Unity of Latino culture on show

Members of the Desert Roses bellydance troupe (from left) Vanessa Estupinan, originally from Ecuador, Samantha Bonhomme, from France, Alevtina Redden, of Kazakhstan, Bee Sadalah, from Brazil, Sheila Wrigley, originally from Bluff, and Emma Bennet, originally from Dunedin, dance at the third annual Latin Kiwi Integration Festival in Queenstown on Saturday night.

The women — some of whom were beginners — were part of a huge lineup of performances staged at the Queenstown Memorial Centre throughout the night, which also included contemporary, Polynesian, Chilean and Peruvian dances, musicians, a DJ and a light show.

This year’s event, which attracted several thousand people throughout the day, also included a national Latino football tournament, which attracted 12 Latino football teams from across New Zealand who did battle on the Queenstown Rec Ground.

Organised by Latinos for New Zealand founder Carol Morgan, originally from Argentina, the festival was designed to celebrate the unity and vibrancy of the Latin culture.