Well folks we’re are just one week away and things are double busy here at GBSEx HQ! We are in the final stages of our preparations for what promises to be a phenomenal event and there have been a number of developments since my last post, so read on.
Some updates are posted below but first of all some essential info for all holders of tickets which include workshops…
Workshop Bookings
Please ensure that you have pre-booked your workshops. The cut-off date for making any changes to your workshop selections is Monday 17 November 2008 @ Midnight. You will not be able to change your workshop choices after this date nor at the event itself, although there will be a ‘Swaps Board’ located near to the Help Desk.
If you wish to purchase additional workshops, we will be selling any spare capacity at £5 per workshop at the event. First come, first served!
NEWS…
* Private lessons programme launched, take a rare opportunity to learn from the world’s best…one-on-one..see web
* Hotel latest Premier Inn GMEX - sold out
Premier Inn Portland St - sold out
Ibis Portland St - 2 rooms left on Saturday (sold out Friday)
YHA has dormitory rooms only (4 to a dorm)
We would recommend now using the Premier Inn Deansgate (cheaper) or The Palace Hotel (closer)
Things are moving very fast on the workshop booking front, with 11 workshops now sold out! Don’t worry, with a schedule of over 90 workshops you’re sure to be spoilt for choice!
We now have nine workshops fully booked with just under 3 weeks to go! Tickets are still just £79 and up at www.salsatribe.com
Just added…
Artists…
Mauro and Eva will be performing their beautiful new show at GBSEx (I’ve seen it and it really is stunning)
Dj Fadi is joining us to keep you entertained in the Cuban room, read more here
ConTambor will be performing the congress debut in the UK of their new show ‘Cuando Despiertes’
Cristian ‘el Swing’ Lantigua (Dominican Republic) and Sally McCairn (Pure Salsa) are joining the line up with an additional Bachata workshop in the authentic Dominican style…
Workshops…
Nine workshops now fully booked, don’t despair there are still 81 to choose from!
New Beginners Cha Cha Cha added
New Beginners Tango added
New Dominican Bachata added
Tickets…
There will be no single day or night passes on sale at the event, so be sure to get your tickets in advance to avoid disappointment!
…what a weekend! We managed to split ourselves in half this weekend and cover three fantastic events on Saturday night; Salsa Del Este in St Ives, Cross Body Leads in Nottingham and The Midlands’ Salsa Special in Coventry our big thanks go to Sally McCairn of Pure Salsa, Cleon Nelson of CBL and Latin Motion & Salsadelic respectively for having us!
Well we’ve just under four weeks to go and have a bit of an update for you…
Baila Society are now bringing the whole crew, Daniel and Ahtoy will be accompanied by Zakiyya A-Wali, Danmeng Li, Joseph Rivera and Geraldo Caba. Baila Society have also created a great teaser for the event ….
The Premier Inn GMEX has now sold out. If you’d like the next closest (they are all close but let’s face it after 5 hours dancing….) we’d recommend the two hotels on Portland St; Ibis and Premier Inn. If you don’t mind an extra 2 minutes walk and would like a swankier hotel The Palace is really gorgeous and has a fantastic late night bar.
Six of the workshops are now sold out but there are still 84 with places so don’t worry!
Guinness World Record Attempt @ GBSEx The most dance spins by a couple in one minute
We’ve been in communication with Guinness World Records for a number of months now and we’re thrilled that they’ve agreed to let GBSEx provide the forum for a challenge to the current world record for spinning.
At the moment, the world record is held by 2 tango dancers at 113 spins in a minute.The record applies to any form of dance and any spinning technique, so we thought salsa dancers should be given the opportunity to have a go at breaking it.
GBSEx will not only provide the venue for the attempt but we’ll also be ensuring that all the requirements of Guinness are met including having the necessary adjudicators and witnesses present and video and written evidence to submit to Guinness if someone breaks the record.
Wow, just think of the prestige in being a World Record holder and having your name published in the Guinness Book!
We’re not aware of any UK attempt to break this record so far, but please write to us if you’ve already had a go at it.We’d love to hear about your experience…
Some of the artists appearing at GBSEx are here in the UK only very occasionally (a few are here for the first time) and you may want to take a unique opportunity for an individual lesson.
Private lessons are an ideal way to work on specific problems you may be encountering at a pace and level your are comfortable with. Many people find occasional private lessons can accelerate their progress and at GBSEx you can book a lesson with some of the world’s finest instructors, performers and dancers.
There will be very limited availability for these lessons and details will be posted both here and on the website shortly. You will need to contact us to book a specific slot and we will provide the perfect environment for your lesson.
In response to demand, we’ve just added a 3-night party ticket to our ticket-types.
The ticket admits the holder to the showcases and parties on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings plus the daytime social dancing area and salsa marketplace.
This ticket is aimed at those of you who don’t want to do workshops but would still like to come to the Congress. Please note that Day-only Tickets and Single-Night Party Tickets will NOT be available for this event.
Confused about which classes to take at GBSEx? Wondering about the content of a particular class? Want to know a little more about the artists visiting the UK for the first time?
Check out our new page of artist interviews for answers to these and lots more questions…hit the link above!
Fancy a real challenge? Our Masterclass programme is now available featuring Hacha Y Machete and Leon Rose..
This programme is a pay-as-you-go extra to our main programme, aimed at professional and advanced salsa dancers. These workshops will push your dancing to the next level with the expert input of our Masterclass teachers, Hacha Y Machete and Leon Rose.
Workshops will be taught at the highest level and will be faster-paced than the Int/Adv workshops on the main programme. Numbers will be strictly limited so that individual tuition and comment is possible and male:female attendance will be monitored.
Leon Rose | Turn Patterns On 1 | Sat 3.15pm
Hacha Y Machete | Turn Patterns On 2 | Sat 5.45pm
Hacha Y Machete | Choreography & Performance | Sun 4.30pm
Buy your tickets now at www.salsatribe.com
Tickets cost £10 each and you must have already bought a ticket for the main event to participate. Remember that if you’ve already booked your workshops for the main event and want to change your selections to accommodate a Masterclass, you can do so at any time. Just visit www.time4class.com and log in to make your changes.
We’ve been getting lots of enquiries from people who have a partner or friend who either doesn’t dance but would like to try salsa, or from some who feel the first level of workshop sat the main event is going to be too challenging. We have responded by launching our programme for beginners giving those new to salsa a chance to either do a fast track day, a taster of three latin dances or just dip their toe with a single salsa workshop.
The Saturday fast track day will be taken by Danzon’s Hilary Clarke from Dublin. We’re delighted to welcome Hilary to the artist line up whose thriving classes and club nights are a firm favourite with Irish dancers making Dublin an exciting destination for salsa travelers. The Saturday programme consists of three progressive workshops in salsa with the first of the day being a drop in class. The full day pass includes the Saturday evening shows and party.
The Sunday programme is hosted by Manchester’s own Paris Allen and Mariana Miskell from Tangalsa, both of whom have a wealth of teaching experience both in salsa and notably Tango. The Sunday programme consists of taster sessions in Salsa, Cha Cha Cha and Tango and can either be done in isolation or as part of a one day pass which includes the Sunday evening shows and party.
A full Beginners’ Pass is also available and includes all Beginner’s workshops and the parties and shows on all three nights!
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