People have been asking about the salsa music on some of my youtube entries so thought id let you all in on a little secret...........you listening? If you use your mobile and dial 2580 the numbers down the middle then hold it up to the music for 30 seconds, you will get a text back almost immediatley with the artists name and the title of the track! How cool is that. It cost 50p per call but it deals with you all saying "What's that song called?" all the time in salsa clubs and at dances. Give it a go and let me know how you get on.

Lessons, weekenders, boot camps.......which is best?

We have a weekender or salsa congress, which ever you prefer, coming up about every 4 weeks over the next 3 months. Salsa Kingdom in September, Noches-de-Salsa in Windemere in October, and the 4Th International Cuban Salsa Congress at Bodelwyddan Castle in November. The last one of which clashes with a bachata bootcamp with Frank Santos which we also have tickets for.

We could also have been to Eygpt, Tunisa, Cyprus, Spain(twice!) and GBSex during the same period of time, but a girl can't have it all, well not all at once anyhow.

So far this year we have all ready salsa danced in Malaga, Pontins Blackpool, Wigan, Haydock, Preston, Manchester, Bournemoth, and London at all types of events from all day salsa boot camps to intensive party and workshops(no I'm not obssesed, just hard core)

So my question is this....Where do you think you learn more? Your weekly lessons with your local teacher, the weekenders or salsa congresses, or bootcamps. Tell me about you experinces and any events that you think I should try out.

What's it like in Cuba.

We are think of going to Cuba sometime this winter but we're getting mixed messages about the best way to organise the trip, and how much genuine salsa dancing we will actualy get to do.

It has been said that if we just do a straight forward package tour then forget about the dancing, as the tourist areas are not somewhere the local Cubans are encouraged to go except for work. In fact it has been suggested that they are activly discouraged from mixing with tourists!

Organised salsa dancing packages are often expensive and I have a feeling that they may also be a watered down version of the real Cuba put together to please the tourists vision of "real salsa in cuba". Friends have told us that they have had a great time on these tours but is it really Cuba?

Others have suggested that if we go under our own steam then we would never find the right dancing clubs and yet other suggest that a split cuban holiday in an Havana hotel and a private rent with a local family is the best option.

Help please???!!!! to many options. Have you been? Where? With whom? What was it like? I need more information.

Salsa in strange places

As the title of this post suggests, this entry is about salsa in obscure or interesting places. Ju and I have started off the process with a bit of southerly theatrical based dancing fun.

We were in Cornwall on a bit of a road trip and were looking round the quite fabulous Minack Theatre which is built into the rocks on the south coast very close to Land's End. To be honest I wasn't expecting much from the place but my, oh my, what a fantastic place. I recommend that if you are in the area to go and take a look, and maybe see one of the nightly productions there. A truly brilliant place. More info here Minack Theatre

Anyway we were sat there taking in the wonder of the place when we thought - 'lets go and use that stage..' So camera set up and we did a few turn patterns for the assembled crowd (of about 25 people - one of whom inadvertantly got involved in the shoot). So smiles all round for us as we gave it some on the little Minack stage.

Anyone else got any salsa in strage places clips. All will be welcome..

Salsa on the beach

It's a hot day, the Bournemouth Cuban Salsa Congress has just hosted it's last class of the day so there's time to fill before the Sunday Party Finale so, what to do?



Moe Flex suggests salsa on the beach, nobody argues and after a big cheer everyone meanders down to the beach, which is packed with 'real holiday makers' (Noches-de-Salsa Pontins crew will know what real holiday makers are.. lol) soaking up the sun.

Soon there's a big rueda circle forming and the dancing starts. I find a decent vantage point on the pier (50p entry if you don't mind) and film the action. See the video attached.

The wheel descends into a bit of chaos as everyone incuding lots of random bathers join in. Many can't hear the calls, some have no idea what a 'fly' is, others are struggling in the sand. 'What's happening there?' says a fellow pier promenader. 'Is it dancing?' Yes it is dancing but not as we know it.. I think to myself.

But it's smiles all round, especially when a 3 year old lad toddles over for a look. Might be a future Leandro in the making as he did a few moves with Moe.