Salsa dance convention to meet here

By Judy Gibbs Robinson

Published: June 7, 2006

Eight Texas dance troupes and one from Oklahoma will gather here next week for public workshops and performances of Latin dance styles known collectively as "salsa."

Learning salsa

The Oklahoma City Salsa Convention begins June 15 with a welcome party, followed by evening performances June 16-17 and afternoon workshops June 17-18. All events are at Mangos, 212 E Sheridan.

Oklahoma City is the third stop on the Salsa Convention 2006 Tour, which already has visited Austin and San Antonio.

This is the first year Oklahoma City has been included, said Melly Rivera, assistant director of Las Americas Dance Troupe of the Everything Goes Dance Studio in Oklahoma City.

Rivera said salsa differs from ballroom dancing, but both are structured.

Guanguanco, Enfuego, Malanga Dancers, Xibuke, Cliff and Valerie, Gerardo y Lucia, Rumba y Poema and Jose y Alex of Texas; and Las Americas of Oklahoma are participating.