February 27, 2008

Salsa champs to stage interactive performance

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill. — You can soon literally dance with the stars next week in Carbondale. The three-time ESPN World Salsa Championship winning duo of Abel Pena Jr. and Zulmara Torres is coming to Southern Illinois University Carbondale for an interactive performance.

The University performance, open to the public, is set for 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, in Student Center Ballroom D. SIUC students get in free by showing their student identification. The only cost to the public is the donation of canned or dry boxed food items or a monetary gift at the door. The donations will go to two area food pantries serving the region's migrant workers.


Media Advisory

Reporters, photographers and camera crews are welcome to attend the performance by world champion salsa dancers Abel Pena Jr. and Zulmara Torres from 6 to 8 p.m. March 5 at the SIUC Student Center Ballroom D.


The pair, founders of Ritmo Y Salsa, garnered their most recent victory in the "On-One" category at the sports network's Dec. 16, 2007, salsa competition. Love of Latin dance and music drew Pena and Torres together and they aspire to inspire those feelings in others with their bold, high-energy performances. Better still, audience members can watch the two perform their prize-winning routines and then actually participate too.

Event sponsors are the Student Recreation Center, Student Programming Council, Student Development-Multicultural Programs and Services and Carbondale Community Arts.