Couples to compete in salsa tonight

By Yelibenwork Ayele

The second Addis Salsa Clash dance competition is scheduled to start here tonight at club Alizé and continue tomorrow at Bailamos Bar and Restaurant.
The first competition was held here last year in December. This year's competition is open to anyone who is interested in participating, Fesseha Girmay, organizer of the event told The Reporter.

Fesseha said that winners and runner ups of the competition would receive "attractive prizes". The winning couple will take 4,000 birr with vacation package while the first runner-up and second runner-up will go away with 2,500 birr and 1,500 birr respectively and a vacation package.

International judges sponsored by the Embassy of Cuba will preside over the competition.

So far six couples have registered for the competition and four of those will go on to the final competition, which will be held two weeks from now at the Langano Resort of African Vacation Club. One of the registered six coupler is Indian while the other five are all Ethiopians.

According to the organizer, judging criteria will include appearance and stage presence, choreography, partner interaction, rhythm and creativity.

Five salsa schools have opened in the city since the first school was opened by a US-educated Ethiopian entrepreneur almost a decade ago, which is an evidence that salsa is growing in popularity here. A number of clubs have started salsa nights to cater to the growing number of enthusiasts, with training sessions attracting over 30 salseros each night.

Source: Reporter