Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Bonaire’s First Bachata Festival Announced

This coming weekend December 16 through 18, 2011 will mark the first bachata festival to be held on Bonaire. Bachata is a type of music and dance that originated in the Dominican Republic in the beginning of the 20th Century, which is guitar based with traditional Latin and Caribbean rhythms. Bachata popularity has spread to other parts of Latin America and Mediterranean Europe and it is now as popular in many areas as salsa and merengue.

The festival which kicks off Friday night will feature world famous professional dancers Troy Anthony and Jorjet Alcocer of Houston, Texas and three live bands including Esquema from Aruba, Los Reales from Curacao and JR Latino from Bonaire. A welcome registration happy hour will be held Friday at City Cafe from 5:00 to 7:00 PM featuring the JR Latino band. The fun then moves to Sense with a workshop at 8:00 PM held by Bachata Troy and Jorjet and a workshop at 9:00 PM with Rueda de Bachata ClubFiera Bonaire. A party featuring the band Esquema and DJ Robert 2 will conclude the evening from 10:00 PM until 2:00 AM.

Activities on Saturday move to Karel’s Beach Bar with workshops mixed with dancing from 8:00 through 11:00 PM with Bachata Troy and Jorjet. The evening will conclude with performances by the bands Esquema and Los Reales from 10:00 PM until 3:00 AM.

The festival finishes Sunday at Spice Beach Club starting at 2:00 PM with a Zouk workshop by Pachanga from Aruba, followed by chill out time on the beach. At 6:00 PM another workshop will be held by Bachata Troy and Jorjet. A BBQ dinner will be held at 7:00 PM and the festival will conclude with a bachata show by Troy and Jorjet at 8:00 PM followed by performances from the bands Los Reales and JR Latino from 8:15 to 10:00 PM.

Ticket prices vary depending on the events chosen to attend. A full pass including six workshops and three parties is $100. A pass with four workshops and two parties is $80. A party pass to attend three parties is $30 and a pass for one workshop only is $22 and one party only is $12. The BBQ dinner on Sunday is not included. Tickets are available for sale at City Cafe, Sense Restaurant, Karel’s Beach Bar, Spice Beach Club and Bonaco. (Source: Dance for Fun and Fitness Bonaire)