Kicking up their heels with lively cross culture salsa

Rotorua dance group Dance 2 Inspire are taking their Maori-inspired salsa to Australia.

Dance 2 Inspire spokeswoman Lisa Kohunui said the group have been invited to Sydney's Second Annual Cuban Salsa Congress which runs from July 6-8.

"We have been invited because the style we have developed embraces both Cuban traditional and contemporary dance as well as Maori contemporary performing arts."

Ms Kohunui said last year they performed a dance that incorporated aspects of both the traditional Maori gods and the Afro-Cuban gods.

She said they were fortunate they had members such as Karl Leonard and his wife Ruhia Ruwhiu who were heavily involved with kapa haka.

Last year the group performed at the New Zealand Cuban Festival in Wanganui and as a result they were invited to Sydney and also to Melbourne next year.

"In addition to performing we will also be participants in daily workshops with leading Cuban professional dancers and dance schools who represent Cuban salsa."

Ms Kohunui said short of going to Cuba, this was a great opportunity to develop their dance.

The congress is a celebration of salsa and a salute to Cuba, where salsa began. Activities will include performances by professional Cuban artists and world-class groups, dance workshops and Cuban Dance Parties with live bands and Latin DJs.

The Rotorua group have been together for two years and also share their style of dance with the local community. Health promoter and dancer Iwi Te Whau organises classes as part of a healthy lifestyle promotion.

The group are fundraising for their upcoming trip and hope to raise $10,000.

Ms Kohunui said one of the fundraisers would be held over Queen's Birthday Weekend, a Zumba master class run by top Zumba teacher Katie Moore from Hawaii.

The eight performers in the group going to Sydney are Shane Groves, JC Kohunui, Tina Moke, Roretana Kerr, Ruhia Ruwhiu, Lisa Kohunui, Roretana Kerr, Ruiha Ruwhiu, Roimata Seargeant, Tina Moke and Amy Scott.

Ms Kohonui said she has always danced.

"Thanks to my mum, I started dancing when I was five and we did ballroom, rock 'n' roll and American dance jazz, which is where I really kicked off."

Ms Kohunui has also danced hip hop, lambada and hula.

Earlier this year she and her son JC entered the Maori Television dance competition Kanikani Mai, competing for their marae Pikirangi and coming runners-up.