Blame it on Rio

TARANTISMO: Duos dance the night way with Latin styles at one of the popular Latin dance evenings at the Dome and now the chance has come back around to do it all again. Tarantismo is the medical term for the 'unconditional desire to dance'. Picture by by Aimee Renee

Get ready to rumba . . . the Dome is about to host another popular Latin dance evening.

Fiesta Latina next week will include merengue, a type of music and dance that originated in the Dominican Republic; salsa — said to be an amalgamation of Cuban dances that were popular in the ballrooms and nightclubs of Havana and New York City; and cha cha, a dance style of Cuban origin.

Los Village Burritos will play live in the Dome courtyard to warm up the crowd ahead of the main act BrazilBeat Sound System.

“Lots of different rhythms, lots of different beats. Nego Beto includes live drumming,” organiser Elena Serena says.

“There is quite a big Latino community here so they always come out for this.”

But for those less practised in Latin dance, fashion designer and dancer Sheryl May will lead a beginners class on the night to teach the basics.

“Salsa is the most complex, the others are easy. As long as you know one basic pattern you can dance all night,” says Serena.

Such is the popularity of these steamy evenings advance tickets have already sold out. Remaining tickets are $15 from the Aviary. Because they are likely to sell like hot panqueques there is little chance of door sales.

Fiesta Latina, Dome Bar, Saturday, May 1, 9pm. Tickets $15 from the Aviary.