Tickets now available at 
Join us for two amazing days of Cuban dance workshops and two fiestas in the stunning Bay of Plenty. Explore the Afro-cuban roots of Cuban dance and have fun in the Rueda classes.
- Access to all the workshops and all the parties ($275 at the door)
- Both Friday and Saturday Party Pass
- You need the PROMO Code to get the discount. Get your team leader to complete the form below
- Access to the workshops and the Party on Saturday.
- Access to the workshops on Sunday.
Workshop Timetable
Party Timetable
Performance Team Registration
Thank you for your interest in performing at the Cuban Weekender ACF25. We have very limited spaces for the Saturday night showcase. Please get your Team manger to complete the registration here. You will then be issued a promotional code for your team to get the dicsounted peformers pass. If you are pefroming you need to purcahse a performers pass. Teams, couples or solos are welcome to perform, Pefromance times are limited to 4 min for a tem and 2.5 min for a couple or solo.
Artists
Vivio Ramos (The Cuban Groove) – Cuba / Auckalnd
Cuban dancer, teacher and choreographer, Vivio Ramos has been sharing his love of Cuban dance with New Zealand for the past 20+ years through The Cuban Groove.
Vivio’s philosophy is ‘Bailar es vida, la vida es una danza’ – ‘Dance is life, life is dance’. His own life of dance began, aged 11, at the prestigious National School of Dance in Habana, leading to a 20-year professional dance career with Ballet de Camaguey; then, as a principal dancer for Danza Contemporania de Cuba, performing in 100s of shows around the world. He was principal dancer and choreographer with Lady Salsa when he arrived in New Zealand in 2002 and stayed.
Since then, Vivio has taught 1000s of students, toured his show The Cuban Carrusel, participated in festivals – including WOMAD, Aotearoa Cuban Festival and the New Zealand Salsa Congress, judged national salsa competitions, and has appeared on television and film.
Rafael Ferrer (Cuban Fusion) – Cuba / Wellington
Born in Cuba on the eve of Carnival, Rafael has dancing in his blood. From winning ‘best male performer’ at his first international dance festival aged only 10. He went on to compete and perform in many festivals, including the renowned Festival de Caribe in Santiago de Cuba. Specialising in Afro-Cuban and Afro-Haitian dance, he worked as a professional dancer and choreographer in Havana, and has performed all over Cuba, including at the Teatro Nacional de Habana.
Rafael has been based in Wellington, NZ since 2005. Under the CubanFusion banner, he teaches Cuban-style Salsa, Afro-Cuban contemporary dance and percussion. His high-energy, fun style inspires many non-dancers to attend classes and further inspires some of his students to become performers,
Nicho and Gina (Latin Soul Dance ) – Chile / Queenstown
Nicho started dancing at the early age of 5 years old and discovered his passion for Latin dancing at the age of 15. Originally from Chile, Nicho was part of “Latido en Clave” where he first had the opportunity to teach Salsa. In 2016, Nicho came to New Zealand, settled in Queenstown, and started teaching Salsa Rueda de Casino (Cuban-style salsa) in the community not long afterwards.
Gina first met Nicho when she joined his classes not long after he started teaching. Absolutely loving the culture, rhythm and dance, Gina became more involved in the dance scene, and started teaching Salsa classes in Cromwell already about a year later.
Nicho and Gina have been teaching as Latin Soul Dance alongside each other since 2020 and are continuously looking to improve their classes and systems for their students, but first of all grow the love for dance in the community.
Nicho started dancing at the early age of 5 years old and discovered his passion for Latin dancing at the age of 15. Originally from Chile, Nicho was part of “Latido en Clave” where he first had the opportunity to teach Salsa. In 2016, Nicho came to New Zealand, settled in Queenstown, and started teaching Salsa Rueda de Casino (Cuban-style salsa) in the community not long afterwards.
Sara and Jorge (Latin Roots Hawkes Bay) – Venezuela / Napier
Jorge and Sara are the founders and directors of Latin Roots Hawkes Bay Salsa Casino Academy, which has been operative since 2016.
Originally, from Caracas-Venezuela, this couple with more than 15 years of experience in the Salsa Casino world began their apprenticeship being part of several salsa academies such as Escuela de Formacion de Choco y Ana, Yakera, Sabor & N’klave, and Fusion Caribe. Through their years of formation, they had the opportunity to participate in national salsa-casino contests, and also deliver stage performances for different cultural events.
In order to keep themselves closer to their Caribbean culture and home country activities, they decided to open Latin Roots Hawkes Bay. Along with the main course – Rueda de Casino with a touch of spicy Venezuelan flavour – in their classes Jorge and Sara teach different rhythms such as Bachata, Cha-Cha, and Venezuelan drums.
They are passionate about promoting the Latin American culture within the Hawke’s Bay community with love, commitment, patience, and responsibility. Their classes are fulfilled with fun, charisma, and dedication.
Kate Maguire (Salsa ¡Agua!) – Tauranga
Kate, the main instructor and Director of Salsa ¡Agua!, has been dancing Latin dance for more than 20 years. She has been teaching Cuban dance and Salsa since 2008. Her patient, fun, energetic teaching style is contagious and she will have you dancing and having a great time before you know it.
Kate is a trustee and chairperson of the NZ Cuban Festival Trust which runs the Annual National Cuban Festival, and is also part of the organising committee for the annual Bay Salsa Festival since 2014.
Kate is captivated by the fun, authenticity and depth of Cuban dance and wants you to discover the joy of Cuban dance too.
Venues
Friday Fiesta & Saturday Workshops and Fiesta
Elizabeth Street Community Centre Hall, 169 Elizabeth Street, Tauranga. The local dance venue for dance classes, great floors and spaces.
Sunday Workshops
Papamoa Sports amd Recreation Centre, 80 Alice Way, Papamoa Beach, Papamoa. A great local venue close to the beach, great floors, spaces and off road parking.
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Salsa ¡Agua! 