By Dahlia Ferrer
The AfroLatin Festival brings international professional teachers to Cairo for three days of Latin and African dance classes, Salsa, Bachata and Kizomba and great hotel parties at night. Participants will come from all over: Belarus, Finland, Sweden, the United States, the United Kingdom and Poland, to name but a few and dancers of all levels are welcome.
The newest baby on the couples dance block is Kizomba, which means “party” in an indigenous Angolan language. Today’s Kizomba music has an easy beat, features the Portuguese language, and is slow and very modern-sounding. Its dance steps come directly from Semba, but the dancers are much closer and the dance can incorporate elements borrowed from Tango.
A pre-party kicks off Thursday, 25 October in Cairo at Bian Café, a local dancing spot in Mohandessin.
Classes start Friday 26 October at the Sonesta Hotel with dance parties in the evening for three days. International DJs set the pace and contests spike the level.
A full pass is €130 for three days of classes and parties in Cairo. Day passes can be bought for €70.
VIP pass holders (€495) get all that plus three days of activities and two dance nights in Hurghada on the Red Sea.
Passes to the festival are not sold at the door, so it is necessary to contact the organsers at their email or website beforehand.
About the teachers: Amr Kasseb, the co-founder of AfroLatin Egypt and certified by Petchu, will teach Semba and shares centre stage with the renowned AfroLatin Connection from Portugal.
Other teachers include Brazilian-born Salsa and LambaZouk superstar Alex Lima, currently living in France; Montuno Ayé for salsa; 20 years of experience in all fathomable Latin dances, Seemore Johnson and Cristina Pujol (Costa Rica/Spain); El Salvadoran José Santamaria, who has his cross-cultural studio JAS in California and has participated in the prestigious Latin Grammy’s; actor, sought-after dancer and founder of KizombaExtreme, Helio Santos as well as Diana David from Colombia.
