The Cubans are coming to Rotorua

Kate Maguire, left, and Greydis Montero Liranza, perform at the Cuban Festival on Eat Street in 2015. Photo/File

People from all over New Zealand, Australia and the South West Pacific will descend on Rotorua this month to attend the biggest community based Cuban dance and music event in New Zealand - Aotearoa Cuban Festival.

Every year it attracts some of the best international and national Cuban dance instructors who come to share the sounds, rhythms and dances of the Afro-Cuban beat with Kiwis who love Cuban dance.

A salute to Cuban salsa and its roots, the festival recreates the passion and vibrancy of Cuba through the sounds of live Cuban music and dance, and will inspire anyone who comes to learn more.

A community week will run prior to the festival - Monday February 27 though to Saturday March 4 packed with free activities, demonstrations, performances, and classes held at QE Health, Che-Chorizo, and the Rotorua Night Market.

A spectacular showcase of Cuban and Latin dance will be presented at the Rotorua Energy Events Centre on March 4 followed by a Cuban dance party. This amazing show contains the best Cuban dance talent in New Zealand.

Tickets will be available through Ticketmaster.

The festival is sponsored this year by the New Zealand Communities Trust (NZCT), Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust, Southern Trust, First Sovereign Trust and the Creative Communities Rotorua Scheme. This funding has enabled the festival's trust to bring international dancer instructors to the festival and run a week long programme of community based events.

"Moving your hips around is like getting your Cuban passport and I am really excited to be able to share my passion and knowledge about Cuba and its dances alongside a great line up of international Cuban dance instructors with New Zealand dancers," said trustee member and creative director, Greydis Montero Liranza.

A Rotorua resident and director of local dance school GreydisDance, Ms Liranza is a graduate of the prestigious National School of Arts in Havana, has toured the world and was a principal dancer and choreographer for the Lady Salsa show.

Twelve years ago after this show came to New Zealand she fell in love with our country and decided to stay.

For further information please visit www.nzcubanfestival.co.nz.