It’s been awhile since we have made our way overseas to dance, but this one was a must visit for us. When we saw the spectacular line up we knew this festival was for us. Keep reading to hear more about our time in Lyon (Saint-Priest), France.
What was Included?
We got our full passes in the first early bird wave for 89 Euros. Included were
- 3 socials with DJs each night
- 1 open air mid-day social
- 2 workshops with 2 time slots on Friday
- 6 workshops with 3 time slots on Saturday
- Rumba Abierta on Saturday
- Performances on Saturday
- 4 workshops with 2 time slots on Sunday
For additional purchase there were food and drinks at the venue so you would not have to leave.
What classes did I take?
Andrea
- Casino a Contratiempo w/ Alexei & Emilia
- Dif Yambú/ Guaguancó w/ Andy & Yuliet
- Timba fusión w/ Andy & Yuliet
- Timba Pasos Sueltos w/ Alexei & Emilia
Alexa
- Casino a Contratiempo w/ Alexei & Emilia
- Salsa Hip-hop w/ Chahera
- Son Tradicional w/ Andy & Yuliet
- Yuka w/ Hector
- Timba Pasos Sueltos w/ Alexei & Emilia
My favorite part?
Andrea
- I had a lot of fun at all the socials and totally jammed with the music played. I am a sucker for a good social with some of the best of people.
Alexa
- For me it was finishing the last class which was Timba Pasos Sueltos. It was a nice wrap on the weekend, but getting to dance with Alexei and Emilia who both Andrea and I take classes from online was a beautiful experience.
An Area of Improvement
Andrea
- For some of the classes space was tight, so I would have preferred some adjustments to classrooms depending on class content.
Alexa
- I would have liked the partner hotel to be closer to the venue, or a shuttle. Since the venue was more outside the main city center it was a bit more expensive to leave the festival late at night.
Overall Takeaways
We would totally return to this festival. Bang for your buck wise this one was amazing with a mix of instructors that are more local and some from farther, and all of them were excellent. In terms of the class composition the offerings ranged from fusion to traditional and of all types. Plus the DJs were some of our favorites spinning all the hits. All that alone is the perfect mix for a perfect festival. Not only was everyone great, but DJs, organizers, and instructors were all extremely personable the whole time which is even better.
The size of the festival is on the smaller end, which we love because of the relationships you get to build. Every detail felt well crafted from the reusable cups with the logo that were optional to keep, or late night crepes. It was super easy to find food if you decided on something other that the lunch options on site. Plus the open air party on Saturday was such a beautiful day to chat while getting a few dances in-between the night party. Breaks for lunch and the night parties were a good length giving us enough time to relax in between before the night parties which were also a great length. We appreciated that while there were some performances and a rumba abierta, nothing took away from the social, but rather enhanced it.
Both of us are extremely thankful for all of the friends we have made during our travels. It is the people who make the travel truly worth it especially all our Lyon friends. Overall, we really enjoyed this festival and totally think it is one to keep you eye on.
Bueno…ya tu sabes.
Ya Tu Sabes 