Salsaotearoa Festival

Festival

What's on

Workshops

Learn from world-class artists across three streams, from First Festival foundations to fast-paced Intense shines and partnerwork.

Showcases

World-class performances from our featured artists and Aotearoa's best, from the NZ Latin Showcase to the International Showcase and the Mayan Floor Show.

Parties

Three nights in the beautiful Town Hall with NZ's best DJs, themed music hours, follow-alongs and surprises.

Socials

Afternoon socials, including outdoors in Dowse Square (weather permitting), with 13–14 hours of social dancing across the weekend.

Party night, Town Hall floor

Parties and Social Dancing

Three nights of parties. Around 13–14 hours of social dancing. And a beautiful Town Hall floor and space made for it.

Each night, the Lower Hutt Town Hall becomes our dancing oasis, with New Zealand's best DJs spinning a mix of Salsa, Timba, Mambo, Bachata and Cha Cha Cha. Our nights are themed, with themed music hours to match, like a “Fania hour” for the classic New York Salsa sound.

Every evening party also includes fun follow-alongs, so everyone can join in, and may include a few surprises too!

By day, join our afternoon socials, including outdoors in Dowse Square (weather permitting).

Can’t make the whole weekend? Grab a Showcase & Party Pass for a single night.

Passes

Pick your
weekend

Find your stream

Daytime workshops run across three streams. Here's how to pick the one that's right for you — then grab the pass below.

First Festival

New or newer to Salsa? Start here. Classes focus on foundations and community connection, so you'll build the essentials, meet fellow dancers and feel confident on the dance floor.

PassFirst Festival Pass. This pass covers the First Festival stream only.

Is this for me?You're brand new or have been dancing for a short while. This might be your first festival!

ExpectA friendly pace, solid foundations and meet plenty of new friends.

Social

Learn shines, partnerwork combos, and technique designed for social dancing. Breakdowns are nicely paced, with lots of dancing to music so you can apply what you learn and have fun.

Pass*Full Pass required.

Is this for me?Social is paced for intermediate to advanced dancers. You're ready if you can social dance and lead or follow a variety of turns and patterns with confidence. We assume you have solid foundations, so classes won't teach steps or timing from scratch. If you're unsure between First Festival and Social, choose First Festival.

ExpectClear breakdowns, time to practise with the music and a lot of fun.

Intense

Shines and partnerwork taught at a fast-paced, advanced level. These classes will challenge your learning, push your skills and give you a workout.

Pass*Full Pass required.

Is this for me?You're an experienced dancer passionate about performance or competition, comfortable picking up new material quickly and ready and keen to be pushed. If you're unsure between Social and Intense, start with Social.

ExpectA fast pace, lots of new material and classes that go, go, go.

*You're not locked in. With a Full Pass, you don't have to stay in one stream for the whole festival. Mix and match Social and Intense to suit your energy and interests.

Leaders and followers welcome in every stream.

*Price limited to the first 50 sold or until 30 November 2026 – whichever comes first!

Full Pass / Intermediate–Advanced

$279Earlybird 1*

All showcases & parties

8 hrs of workshops across the weekend

Your pass to the Social & Intense workshop streams

Buy this Pass →

First Festival Pass / Beginner–Improver

$199Earlybird 1*

All showcases & parties

6 hrs of workshops & 2 hrs of prácticas across the weekend

Buy this pass

Youth Pass / 17 & under

$159Earlybird 1*

Discounted rate for our youngest dancers

All showcases & parties. Attend the workshops of any stream

Buy this pass

Showcase & Party Pass / single night

$69 / Fri, Sat or Sun

Just the shows and the dancing

Pick Friday, Saturday, or Sunday

Buy this pass

FAQs

Frequently asked
questions

What is Salsaotearoa?

The NZ Festival of Salsa: a weekend of Workshops, Showcases, Parties and Socials, built by dancers, for dancers. With the NZ Salsa Congress taking a break in 2027, Salsa Magic, Odyssey Dance and Latin Fire joined forces to keep our community connected and dancing.

When and where is it?

Friday 4 to Sunday 6 June 2027 (King's Birthday Weekend) at the Lower Hutt Events Centre, Lower Hutt. It's about a 15-minute drive from Wellington City.

Who is it for?

Everyone! Whether you're brand new to Salsa, a seasoned social dancer or a performer, come and share your love of Salsa!

Can I get a refund, or transfer my pass?

Passes are non-refundable. If you can't make it, you can transfer your pass to someone else for a $25 fee. Transfers must be completed by 1 June 2027. To arrange a transfer, email [email protected].

Which Workshop stream should I choose?

First Festival is for new or newer dancers, focused on foundations and community. Social suits intermediate to advanced dancers who want combos and technique for the social floor. Intense is fast-paced and advanced. If you're unsure between First Festival and Social, choose First Festival. If you're unsure between Social and Intense, start with Social.

Can I mix streams?

With a Full Pass, yes. You can mix and match Social and Intense. The First Festival Pass covers the First Festival stream only.

Do I need a partner?

No, you do not need to come with a dance partner. Rotations will occur in all workshops and streams.

Can I just come to the Parties?

Yes! A Showcase & Party Pass gets you into a single night of Showcases and Parties.

How can I perform?

Register on our Performances page by 31 March 2027. Places are limited, and we'll confirm all acts by 16 April 2027. Performers need a Full Pass, First Festival Pass or Youth Pass before the event.

Where should I stay?

The Sebel Wellington Lower Hutt is our event hotel, just across the road from the venue. [Booking link coming soon]

How do I get here from the airport?

To and from Wellington Airport is around 25 minutes by car. Taxi, Uber or DiDi is the easiest way to make the trip.

Where do I park?

There is paid parking at Lower Hutt Events Centre and paid street parking also available nearby.

Where can I eat and drink?

The onsite Tutaki Cafe will keep you caffeinated all weekend. Dowse Square is across the street. The Sebel has a restaurant and bar, and there are lots of yummy food options on Jackson Street, Petone, and in the Queensgate Shopping Centre, both close by.

Will there be alcohol?

Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks will be available to purchase at the venue for the evening Showcases & Parties, served in line with New Zealand law.

Our
story

This will be the first ever Salsaotearoa - New Zealand Festival of Salsa. With the NZ Salsa Congress taking a break in 2027, Salsa Magic, Odyssey Dance and Latin Fire joined forces to keep our Salsa community dancing, learning and celebrating together.

Who's behind it

Meet the directors

Salsaotearoa is organised by six directors and dance teachers from three of New Zealand's leading Salsa schools, all experienced teachers who've spent years being a part of and building the scene we love.

Jacob Rosevear and Chloe Robinson direct Salsa Magic and have been part of Aotearoa's Salsa scene for more than 15 years. They have danced and learnt Salsa and Mambo around the world, but happily call Wellington home, alongside their family and dance community. They are passionate about creating a platform for dancers to shine and share beautiful moments on and off the dance floor.

Jacob & Chloe

Salsa Magic

@salsamagic.nz

Farya Zaman and Yohei Mikawa direct Odyssey Dance Company in Auckland, specialising in On2 Salsa / Mambo. Farya and Yohei have both performed nationally and internationally, and regularly bring world-class instructors to New Zealand through their events. They are passionate about creating a supportive space where dancers can grow.

Yohei & Farya

Odyssey Dance

@odysseydanceco_nz

Donna Frost and Michael Hobbs are the heart of Latin Fire Dance Studio in Christchurch, one of Aotearoa’s longest-running dance studios. Together they have helped run the South Island Latin Championship event which has been going for more than 20 years in addition to supporting numerous other local and national events. They love nothing more than bringing the community together to celebrate and grow Latin dancing.

Donna & Mike

Latin Fire

@latinfiredance

Together we bring decades of combined teaching, event, and community experience to making this first Salsaotearoa something special in 2027. We would love you to join us and be a part of it!

Questions, ideas, or want to get involved?

Salsaotearoa

What's on

Workshops

Showcases

Parties

Socials

Created by dancers,
for dancers

Parties and Social Dancing

Pick your
weekend

Lower Hutt Events Centre

Frequently asked
questions

Our
story

Meet the directors

Jacob & Chloe

Yohei & Farya

Donna & Mike

Be a part of
the first ever

What's on

Workshops

Showcases

Parties

Socials

Created by dancers,for dancers

Parties and Social Dancing

Pick yourweekend

Lower Hutt Events Centre

Frequently askedquestions

Ourstory

Meet the directors

Jacob & Chloe

Yohei & Farya

Donna & Mike

Be a part ofthe first ever

Created by dancers,
for dancers

Pick your
weekend

Frequently asked
questions

Our
story

Be a part of
the first ever