Captivating Croatia: Part 11 – Activities in Rovinj Croatia – Dance Festival Review

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I’ve wanted to go to Croatia for the last several years.  I heard wonderful things about the country and how beautiful (and relatively affordable) it was compared to the rest of Europe.  It’s located in Eastern Europe and is just a few hours from Italy.

Last year, my friends and I organized a group trip to visit Rovinj, a small coastal town on the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia.  It’s a gorgeous town full of romance.  Everything is stunning there, from the streets to the houses.  The food is also excellent.

We went for a kizomba dance festival.  Later in the trip report series, I will introduce you to kizomba and describe what an incredible dance it is!  The dance festival was amazing and Croatia is definitely a place I want to return and spend more time exploring!  The trip’s retail cost was ~$17,000 but I paid ~$900.

We’re Here to Dance All Night!  I’ll Tell You All About Kizomba and the Dance Festival

Captivating Croatia Trip Report Index:

Our Love Affair with Kizomba

My friends and I are in love with kizomba, a dance originally from Africa and now extremely popular in Europe.  The dance can put us into a meditative trance that cannot rival any other partner dance I’ve done.

I like this dance because of the music, which ranges from instrumental, to R&B, to electronic.  And feeling the music with my dance partners can put me on cloud nine.

Kizomba is a relatively new dance in the US, and only some US cities have opportunities to learn it.

Here are some videos!

Enah and Carolina:
Tony & Sophie:
Kaem:

Summer Sensual and Salsa Festivals in Rovinj

Every year, Rovinj hosts 2 dance festivals, the Summer Sensual Days and the Summer Salsa Festival.  We are all very passionate about dancing and danced on average ~10 hours per day!  For many of us, it was the best vacation we’ve ever had!  Dancing had a lot to do with this.

On a Dance Mission!  We Danced Most Days for ~10 Hours!

On our 1st evening in Rovinj, we got dressed up and went to a friend’s house party.  The streets of the town were so pretty at night with the soft warm glow of the lights and the smooth stone streets.

The Beginning of 1 of Many Late Nights in Rovinj

After the house party, we went to the main dance hall.  There was salsa, bachata, and kizomba.  Many of the best dancers from Europe came out to this festival, so there was no shortage of good dancing!

The Dance Hall Was Packed With Enthusiasts From Many Countries

Every day, there was a beach or pool party at 1 of the nearby resorts.  The next day, we piled into a bus and rode to 1 of the resorts.

Time for Some Sun & Fun!  Off to Relax at the Resort

There were beaches and lots of space to lay out and relax.

Folks Sunbathed, Had Picnics, and Swam at the Beach

A beach, pool, and dancing?!  This was paradise for us!

It Doesn’t Get Much Better Than This!

There were hundreds, maybe even thousands of people who came out to dance.  Luckily, it was a huge resort so it did not feel crowded.

There Was Live Music to Get Everyone in the Dancing Mood

We had so much fun every day!

One of the Best Vacations Ever!

Every night, we’d have fun getting ready for a full night of dancing.

We Packed Lots of Fun Outfits for Our Nights Out

There were even dance parties in the main square…

The Town Square Was Turned Into a Huge Dance Party
…and even small parties at random places, such as the local bank.  My friend Robbie said that some of her best dancing of the festival was in front of this bank!
Everyone Got Into the Spirit – and Dancing Happened Anywhere!

During the day, we would take dance workshops from some of the best dance instructors in the world.

We Learned New Moves and Practiced With Some of the Best!

Every day, there was a new pool or beach party.

The Partying Was Non-Stop!  You Need Lots of Energy to Keep Up!

The music was some of the best kizomba music I’ve ever heard!

The parties were a great way to meet new friends.

Everyone Got Into the Spirit of Dancing and Friendship

In my opinion, DJ Ozy Shyne provided the best music during the festival.  He always kept the crowd moving!!

The Festival Attracts Top DJs and Bands From All Over Europe

Many couples danced in the pool together!

Too Hot to Dance?  Not If You’re in the Pool!

Sliding down the waterslides was a must.

Waterslide Conga!

Life doesn’t get better than this!

The Mood Was Electric and Everyone Had a Blast!

In the evenings, we were ready to go again!

We Survived on Coffee, Music, and Adrenaline!

I really loved meeting dance enthusiasts and making new pals.

So Many Friendly Folks – All Passionate About Dancing

Bottom Line

The Summer Sensual Days in Rovinj were unforgettable.  It was the best kizomba festival I’ve ever been to, and there was plenty of salsa and bachata.  We stayed for the Summer Salsa Festival which is held directly after the Sensual festival.

This really maximized our dancing and we still had some down time to explore the town and nearby sites.

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