IntoSalsa Fourth Annual Salsa Dance Competition will take place at The Red Room in July, 2009 with a total prize of $1000! The goal of the competition is to raise the level of Salsa dancing in Indianapolis. This year's competition is open to all levels and styles. Pros, semi-pros, and amateurs are all allowed. This year's winning couple will represent Indianapolis to compete at the Tri-State Salsa Championship at Cincinnati, Ohio from August 27-30, 2009. The couple will get a weekend package for the Cincinnati Salsa Festival 2009, which includes two nights stay at a hotel, all the workshops, the Friday night pre-party, and the Saturday after party. Also they would bypass the preliminary rounds of the competition and compete only for the final rounds.



MEDIA LATINA is excited to present to you the first Tri-State Salsa Open Championship 2009 at the Cincinnati Salsa Festival, Auguest 27th-30th. The winner of this year's IntoSalsa Fourth Annual Salsa Dance Competition will represent Indianapolis to compete in Cincinnati on Saturday, August 29th. IntoSalsa Dance Company will perform its newest choreography, and Yang & Erin will be teaching workshops at the Festival. Click here for details of the event and register for the competition.

These are the six couples who qualified for the final:

CONTESTANTS Kyle & Nadia Job & Amanda Mike & Lindsey Chad & Gillian Ryan & Chimere Marc & Jessica

SPONSORS

We'd like to thank the following sponsors who make this year's competition possible:

PLATINUM SPONSOR

GOLD SPONSORS

COMPETITION DATES

The preliminaries are on Wednesdays, July 8th, 15th, and 22rd. Each week two couples will be chosen to enter the final on Wednesday, July 29th. Doors will open at 9pm. The competitions will take place around 10:30pm each night.

LOCATION

The Red Room is located at 6335 Guilford Ave. in Broad Ripple.

DIVISION

There is only one division this year. Pros, semi-pros, and amateurs are all allowed. You must be age 21 and older.

PRIZES

1st prize is $500 plus trophy. 2nd prize is $250. The 3rd prize is $150. The 4th prize is $100.

REGISTRATION

Contestants may register by mail, in person at IntoSalsa Latin Dance studio, or at the Red Room. There's no registration fee before July 1st. After July 1st, there's $20 registration fee for each couple.

RULES FOR PRELIMINARIES

• All contestants must check in by 10:00 pm the day of the preliminary.
• Couples will dance together for 2 to 2 1/2 minutes to a Salsa song chosen by the DJ.
• Each couple will then dance for 2 to 2 1/2 minutes to a song of their choice.
• Songs chosen must be at least 80% salsa.
• CD's must be clearly labeled with contestants' names and track number.
• Contestants will be judged by audience reaction.
• Costumes are not required.
• Two couples will be chosen at each preliminary to advance to the final.
• Couples not chosen from the first preliminary can still enter the second preliminary.

• All contestants must check in by 10:00 pm the day of the final.

• Couples will dance for 2 to 2 1/2 minutes to a Salsa song chosen by the DJ.

• Each couple will then dance for 2 to 2 1/2 minutes to a song of their choice.

• Songs chosen must be at least 80% salsa.

• CD's must be clearly labeled with contestants' names and track number.

• Contestants will be judged by a panel of 3 judges.

• Costumes are not required but strongly recommended.

• Dancers will be judged in 7 categories: Timing (20%), Partnering (20%), Presentation (20%), Styling (10%), Creativity (10%), Free-style (10%), and Audience Reaction (10%).

• The contestants have their choice of dancing "On 1" or "On 2". The judges will be looking closely to the timing of the contestants. Points will not be deducted if you dance "On 1" and switch to "On 5". The same if you dance "On 2" and switch to "On 6".

• There are no restrictions on dips or lifts.

• There are no restrictions on separating from the partner while dancing.

• Points will be deducted from a couple's total score in the finals if they dance for less than 2 minutes or more than 2 1/2 minutes.