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Colombian Woman Finds Life and Love in Croatia, Bringing Latin Rhythms to Istrian Hotels
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Colombian Woman Finds Life and Love in Croatia, Bringing Latin Rhythms to Istrian Hotels

From Večernji List · () Croatian

Translated from Croatian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Colombian Yesica Portilla and her husband Nikica Čorak founded PassionArte in Rijeka, Croatia.
  • Their company brings vibrant Latin American shows, featuring dancers, singers, and musicians, to Istrian hotels.
  • The performances aim to offer guests unique experiences beyond traditional tourism offerings, reviving the atmosphere of old Istrian hotel terraces.

Colombian dancer Yesica Portilla, who moved to Croatia for love and found her life's purpose, now co-directs PassionArte with her husband Nikica Čorak. Based in Rijeka, their company brings the explosive energy of Latin American culture to the terraces of five-star hotels in Istria.

PassionArte's shows feature two pairs of dancers, a singer, a keyboardist, and a drummer, recreating the magic of Colombia through rhythm, color, movement, and emotion. The performances blur the lines between stage and audience, culminating in guests joining the dancers. This immersive experience is precisely what Portilla and Čorak aim for, seeking to create unforgettable moments for hotel guests.

Their venture revives a nearly forgotten aspect of Istrian tourism: the lively dance evenings on hotel terraces. While DJs have largely replaced live bands, PassionArte reintroduces professional, culturally rich entertainment. The business logic is clear: in a competitive market, hotels need to offer more than just sun and sea; they must provide unique experiences that guests will cherish.

Portilla, a dancer and choreographer from Cali, a city synonymous with salsa, leads the artistic direction. Her team comprises musicians and dancers from various Colombian cities, all bringing their authentic cultural heritage to the stage. Portilla herself, who has lived in Rijeka since September 2020, infuses the performances with her lifelong passion for dance, which began in childhood and evolved into a professional career.

Her journey in dance started at age seven, exploring ballet before embracing salsa and Latin dances. After a break during her parents' divorce, she returned to dance with renewed dedication, receiving formal training. Today, she not only performs but also teaches the salsa caleña style, a dance form deeply rooted in her upbringing, at her studio in Rijeka, embodying the vibrant spirit of Colombia.

The rhythm of Colombia is always and forever within me.

— Yesica PortillaDescribing her lifelong connection to dance and her Colombian heritage.
About this summary

Originally published by Večernji List in Croatian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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