In summer 2018/19 the Maid & Magpie Hotel in Magill, affectionately known as ‘The Maid’ hosted a Latin night in the beer garden. The Latin dance community in Adelaide embraced it enthusiastically, enjoying its success over several months. Here’s a run down so you can reminisce if you were lucky enough to be there or get a feel of what to expect at Latin dance nights if you were not.
After years of street Latin studios in Adelaide organizing branded events at various times throughout the year, two dance enthusiasts—Nikolina and Eleni—collaborated to create Espirito Latino, aiming to bridge the gap in the community. They worked tirelessly to establish this new event, and I’m pleased to report that the opening night was a huge success. Well done, ladies!
Eleni
Nikolina
The vision; to create and run dance events where multiple dance studios can come together and enjoy a ‘white label’ style event creating a melting pot of studios dancing together harmoniously. They have created yet another high quality dance event here in Adelaide.
The QuickSteps Team eagerly accepted the invitation to experience the event firsthand. Upon arrival, we found our names on the door and enjoyed full VIP service throughout the night.
We quickly located our table and started the bubbly flowing. After all, it’s important to stay hydrated while dancing, right? Cheers!
The Salsa gods were smiling down on us with the forecast a sweltering 40 degrees! A hot, sweaty day leads to a balmy and fabulous evening… perfect for lounging in the beer garden at The Maid and dancing to Latin beats.
By 8:30 pm, patrons had packed the beer garden. You could feel the excitement and anticipation in the air!
The spectacular turn out was helped in part by the free, open salsa class teaching LA Style salsa. The class was upbeat, entertaining and easy to follow making it perfect for beginners. The organisers are planning on running a similar class to kick off the event each week. These classes will equip you with the basics to get up and join in later in the night rather remaining a spectator.
What is Street Latin you ask? Generally used to descibe dance styles that are still closely linked to their Latin American roots, with salsa being the most popular by far. The primary street Latin styles danced in Adelaide are salsa, bachata and merengue with zouk and kizomba making their way on to the scene in recent years.
Throughout the night, DJ Lobo masterfully kept the energy high by mixing salsa, bachata, zouk, and kizomba tracks. Additionally, he surprised the crowd with a cheeky cha-cha number. This unexpected addition immediately prompted the QuickSteps Team to jump up from their seats and hit the dance floor.
As with most Latin Nights, it’s a good idea to get there early if you want to dance on a floor with more space. By 9 pm, however, the dance floor was already starting to fill up, creating a lively and energetic atmosphere.
Dance Floor at 10:30 pm…
The QuickSteps Team was fortunate to receive an invitation to experience the event firsthand. Upon arrival, we discovered our names on the guest list and enjoyed full VIP service throughout the evening.
After locating our table, we promptly opened a bottle of bubbly to kickstart the festivities. After all, staying hydrated is crucial while dancing, right? So, with glasses raised, we toasted to a night of fun and celebration—cheers!
Great job Espirito Latino crew and we will see you soon at one of your many other upcoming events!
***Espirito Latino maintains an active presence on social media platforms, particularly Facebook. By following their page, you can stay informed about their latest events and activities. This ensures you won’t miss out on any of the vibrant Latin dance happenings in Adelaide!
- Salsa Y Mambo Festival Jan 18th & 19th – workshops, shows and afterparty
- Sunday Latin Social – Sunday, Jan 12th at The Loft Adelaide, Grenfell St.
