The 20th annual South Island Latin Championship on 'Saturday 9th Sept 2023' was a remarkable event that showcased outstanding talent and dedication from the South Island in New Zealand. Held at the Cashmere High Auditorium, this event featured spectacular Salsa, Bachata & Kizomba choreographies, and freestyles throughout the day and night. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the organisers from Latin Fire for their flawless execution and thoughtful planning on this event. Congratulations are in order for all the competitors who participated in the South Island Latin Championships. The winners truly earned their well-deserved recognition.
Salsa Latina did exceptional well at the competition, achieving remarkable success. The highlight for us, was securing 1st place in both the Couples teams categories in Salsa and Bachata. We also had numerous other achievements; see the full list below:
Salsa Latina Choreography Placings:
• 1st - Salsa Couples Team - SLA Salsa Team (pictured above)
• 1st - Bachata Couples Team - SLA Bachata Team
• 2nd - Salsa Shines Team - Team Aspire 'Milena H'
• 1st - Open Salsa Couples - Scott S & Grace S
• 2nd - Female Salsa Solo - Milena H
Salsa Latina Freestyle Placings:
• 1st - Salsa Open Freestyle - Reuben W & Milena H
• 2nd - Salsa Open Freestyle - Scott S & Grace S
• 1st - Salsa Pro-Am Freestyle - Scott S & Grace S Am)
• 2nd - Salsa Pro-Am Freestyle - Reuben W & Jessica P (Am)
• 1st - Kizomba Freestyle - Romain S & Tanya K
• 1st - Bachata Open Freestyle - Grace S & Mike H*
• 2nd - Bachata Am Freestyle - Pablo S & Jessica P
Special Award: • Char Personality Award - Jessica P
We want to express our gratitude to our huge dedicated student teams who demonstrated unwavering commitment and contributed significantly to our growth this year. It's very evident that our teams are reaching new higher performance levels every year. We are looking forward to the opportunity to take our teams to the World Salsa Solo Competition in Brisbane later this year in December.
We must also acknowledge and applaud the hard work of our trainers and teachers who play an integral role in our success. Milena deserves special recognition for her outstanding work with the ladies' team and Bachata Team, providing inspirational guidance that has helped our students in all 4 teams flourish in various ways. Marcela, who initiated the Salsa team last year and to Scott and Grace, which have shown remarkable progress both in the team's performance and personal growth in a new dance partnership. Additionally, Robyn's leadership in developing her own ladies' Salsa team has resulted in noticeable growth in her team. Our vibrant and nurturing culture at Salsa Latina is a testament to all of you. Next year get ready to be inspired, not only as a teacher but also as individuals who influence the lives of our students through our choices and dedication.
Bottom Row (left to right): Jana, Bridget, Mickehla, Adeline, Estela Grace S, Annie*, Miléna, Reuben Pearl, Naomi, Krystie, Marcela, Robyn. Back Row (left to right): Jeremy, Alastair, Pablo, Nadar, Ruben, Arlo, Tessa, Jessica, Jack, Catherine, Howard, Wayne, Mike, Scott
Get ready for the arrival of new teams in 2024! We're always looking ahead, so if you're feeling inspired and eager to be a part of a team next year, make sure to focus on elevating your skills to maximize your chances of success. Salsa Latina has some thrilling goals and groundbreaking ideas in the pipeline. Typically, our new teams kick off in February. ... more about teams here >
*denotes member from other dance school