Arts / Whirlwind world of the salsa sisters

IT’S been a whirlwind year for Canberra’s salsa sisters Raquel and Andrea Paez and it’s about to get pacier.

In February, their Salsabor Dance studio had to be evacuated because of the fire in the Sydney Building. There followed happier news that Raquel and her husband and dance partner, Peter Ricciardo, would expect their first child in February. Then just a couple of weeks ago, Andrea got married on Maui in Hawaii. Finally, in just a week or so their great invention, the Canberra Latin Dance Festival, kicks off for the third time at the ANU Sports and Recreational Centre.

“CityNews” caught up with the Paez sisters and their dancing partners, Ricciardo and Juan Pablo Blanc, twirling, beating out rhythms, lifting and arguing about variations on moves as photographer Gary Schafer worked his way around the dance floor of their new Salsabor premises.

Andrea is just back from Minneapolis and her American husband will follow her soon, arriving just in time for the festival. “I missed home and my family,” she explains – and besides, she’s about to become an aunty.

The Ecuadorian-Australian sisters have plenty to celebrate. After that devastating fire that saw them momentarily high and dry, they quickly found new premises near the merry-go-round in central Civic and say the dance school is now going fine, just like the Canberra Latin Dance Festival.

“CityNews” has noted in the past the entirely weird phenomenon of mild-mannered Canberra public servants coming out at night in satin and sequins, transformed into salsa kings and queens. The sisters put this down to the evident fact that “people in Canberra are always looking for something to do… people want to find something exciting”.

As well, says Raquel: “This is a transient city and there are lots of festivals, but only one Latin dance festival, so people are going to make the effort.”

Their excitement about the coming event is palpable. With a list of international salsa and zouk/lambada stars coming to town, there is also the “huge innovation” of having a proper raised stage this year, meaning that the showcase dancers will be visible. And fear not, the huge flat-floor gym where people can dance socially will still be there, too.

Heading up the list of international guests are John Narvaez and Liz Rojas, directors of the San Francisco Bay area’s Salsamania Dance Company and world salsa champions, Israeli-born Shani Talmor, an expert in Samba and Afro-Cuban styles; “Million Moves Man” Super Mario, Britain’s salsa sensation; zouk, samba and Afro whizkid Xandy Liberato from Sao Paulo, and Evelyn Magyari, the salsa and flamenco star from the Netherlands.

And what’s unique to the 2014 festival? I ask the Paez sisters.

Well, on Saturday, October 18, there is the Switcharoo Salsa Competition and the Fire and Ice Gala, where you have to wear red and/or white. But it’s been World Cup year, so there’ll be the Brazilian Carnaval World Cup Tribute on Sunday, October 19.

Canberra Latin Dance Festival, ANU Sport and Recreation Centre, night-time sessions from 8pm, Friday-Sunday, October 17-19. After-show parties each night. Canberra Latin Industry Awards will be presented throughout the weekend. Bookings and full program at canberralatindancefestival.com.au

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