Salsa at the square

Laureano Ralon

Salsa is one of the fastest-growing partner dances on earth, with established communities and scenes in every major city worldwide. The proximity of Los Angeles, one of the largest salsa scenes on the planet, has fueled tremendous growth of the Latin American dance right here in Vancouver. But unlike the well-known salsa scenes in other North American cities, Vancouver’s is known for its variety and diversity, attracting people from all walks of life and embodying all the ideals of Canada’s cultural mosaic. Today in Vancouver, salsa is expanding to include a wide variety of Latin dances: cha-cha-cha, merengue, bachata, cumbia, and reggaeton. What’s more, Vancouver is quickly becoming a favorite salsa destination, attracting scores of dancers from around the world by hosting popular salsa events.

One such event is the annual Sunday Afternoon Salsa at Robson Square, held in the heart of downtown Vancouver. Now in its second year, this free outdoor salsa event kicked off July 1st, and will continue to run every Sunday afternoon during the months of July and August. With community support coming from such organizations as the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association and the Georgia Straight, the event is expected to attract thousands, giving an unprecedented Latin flair to the downtown core.

Sunday Afternoon Salsa at Robson Square will give you the chance to experience salsa dancing at its best in a non-intimidating environment where ”newbies” and amateurs share the dance floor with the city’s finest instructors, performers, and professionals. Every week, the event offers a free salsa lesson to visitors, as well as performances and the best in Latin music. The event is a gateway into a diverse community with a style of dance that ceased to be a strictly Latin activity long ago. The event organizers themselves are Vancouver couple Jennifer Perry and Stephen Dancey, founders of the popular site www.salsavancouver.net. The couple actually met because of salsa dancing a few years back, and they have since been committed to pushing this exciting dance into the mainstream.

Throughout the year, the Vancouver salsa scene offers a vibrant nightlife with numerous salsa venues, and a clean, healthy environment to stay fit, socialize, make long-lasting friendships, and more. If you’re looking for a rich, multicultural experience, consider this summer’s Sunday Afternoon Salsa at Robson Square, and join a community that offers an alternative to the usual bar scene.