The Havana-in-Alaska-themed event will be a last hurrah of sorts for the couple, as Diaz and Haugland plan to leave Juneau soon after to live in Lima, Peru. The couple plans to stay from six months to a year before returning to Juneau.

"We just want to break it up and go on a little adventure before tying ourselves down more here in Juneau, buying a house or whatever," Haugland said.

For Diaz it'll be a return home - his family runs a dance studio in Lima - but this won't be the couple's first trip to Peru. They have visited the country together a few times and have found that few people there have discovered salsa dancing. The Peruvians love to dance, they said, but the people haven't been exposed to the jazz- and hip-hop-influenced styles of salsa.

For their upcoming trip, the couple plans to work and dance. They might possibly team up with a Peruvian exchange student they had met in Juneau who has since returned to Lima to start a salsa club and team. The couple has worked with the groups on two previous trips to Peru.

Michael Penn / Juneau Empire   Salsa scene: Dancers crowd the floor to the music of Salsa Borealis at Zephyr Restaurant last Friday night.

"It's really hard for us to leave because the salsa scene here is so tight right now," Haugland said.

Although the couple's departure may leave a hole in Juneau's salsa scene, Diaz and Haugland are quick to stress that things won't be slowing down in their absence.

Salsa nights at Jaded will continue under the guidance of Alejandro Soria, who also will be Diaz' replacement as lead singer of Salsa Borealis.

Soria says it'll be a great challenge to fully take over for Diaz because the two have become really comfortable working together. Soria says he is up to the task, although some of the ladies in the salsa scene might miss him on the floor.

"I love singing and watching the dancers move to the music," Soria said. "Everyone's enjoying the same moment together."

Meanwhile, the band is working on a CD at bass player Albert McDonnell's Skate Bottom Studios that the band hopes to wrap up by the end of the year.

As for Dancefest! and Carnaval celebrations, co-founder Tim Adair will work with a group of eight volunteers from across Juneau's dance community to keep those going. Carnaval is slated for Feb. 16. Keep an eye on www.juneaudancefest.org for more details as they emerge.

Several of Diaz and Haugland's students have expressed interest in taking over private lessons in town during the couple's absence as well. Keri Edwards and Jeremy Carillo have plans to teach group classes on Wednesday nights through the winter. Edwards has been taking Diaz and Haugland's salsa classes for four years after taking classes in several other dance styles over the years.

"Salsa is the style that spoke to me," Edwards said. "The salsa scene here really influenced my decision to move to Juneau as well."

Future private lessons and group classes are still in the planning stages. Those interested can track developments by subscribing to an e-mail list. Write to salsa@juneaumusic.com to subscribe.