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| New Zealand Jambalaya Top Australian Cuban act Club Havana heads to New Zealand next month to join the sizzling hot line-up for the hottest festival of the year - Jambalaya, New Zealand's Festival of Rhythm Dance and Carnival. The four-day annual festival at Rotorua takes place over Easter and features top international acts alongside the best New Zealand has to offer in five theatre shows, three parties, more than 100 workshops and New Zealand's biggest on foot street parade. The 12-member Club Havana Band has toured throughout Australia and regularly performs at Sydney's top nightspots. Also joining the Jambalaya line-up are current world salsa champions Oliver Pineda and Luda Kroiter, and New Zealand's top salsa couples will be heading to the festival to compete to represent New Zealand at the next world championships in Las Vegas. But the Latin rhythms have already started in Rotorua and Tauranga as four Bay of Plenty celebrities begin work on their dance steps ready for Dancing with the Bay of Plenty Stars on Thursday 13 April, a special event which will also feature performances by leading New Zealand Cuban dancers Vivio and Greydis, together with world salsa champions Oliver Pineda and Luda Kroiter. The event is a warm-up for Jambalaya and is being held to raise funds for the New Zealand Youth Salsa Team to represent New Zealand at the Los Angeles Salsa Congress in May 2006. Also featuring at Jambalaya 2006 is Australian-based Cuban rhythm combo Son Veneno, Brazilian capoeira master and percussionist Cabello, energetic Cuban dancer Alejandro Espinosa and the best of New Zealand's Latin rhythm and dance performers including Batucada Sound Machine, Wellington Batucada and AKSamba Sydney-based Son Veneno is a world class band, bringing together some of Australia's best vocalists, instrumentalists and rappers including Carlos Mora and Maya Jupiter. The band's diverse repertoire of original music draws on the styles of Latin, hip hop, funk and jazz and mix it with Afro-Cuban tradition. The traditions of Latin music also provide roots for US-based Brazilian Cabello who has dedicated his life to the rhythms, instruments, songs and dancers of the Afro-Brazilian culture. Created four years ago by Olivia Sumich and Heidi Hughes, Jambalaya showcases the best international and New Zealand Latin rhythm and dance and provides an opportunity for everyone to experience some of the world's most exciting and infectious music and dance styles. "Jambalaya offers Kiwis a chance to 'get out of their skin'. We're amazed at the range of people who come along to the festival and really get involved. We've got workshops for everyone from children to beginner dancers through to advanced performers." Jambalaya is at the Rotorua Convention Centre and Rotorua Sportsdome over Easter (13-16 April). write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Jazz News :: home page |