What’s the ultimate salsa dancing event?

Well for some of us it would have to be a Salsa Congress. If you’re into live bands, workshops, performances and lots of dancing for 3-4 days then Salsa Congresses are it. Since I’ve been dancing I’ve found that Salsa Congresses are the only events that takes the traditional social dancing experience from the dance studio or club scene and elevates to the highest level. Salsa Congresses bring together dancers from all across the globe. It’s also the one event that gives you a chance to see or take lessons from those Salsa “Celebs” you’ve heard so much about or seen on Youtube. It is also the only event I’ve been to where I didn’t get bumped, elbowed, or stepped on while I danced. But it’s not just the huge ballrooms, bands, workshops or Salsa “Celebs, for me it’s also a time of the year that I get to catch up with friends I’ve made at previous Congresses.

I’ve been hooked on Salsa Congresses ever since I attended the 2009 New York International Salsa Congress. That experience really opened my eyes to the popularity of salsa dancing not just in New York but around the world. Thousands came to dance to the live sounds of Eddie Palmieri, watch amazing performers, dance with awesome dancers, and get a chance to learn from and dance with the Salsa “Celebs.”

I recently attended the 8th Annual CT Salsa Festival which is where I recorded this latest social video of Franklin Condori from Boston. It was my 3rd time attending CT’s “Salsa Congress” which is held during Memorial Day weekend and directed by Lou Lopez from Latin Moves Dance Studio in Stamford, CT. Once again the CT Salsa Fest lived up to my expectations with entertaining performances, DJs, dancing and great MCing done by Lou himself.

Now, as you can see I am a huge proponent for Salsa Congresses, but to my surprise, not all salsa dancing fans share the same sentiment. After I attended my first Salsa Congress in 2009, I would ask some of my fellow salseros and salseras if they were attending the next Salsa Congress and to my amazement there were quite a few people that said they were NOT attending. Everyone had their reasoning but every since then I’ve always wondered how many other people felt the same way about Salsa Congresses.

So I ask…Are you a Salsa Congress Lover or Hater? Why do you love it? or What turns you off about Congresses? What can the organizers do to make it more enjoyable for you?

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