Early Bird until 20th November!
TEACHERS
ANDREAS OLSSON (SWE)
OLGA MARINA (RUS)
JACOB WIGGER (USA)
NATALIA ERISTAVI (USA)
MICKEY FORTANASCE (USA)
NATALIA RUEDA (COL)
ALBERTO BOFFA (ITA)
ELENA PAIOLA (ITA)
FRANCESCO CIANI (ITA)
LAURA MARINO (ITA)
BANDS
HOT SWING SEXTET (FRA)
ORIGINAL SICILY JASS BAND (ITA)
DJS
CLAUDIA (ITA)
MR DEWEY (ITA)
MARC D'OLIMPO (FRA/USA)
ALBERTO (ITA)
Thursday
16 April 2026
LAND (3) – Catania
PRE-PARTY
20:30 – 00:00 Check-In
21:30 – 01:30 Party DJ Set Alberto, MrDewey, Claudia, Marc D'Olimpio.
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Friday
17 April 2026
ETNA WINE TASTING TOUR (1)
(Transfer, light lunch, and DJ set included – Minimum spots 30 / max 50)
09:30 Departure from LAND
10:30 – 13:00 Etna Excursion (2) (1 to 1.5 hours)
13:30 – 16:30 Etna Wine Tasting
LAND (3) – Catania
LESSONS
15:00 – 19:00 Check-In
16:00 – 16:30 Slow Bal Audition
16:30 – 18:45 Slow Bal Lessons
19:00 – 19:30 Prelims M&M - Strictly
SAL - Via Indaco 23, Catania
PARTY
21:00 – 01:00 Check-In
21:30 – 02:30 Party
Competition Final Balboa M&M
Live Original Sicily Jass Band
DJ Set Alberto, MrDewey, Claudia, Marc D'Olimpio.
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Saturday
18 April 2026
LAND (3) – Catania
LESSONS
11:00 – 19:00 Check-In
11:30 – 12:30 Solo Balboa Lessons
13:15 – 14:00 Balboa Audition
14:00 – 17:30 Balboa Lessons
17:45 – 18:45 Slow Bal Lessons
SAL Via Indaco, 23 Catania
PARTY
21:00 – 01:00 Check-In
21:30 – 02:30 Party
Competition Final Balboa Strictly
Live Hot Swing Sextet
DJ Set Alberto, MrDewey, Claudia, Marc D'Olimpio.
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Sunday
19 April 2026
LAND (3) – Catania
LESSONS
11:00 – 19:00 Check-In
11:30 – 12:30 Solo Balboa Lessons
14:00 – 17:30 Balboa Lessons
17:45 – 18:45 Slow Bal Lessons
SAL Via Indaco, 23 Catania
PARTY
21:00 – 00:00 Check-In
21:30 – 02:30 Party
Live Hot Swing Sextet
DJ Set Alberto, MrDewey, Claudia, Marc D'Olimpio.
———————–
VENUES
Lessons will be held at LAND (3) – Catania (Port, Old Town).
Thursday party will be held at LAND, MINA’ ROOM, 2° Floor.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday parties will be held at SAL Via Indaco 23, Catania (20 minutes on foot or 10 minutes by bus from the Old Town).
1) This option is not recommended for those participating in slow bal classes.
2) The destination will be decided based on weather conditions and may include Craters 2002, Sartorius or Zafferana Etna.
We recommend wearing closed shoes (preferably trekking shoes), winter clothing, and a wind/rain jacket.
The excursion will involve approximately 1 to 1.5 hours of walking, guided by a professional Etna guide.
Those who do not wish to participate in the excursion are welcome to explore the surrounding area.
3) Land is located on Via Cardinale Dusmet (without a street number) in Catania.
We recommend searching directly for “LAND, Catania” on Google Maps.
LEVELS
Based on your self-assessment, choose the level that best fits your skills, modesty, and ambition. Remember, creating a comfortable atmosphere in the classes is everyone’s responsibility. Choose the level where you feel you can contribute positively while also challenging yourself appropriately.
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IMPROVERS
(Only for Slow Bal)
To join the improvers level you need to have been dancing at last more than one year, you know the basics and some variations, and you’re comfortable to learn more complicated shapes. -
INTERMEDIATE
You’ve been dancing for more than 1 years, attending regular lessons, social dances, and international workshops. You can handle any tempo and improvise according to the music changes. Expect to be challenged with more complex patterns and a focus on musicality.
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ADVANCED
By enrolling at this level, you will participate in auditions that may or may not confirm your chosen level. Your dance is full of rhythms and shapes, and you know some fancy moves. You attend international workshops regularly and are always at advanced levels. You’re interested in working on new steps and improving technique and musicality. Rhythmical sensitivity is an asset to be able to follow classes at this level.
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ADV+ / INVITATIONAL
(only for Balboa)
This level can only be accessed by registering for the Advanced level and participating in the auditions. No tempos scare you, and you are comfortable dancing to fast tempo up to 250 bpm. You are resourceful in your dancing and don’t hesitate to compete in international festivals.
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SAL - Via Indaco 23, Catania
SAL is a multifunctional venue with event halls that, for the occasion, will be equipped with a parquet floor suitable for Balboa.
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SAL - Via Indaco 23, Catania
SAL is a multifunctional venue with event halls that, for the occasion, will be equipped with a parquet floor suitable for Balboa.
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SAL - Via Indaco 23, Catania
SAL is a multifunctional venue with event halls that, for the occasion, will be equipped with a parquet floor suitable for Balboa.
M&M / STRICTLY
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BALBOA MIX & MATCH
This competition is open to any level of dancers. Leaders and followers sign up individually.
Prize – TBD -
BALBOA STRICTLY
This competition is open to any level of dancers. Leaders and followers sign up in couple.
If you reach the final in strictly competition, you will not be able to participate in the final in Mix & Match
Prize – Winners are invited as Taster Class Teachers for Bal Wave ‘27
COREO TEAM CHALLENGE
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Format & Rules
The Bal Wave Coreo Team Challenge is our official choreographed team competition, designed to highlight creativity, teamwork, and each group's artistic identity.
Level doesn’t matter — team spirit does! It’s not individual skills that will make the difference, but the spirit of the group. A united, creative team, with the drive to have a clever choreography and fun, can stand out even more than advanced dancers.
It’s open to teams from all over the world, ready to present an original choreography inspired by Balboa, Slow Bal, or a mix of both styles.
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Registration & Price
To register your team for the Coreo Challenge, only one team member needs to complete the registration by sending an email to info@bal-wave.com, including:
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Name of the Team
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Nationality - city
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Surname and names of all participants
The participation fee is €10 per person, to be paid via bank transfer before submitting the prelim video. Payment details will be provided after registration and the team member will have to take care of the payment for the entire team.
The registration will be considered valid only once the full payment has been received (in any case within and no later than 15 March 2026)
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Competition Format
- Video Prelims: each team must submit a video of their choreography by 15 March 2026. Send an email to info@bal-wave.com using a dedicated application for mail transfer (WeTransfer, TransferNow etc.). The best 3 teams will be selected for the live final. Result will be shared within the end of March 2026.
- Live Final: selected teams will perform in person in Catania on Sunday, in front of the audience and judges.
Prize: The winning team of the Bal Wave Coreo Team Challenge will receive a special selection of local gourmet products – the real taste of Sicily. Authentic flavors, intense aromas, and all the richness of Sicilian tradition in one special basket.
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Rules & Guidelines
Each team must have at least 2 couples (4 dancers).
You are free to choose your own music, if it fits the Balboa/Slow/mixed style.
No costume restrictions – feel free to dress however you like to express your team identity and impress the audience.
Choreographies should showcase musicality, originality and team spirit.
There is no time limit for the chosen song, but we strongly suggest keeping it shortly (no long than 3 minutes)
Tip: You may name your team as your city or country of origin to give your group identity and visibility.
A challenge that celebrates group dancing, creativity, and the joy of performing together.
Ready to make your mark?
info@bal-wave.com