Dance all around the world
Dance holidays a New Zealand first
From salsa to foxtrot, it’s sensuous, invigorating and Kiwis of all ages can’t get enough of it with many dance schools
bursting at the seams. Now they can combine their passion with a holiday to one of the world’s most desirable dance
destinations with Dance Tours.
A New Zealand first and the brainchild of Auckland businessman and dance enthusiast Chris Mitchell, Dance Tours will
launch in November 2006 with a week-long dance holiday to New York, based in the studio of ballroom-dancing legend
Pierre Dulaine. Famous for teaching inner-city teenagers the joys of waltzing, Dulaine coached sex symbol Antonio
Banderas to play him in Take the Lead.
Tour members will enjoy dance lessons in all the ballroom and Latin styles by day and the opportunity to dance all night
at New York’s top dance clubs.
A second dance holiday to New York is planned the following week, this time focusing on the hot and fast Latin Dances,
such as salsa. It will include workshops with Eddie Torres, considered by many to be New York’s King of Mambo (New York
style salsa to a heady fusion of swing and Cuban music).
Chris Mitchell says Dance Tours is targeted at New Zealanders of all ages and all levels of dance experience, who’ve
discovered the passion and romance of ballroom and the vigorous Latin dances such as salsa. He says this passion of New
Zealanders for dance has been stimulated through recent dance movies such as Take the Lead and Shall We Dance, and the
Dancing with the Stars TV show.
Dance Tours has teamed up with TAANZ bonded Adventure World Travel to deliver the dance holidays to destinations
including New York, Havana, Buenos Aires, and a dance cruise through the Pacific.
“Adventure World Travel has 25 years experience providing great holidays to some of the world’s most exotic and unique
locations, including dance meccas in Central and South America. They are the obvious partner for Dance Tours and will
ensure we get the best travel and accommodation deals for our clients,” explains Chris.
Brett Barclay, Adventure World Director, says the travel firm jumped at the chance to work with Dance Tours. “We could
see immediately that Dance Tours complements our current tour portfolio. We want our clients to experience a fantastic
holiday in a small group, without the regimentation of an inflexible timetable. Our holidays are for clients who want a
quality, authentic and unforgettable experience.”
Brett says he’s impressed with the passion and organisation of Dance Tours and says their relationship with Pierre
Dulaine in New York is a real coup.
Ends