India International Dance Congress {IIDC} is back to set the floor on fire starting Thursday, July 14 until Sunday, July 17. And you know what that means. Our dancing shoes are no longer in the cupboard and we are stretching like never before. It's time to perfect your spotting, splitting and popping for IIDC's workshops, competitions and parties. And for those who have two left feet or enjoy watching more than dancing, you can still look forward to a glamorous line-up {Latin dance, hiphop and all kinds of moves that'll inspire you}. So to prepare you for what is in store for this dance extravaganza, here are some of the top performers you need to keep a look out for.
Eddie Torres Senior
Eddie Torres is flawless at Salsa {hence the nickname "The Mambo King"}, having perfected it in the past four decades. With good reason, he is a big name in the industry in New York City, having trained and produced various talented performers such as Delille Thomas {a well known dancer in New York}, Wilton Beltre {founder of Santo Rico Dance Company} and many more. While we may fumble our way through one kind of dance, this man, that too at 66 years, will floor you with his footworks in Afro-Cuban, mambo, and North American jazz dance. Plus, of course, New York-style salsa. His son Eddie Torres Junior, who has inherited the grace of his parents {his mother is a Flamenco dancer} will also be performing.
Lando Wilkins
Going by the nickname Bang Jenkins, Lando is a hip-hop dancer and has learned from the style's royalty including including Wilber Pan, a popular Mandopop singer-songwriter and winner of the title of Best Asia Singer-Dancer in the Metro Radio Mandarin Music Awards. What? You don't believe he's impressive? Check out his YouTube channel and you'll see what we're on about. We're brushing up on our moves hoping he'll pull us on the stage. Then of course, we'll get someone to quickly take a video and scram because his talent and standards are way too high for us!
Alien Ramirez
This Cuban beauty started dancing at the tender age of 4 and never stopped. That's some commitment, guys! And after the kind of dedication we can only wish we had, she is skilled in ballet, contemporary, jazz, modern, Flamenco, Cuban folklore, all Latin and Afro-Cuban styles as well as gymnastics. She has worked as a dancer for many TV shows, commercials and was even an assistant choreographer in So You Think You Can Dance from 2005 to 2008. And to top it all off, she has earned the title of World Latin Dance Champion, not once, not twice, not even thrice but a whopping twenty times. If that isn't awesome, what is?
Richard David Tholoor
A familiar name, if you were a regular view of the hit Television Show India's Got Talent, because Richard came up till the finals of the show in 2009, but also because he's a veteran on the salsa scene in Bangalore. He has won Salsa Championships in Australia and Europe, and was the first Indian to qualify for the World Salsa Championship in the year 2007 that was held in the USA. And even if he wasn't so talented {ladies, hunt him down at the next salsa party, he'll make you seem like a pro}, since he's from Bangalore, he has our hearts! So make sure you show some love to our homeboy at IIDC.
Dominican Power Dance Company
Apparently, this dance crew is the first to merge salsa, reggaeton, hip-hop, Afro-Cuban and Capoeira in a unique synergy. The founder Yovanny Moreta De Jesus Moreta aka Chiquito choreographed and danced in the movie Street Dance 2. This innovative team has made its appearances all around the world on various stages, and now, we get to witness them at IIDC. That's your cue to start prepping, folks.
When: Thurday, July 4-Sunday, July 17
Where: Clarks Exotica Resort, Swiss Town, Hollywood Junction, Sadahalli Post, Devanahalli Road
Price: INR 500 upwards
Contact: 080 41671537, +1 504 889 9898 or e-mail john.anthony@latinorhythms.in
Timings: 9am-11.30pm
Register for the event here.
Find them on Facebook here.
Check out the website here.