Over the past decade, Latin American dance culture has taken Denmark by storm. Whether it be the salsa, samba or tango, it’d be hard to find even the smallest of towns that hasn’t been touched by this growing craze.
But as this exotic culture’s influence continues to grow in Denmark, there are still some who believe that with it should come education and information.
One such person is Cuban Culture Club project manager, and Copenhagen Latin Festival organiser, Stine Ortvad.
“The reason for this festival is a desire to promote intercultural understanding and integration, and to provide residents of different ethnic backgrounds, as well as artists of different nationalities, the opportunity to be inspired by each other’s art,” Ortvald explained to InOut.
Now in its ninth year, the Copenhagen Latin Festival aims to inspire all visitors with the rhythmic energy and inherent power in Latin American music and dance.
Ortvald believes the festival is a great opportunity for all resident Latinos to take a greater part in their own culture and practice their music and dance, all the while benefiting Danish society.
“There is a need for an event that can give a true and realistic picture of Latin American culture, and for a festival that can inform and affect young and old, creating greater intercultural understanding,” she said.
Opening their doors once again in November, there’s never been a better time to get down and dirty while feeling the world through music and dance. As they say in Spanish: ‘¡La fiesta comienza!’
Copenhagen Latin Festival
Various venues; starts Sat, ends Sun; www.latinfestival.dk
Opening show
For those of us who haven’t quite mastered the tricky steps of salsa and reggaeton, this is a great opportunity to see how the professionals do it. From start to finish, guests will be able to witness warm-up and starter shows before the main concert begins. Following that, anyone and everyone will have a chance to heat up the dancefloor and show off their moves as the DJ belts out hot Latin tunes until the early hours of the morning. It’d be hard to find such an action-packed night of fun for only 100 kroner, so make sure you get there early to avoid missing out.
Vesterbro Kulturhus, Lyrskovgade 4, 2th, Cph V; Sat 21:00, concert starts 22:30; Tickets 100kr at the door (cash only)
Workshops by Roynet Pérez González
One half of the partnership crowned European champions in Cuban salsa in 2010, Roynet Pérez González, will be giving five workshops throughout the Latin Festival, as well as performing on the opening night. Originally from Cuba, but now living in Finland, González has many years experience teaching dance. He used to perform with the famous Cuban reggaeton band Gente De Zona. He will be teaching workshops in many different dances, including rumba, afro, reggaeton, salsa (moves and pardons) and rueda. Each workshop will be 80 minutes in duration.
ElStudio, Fælledvej 19, Cph N; Sat and Sun, various times; Price per workshop: 150kr (cash only); register at info@elstudio.dk; www.latinfestival.dk
