Well, it’s back! From Friday 17 to Sunday 19 October, the Canberra Latin Dance Festival returns with all the fun and energy of your favourite dance styles.

And why wouldn’t it? Since its conception two years ago, the CLDF has gone from strength-to-strength as fans of South American shaking and shimmying gather in the Nation’s Capital for three nights and two days of the very best that Latin dance has to offer.

In 2013, the Festival marked Canberra’s Centenary with a 100 second Brazillian Samba Stampede, that pounded the dance floor with the kind of intensity not seen in 100 years. This October, attendees can expect more of the same high-energy excitement.

The Festival is a fantastic mix of training and celebration. Across the two days of the festival, there are plenty of options to learn about all forms of Latin dance. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a novice or an expert, the Festival provides graded seminars to ensure everyone has the opportunity to improve their dancing within the fun and engaging environment.

The workshops range from salsa, bachata, zouk, cha cha, samba (and more) and fill the days from 9.00am until around 4.30pm. In the evenings, though… everything changes.

IT’S PARTY TIME! From 8.30am until late (2.00am!) the ANU Sports Centre will play host to a nightly ‘fiesta’ where Latin DJs will provide the soundtrack that fills the dance-floor and sees everyone take their partners for a twirl with all the brilliant skills and exuberance for which the Festival is famous.

Over the last two years some amazing international performers have come to town for the CLDF, and this year is no exception. Leading from the front, with skills to impress even the most experienced dancers, will be:

• Super Mario (UK)
• Shani Talmor (USA)
• John Narvaez and Liz Rojas (USA)
• Xandy Liberato (Brazil)
• Evelyn Magyari (Netherland)

As amazing as that is, there will also be a huge contingency of dance teams from Australia. To see the full list (and add your team to the performances) simply click here.

There’s all this and so much more, so stay tuned to OutInCanberra as we bring you further details of the 2014 Canberra Latin Dance Festival.