Event offers lessons, socials, showcases
By Alyssa Maxwell
Reporter
World salsa champions David Zepeda and Paulina Posadas will be teaching and showcasing their salsa skills this weekend at the ninth Annual Salsa Invasion, presented by the Baylor Latin Dance Society. The event will take place in Hoffman Hall, located at 400 South 4th Street in downtown Waco.
Lubbock senior Daisy Hernandez, vice president of the Baylor Latin Dance Society, said participants in the event will have a chance to form a deeper appreciation of culture through dance.
“Salsa Invasion is a salsa congress with the purpose of coming together, networking and socializing while building dance skills and trying something new,” she said.
The event will kick off at 7:00 p.m. Friday with a salsa lesson by Houston professional dance instructor Salomon Amaya, followed by a social dance for the remainder of the night.
Saturday’s events will consist of five workshops, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., taught by various dance groups and professionals, including Xibuke, Mambo Violento, Semeneya, Jay Stylz and Mambo Dallas. At 9 p.m., the groups will perform a set of dances, including variations of salsa, bachata and the cha-cha.
“I like to describe it as Dancing with the Stars,” Hernandez said.
The Baylor Latin Dance Society will also perform on Saturday night, along with University High School, which is the first high school from Waco to perform at Salsa Invasion. Salsa groups from various Texas colleges and Oklahoma University are also planning to attend, along with dance professionals from Houston, Dallas and San Antonio.
McAllen senior Alejandra Perez, president of the society, said Salsa Invasion is well-known throughout the Texas salsa community.
“Salsa is the main [dance] we do,” she said, referring to the event. “It gives you the opportunity to connect with your partner, music and everything around you.”
Students, faculty and staff with a Baylor ID can participate in Salsa Invasion at the discounted price of $12, which will cover all of the events the entire weekend. However, participants can opt to choose separate events at different prices. The cost to participate on Friday night is $3, and the performance on Saturday is $5. Workshops are priced at $5 each.
“We want to encourage Baylor students, faculty and staff to participate, or at least watch the performances,” Perez said.
Without a Baylor ID, the price for admission for the whole weekend is $80. Friday night is priced at $5, the performance on Saturday is $20, and the workshops are $15 each.
