Just over three years ago, a trio of local dancers approached the Los Angeles-based producer of a salsa festival with an idea: to bring an international dance showcase to the people of Calgary.

It was then that three dancers -- Eric Caty, David Joseph and Kelly Lannan -- convinced Albert Torres to add Calgary to his list of tour spots on the circuit.

“I didn’t even think that Albert would agree to bring the congress to a small city like Calgary,” Lannan said. “So I was just surprised that we got it, and the first few just got so much support from the community. It was amazing.”

As dancers that have been involved in international congresses and other salsa competitions for years, Lannan, Joseph and Caty were able to pull their relationship with Torres into an opportunity.

“We had been supporting the events for a long time,” Lannan said. “He believed in our professionalism.”

Now in its third annual run, the Calgary International Salsa Congress will be holding performances, competitions, a gala dinner, workshops and lectures for people of all different skill levels. The event will be held this weekend from Friday to Sunday in the Hyatt Regency Calgary on Centre Street.

The turnout has increased over the past three years, growing from 800 spectators the first year to 1,000 in 2009. Lannan said that Calgary has a smaller market for salsa than the other stops on the circuit, but she thinks that people are becoming more interested in it due to the surge of dance in the media, specifically reality television.

“This year we’re very lucky because we have Tara-Jean, who is the winner of So You Think You Can Dance Canada, coming to perform at the congress,” Lannan said. “Which I think is great because it ties in those people that are coming because they’ve seen those TV shows.”

This year, more dancers are being brought in to Calgary – one of whom is Tara-Jean Popowich, the 2009 winner of So You Think You Can Dance Canada, who will be teaching a workshop on Friday evening. Lannan also said that a larger dance floor has been added, as well as a greater amount of workshops at more diverse levels.

Lannan carried on to say, “Every year we ask ourselves how we can make our event better than all of the other events so that people want to travel to Calgary instead of travelling to other places.”

Kelly Lannan teaches a drop in class how to salsa dance.

Photo: Jennifer Friesen/ Calgary Journal

Ken Corbett is a recreational salsa dancer in Calgary. He has been dancing for eight years, and he attended the past two salsa congresses hosted here. He said that he likes being able to see the international talent woven in with the local talent, but largely he enjoys the social aspect of salsa dancing.

“It’s just sort of a social scene that’s interesting, and I like to dance and I like the music,” Corbett said. “When there’s a dance like this, you just sort of gravitate to it I guess.”

Local salsa dancers at the congress are able to not only learn from professionals in the workshops, but can also compete and perform on stage. Jim Grant is one of these individuals who will be competing and performing over the course of the weekend.

Grant has been dancing salsa for five years, ever since his first class with Kelly Lannan. Since then he has been attending congresses and other salsa events around the world – from New York to the ones here in Calgary. He also sees the chance to socialize with others as a strong opportunity in salsa dance.

“A lot of us worry about our health, and maybe work out or run, but those are kind of solo pursuits,” Grant said. “Being able to do something healthy with other people in a social setting is just really good.”

The congress will have different events happening all throughout the weekend.

Prices range from $20 for the workshop with Tara-Jean Popowich, to $275 for the full weekend pass.

To find more information on these specific events, or to purchase tickets, you can visit their website at,