What is IDBDC Latin Fusion

In 2019 Independence Day Ball Dance Camp is continuing to lead Dance Industry in development of dance. Latin Fusion is the proof of that. In 2019 IDBDC launches its annual event called Latin Fusion together with Te Earl Rus Dance Movement Exchange and World Champion Ana Llorente. This is a one of a kind of opportunity for dancers of all styles ages and dance disciplines to learn a true nature of Latin, Cuban and Afro Cuban dancing.

The professional approach with years and years of experience will leave you asking for more. This is one of a kind event that you will not want to miss. World Class instructors from all over the World will lead you to hold a class of your own on the dance floor.

Group and private instruction are offered from Beginner to Advanced dancers. Technique levels classes are applicable to any level dancers. 

2019 Schedule:

11:00 - 12:30 pm Bachata Sensual Workshop by Kat Arias
12:30 - 2:00 pm Afro Cuban Workshop by Ana Llorente
2:00 - 3:30 pm NightClub Mambo Workshop by Ear Rush

What To Expect at IDBDC Latin Fusion?

Workshops and Private Lessons

Instruction offered in:

• Bachata

• Afro-Cuban Dancing

• NightClub Mambo

Bachata Sensual Workshop

Bachata Sensual Workshop will be taught by one of the most respected instructors in the game, DC's own Kat Arias

Workshop will go in depth regarding differing techniques, hand holds, connections, and body manipulations to learn how to safely and successfully execute different movements in the Bachata Sensual style.

What is Bachata? Bachata is a type of Latin music that originated from the Dominican Republic. Many of the Bachata songs talk about love or romance. Bachata has gained popularity in recent times and is played and danced in many countries around the world. Bachata was earlier termed as “amargue” referred as bitter music, which later came up as “Bachata” and became trendy and popular worldwide. Along with Bachata music, came the dance style for it too.
Bachata dance has evolved due to dancers incorporating their own style and moves from other dances. The most widely known step is to move to steps to the side with a hip movement (most noted on women) and tap on the 4th beat, then two steps to the opposite direction with a tap on the 8th beat (sometimes noted with a hip move to the note).

In order to dance Bachata, a couple can dance either in a close position or separated in an open position. Compared to Salsa Bachata can be more sensual and intimate.

Afro Cuban workshop

Afro Cuban workshop will be taught by the World Champion Ana Llorente.

Workshop will focus on the history and dance of the traditional authentic Cuban Rumba. Highly energetic combinations involving dance, percussion and song. The Rumba was born in Cuba in the late 19 century but it laid the foundation for many of the distinct styles of Latin dance and music.

What is Afro Cuban Dancing? Most of the sacred dances we perform are from the Afro-Cuban religion of Santeria, or Regla de Ocha. Santeria is based on the Orisha worship of the traditional religion of the Yoruba people from West Africa, in what is now southwestern Nigeria and eastern Benin.

Yorubas brought their religion to Cuba during slavery. Nearly 1 million Africans from West and Central Africa were captured by Cuba's Spanish colonists and brought to Cuba during the 16th through 19th centuries. As Cuba's plantations expanded in the late 18th and 19th centuries, so did the slave trade. Most enslaved Africans in Cuba were Yoruba, and thus had a significant cultural influence on the Africans of various ethnic backgrounds.

Night Club Mambo

Night Club Mambo workshop - will be taught by Earl Rush

Workshop will teach you some of the current Basic Night Club Mambo Moves and turn patterns that are being done in Night Clubs across the Country.

What is Mambo? Mambo is a Latin dance of Cuba. Mambo was invented during the 1930s by the native Cuban musician and composer Arsenio Rodríguez, developed in Havana by Cachao and made popular by Dámaso Pérez Prado and Benny Moré.

The Mambo dance that was invented by Perez Prado and was popular in the 1940s and 50s in Cuba, Mexico City, and New York is completely different from the modern dance that New Yorkers now call Mambo and which is also known as Salsa "on 2". The original mambo dance contains no breaking steps or basic steps at all. The Cuban dance wasn't accepted by many professional dance teachers. Cuban dancers would describe mambo as "feeling the music" in which sound and movement were merged through the body. Professional dance teachers in the US saw this approach to dancing as "extreme," "undisciplined," and thus, deemed it necessary to standardize the dance to present it as a sell-able commodity for the social or ballroom market.

Get to know our Latin Fusion Instructors:

Ana LLorente

Ana started her dance career in Havana, where she graduated with Honors from the Cuban National School of Arts specializing in Contemporary Dance and Afro-Cuban Folklore. Her extensive training and dedication gave her the opportunity to win a scholarship in Choreography at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, USA. This scholarship, coming from a USA based institution, was a completely unique opportunity for a Cuban citizen residing in the island. The “UNEAC“ Cuban National institution of Writers and Artists also gave her a recognition as the best performer and choreographer in the country at the most important and only invitational Dance Competition in Havana. ”

Today, she is dedicating her talents entirely to the Ballroom World and all types of Latin dance and competitive instruction. She has been invited to perform around the world at several World Championships: Greece, Italy, Japan, Canada, USA, European Championship, England, Hong Kong, Holland, Ireland and France.

Additionally, she has taken part as a dancer and choreographer in many internationally televised programs like:

“Ballroom in Concert” (Vienna, Austria), “Ballroom Fever” (City Center, New York), Miss Venezuela International”, Dance Yuma Factory” in Japan, America’s Got Talent, ”Unforgettable Boleros with Ricardo Montalban, “Heritage DanceSport Championships” with Cyd Charisse , PBS Television Special for USA Dancesport Championships and First World Mambo Competition, International Dance Festival (Vail, Colorado) ,CNN USA Dance news, Vail International Dance Festival, “Sabado Gigante”, “Mira Quien Baila”, Univision TV Channel, Millenium Dancesport Championships.

MTV videos for: Gloria Estefan, Ricky Martin, Will Smith, Julio Iglesias, Chayanne, Vanessa Williams, Gipsy Kings in Concert,Julio Iglesias, famous Latin singer Johnny Ventura and she was the principal dancer of “Dirty Dancing”#2 movie : “Havana Nights”. ”

Ana has won numerous National and International Dance honors and titles. She is:

• World Mambo Champion

• Argentine Tango World finalist

• Theater Arts and Adagio Champion at Blackpool (Biggest Competition in the world)

• USA, World and Canadian American Rhythm Champion.

Teaching, coaching and lecturing in renowned Ballroom, Performing Arts and Salsa Conventions all around USA and the world, Ana is well known for bringing a real and authentic Latin flavor to the Dance World along with her understanding of modern choreography and its application to the body.

Kat Arias

Kat is a Venezuelan born dancer who came to the United States at the age of six. At the age of 23, she found the world of Latin dancing, and she started training in Ballroom and Latin. At the age of 25 she became one of the Owners of the Elan DanceSport Center, and helped with directing a local performance group. Following Elan’s closure in 2011, Kat created the Ferocity Dance Company in May of 2012, where she is currently the Owner and Managing Director. Ferocity houses multiple bachata focused competitive and performing teams, and has won various accolades throughout the years. Her vision was to have a company where anyone who wanted to be family, could be.

Although she focuses on Bachata fusion in her original choreographies, she does what she can to travel and receive training in order to maintain well versed in the many styles of Bachata that exist: Traditional, Modern, Sensual, and Urban to name a few. She has received certifications from Korke & Judith from Spain as well as Alex & Desiree from New York in their respective styles. In addition to running her teams and studio, she is the organizer of the annual Masters of Bachata Takeover weekender events and teaches various styles of bachata at different Congresses, Festivals and special events on the National, and International level.
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