Tasty serving of Jambalaya

By KELLY BLANCHARD in Rotorua
Take a cup of Cuban Salsa, a dollop of Brazilian Samba, a dash of kapa haka and a measure of Pacific Island styles to taste.

Mix well over a four-day weekend. The result? A tasty serving of Jambalaya - and we are not talking the Cajun stew version.

Kiwis will have a rare opportunity to watch and learn with international masters of Latin percussion and dance at the Jambalaya Festival in Rotorua at Easter.

Featuring three days and four nights of theatre shows, gigs and workshops, the festival explores the powerful rhythms of Cuban, Brazilian, Maori and Pacific Island cultures and offers New Zealanders a chance to "get out of their skin", according to festival directors Heidi Hughes and Olivia Sumich.

This year with the support of Creative New Zealand, the festival has been able to bring 18 international guests including: Brazilian percussion legend Bira Reis from Salvador da Bahia, Brazil.

A founding member of Olodum, Brazil's biggest percussion school, Bira's precision and clarity of instruction are highly regarded and he is revered in Pelorinho (the musical capital of Brazil) for establishing the Bahian Office of Musical Investigation.

Melbourne's Afro-Cuban fusion explosion Los Cabrones are coming with Australia's foremost conga player, Chilean-born Javier Fredes.

Playing since age nine, Javier is a star pupil of Changuito, the world's top conguero.

Another member of Los Cabrones is musician and arranger Jordan Murray, who will be teaching Latin Grooves for wind/brass instruments. Jordan studied with Hal Crook and Phil Wilson, Heb Pomeroy and has performed with Aretha Franklin, Dennis Chambers, Billy Harper and many leading Australian musicians.

Dance teachers and performers include world Salsa pioneers Edie "the Salsa Freak" and Al "Liquid Silver" Espinoza, bringing their jaw-dropping shows from Los Angeles.

With SuperMario the million moves man and Susana Montero from the United Kingdom, this intensive weekend of workshops will be the first time New Zealanders have seen Latin dancers of this calibre.

WOMAD director Roger King describes Jambalaya as a great way to experience the depth and diversity of Latin and Pacific cultures.

"Jambalaya is a great occasion for musicians and dancers to develop their skills, its great to see this project taking off."

Festival director Olivia Sumich said the organisers looked to bring to the festival highly skilled musicians and dancers who could offer top quality instruction in specialised areas that was otherwise unavailable in New Zealand.

"The importance of excellent teaching skills and an ability to get involved with the jamming and improvisation aspects of the festival are integral.

"Our aim is to make the skills of the tutors accessible to the students and appreciators."

Ms Sumich emphasises that the support found in Rotorua through the Rotorua District Council, the Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust, the Bay of Plenty Community Trust and Waiariki Institute of Technology has allowed Jambalaya to develop and grow into a world class event.

Now in its third year, Jambalaya is setting the standard for the future.

"We hope to bring out top bands from Cuba and Brazil in the years to come not only to have them perform, but to workshop, exchange ideas and educate."

Described as salsa curves and samba grooves with a twist of Pasifika, Jambalaya will be held from March 24 to 28 at the Rotorua Convention Centre and Sportsdrome.