CLUB CANDELAwill be hosting a heat of the THE LONDON LATINFEST SALSA CHAMPIONSHIPS 2008

If you want to enter the heat at Club Candela email Jo Jo via the contact us page on this website.

Below are some details of the competition. Full details are on the LATIN COLLECTIVE website

The PRIZE FUND VALUE NOW STANDS AT APPROX - £5000

This years heats (which will take place throughout the UK) will be launched on Easter Sunday 23 March at SCALA and will lead up to the finals at The London LatinFest Weekender (22-25 August).

The Competition will take the same format as the 2007 event. This year we hope to have prizes worth some £10000 in total. There will be two levels of competition: Amateurs (who do not make a living from dance tuition or performance) and Professionals (for whom dance tuition and performance provides a significant source of income ? more than £5500 per annum (at least £100 per week)).

General Rules and Guidelines:-

1. The Championships will be launched at the scalalatina BANK HOLIDAY ALL-NIGHTER on Easter Sunday 23rd March.

2. Between Sunday 23 March and Sunday 17 August there will be some 24 heats across the UK. Only one couple progresses from each heat, but if you fail to succeed in that heat you may enter another later heat. Only Amateurs must take part in the heats to win their way through to the finals. Professional couples will be invited to participate and will enter at the semi-finals stage.

3. All those wishing to participate must be available and able to attend The London LatinFest Weekender in London (Sat 25-Sun 26 Aug inclusive) at SCALA. They do not have to attend the workshops or pay for the full pass (unless they wish to), however, they must at least purchase the party night pass to guarantee access to the party nights at which the finals will take place. Once each amateur pair wins through they should book these immediately by emailing us directly at info@latincollectiveuk.com ? the original lowest ticket price (prior to 1st June) will be held for these winners.

4. The finals will take place across the London LatinFest Congress weekender with the semi-finals taking place on Saturday 23 August and the Grand-finals taking place on Sunday 24 August.

5. All heats and the semi-finals will be based on a freestyle format. The semi-finalists will be whittled down to just 4 amateurs and 4 professional couples who will progress to the Grand-finals the next day. The Grand-finals will be based around your own short choreography (Which must me no longer than 4 mins in length). You are allowed any tricks of dips that you wish to in your choreography AS LONG AS THEY ARE SAFE.

6. So as to avoid any issues of favouritism etc, the small judging panel will be made up entirely of the foreign teachers and performers who are participating in the LatinFest Weekender. These may be supplemented by judges chosen from the sponsor brands.