Well,
anyway, let's say your non-salsa friends are not so outspoken
as mine. But they are probably THINKING it…. oh yes they are….they
are….
So,
I have the answers to the question that is on their lips!
And yours. When are the salsa clubs going to reopen so we
can work off all the turkey and chocolates without going to
the gym?
They
are opening this week!! Hoorah!!!
It's
once again time to squeeze into our salsa-wear (I can't do
anything other than squeeeeze into mine) and work those Christmas
inches off. And get rid of all of that pent-up salsa-energy
you've built up over the last week or so……it doesn't go away,
you know, it just hovers around your aura like Vesuvias about
to erupt. So best get down to Salsa Chillout because you wouldn't
want to go off in Debenhams would you?
And
do you know what? You could prevent the frankly hurtful ranting
from paragraph one from happening again by getting your friends
addicted to salsa, too. You can go….see that Gethin off of
Strictly Come Dancing…..I can do that…..see that Alesha……I
can do that, I can. In my own way, anyway. You could, too.
You could. Just follow me……to THE SALSA CHILLOUT SIX WEEK
BEGINNERS SALSA COURSE STARTING ON JANUARY 14 TH !!!! Or just
follow the link on the website for more information.
See
how easy that is. AND , AND , if you refer a friend, you'll
both get free entry to Marconi on Saturday 16 th February
to see one of the best salsa bands around, Palenke! I think
that's rather good.
And
that is not all for the first full week of January. Oh, no.
If you want to know what (warning, the next few words are
all phonetically spelt. I am ignorant. Simple as that) en
chuvla, ainda ma, fly, clave, - and quite a lot of stuff I
cant remember - all means, then Steve Eden's La Rueda class
at the Wooden Hut in Stanford Le Hope is the place to go.
And last time we went we did that kind of up and under move
that I found quite impressive…what was it called? Anyway,
come and find out on Friday 11 th January
Then,
just when you thought it was all over for the celebrations
for the time being, it isn't!!! Yolande Lewis is having a
really rather special birthday present at Marconi in Chelmsford
on Saturday 19 th January. Lucky lady. But she's generous,
so she's allowing us to have a lesson and a show from Niko
and Aneta as well. They were in the county town in 2007 and
went down a storm, so if you missed that (as I did ), now's
your chance to see what all the fuss was about.
For
all exact times and prices, just click back onto the main
page of the website.
But,
we haven't quite said goodbye to 2007 yet. As I still have
fond memories of that time, a week and a half ago, when Tony
Lara and Dani gave us a bumper Christmas package of Bachata,
salsa, great tunes and a wonderful show.
As
per, as I take my job very, very seriously. And I LOVE talking
to salsa folk, I did my usual in-depth interview with the
pair. Just for you.
Now,
I have an admission to make, I find Bachata a bit difficult
because I cannot co-ordinate my wiggling; as a result I concentrate
a bit too hard and steam starts to come out of my ears. But
would Tony and Dani give up on me? No they wouldn't. In fact,
when I tried to sit down, they told me to stand up again and
carry on! Now that's dedication. I think…
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After
two enjoyable classes and a rather dapper show the pair took
time out from helping other less frightened students with
their Bachata moves to talk to me.
So,
I broached the subject. (politely ignoring the lipstick on
Tony's cheek – he forgot to remove it after the show) As they
travel the world teaching Bachata, do different cultures relax
into the closeness of that particular dance
more
a easily than others?
According
to Dani, it takes everyone a bit of time to relax into Bachata,
but, she says, “it eventually helps the other dancing because
you learn to become much more sensual in salsa as well.”
And
for Tony, “Our success in teaching it has been through adding
humour in the classes – making it tongue in cheek. Most people
in the world aren't comfortable with strangers and Bachata
needs a certain level of comfort to dance well.”
And
it's important in the classes he says, “to bring up the potential
for unacceptable sleaziness in such a close dance in a humorous
way in order to raise awareness.”
So,
the couple are most well known these days for teaching and
dancing Bachata, but they still teach and dance salsa. Which
do they prefer?
For
Tony, “At the moment teaching Bachata – I am more organised
with it and know exactly what I'm trying to achieve.”
But
for Dani, she still enjoys teaching everything, “Each dance”,
she explains, “gives you a different way of discovering how
your body can move”
So,
every teacher has their own way of doing it. That's why we
like them – they are all unique and bring something new to
our salsa repertoire. How do Tony and Dani approach a new
class.
“I
enjoy teaching to small rooms,” explains Tony. “People warm
into you more and you built a kind of intimacy.”
Says
Dani, “At the beginning, people are always colder and you
have to make more of an effort to warm them up. We know who
to pick out and engage with.”
It
certainly worked in Chelmsford . And final question. How do
they account for the popularity of Bachata? Not a salsa evening
goes by without at least a couple of tracks played.
According
to Dani, “Dancing Bachata is a great way of dancing something
different from salsa and it blends in nicely.”
And
how can I improve my Bachata? I really want to. Tony's tip:
“People can exaggerate or freeze during Bachata movement.
The ideal movement is subtle softness.”
So,
I'm going to be practicing on a dance floor near you soon.
Subtle softness, subtle softness….mustn't give up…..!
Copyright
Chris Penhall 2007
www.chrispenhall.co.uk
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