Singapore International Salsa Festival 2009

 The Iconic Event On The World Salsa Calendar
Enter the Guinness Book of World Records: Form The Biggest Rueda Circle 

14 September 2009 - Salsa lovers rejoice! The Singapore International Salsa Festival^TM 2009 returns to Downtown East on 13 -15 November with a zesty smorgasbord of authentic Latin offerings that will drive bodies wild and emotions high. The sizzling festival, the largest in the region, promises 2 feisty days and 3 glorious nights of dance, music, workshops, food, mojito and salsa, salsa and more salsa! Into its fourth annual run, the Singapore International Salsa Festival (SISF) has since established itself as a firm favourite staple on the world salsa calendar, attracting top-billing international and local salsa acts as well as overseas and local salsaros to party together at the salsa extravaganza. SISF, the iconic local event, is organised by NTUC Club.

Get ready for some serious salsa action with our exciting line-up. We are also forming the biggest Rueda Circle this year during the festival to have the SISF name entered into the Guinness Book of World Records. Join us in this record-breaking, history-making moment!

The Celebrity Performers & Instructors 

SISF is proud to have the 51^st Grammy Award nominee - the New Swing Sextet - performing live for the first time in Asia, only in Singapore, at SISF 2009. The band made its professional debut performing in the Singer Bowl at the last New York Worlds Fair in 1965. Composed of vocals, piano, vibes, bass and Latin percussion, the original New Swing broke up in the late seventies after successfully recording, touring and doing all the hot club dates that the New York metropolitan area had to offer. It reunites after a 30-year hiatus to discover an even greater, more global, fan base. The New Swing Sextet offers an established and respected name with a sound from another era, capturing the excitement and turbulence of the sixties, which has been perfectly preserved and bottled for today’s global salsa enthusiasts to enjoy. The New Swing Sextet performed to packed audiences all over USA, Canada, Europe and the Caribbean recently, proving that they are still at the top of their sexy game and at the forefront of the salsa sound.

Based in Paris, U-Tribe (Urban Tribe) specialises in marrying slick urban dances, such as hip-hop and contemporary dance, with the wild traditional african dances, as a tribute to and interpretation of salsa predecessors from a longstanding heritage. Erell and Mike of U-Tribe fame are one of the most exciting and popular couples on the European and international salsa scene. Their dance style is flowing and generous, and always in sync with the tempo; a surprising and explosive mix between strength, fieriness, grace, and technicity.

The Masacote Dance Company has earned a remarkable reputation as one of the most lauded international ambassadors of Latin dance and music. Led by husband and wife team Ana and Joel Masacote, it became the first Salsa dance company in the world in 2006 to perform and choreograph to music created for them by Ritmo Masacote. Comprising dancers with diverse disciplines in ballet, jazz, ballroom, and even martial arts, it is taking the dance world by storm with its unique artistry of merging dance and music to elevate salsa as a theatrical art form. Originally founded in Okinawa, Japan, the company is now based in Boston.

Known all over the world for their clean lines, precise footwork, and always sexy styling, Ricardo Sanchez and Michelle Castro are salsa pioneers in the San Francisco Bay Area. The couple founded premiere dance teams known collectively as Pretty Boys and Girls. The group became the world champions in the team division of the inaugural World Salsa Championships, and was placed 2nd in 2006.

There are also sizzling performances by Pablo Y Diana (Spain) who are instantly recognisable by their signature spectacular lifts. Adolfo Indacochea & Carla Voconi (Peru and Italy respectively) are another classy and smouldering couple who will be heating up the competitive dance floor.  Check out the team all the way from Venezuela, Imagena Latinas, with their tight spins, perfectly sychronised steps and flawless execution of their complicated routines.

And no salsa festival will be complete without Henry Knowles. He is the consummate professional with more than 25 years of experience and known as the # 1 salsa DJ in the world. Latin music and events guru, Albert “The Godfather” Torres, one of the most successful salsa promoters in the world, will also be present to host and officiate the event.

Enter the Guinness Book of World Records: Form The Biggest Rueda Circle

Don’t forget to join us this 15 November to form the Biggest Rueda Circle and break the Guinness Book of World Record. In 2006, we set the world record for the biggest Rueda Circle at our inaugural SISF, but the following year, another salsa group broke the record in Los Angeles by registering 180 couples. This year, SISF will attempt to break this number by registering 200 couples.

What is the Rueda Circle? The Rueda circle refers to salsa dancing done by a group in a circle, or more specifically, a circle of men dancing with a circle of women, with the circles rotating in opposite direction. A leader will call out the move commands. With each command, there will be a rapid exchange of partners with the classic salsa moves done in synchronisation. What makes Rueda a unique and joyful spectacle is how the followers are able to dance in a co-ordinated, visually stunning manner, to a series of moves called by the leader in quick succession, all done to the lively, up-beat salsa music. Think of this as an interesting alternative to speed dating!

Lead-up practice sessions @ Union Square prior to 15 November
Union Square practice sessions are on every Tuesday from 10.45pm onwards for half-hour sets.

The Rueda leader will call out the 5 commands that will be used at The Rueda Circle Attempt on Sunday 15^th November at the SISF. There will also be a demonstration and revision of the commands and motions before the actual practice session at the beginning of each Thursday night.

“NTUC Club’s Union Square Clubhouse, located in the Amara Shopping Centre, is known widely and affectionately in the salsa circle as Home of Latin Beats. Always on the lookout for upcoming and established salsa acts to be brought to Singapore for the benefit of our salsa community, we have built up a strong salsa culture over three years through the Singapore International Salsa Festival. NTUC Club and its Union Square Clubhouse are proud to bring to you the fourth edition of the  festival which will be held at the D’ Marquee in Downtown East,” says Mr Yeo Khee Leng, chief executive officer of NTUC Club.

Details of SISF 2009

Event Title: Singapore International Salsa Festival 2009
Venue: Downtown East
Date: 13 -15 November (Friday – Sunday)

A range of festival passes offering admission from night parties to workshops are available and prices start from $32 onwards. Please refer to the appendix for the range of festival passes. Festival passes can be bought from all authorised Tickets.com outlets, www.tdc.sg and ticketing hotline 62962929. More information is available on www.sisf.com.sg.

About NTUC Club

Established in 1986, the entertainment and leisure arm of National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), NTUC Club, is in constant dynamic flux as it seeks to reinvent itself to offer exciting union-centric promotions and programmes. The club is committed to membership recruitment and retention through generating value in union membership.

Working towards a vision of an all-inclusive Labour Movement, NTUC Club provides the platform to engage the various communities under the Labour Movement and has been an active driver to two communities targeted at the youths and the active agers. In 2007, nEbO was launched as an all-in-one lifestyle community for youths aged between 12 and 21, to reach out and develop their relationship with NTUC. U Live, on the other hand, is the latest platform to engage senior workers and retirees aged 55 years and above, to encourage community bonding and continuous association with the Labour Movement.

Today, the club is also one of the largest entertainment providers in Singapore. It manages and operates a portfolio of lifestyle and recreational facilities, resorts and clubhouses, including Downtown East, E!hub, Escape Theme Park, Wild Wild Wet, eXplorerkid, The Spa @Aranda, Marina Bay Golf Course, DXO, Scarlet City, Union Square, Happy Days, Jest D’Place and Costa Sands Resorts (Downtown East, Pasir Ris and Sentosa).

For more information about NTUC Club, its communities and facilities, please visit www.ntucclub.com.

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