Numbers - it all comes down to numbers. Six Judges. Five months of hard work, sweat, even injuries. Four Amateur couples. Three professional couples. Two minutes for each routine. And finally the number One. One winner in each category.
Up for grabs was a trip to Bermuda to perform at Bermuda Nights in August 2008 for the winning professional couple. The Amateurs were competing for a trip to Punta Cana.
Professional
Couple 1 Danilo & Esther have been dancing and performing with Los Salsomanos for quite some time. Confident, poised, experienced. Couple 2 Gustavo & Andrea; Gustavo has performed with MasMambo, Andrea has performed with Los Salsomanos. Experienced in a different way, confidence building with each hour spent together. Couple 3 Carlos & Melody, students of Montreal based Roberto and Marie Josee, winners of Toronto's last salsa competition in 2004. From Montreal, where the competition never stopped as they did in Toronto in 2004.
Amateurs
Couple 1 Andrew & Shirley; entertaining, their playfulness connecting with the audience, charismatic on the stage. Couple 2 Daniel & Selena very strong with a repetoire of tricks that would give the professionals a run for their money. Couple 3 Mitch & Charina and Couple 4 Joey & Michel; improving each time out, full of potential.
The Judges
International perspective and experience filled the judge panel. Confidence in the judging is so importance.
Britain's Susana Montero, dancing since 4 years old, a strong performer and instructor, danced with the National Ballet in Spain and trained in in conetmporary dance, flamenco and Afro-Cuban dance. Dancing Salsa since 1997, bcoming British champion in 1998. Presently choreographs the BBC's Strickly Come Dancing.
Boston based Ana Masacote is deeply involved in both the music and the dance facet of Salsa as co-director of Masacote Entertainment. She has been performingand teaching over 10 years.
Montreal's Sonia Kyriacou, teaching, competiting and dancing for 15 years. Won the 2003 Toronto Salsa Competition at Club Atlantis. Co-founder of the Montreal Salsa Convention.
Toronto's Stephanie Gurnon, head judge, owns her own dance studio, choreographs couples and shines groups, produces instructional salsa DVDs.
Toronto's Teddy Olaso, co-founder of the well respected United Salseros and founder of Mambo Mosiac dance troupe. He has trained over 300 instructors and instructional volunteers in North America, Europe. As a casting agent, Teddy represents dancers, musicians and actors.
Toronto's Vanesa Stay, of Latin Energy studied ballet, Flamenco, Jazz, Argentine Folk and Tango for 7 years in Argentina. Started dancing salsa in 1999 and instructs, dances and choreographs salsa. She has appeared with Antonio Banderas in Take the Lead and has appeared on TV shows such as Style by Jury.
The Crowd
Strong contingents from Toronto and Montreal raised the excitement and expectation from all the performers, clapping and cheering for their favorites. Passionate about their favorites. That old built-in-1871 Methodist stronghold The Berkeley Church hasn't seen such excitement since the Great War.
In a blink it was done. The last competitor finished. the last note of their music fading. Now it was a numbers game again as the judges retired to add and subtract the numbers. Subtlies not observed by the crowd would determine place. A tick off time, a tentative lead or follow, a hesitation, a misstep; the cold judge's assment rules, despite entertainment value or a crowd favorite.
Results
Amateurs:
First with 359 points Couple 2 Daniel & Selena;
Second with 319 points. Couple 4 Joey & Michel;
Third with 296 points. Couple 1 Andrew & Shirley;
Fourth with 276 points. Couple 3 Mitch & Charina.
Professionals:
First with 382 points Couple 3 Carlos & Melody;
Second with 370 points Couple 1 Danilo & Esther;
Third with 248 points Couple 2 Gustavo & Andrea.
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