Frequently Asked Questions

This is compilation of questions we've been asked numerous times and topics of interest. As more general
questions are presented to us, we will post and answer these on this page. So check frequently as you
may see topics that you and other fans share.

What is a "Salsa congress?"

A Salsa conress is an exciting gathering of Salsa dancers and Salsa music enthusiasts. It’s a "United
Nations" of people traveling to a single place to share in a unique cultural experience. The most important
part of any Salsa congress is the music and the instructional dance workshops. This is typical of almost
all Salsa events, which includes live music by recording artists and music provided by selected dee jays.

When and where is the "Jersey" Salsa Congress taking place?

The "Jersey" Salsa Congress, officially known as the New Jersey International Salsa Congress, takes place at the Sheraton Meadowlands Hotel in East Rutherford, NJ from April 22 to April 25, 2010.

What will happen at the New Jersey International Salsa Congress?

A lot! NJISC2010 is a four (4) evening celebration of Salsa peformances, music by legendary bands and disk jockeys, and most important for the attending public, dancing until dawn! NJISC2010 is also a two-and-a-half (2 ½) day concentration of Salsa and latin dance workshops, seminars and lectures where the public can learn about Salsa music, Salsa history and most important, how to dance Salsa and improve on this and other latin dances!

You call this the "First Official" Salsa Congress for the Garden State. Weren't there previous Salsa events held in New Jersey?

There were a number of events dedicated to Salsa which were held in New Jersey a few years back, and some of these were promoted as "New York/New Jersey" events.

The New Jersey International Salsa Congress is truly the First Official Salsa Congress for the Garden State as it is duly incorporated, registered and licensed in the State of New Jersey. It is solely dedicated to the representation and hosting of Salsa dancing and music in the State of New Jersey.

We also call it the Garden State's "Premier Salsa Event" for the highest caliber of dance instructors, performers, lecturers, musicians and disc jockeys who will be featured from April 22 to April 25, 2010, as well as the high caliber staff that will make this event successfully possible.

If I don't "speak Salsa," can I still come?

Of course you should! At NJISC2010, you will be exposed to what Salsa dancers and music enthusiasts rave about. Even better, instead of just going to weekly or monthly socials where you live, you may discover a new and marvelous love affair with Salsa in our weekend. For beginners, it's the perfect event to learn and enjoy about Salsa dancing and music, as well as other forms of Latin dance. For serious Salsa dancers, our Congress is slated to be their next big "fix!"

Who's running this Salsa event?

MJ (Mary Jane), Pablo and Angel are your organizers and hosts for the Garden State's first ever, official premier Salsa and Latin Dance event. We are proudly based and incorporated in the state of New Jersey. More to come...

Why are we doing this?

Because we love it! And it's about time that New Jersey gets its own official Salsa event. We wish to highlight the marvelous talent of dancers from the tri-state area and bring an ecclectic mix of performers and instructors from around the world for the benefit of our local residents and for visitors from near and far. Join us in a journey as we aspire to raise the bar and create a legacy by producing a world-class event which aims to bring New Jersey to the forefront of the world Salsa community. More to come...

Why should you come to NJISC2010?

Unlike previous festivals, carnivals, jams and large socials, the New Jersey Interntional Salsa Congress (NJISC2010) promises to to deliver a dancing experience unlike any other event. With pool parties, latin music with remarkable dee jays and legendary bands, Karaoke Bar, outdoor BBQs, workshops from renown instructors and world-class performances, NJISC2010 is slated to be a most unique event! More to come...

Are you guys involved or run other congresses or festivals like New York, Los Angeles, etc?

No we are not. We are solely dedicated to making the Garden State's First Premier and Official Salsa event a most successful one.

I don't want to attend the entire Congress. Can I still buy just for the weekend, day, an evening or just the evenings or day workshops?

The fractional passes, such as single evening and daytime events, will be sold approximately the first week of March 2010 since we are getting very positive responses for the Full Congress Passes. You may want to consider to purchase a Full Congress Pass for the New Jersey International Salsa Congress 2010 (NJISC2010), which is the best buy we can recommend.

If I buy from your website, will I start getting a lot of emails from you or your affiliates?

Simple answer: no. NJISC, LLC will only send you emails that will inform you only about our Congress. We believe that you are entitled to new developments, changes and additions that will make your experience at NJISC2010 a most enjoyable and memorable one. We will not share your information with anyone as specified in our Privacy Policy.

I would like to perform at your Congress. How do I go about applying?

NJISC2010 has completed its roster for its Main Evening performances. At this time, we are considering adult applicants for who wish to perform in the Early Evening shows, specifically to showcase the talents of student and semi-professional artists. For more information, please visit our Student and Semi-Professional Team application page.

I would like to teach a workshop or class at your Congress. How do I go about applying?

Thank you for your interest. NJISC2010 has completed its roster for workshops and lectures. Please send us an email to production@njisc.com to be considered for NJIS2011.

I would like to dee jay at your Congress. How do I go about applying?

Thank you for your interest. NJISC2010 has completed its roster for disc jockeys. Please send us an email to production@njisc.com to be considered for NJIS2011.

I am the director of my Salsa band and would like to perform at your Congress. How do I go about applying?

Thank you for your interest. NJISC2010 has completed its roster for live bands. Please send us an email to production@njisc.com to be considered for NJIS2011.

I am a professional photographer for a Salsa news website (or Salsa blog). How do I get a press pass?

Thank you for your interest. Press passes are issued on an invitation basis only and will not be offered to the general public. All press passes will be awarded prior to NJISC2010 and will not available at the time of the event.

I am a Salsa event promoter and would like to distribute flyers or display my banner at your event. Can I come in just to distribute my flyers or place my banner on site?

Distribution or display of flyers and other promotional materials is restricted to vendors, sponsors and affiliates of NJISC2010. Permission all other parties must be secured prior to April 1, 2010 by special request to marketing@njisc.com.

When are you publishing your schedule of workshops and performances?

The schedules for the workshops, instructors and performers will be posted around the end of February 2010. Since we are constantly updating our rosters of talent, we will notify you by email and post these updates on our social networks.

I bought a pass, but now I can't go. What are my options?

Unfortunately, all purchases are non-refundable due to the high cost of reimbursement processing. You may consider to resell your pass using our Resell System, which will become available in mid March 2010. Stay tuned for more details.

What is your dress policy for the Congress?

The first rule is to be comfortable. If you are attending our workshops, you are going to dance, dance and dance so more! Obviously, dance wear or activity wear is best, with change of shirts, pants, undergarments, etc. And don't forget to have the right shoes or dance sneakers. The second rule is to look good. This is specially true if you attend our evening events. You don't have to look like a celebrity, just decent and clean cut. If you look like a slob, expect a increasing number of rejections or not getting offers to dance. If you are planning to take workshops and dance in the evening, we highly recommend that you consider staying at the Sheraton Meadowlands so that you can shower, change and relax between the day and evening sesssions.

I have a bunch of friends and myself who would like to attend. Do you offer any special deals?

For groups of four (4) or greater, contact us with your information by sending an email to sales@njisc.com and we'll see what we can do.

Can I take pictures or record video at this event?

For most of NJISC2010, the simple answer is yes. We feel that video and images should be souvenirs for our paying customers. However, there may be rare instances when a particular instructor or performer may request not to be photographed or recorded on video for proprietary and intellectual concerns, and we will remind you not to do so. While NJISC2010 will allow you to record or photographs performances, we expect that you will not interfere with enjoyment of your fellow audience members (e.g., raising your camera and obstructing the view of others). NJISC2010 will strictly enforce civility and respect among its attendees.

But I hear you'll be selling a NJISC2010 DVD. And you're still allowing photography and video recording?

Like we said before, we strongly feel that video and images should be souvenirs for our paying customers. However, the official NJISC2010 DVD will contain professional images and video of much higher quality. Furthermore, the DVD will contain rare material that the general audience will not be able to capture, for example, behind the production scenes and private parties. Besides, our DVD will be affordably priced, and will be your best souvenir from NJISC2010! Details on our official DVD coming soon!

I keep seeing the same information day after day, week after week. Are you updating your website?

Yes we are, nearly every day! If you keep seeing the same information, your computer browser may not be loading our latest website data. We suggest that you clear the browser's cache to flush out old data and files to receive the latest information.

I have more questions

Sure, we welcome your inquiries. Please visit our Contact Us page.

Thank you very much for visiting our website and
for your interest in NJISC2010!

We hope to see you at the Sheraton Meadowlands Hotel in April 2010!