Salsa? Niagara Falls you say? Rhythmic Fire Danz made it work with the first Chim Pum Callao Congress in the Sheraton Fallsview Hotel overlooking Niagara Falls.
Saturday night's show entertained them with Salsa, Oscar and LA's Leslie's very sensual Bachata; Ray & Jen's Pink Panther; SalsaTO's Jai-Ho Bollywood-Salsa fusion, Latin Energy's Vanesa and Rafael's aria and dance. The show stealers could well have been Mexico's and La's Francisco Vasquez and Venezuela's Fusion Salsera.
Rhythmic Fire Danz closed the evening with their signature piece "Chim Pum Callao!"
Saturday's performances included: Latin Energy Kids - Ray & Gen; Ara & Michael; Latin Moves - Connecticut; Las Estrellas - Philadelphia; Piel Canela - New York; SalsaTO.ca; Calle Sole - Philadelphia; United Salseros Men; Leslie - Bachata Caliente & Oscar - Latin Groove - LA & Toronto; Latin Energy - Vanesa & Rafael; United Salseros Ladies; Latin Moves Salseras - Connecticut; Calle Luna - Philadelphia; Latin Groove Oscar & Tania; Sonia & Morris - Montreal; Rumba y Timbal - Boston; Francisco Vasquez - Mexico & LA; Fusion Salsera - Venezuela; Rhythmic Fire - Chim Pum Callao.
Junior Gonzalez's one long set of classic salsa cover tunes kept them dancing almost to 2:00am.
Those who did some of the shines workshops were treated to a view of the American Niagara Falls through the picture windows of the studio.
Workshops had something for everybody from Vanesa's Tango to Fusion Salsera's salsa tricks, which wasn't just a drop, but a whole mini-performance wrapped around a drop and a lift.
The surprise story of the week-end was the floor. CT SalsaFest graciously loaned Chim Pum Callao the flooring used in the main ballroom and in the workshops rooms, trucking it in from Chicago.
SalsaTO.ca booked the train, luxuriating in an Amtrak train with its panoramic windows and dining car in a two hour trip from Toronto's Union Station to Niagara Falls. Early booking made the trip competitive with driving. And with the Sheraton Fallsview Hotel a five minute walk from the Falls, one could even sneak a peek of the Falls between workshops!
Looking to combine a week-end vacation with salsa? Then the 2011 Chim Pum Callao Congress at Niagara Falls - either as a stay over or as a drive from Toronto, or Buffalo or even Rochester or Detroit may be just for you!
Editor's Notes
Stage lighting for the shows and for Junior Gonzalez was extremely challenging. Catching the performers in fleeting pools of light at ISO 3200 and ISO 6400 pushed the limits of photography.
SalsaTO.ca was able photograph the show after treating them to a well received SalsaTO.ca Meets Bollywood - Jai-Ho!
Videos coming.
