First Annual World Salsa Championship to be Held in ‘Vegas

Posted by Elena del Valle on October 20, 2005

Salsa dancers

First Annual World Salsa Championships to be broadcast on ESPN International and ESPN Deportes

New York, NY–(Hispanic PR Wire)–October 12, 2005–Thousands of salsa dancers from more than100 nations will meet for the "1st Annual World Salsa Championships" in Las Vegas from December 14th-17th, a event to be broadcast in multiple languages and on several international TV stations including ESPN International and ESPN Deportes.

The four-day event will bring together dance partners and groups who have received awards at previous competitions held around the world. This event will take place in the Orleans Arena, a Las Vegas’ performance venue with seating for over 9,000 spectators.

Production of the "1st Annual World Salsa Championship" is led by the group Salsa Seven, whose organizers include12 time Emmy winner and renowned producer Rob Beiner and promoters Albert Torres, Leo Tizol, Willie Torres and Don Elbaum. Rob Beiner has produced or directed more than 2000 sports and entertainment telecasts on cable, network or Pay-Per-View television for major TV networks such as ABC Sports, CBS, NBC Sports, USA Network and ESPN. His production and direction career includes seven Olympic Games, Boxing Championship Fights like Mike Tyson versus Evander Holyfield, and NCAA Basketball and Football, Comedy Central, Kentucky Derby.

During this international competition, salsa dancers will put their artistic abilities to the test in various categories: group and individual (New York and LA style), and groups/cabaret. Prizes of up to approximately $20,000 will be awarded in each category.

Competitors and others will be invited to attend seminars, daily performances, and several other salsa events led by favorite artists including Victor Manuelle, Grammy winners Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Michael Stuart, Hollywood actress Sully Diaz, Brenda K Starr, etc. Tere will be a Reggaeton surprise. After the tournament, the enormous Arena dance floor will open featuring a different theme every night, from “Vive la Salsa” (Contemporary Salsa) to Mambo and Rumba nights evoking the genre’s golden age legends Tito Puente, La Lupe, Tito Rodriguez, Celia Cruz, Desi Arnaz, Hector Lavoe and others. The event also coincides with the 100-year anniversary celebration of Las Vegas and December 17, the grand finale night celebrating 100 years of Las Vegas and Rumba.

“Everyone has witnessed the rebirth of ballroom dancing on British and Spanish international Reality TV shows as well as in the United States with programs like ‘Dancing with the Stars’ and, more recently, ‘So You Think You Can Dance’, which broke ratings records. The main difference between these types of Reality TV shows and the "1st Annual World Salsa Championships" is that these are professional dancers. What’s more, our event is on a global scale, not a regional one, and [through it] we want to show the world who the greatest salsa dancers on the planet are,” explained Albert Torres, promoter of the WSC and over twenty Salsa Congresses worldwide..

Event producers have put together “all inclusive” travel packages starting at $349 including hotel accommodations at the Orleans Hotel and tickets for all competition nights with live music on the Arena dance floor. Aditional information is available at http://www.worldsalsachampionships.com