Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Sensational salsa artists and choreographers from around the world are set to cha cha and mambo their way into the kingdom at the end of the year to showcase a variety of their sashaying skills in an upbeat, educational dance festival.
Jaff Fit studio, located in Mahooz, will be launching its annual Bahrain International Latin Bootcamp (BILB) on December 1, 2 & 3, to offer salsa lovers a non-stop dancing and booty-shaking experience at a city centre hotel.
Jaffar Al Alwai, the founder of a sport and dance studio, known by the salsa community as ‘Jaff’, said: “My aim is to give the ever-growing local and expat community of Latin dance and salsa music aficionados an opportunity to see and interact with professional artistes of this genre here in Bahrain.
“Last year, we hosted a fabulous event and I made sure to bring the crème de la crème of salsa dancers here. So many people attended, some said they loved it and wanted a repeat while others that couldn’t make also it pleaded for another chance.
“This one is going to be even bigger and better. It’s going to be a spectacular event featuring classes and performances. We have talented dancers in Bahrain and I just want to share that with the world.”
Top instructors and artists will feature at the event at Le Méridien Bahrain City Centre, including Mexican Johnny Vazquez, who is considered the ‘greatest’ Los Angeles style dancer today, and his twinkle-toed partner Ana Zidaru. They will be staging various one-hour courses from 10am to 5pm.
Spain’s Kizomba dancing queen Sara Lopez will also be showing off her hip-shaking skills along with Italy-based Tareq Benouara and Debbie Inskip performing African Jet.
According to Jaff, there will be daytime classes for beginners as well as advanced, followed by ‘spectacular performances and a full-out party’ in the evening.
He added: “Even if you feel like you are not ready to dance yet or are too shy to attend the day-time workshops, then why not just come along and watch? You can still enjoy the incredible shows and have fun at the parties. You do not have to be a professional to join in the fun. Our salsa community in Bahrain is big-hearted! It will be our pleasure to have all of you there!”
Jaff first fell in love with the art form in 1996 and his hard work and dedication over the years paid off, resulting in him representing the kingdom at various dance events. In 2011, on a trip to the UK, he met with organiser Jimmy SA who gave him an opportunity to conduct a workshop at the April 2015 edition of the Teeside Festival.
The success of this workshop earned him the invitation for a repeat performance at the 2016 festival. Jaff and his former student and now professional dance partner, Monika Fulierova, are booked throughout the year as instructors and artistes to perform at some of the largest salsa and Latin festivals in Europe and across the GCC.
While Jaff is familiar with the different styles of salsa such as LA Style, Cross-body salsa, Cuban Style Casino and New York style, he is particularly fond of the LA style which is why his studio focuses on that type of dance.
It is strongly influenced by the Latin Hustle, Swing, Argentine Tango and Latin Ballroom dancing styles. LA style places strong emphasis on sensuousness, theatricality and acrobatics. The lifts, stunts and aerial works of today’s salsa shows are derived mostly from LA style forms with origins in Latin Ballroom and ballet lifts.
Jaff said: “The energy level is tremendously high and explosive and LA style is perhaps the most glitzy and glamorous of all Latin American dances.
“This style of dance will be the highlight of the BILB event.
“It will be ‘muy caliente’ (so hot) with energetic shows and dazzling stage performances by the champions of Latin dance.
“There will also be ample opportunity to listen to traditional Latin music and to dance in a multitude of classes where attendees will improve their body movements, synchronisation, couple connection, musicality, physical coordination, experience and learn different dance styles and learn to mentally relax.”
For those that want to get a head start on the dance floor, Jaff’s beginner, intermediate and advanced classes take place at his studio.
He offers group classes in salsa, bachata and kizomba, as well as athletic courses, including swimming lessons with instructor Zuhair Al Saeed.
Jaff also teaches the Korean martial art, Taekwondo. Initially, he represented Bahrain in the Arab Olympic Championship in 1997 and 1999 in Taekwondo. Jaff was also selected to represent Bahrain at the Asian Championship in 2002.
For further details on the festival and to order tickets priced BD45 or find out more about classes, email jaff.fit@gmail.com, follow him on Instagram at Jaff Fit, on Facebook at Bahrain Salsa Caliente, or call 33110266.
