We are EXTREMAMENTE excited to announce that there is now a new home for Latinos, Latinophiles and lovers of Salsa, Samba and Soccer, or should I say Football/Futbol, here in Wellington. Por fin/Finally we have a home for lovers of all things Latino.
We, along with our Brazilian friend and colleague Clô Mudrik were approached to be the concept developers for this project, and it’s SO exciting to see our ideas taking form.
STAGE ONE – The Coup/Golpe de Estado/Estadio
On Tuesday the group we are part of took over the management of Temperance, the biggest venue of its kind in New Zealand, and on Wednesday we started changing its nationality to Latina. She won’t be ready for the citizenship/the rebranding process for a while. In the meantime we have set up the ESTADIO (The Stadium) – a home for the FIFA World Cup and for our Salsa classes amongst other things.
FIFA World Cup
Come and see the FIFA World Cup LIVE on the BIG.. and we mean BIG screen (3x5 metres) @ ESTADIO.
Temperance has gone a lot LATINO and a little LOCO with FIFA World Cup Fever, starting 2am Saturday 12 June with the first game between Mexico and South Africa and finishing with the last game between (who and who knows who) on Monday 12 July @ 6.30am.
Every game will be broadcast LIVE @ ESTADIO, which for those who don’t already know is located in the heart of the Courtenay District.
In true Latino-style, we want this month-long event to be a family affair so we have set up a special area for younger children to be used while the 6.30am games are on.
While games are playing, ESTADIO’s doors will open at 6am, closing for a well earned Latino-style siesta in the middle of the day, reopening late afternoon and closing at 4am.
There will be sofas and bean bags to relax on to watch the game. BYO pillow and blanket if you want. We want you to feel at home.
ESTADIO invites people of all nationalities to come and view the games. Please feel free to dress up in your national colours, bring your horns and rattles.
Rumour has it that Wellington Batucada and TVNZ will be down there for the first Brazilian game on Thursday 16 June @ 6.30am.
Join ESTADIO on FaceBook to keep up with the latest and to be able share the good news with your social networks.
Nos vemos/Ver você/See you at the game!
CUBAN SALSA CLASSES
As of next week Rafael and Rogelio, who is joining forces with CubanFusion, will be running their regular Salsa classes and Social Clubs out of the ESTADIO up until the commentary for the games start @ 11pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday nights.
We are in the process of aligning pricing, term dates and class content with Rogelio. As soon as we have things clearer we will add his class information to our website. In the meantime please refer the SalsaWawa website if you are interested in his classes. Apologies for any confusion or inconvenience caused while we sort things out.
Join the CubanFusion Social Club on FaceBook to keep up with the latest news and receive invites to our free events.
NB: Rafael’s Monday night Afro-Cuban Contemporary and Saturday afternoon Hand Drumming classes will remain in their current locations for the time being.
TERM DATES
- The next 5-week series of Cuban Salsa classes for Beginners through to Advanced start next Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 6pm. The free Social Clubs will run from 9pm – 11pm on these nights.
- The next 5-week series of introductory Hand-Drumming classes starts 26 June – registration is essential for this popular class.
- The next 10-week series of Afro-Cuban Contemporary classes starts 5 July.
Private lessons with Rafael, Rogelio and Jenny are as available by appointment.
See our website for full class details.
More classes, including Samba and other dance styles will be introduced @ ESTADIO once the World Cup is over. Watch this space!
OTHER EVENTS
- Rafael will be doing a double act this Friday (11 June) – he will be teaching/DJing @ the Webb Street Fiesta till midnight and then rushing down the ESTADIO to get the crowd warmed up before the first game between Mexico and South Africa @ 2.00am.
- We are back @ the Cross this Sunday (13 June) with our Sunday Salsa this Sunday (13 June) and every second Sunday of the month. The free fun introductory Salsa class will be @ 6.30pm followed by dancing till 9pm.
See our website for event details.
May the game begin!