The Cubans are coming to Rotoura
February 5, 2014: Hundreds of people from all over New Zealand and the South West Pacific will descend on Rotorua from 28 February to 2
March to attend the biggest community based Cuban dance and music event in New Zealand - the New Zealand Cuban Festival.
This is the first time the event has been staged in Rotoura and will this year also run a Community Week prior to the
Festival - Saturday 22 February though to Saturday 1 March 2014. This week will be packed with free activities to give locals an opportunity to check see performances and join classes held at the City Focus, the Arts Village, the
Night Markets and at Eat Street.. .
Every year the festival attracts the best international and national Cuban dance instructors who come to share the
sounds, rhythms and dances of the Afro-Cuban beat with Kiwis who love Cuban dance.
A salute to Cuban Salsa and its roots, the festival recreates the passion and vibrancy of Cuba through the sounds of
live Cuban music and dance, and will inspire anyone who comes to learn more. A full programme for the weekend’s activities is available online.
The Festival is sponsored by the New Zealand Communities Trust (NZCT), the Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust and the Creative Communities Rotorua Scheme 2013. This funding has enabled the festival to hire international dancer
instructors and fund the week of community based events.
Trustee member and co-founder, Greydis Montero Liranza says: “Moving your hips around is like getting your Cuban
passport and I am really excited to be able to share my passion and knowledge about Cuba and its dances alongside a
great line up of international Cuban dance instructors with New Zealand dancers."
A Wellington resident and a New Zealand citizen, Greydis is a graduate of the prestigious National School of Arts in
Havana, has toured the world and was a principal dancer and choreographer for the Lady Salsa show. Ten years ago, after
this show came to New Zealand, she fell in love with our country and decided to stay.
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