Tauranga is rapidly moving and grooving to the warm, sensual, expressive and tropical rhythms of dance styles like Kizomba, Bachata, Sala and Zouk.

And the city is getting a reputation for being one of the best places in New Zealand to learn and enjoy these genres of exotic partner dancing.

Take for example the four day Bay Salsa Festival happening in the middle of next month October. Salsa is a Latin dance, a mixture of Cuban dances like the mambo, pachanga and rumba as well as American dances like swing and tap.

“We expect to have around 300 people participating in classes each day and enjoying performances every night,” says festival coordinator, Karen Saunders. That will make it the second biggest festival of its kind in New Zealand.

“All Tauranga is invited to learn something new or improve their styles, “says Karen. “But the most important thing is to have fun with friends and whanau while supporting our dance community.”

Photo: Juan Cortes.

Kizomba is often referred to as the “African Tango”, it originates from Angola, but has captured the hearts of dance enthusiasts worldwide, including those right here in Tauranga. There’s a three day Kizomba Summer Fest happening at Otūmoetai College from January 19, next year.

New Zealand and Tauranga came under the gaze of the international dance community when we participated in the international Ginga Flashmob 2023 contest organized for the World Kizomba Project.

“It wasn’t just the love of dance,” says Becky Wilde who led the Tauranga group to Ginga Flash Mob. “It was aimed at encouraging girls and women to express themselves and to empower them. Also to help communities through the dance,” according Becky who is founder and director of Te Whare Kanikani (The House of Dance Tauranga).

Festivals like Bays Salsa, and the Kizomba Summer Fest have all attracted dance teachers and passionate dancers from around New Zealand and even overseas.

The Bay Salsa Festival will feature Salsa, Bachata Kizomba and Zouk workshops, parties and performances. And it’s rapidly growing in popularity.

“What started out as a one off event in 2006 has turned into one of New Zealand’s favorite salsa events of the year,” says Karen Saunders. The first Bay Salsa Festival was run as a way of financially supporting the New Zealand Youth Salsa Team with their travels. This quickly turned into an annual fundraising event.

For more info about the Bay salsa Festival visit https://www.baysalsafestival.co.nz/.