Croatians love
music, dancing and the summer. That is why a lot of events are organised here, also -
Salsa festivals. They combine dance, events and tourism and give a
unique experience of the Mediterranean. Music and dances from Latin America have become very popular in Croatia, so now we are introducing our list of the
top 5 festivals to you, where you can enjoy these
addictive latin rhythms.
Istria is a very popular destination for many reasons, but did you know that the biggest Salsa festival in Europe is held there? It is beloved by many tourists,
no matter if they’re dancers or not. This festival takes place in the
charming towns of
Rovinj and
Opatija. It got so big, that it had around
7000 participants from all over the world in 2019! The first festival dates back to 2005 and it became one of the
most famous in the world of salsa, ever since!
The festival lasts almost 3 weeks and it consists of 2 parts.
It starts in Opatija and the next 2 weeks are held in Rovinj. The first 2 weeks are called
Sensual Summer Salsa and the last week is the main part - the
Croatia Summer Salsa Festival. It is taking place from June until the beginning of July. Whether you’re a dance or not, the program is
super exciting and fun.
The festival takes place on
multiple locations and the
grand opening starts with a party. During the week the program is rich, with
around 120 dance workshops, inspirational talks, parties, excursions and performances. The
talks and workshops are usually in the morning or afternoon and it is a
great opportunity for participants to learn about the
culture of social dance, get to know the industry and discuss important topics. Some dance styles you can try are:
Salsa, Bachata, Kizomba, ChaCha, Rumba Cubana, Mambo, Reggaeton, etc.
Parties are a big part of the festival, because all the dancers can
show off the skills they’ve learned on workshops and
enjoy the summer vacation to the fullest. They are held in the afternoons or evenings
on a boat, in vineyards, at the beach or pools. There are also excursions organised for those who wish to explore more around Rovinj and Opatija, during their stay. In the evenings you can also watch
interesting show dances across town.
The festival is
literally for anyone, no matter what age you are. If you’re a dancer -
all dance levels and styles are welcome. The best national and international teachers will turn everyone into
passionate salseros!
We could say, that this part of Croatia
lives and breathes Salsa. Another amazing festival takes place in Istria and it is called “
Salsa Latina Istriana festival”. Since 2005 this event is taking place in
Pula. It lasts 3 days and has a great program. Usually, it is organised in March/April, just before the hectic summer season starts. It offers around
40 free-of-charge workshops, 2 master classes, parties and a relaxing area.
Since the workshops are free, it is great to try if you have
never danced before. Some of the dance styles you can try are: Salsa, Afro Cuban, Kizomba, Semba, Brazilian Zouk, Bachatango, Dancehall, etc. It gathers
more than 1500 dancers each year and it’s definitely worth visiting, if you’re in Istria at that time of the year.
These 2 festivals are the biggest ones, but Salsa-lovers have 3 more locations to choose from in Croatia. One of the biggest open air salsa festivals is held in
Sibenik. It happens at the end of July in the Amadria park and
old town of Sibenik. They become salsa “hot spots” for 3 nights. The festival is known as the “
Salsa Beach Splash” and it consist of
dance shows, performances and open air party spots where salsa dancers, artists and salsa-lovers gather to support each other, have fun and dance
until the sun comes out.
Another
unique festival is taking place for the past 10 years, in the town of
Kastele. It is called “
Festival of sauce and salsa”. Can you guess what the program is about?
It combines great food and dance! Every year it is held in September as a 1-day event. The program starts with
dance workshops during the day and ends with
food and a live band performance in the evening.
Famous Croatian chefs prepare homemade pasta with sauce and they sell it in town restaurants, for just 10 HRK per meal. All the funds from the meals sold and the dance workshops are meant for a
humanitarian purpose and are given to the shelter for homeless people in Kastele.
The newest in the Croatian Salsa festival family is the “
Summer Salsa Festival” in
Split. It is a 4-day party event, that takes place
on the beaches and boats of the Split bay. It happens at the end of July and offers more than 25 hours of
high quality workshops and 4 nights of
proper latin vibes. International and local teachers give beginner and advance lessons in
Salsa, Bachata and Kizomba, and you can then proudly present the learned movements in various party spots of the event.
As you can see, Croatia offers a great deal of choices where you can
enjoy latin music. We hope this list helped you see that at each time of the year, Croats are in the mood to dance and
live life to the fullest. If you wish to spend your next vacation in the vicinity of one of these festival locations while listening to latin beats, we are more than happy to help you choose
the best villa with private pool in Croatia for you, your family and friends!
Sara Vargovic
29.3.2023
MY ISTRIA GUIDE
