New Orleans Salsa-Bachata Festival promises four days of Latin dancing from August 11-14. The festival will take place at the Marriott New Orleans and will feature more than 85 workshops in multiple dance styles such as salsa, bachata, kizomba, zouk and more.

The New Orleans Salsa-Bachata Festival is an annual Latin dance festival that promotes Afro-Latin culture and education through performance and visual arts. More than 30,000 square feet of ballroom space has been set aside for dance workshops, socials, and performances, and participants can take advantage of eighty-five hours of diverse and immersive dance workshops taught by top instructors, plus nightly performances by local, national and international dance artists.

The workshops range from beginner boot camps to advanced lifts and tricks. Each evening there will be a two-hour show featuring team, couple and solo performances. Following, there will be nightly themed social dancing from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. Festival attendees can hop from three ballrooms that will play salsa, bachata or kizomba.

Lindsay “Rubia” Garcia, president and founder of the New Orleans Salsa-Bachata Festival, says that attendees can expect a lot of surprises this year. “I believe attendees should be excited about our location, the number of artists we are bringing in this year, and the diversity of workshops,” Garcia said. “We spent a great deal of time selecting artists. We wanted artists that will come and set the vibe for our attendees and that could teach all levels and various styles.”

This year the festival will also have themed rooftop pool parties and a silent headphone flash mob on Bourbon Street, scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 14, at the corner of Canal Street. Although the festival brings avid social dancers from around the world, Garcia says this festival is as much for the city of New Orleans and first-time dancers. She encourages everyone to participate regardless of their dance background.

“The beauty in dancing is that it allows you to express yourself in a way that is your own,” Garcia said. “The moment you step out of your comfort zone and commit to your own sense and right to individuality, you will experience the most liberating feeling of your life.”

Full, day and night pass for the festival and pre-party may be purchased through nolasalsabachatafest.com. Prices range from $15 to $200.