ at Danca Kizomba Wellington.

Email [email protected] for bookings.

Social media

Facebook – dj.switchnz / Soundcloud – djswitchnz / Instagram – @djswitchn

LATIN CLUB ROOM

DJ MATIAS

Queenstown based Matias Berardi, originally from Uruguay, started dancing 12 years ago. His enormous love for Salsa music naturally lead him to DJing.

Green AF, with no English, he started attending the local classes with the vision of becoming part of the scene. Quietly confident, he seized the opportunity to run the weekly socials and has been the resident DJ for more than 5 years.

To date the dream has come true.

He runs PASION SALSA QT, being the lead teacher of the school.

He’s one of the organisers of the QUEENSTOWN SALSA FESTIVAL.

Most recently he assisted at the bay salsa festival, organising sound and DJs for the parties.

He has DJ’ed at numerous well known festivals in New Zealand and also at the Perth summer sensual festival in Australia.

This full blown salsero promises to set the dance floor on fire

Sin salsa no hay paraíso!!

DJ DAISY

Daisy started learning Salsa and Bachata dance in 2012, and she fell in love with the warm atmosphere and the friendliness of the dance community…

…which led her to run Latin social parties from 2014. Daisy’s interest in dancing Bachata and Kizomba motivated her to learn how to DJ for social events, and she has been invited to DJ at regular social parties and national Latin events since 2016, including Viva Sunday Social, Latin Fiesta, New Zealand Salsa Congress, Latin Fiesta and other local dance events.

DJ WALKER

I am Walker Chavez from Lima, Peru. I started dancing salsa 8 years ago.

I arrived in New Zealand 7 years ago. My first home was in Wellington then I moved to Queenstown looking for new challenges and opportunities, now living in Invercargill I started teaching some basic salsa and bachata steps and created latin dance venues.

I love Latin music, specifically Salsa and Bachata songs. I started playing music in Queenstown at Pasíon Salsa events 5 years ago and for Latin Soul Dance more recently.

I do live DJ in Otago (Queenstown, Cromwell & Dunedin) and Southland (Invercargill). I created an online radio channel on ZenoFM. @Sbradioinnz if you want to follow me on Instagram. I’m looking forward to sharing my tunes with everyone at the 2023 Salsa Congress. See ya there!!

Chau for now!

ZOUK ROOM

DJ NEAT

DJ Neat (also known as Shan Patel) is originally from London, UK and his passion for dancing started in New Zealand nearly 9 years ago.

Since then he has found a love for DJing and is continuously discovering new Afro Latin music to add to his collection. He is also an avid dancer in Cuban Salsa and Kizomba. You will find DJ Neat at local Salsa and Kizomba socials in Auckland as well as travelling around the country to DJ at festivals. He has DJ’d at NZ Salsa Congress, Aotearoa Cuban Festival, Salsa Tumbao, Spring Weekend Kizomba Festival, Bay Salsa Festival and the Queenstown Salsa Festival. This will be DJ Neat’s 4th appearance at the New Zealand Salsa Congress. You will find him in the Kizomba room.

DJ TWENTYDOSS

Originally from France he discovered Kizomba 4 and 1/2 years ago in Wellington with the Danca crew. Since then he has danced around NZ, Australia, and Europe to pursue his passion.

He now teaches Kizomba classes in Christchurch with Anette, his dance partner in crime! He also runs a weekly 100% Kizomba Social on Thursdays at Chic Bar in collaboration with the Kizomba Conexao team to facilitate some well-deserved weekly hugs within the Christchurch community! He cannot wait to share his Kizomba addiction with you!

C-26

C-26 is a sizzling seven piece salsa band from Wellington. They are a great mix of South American and Kiwi professional musicians who bring vibrant and energetic music to the Wellington scene.

Their sound and style is inspired by the salsa classics from Cuba Puerto Rico and Colombia. Featuring the first female Latino salsa singer in Wellington, Anayibi Loboa from Colombia, C-26 is the Salsa purist’s band, fully live, with no backing tracks, C-26 produces a sound and feel built from the classical combination of horns, timbales, congas, guiro, trumpet, saxophone, piano and bass that defines the authentic salsa experience.