CHICAGO, IL — Bailando! Grab your dance shoes and get ready to shine in the spotlight as Verizon Wireless goes in search of the best Latin dancers in the Midwest.
Amateurs and professionals alike are invited to participate in one of a total of nine competitions that Verizon Wireless will host in Midwest cities, including Detroit, Grand Rapids, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Minneapolis/Saint Paul and Chicago. Regional finalists will be awarded a Samsung Glyde™, a multimedia wireless phone with a touch-screen and full QWERTY keyboard, as well as an expenses-paid trip to Chicago to compete in the final dance competition on Oct. 11.
“Bailando con Verizon Wireless is a celebration of the Latin culture, which traditionally embraces an array of dance and music,” said Miguel Bassaíl, multicultural marketing manager, Verizon Wireless. “The connection between Verizon Wireless and Latin music continues to grow as more and more consumers want to carry their favorite songs on their wireless handsets. We have an amazing new music subscription service, V CAST Music with Rhapsody, which allows customers to access more than 280,000 Latin tracks, and more than 5 million songs, for one monthly price.”
Participants are welcome to dance any style or variety of dances. Last year, contestants danced to Salsa, Bachata, Cumbia, Hip Hop, Pasito Duranguense and Reggaetón hits. Music must be selected from among the 5 million titles available from the V CAST Music with Rhapsody music service.
Last year’s grand prize winners won an expenses-paid trip to the Latin GRAMMY® Awards. This year’s grand prize will be announced prior to the final dance competition.
Following is the list of competition dates and locations:
- 8/3 – Festival Fiesta del Sol, Chicago (Completed)
- 8/10 – Golf Mill Mall, Niles, Ill. (Completed)
- 8/23 – Club International, Detroit, Mich.
- 8/30 – Tequila Nightclub, Grand Rapids, Mich.
- 9/7 – Fiestas Patrias Festival, Chicago
- 9/14 – Mexican Independence Celebration, Milwaukee
- 9/21 – Spring Hill Mall, West Dundee, Ill.
- 9/27 – Conga Latin Bistro, Minneapolis
- 10/4 – Kansas City (Location to be announced)
- 10/11 – Bailando con Verizon Wireless Finals, (Location to be announced) Chicago
To view video clips from the competitions, visit www.youtube.com and search for “Bailando con Verizon Wireless.”
All participants must register on-site at the venue prior to the competition or at designated Verizon Wireless Communications Stores. For more information about the competition, please contact Eunice Rodriguez of Azucar Enterprises at 312-267-4904 or via e-mail at erodriguez@azucarenterprises.com.
Note to Editors: High-resolution photographs are available. Please contact Erica Sevilla at Erica.sevilla@verizonwireless.com.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 68.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 70,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, go to: www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.
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