Teams · Dancers · Schools
Two divisions so you compete against your own level, four disciplines, one rubric applied identically nationwide — and a mentorship path built into the road to the final.
The route to the final
Teams register with Stichting Latin Fire and choose a division — Professionals or Stargate — and a discipline: Cuban/Calena salsa, LA/Mambo inline salsa, bachata sensual or bachata dominican.
Heats are hosted at partner-school venues across the country, judged by independent professional adjudicators appointed directly by Stichting Latin Fire — never the hosting school's own instructors.
Qualifying teams build their competition piece with two mentorship checkpoints from professional partner masters, so preparation develops the team, not just the routine.
Finals are performed on the festival's main arena stage in front of the international jury, judged against the same fixed rubric used at every heat.
Two ways in
Teams, choreographed
Individuals, improvised
Development
Stargate exists so that competing raises the standard of the Dutch scene rather than simply ranking it. Stargate teams get the same rubric, the same stage and the same jury as the Professionals division, plus the masterclass programme designed specifically to move them toward that standard.
Masterclasses are taught by the same national and international masters who judge and perform, covering both performance craft and pedagogy — so what teams learn travels back into their schools and stays there.