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Welcome to CALDAC!

Denver Salsa Bachata Congress Audience and Organizers

CALDAC, formerly known as Denver Salsa Bachata Congress, is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion, education, and preservation of Latinx and Afro-Caribbean culture through the arts in Colorado. Our events create equitable spaces that embrace all people of different orientations and different backgrounds. 

CALDAC Convention

2024 CALDAC Convention : A 4-Day Celebration of Afro Latin Culture through Music and Dance. 

 

This annual event is a 4-day convention will be held at the Hyatt Regency Aurora-Denver Conference Center from October 17-21, 2024. CALDACON attracts over 2,000 attendees each year, including dance/music artists and instructors from Colorado and all over the country. Over the course of the weekend, the convention will showcase 3 live musical bands, 125 live Afro-Latin dance performances, and 115 workshops. In addition, the event will provide certification programs offered by internationally recognized trainers for aspiring Afro Latin dance artists and instructors. CALDACON also encourages significant youth participation in the promotion and education of Afro Latin dance and arts. This convention will provide opportunities for the youth to train and perform on the big stage as they channel their creative energy constructively and positively.

Click below for more details

Caldac Convention Announcement

WHO WE ARE

Colorado Afro Latin Dance and Arts Collective (CALDAC), formerly known as Denver Salsa Bachata Congress is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization dedicated to the promotion, education and preservation of Afro Latin Culture through the arts in Colorado.

 

CALDAC hosts Colorado’s largest Afro Latin dance conventions annually - CALDACON (formerly Denver Salsa Bachata Congress). This annual event is a 4-day convention held in September-October at the Hyatt Regency Aurora-Denver Conference Center. CALDACON attracts music, dance, and art lovers from Colorado and all over the country. Over the course of the weekend, the convention showcases 3 live musical bands, 125 live Afro-Latin dance performances, and 115 workshops.

 

In addition, the event provides certification programs offered by internationally recognized trainers for aspiring Afro Latin dance artists and instructors. CALDACON encourages significant youth participation in the promotion and education of Afro Latin dance and arts. This provides opportunities for the youth to train and perform on the big stage as they channel their creative energy constructively and positively.

 

The transition from the Denver Salsa and Bachata Congress (DSBC) to the Colorado Afro Latin Dance and Arts Congress (CALDAC) was inspired by our vision to extend our reach throughout the entire state of Colorado and ensure that our name truly reflected our mission and values. We wanted to be more inclusive and representative of the diverse communities we serve, which meant broadening our focus beyond just salsa and bachata.

 

We are embracing a wider range of Afro Latin dance styles and artistic expressions, aimed at creating a more inclusive space that celebrates the rich cultural heritage of Afro Latin communities. The transition to CALDAC allowed us to expand our audience, offer more varied programming, and better align with the broader Afro Latin cultural celebration, preservation and education.

Partnerships

A very special thanks to our grantors, sponsors, donors and collaborators who help push our vision forward!

Grantors

Bonfils Stanton Foundation Sponsor Logo
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Sponsors

The Briony Group Sponsor Logo

Bredar Family Fund 

Mike and Gretchen Beall Community Fund

Que Bueno Suerte Sponsor Logo
Colorado Live Events Partner Logo
Mile High Multilingual Services Sponsor Logo

Collaborators &
Community Partners

Colorado Ballet Partner Logo
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Lone Tree Arts Center Partner Logo
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City Aurora Grantor Logo
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Gift of Jazz Logo
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Donors

Nora Reznickova
Cheri Wright
Jose Oropeza
Juan Limon
Rose Bernal
Andrew Frank
Liduan Cotto
Deborah Canning
Ellen Giarratana

Kurt Huerta
Michael Kengmana
Anthony Lewis
Alecia Maher
CharlesOkaeme 

Shuqiao Song
Nyegel Thomas
Roberta Acosta
Alfred Smith

Nancy Carbajal
Ariana White
Elsa Burchinow
Carter Woolsey
Kamali Spence
Muriel Lotto
Rachael Holland
Fidel
Alejandro Gutierrez

A special THANK YOU for everything you do!

Board of Directors

A big thanks to our Board of Directors for pushing the vision forward!

Nelson Nisttahuz President

Nelson Nisttahuz

President

Since 2007, Nelson has made significant contributions to the Denver dance scene.  Affectionately known as DJ Noslen, he was among the original founders of the Denver Salsa and Bachata Congress (now known as CALDAC). Nelson is the producer of other Denver events in addition to the convention. He actively supports the preservation of Afro Latin Arts culture and is very involved in the community.

Marcela Villagarcia Vice President

Marcela Villagarcia

Vice President & Treasurer

Marcela Villagarcía has been a contributing member of the Denver dance scene since 2007. Affectionately known as Marce, she has participated as a student, then performer since the first Denver Salsa and Bachata Congress. Along with the congress, Marcela had created a passion for dancing and has been traveling around the world to attend different congresses, learning, performing and social dancing. She is deeply engaged in the community and strives to ensure the nurturing of the culture of Afro Latin Arts.

Tom Ogunribido Executive Director

Tom Ogunribido

Executive Director

Tom is an integral part of the dance community in Colorado. He is the owner and main instructor at Somos Dance Studio. Since 2015, when he initially relocated to Denver from Chicago, Tom "El RastaSalsa" has been active in the Colorado dance scene. As a co-organizer of the Denver Salsa and Bachata Congress and an educator of Afro-Latin arts, he continues to have an impact on many lives.

LATISHA HARDY Secretary

Latisha Hardy

Secretary

Latisha "Tish" is a seasoned choreographer and dancer with over two decades of experience. Her passion for Latin dance, ignited at the tender age of four, has led her to become a pioneer in the Colorado Springs dance scene. Beginning her dance journey at age 4, she has honed her skills in various styles including Jazz, Ballet, Modern, West Coast Swing, Salsa, Pachanga, Son, and Afro-Cuban, bringing a unique perspective to her choreography. Her commitment to creating a safe and inclusive space for dancers is evident in her work, as she believes in the transformative power of dance as a form of self-care. As the founder of LHDC, Tish has successfully brought Latin dance culture to Colorado Springs and continues to inspire and empower dancers of all levels.

Contact Us

Submit an Inquiry

Thank you for contacting us!

THIS SITE IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT OUR ORIGINAL WEBSITE DENVERCONGRESS.COM

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