SALISBURY is set to salsa next spring with the announcement on Monday at Salisbury International Arts Festival's highlights launch that next year's festival has a Latin American cultural focus.

The festival, which takes place from May 25 until June 10, is the third in director Jo Metcalf's four-year term. React is the festival's overall theme, with an artistic focus on movement and an environmental focus on water.

"This festival will be vibrant and flamboyant," promises Ms Metcalf. "It will be easy for audiences to get involved. There will be lots of participatory community events including the very first Salisbury Salsa, with dance classes running from March onwards for all ages, and then everyone getting the chance to show off their skills during the festival."

Also announced on Monday night was the Living River project. The festival will be working in partnership with Natural England (formerly English Nature), to create three community projects aiming to engage people with the River Avon catchment to highlight the environmental issues it is facing.

The full programme of events will be announced at the launch party on March 1, but the festival released details of five events that are open to public booking from next Monday.

Conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy makes a welcome return to Salisbury Cathedral with the Philharmonia Orchestra, playing Dvorak's Symphony No. 8 and Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 with Croatian born soloist Dejan Lazic. World class opera is guaranteed with the Armonico Consort performing Purcell's King Arthur and Early Music choir Ex Cathedra will perform hidden treasures from 17th century Latin America.

The other two early bookings are Motionhouse Dance Theatre with its latest production, Driven, and a visit from the French company, The First French Championship, with its hilarious show No Matter What, taking an absurdist look at sports.

  • Tickets are available from the box office at Salisbury Playhouse (01722 320333) from Monday, and you can also purchase gift vouchers or make someone a festival friend as a Christmas present. Details are available from the festival office, 87 Crane Street in Salisbury.