Bangalore-based Latino Rhythms Dance Academy is all set to host its third edition of India International Dance Congress (IIDC) on July 11, 12 and 13 at Hotel Lalit Ashok.
Nearly 100 artistes from across the globe would be congregating for performances, workshops, competitions and theme parties. “There would be 85 shows and 90 workshops in three days, while the evenings would be open for dance enthusiasts to team up with global stars of dance, and actually dance with them for observing the nuances of universal genres,” John Anthony, founder of the academy, announced on Wednesday. This year’s event is all the more special as it would concurrently host the Asia Open Championships with participants from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Hong Kong. “It would be a qualifier round for the World Salsa Championships to be hosted by us in 2015 in Bangalore, which would further enhance the city’s reputation as the Salsa capital,” Anthony said. “Out of the total 30,000 Salsa dancers across the country, 6,500 are in Bangalore. The highest numbers of people getting into relaxing dance streams are the corporate types.”
Bangalore-born John Anthony has a software background. “I have been dancing since I was a six. At work, my colleagues started learning from me, as they started seeing dance as a stress-buster. Whenever I travelled abroad, I steadily got acclimatised with world streams, such as Salsa, Bachata, Jive and Zouk,” says Anthony who started his academy in 2006. A sneak peak of the Zouk and Contemporary styles by Gabriel and Zynthia from Columbia, and the Tango and Salsa by Pasty and Dotty from Holland were best samplers of the spirited energy and talent that one can expect to see at the event.
