Latin Dance Blog

I have been noticing that the Bay Area Salsa performers are getting quite friendly with “the walk” entering a stage. My aim in this blog is to critique “their walk” and hopefully they’d take this criticism as constructive.

What is “the walk” and where did it come from?

The walk is just that, a walk. But it is different from the normal walk everyone does going about their own business everyday, everywhere. “The walk’ exudes confidence. It gets attention. It could be in an introduction or at the end of the routine as performers walk out of the stage.

Where does “the walk” come from?

It is my belief that it came from the ballroom dance, to be specific, ballroom standard (Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango and Quickstep). The Latin Ballroom then later adopted it (Paso doble, jive, rumba, samba & cha-cha). Culturally, Europeans practice such “walk” in their lavish parties and events (you can see the walk most of the English movies such as Beethoven, Casanova, etc).

Maybe it’s just me, but I have never seen “the walk” adopted by salsa performers ’till less than two years ago. In fact, I don’t think East Coast salsa performers practice such walk. Not even Los Angeles. I have only noticed this from Bay Area performers. With that in mind, I commend them for being creative. But here comes the critique…

“The walk” falls short. It looks funny and annoying at the same time. There’s a difference between confidence and arrogance. To be honest, it doesn’t even look arrogant. If you have ever seen a geek trying to be a playa, you’d instantly notice that his gestures, actions and even words just don’t fit him – this is how I see some of the performers when they do “the walk.” I am not saying everyone does that type of walk, but I think that the dance directors should at least pay attention to their dancers and critique them if need be.

What is the proper walk?

The answer depends on what theme is in their routine. Is it an elegant routine? Walk elegantly. If you don’t know how to walk elegantly, watch movies, search the web and study everything about being elegant. It also really helps if you make some eye contact with the audience during the entrance. If your routine is sluttish, it’s the same thing, do a good amount of research.

In Ballroom, we train to develop the proper posture e.g., posture of our faces, shoulders and entire body. If you ever watch ballroom performers, you’d notice that their chin is not higher than the ceiling. There’s a big difference between being snobby and confident.

A year ago, I was talking to several Swing instructors after teaching bachata at the Chico Dance Sensation. In fact, I remember Felipe was present as well. We got into discussing “stepping out of the box” meaning being creative and innovating a dance. It was a roundtable of discussion to the point that we even went back to the history of dancing. We all agreed that the essence of any original dance shouldn’t be phased out or “throw out” altogether but that it should be respected, acknowledge and improved upon. We finished such discussion as very educational and Sarah Vann Drake, a respected Swing performer and teacher, said it so brilliantly, “there’s a difference between getting out of the box and stepping out of the box. When we step out of the box, it basically means, one of our foot is out of the box while the other foot never left the box.”

Salsa is a street and social dance. Yes it has evolved and we owe a great deal to many dance innovators out there, but let’s not forget where it came from and what it was all about. A street dance is never snobby or arrogant. It’s non-intimidating and fun.

Rodney Rodchata Aquino
http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/salsa-dance-incorporating-the-walk-in-a-routine-149113.html

Search on the computer for ballroom studios located in San Diego. Then call them up and ask if they teach latin dance classes. Also ask them other questions like how much does the lessons cost and do you need ballroom shoes. I hope that I helped you out a little.

Thanks. Nothing stupid please!

Spice…..i can imagine myself saying..hey lets go to Spice tonight.

Read the rest of this entry »

Spirits Dancing In The Flesh is the 1990 studio release from Santana and represents a unique collection of songs from the Latin rock band. It features several covers, including the Isley Brothers’ “”Who’s That Lady”" and Curtis Mayfield’s “”Gypsy Woman”". Spirits Dancing In The Flesh is essentially a rock n’ roll album, incorporating more heavy guitar than other Santana releases. Highlights on the album include “”Jin-Go-Lo-Ba”" and the epic medley “”Peace On Earth/Mother Earth/Third Stone From The Sun”" which covers John Coltrane and Jimi Hendrix.

Read the rest of this entry »

Sergey Surkov and Melia Rumba (Don’t Go Away) – World Super Stars Dance Festival 2009. For More Dance Videos & Articles Visit http://www.passion4dancing.com

Duration : 0:7:4

Read the rest of this entry »

Technorati Tags: Ballroom Dance, ballroom dancing, dance, Dance Video, Dancesport Dance Sport, dancing, Dancing Videos, how to dance, latin dance, Latin Dance Video, latin dancing, Learn To dance, Melia, rumba, Rumba Dance, Rumba Dancing, Sergey Surkov, Sergey Surkov and Melia, show dance, Wrold dance festival

UBC Okanagan latin dance Club performs at the UBCO Hope for Haiti fundraiser in January, 2010.

Duration : 0:3:29

Read the rest of this entry »

Technorati Tags: dance, Haiti fundraiser, Kelowna, salsa, UBC Okanagan, UBCO

Dance has been an important part of rituals, celebrations and entertainment since before the birth of human civilization. In the beginning, before we had written language to record things, the purpose of dance was often to tell stories and to pass them down to future generations.

The story of dancing in Cuba

In Cuba, as in ancient times, dance tells its own story. The passion and energy of Cuban dance reveals the strength and conviction of the Cuban people, determined to enjoy life despite ‘la lucha’ (the struggle) of living in a strictly regulated country where the average monthly wage comes in at around 400 pesos – less than £10.

The richness of Cuban music and dancing also tells the story of Cuba’s melting pot of cultures. From the high-stepping flamenco brought by the Spanish settlers in the 15th century to the frenzied tribal dances of the West African slaves, dancing is in the blood of the Cuban people.

From the teenage girl in denim shorts to the cigar-seller on the street corner, Cubans are given to break into spontaneous dance steps. Furthermore, the people dancing on the streets of Havana are likely to be just as good as the professionals, because in Cuba dancing is simply a way of life.

The variety of Cuban dances

Cuba boasts a huge range of dances including classical ballet, contemporary, flamenco and folk dancing. But it is the partnered routines that appeared in Havana dancehalls between the 1920s and the 1950s – Salsa, rumba, mambo and cha-cha-cha – that can be seen in every Cuban bar, club and street. Of these, Salsa is the most popular dance internationally.

Since the name ‘Salsa’ (it’s Spanish for ’sauce’) was coined, Salsa dancing has exploded in popularity in Latin America and across the world. Salsa dancing classes are now hugely popular but to really get into the swing of it a Salsa holiday in Cuba itself is a must.

Tips for Cuban Salsa dancing

If you do take yourself on a Cuban holiday, you’ll have the unique experience of watching Cubans Salsa dancing. It sometimes appears that by some genetic aberration they have been born with super flexible joints, defying physics to carry out all the complex manoeuvres they have integrated into the dancing. Their remarkable twisting body movements and natural sense of rhythm will dazzle you.

If you have the right technique, Cuban Salsa is easier to learn than many other forms of dance. The basic footwork is a fairly simple walking motion, pausing every fourth beat, and there are some six basic steps you can follow to make sure you’re on the right tracks.

1 Relax

To dance Cuban Salsa well it is important not to rush, but to relax into the steps. Movements should be precise and deliberate in addition to being flowing and smooth.

2 Walk with purpose

Salsa dancing involves a continual circular motion. Couples walk around each other with an imaginary axis between them. This makes turns look smooth and effortless. Walking gives time to untangle your arms after each turn.

3 Have confidence in your lead

The leader (usually the man) should have constant tension in his arms, while his hands guide his Salsa dancing partner around the floor. There is no need to clamp onto each other’s hands, only to use the right amount of tension to provide a leading signal.

4 Be flexible when following

In order to follow well, ladies should try to match the tension of their partner. The exception to this is when arms need to be relaxed and flexible to complete arm-twisting Salsa moves without injury!

5 Keep balanced when you spin

The key to all the spectacular spins in Salsa is not to lose your balance. One way to do it is by spotting while you spin – focusing on one spot at each turn – an age-old dance technique.

6 Use your body

In Salsa dancing, ladies should make use of their body and be sensual, playful and creative. This can involve some creative arm movements, going with what feels right and basically showing off a bit. Enjoy!

Emma Lelliott
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/a-stepbystep-guide-to-cuban-salsa-285297.html

Many people choose to learn Spanish in Latin America because of the wide range of incredible locations in which to learn the language. Students can choose a beach location like Montanita in Ecuador, or a very historic town like Cusco, high up in the Andean Mountains of Peru. Whether you want to explore archaeological sites, experience indigenous culture, observe wildlife, or simply laze on unspoilt beaches, Latin America provides all the ingredients for the perfect learning experience.

If you want to see the jungle or have always wanted to go to Machu Picchu, then take a Spanish course that facilitates these aspirations. For example, El Paraiso Spanish Language School (Costa Rica) enables students to stay in Manuel Antonio National Park, with its beautiful beaches and extraordinary biodiversity. ACUPARI Language School (Peru) is based in Cusco, the amazing capital of the ancient Inca Empire. Some students divide their time between two locations so they can explore the natural and cultural diversity of Latin America.

Another reason people choose to learn Spanish in Latin America is the immense choice of courses available. They range from private one-to-one tuition to a myriad of specialized programmes. For example, Interhispanica (Argentina) offer Spanish and Latin American economy classes. OL?(Mexico) offer specially designed programmes for children, teenagers and seniors. Educacion Para Todos (Guatemala) offer customised programmes for social science and medical professionals. Most language schools offer special modules to meet the needs and personal interests of students.

A popular option is to combine a Spanish course with some volunteer work, either once you have finished your language course or during the time when you are not attending lessons. Typical areas of work include helping out in orphanages or nursery schools, working in local community projects, assisting with wildlife or conservation projects. Volunteer Latin America provides information on over one hundred Spanish language schools that offer volunteer work and internships. One such school is Tandem Santiago – Escuela de Idiomas Violeta Parra (Chile), which arranges internships for high school graduates and college students throughout Chile.

Many language schools enable students to combine a Spanish course with adventure and sporting activities. For example, Andean Global Studies (Ecuador) offer Spanish classes combined with diving, surfing or kiteboarding. The Mariposa Spanish School and Eco Hotel (Nicaragua) organizes horse riding trips to the Masaya Volcano. A wide range of outdoor pursuits and activities are offered at other language schools including trekking, paragliding, rock climbing, river rafting, skiing and snowboarding.

In addition to the Spanish courses, most language schools offer extra-curricular activities to suit the tastes of all students. This includes attending sporting events, jungle hikes, guitar lessons, cooking classes, movie evenings, trips to the theatre, parties, and excursions to local places of interest (archaeological sites, indigenous communities, national parks, etc).

From the evidence cited above, it is easy to understand why many people choose to learn Spanish in Central or South America. There isn’t anywhere better to combine a language course with learning new skills and having fun. For example, a Spanish course combined with Salsa, Merengue or Tango dance lessons is a great way of meeting other like-minded travellers and having fun. Many students forge lifelong friendships through such an experience.

So what are you waiting for? Immerse yourself in the Spanish language and culture of Latin America for the most rewarding educational experience of your life.

Forget about Spain, where the accent isn’t as attractive and prices far higher than in Latin America.

Gen Wright
http://www.articlesbase.com/college-and-university-articles/learn-spanish-in-latin-america-much-more-than-learning-a-language-1194147.html

Latin Dance dancing lessons in vancouver,bc?
does anybody know a place in vancouver where there are latin dance lessons?

Lots of them. Arthur Murray, for one. That’s a chain of dance studios. But many of the recreation centers offer latin dance classes as well. Contact the municipal hall (city hall) and ask for their recreation schedules, or phone the parks and recreation departments in each of the Greater Vancouver areas, and ask what latin dance classes they offer.