Join the Latin party: Salsa, cumbia and reggaeton at Gisborne surf club

Gisborne local Sheryl May (bottom left in black) leads a salsa dance class at last year's Fiesta Latina at the Dome. She will be leading a dance class to start a similar night at the Midway Surf Rescue Community Hub on December 21.

It will be time to party Latin-style when the Fiesta Latina takes over the Moana Lounge at the Midway Surf Rescue Community Hub the weekend before Christmas.

Gisborne will once again resound with the cadences of salsa music while party-goers take in the beautiful beach views – a perfect combination with the tropical heat of the music, says Nego Beto from local group BrazilBeat.

Salsa, which originated in Cuba and has spread all over Latin America, will be accompanied by other popular South American genres like cumbia, reggaeton and samba when dancers hit the floor.

Cumbia is popular in Chile, Argentina and Uruguay, and has millions of aficionados around the world.

“The graceful dances that accompany these infectious, percussive and horn-soaked melodies come easily to those hailing from the Americas, but if you’re not sure how the steps go, join the class,” Beto says.

Gisborne-based clothing designer and salsa teacher Sheryl May will lead a dance class at the start of the night to get everyone going.

The evening kicks off with a live set from P.S.Outloop – a duo featuring Pietro Behar on guitar and the smooth voice of Sarah Pocock – delivering samba, bossa nova and Brazil-adjacent tunes.

BrazilBeat Sound System (Nego Beto and DJ Mara) will be on the decks for the rest of the evening delivering live percussion.

BrazilBeat Sound System's Nego Beto (percussion) and DJ Mara will be performing at Fiesta Latina at the Moana Lounge at the Midway Surf Rescue Community Hub on Saturday, December 21.

Following the fiesta, BrazilBeat said they were looking forward to New Year’s Eve and their set at Rhythm & Vines.

They are playing on December 31 on the Cellar Stage from 3-4pm. It will be a special moment because son Jamil Sabda will be playing on the same stage just before them at 2pm.

Other Gisborne musicians taking the R&V stage include Tyna Keelan, who will perform with his band on the Vines Stage on December 31 with special guest Beto on percussion.

Following his album release at Te Tairāwhiti Arts Festival in October, Keelan said he was excited to bring some fresh new songs to R&V.

The Details

What: Fiesta Latina

When: Saturday, December 15, 8pm

Where: Moana Lounge, Midway Surf Rescue Community Hub, Centennial Marine Dr, Gisborne.

Tickets available through Eventbrite.