It was a bit of a last minute decision this one. We were still tired from the excellent salsa-fix do on Friday night and at 6.30pm on Saturday I ask Julia 'What are we doing tonight?'. Julia being Julia knows all salsa events at all times and reminds me that there is a band playing at the Brewery Arts Centre in Kendal. My first thought is 'that's a long way'. My second is 'who's playing?'. So I ask and it's a band I've not heard of - Sierra Maestra - a 9-piece Son band from Cuba who have been playing together since the 70's. Sounds interesting so we are on our way within the hour..
We arrive in perfect time to see the band start their first set. The room is already warm and from the first track there is a good number of people either salsaing or doing their own form of improvised dancing. For Julia and I it's a chance to practice some of the son steps from Kerry Ribchester's class recently. We find space right in front of the stage - bonus!
And wow! these guys are seriously good. And cool with it. Julia even gets a nod of appreciation from one of the band who seems impressed with the dancing. At least I think that is what he was impressed by :-)
After a welcome chance to get drinks in the interval the second set is as good if not better than the first. The tempo rises to a well deserved super fast encore. The crowd cheers loudly, the band exit stage left and we begin to cool down.. We buy the CD on offer which is signed by the band - cheers guys - a memento of a great night.
We are asked if we want to go to Copas after but that might just finish us off so it's back to Blackpool with big smiles all round. Top night.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
Is it March Already?
How did that happen?
It'll be summer soon if I don't add something, so where were we....?
Don't know, I forgot. Anyway, I'm currently just idling the time away before setting off for the Horwich salsa party presented by the excellent Gillian at Salsa Fix - Number 2 DJ in Great Britain so I'm told, though I still think she is number one!
Our new Sweet Salsa Cuban class in Longridge on Monday nights is going reasonably well although classes are still quite small. That's ok though as I'm getting a bit more relaxed with the teaching as time goes on. I know, me, a teacher. I can't believe it either.. The students are coming on in leaps and bounds too. Well done everyone..
We had a fabulous Wednesday night class over in Southport organised by Irmita and given by the excellent Idalberto Alcala. He was a fabulous host and his enthusiasm for Cuban salsa (well, all salsa really) fills the room and is totally infectious. He's only here for another 5 weeks so get yourselves there if you can - highly recommended. Latin Rooms Southport. Wed 8pm ish
It'll be summer soon if I don't add something, so where were we....?
Don't know, I forgot. Anyway, I'm currently just idling the time away before setting off for the Horwich salsa party presented by the excellent Gillian at Salsa Fix - Number 2 DJ in Great Britain so I'm told, though I still think she is number one!
Our new Sweet Salsa Cuban class in Longridge on Monday nights is going reasonably well although classes are still quite small. That's ok though as I'm getting a bit more relaxed with the teaching as time goes on. I know, me, a teacher. I can't believe it either.. The students are coming on in leaps and bounds too. Well done everyone..
We had a fabulous Wednesday night class over in Southport organised by Irmita and given by the excellent Idalberto Alcala. He was a fabulous host and his enthusiasm for Cuban salsa (well, all salsa really) fills the room and is totally infectious. He's only here for another 5 weeks so get yourselves there if you can - highly recommended. Latin Rooms Southport. Wed 8pm ish
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
To ask or not to ask? That is the question, for the ladies that is.
Now I'm just brazen. If I see a dancer on the dance floor and I think that I could have a good dance with them I have absolutely no hesitation in asking them to dance, whatever their level. Because of this I always walk away from any party night feeling like I’ve had a really good dance and lots of fun to boot. If I were to just sit around and wait for the guys to come ask me then I would probably only dance a quarter of the amount I do now, and there are at least two reasons I can think of for that to be the case.
1. I’m a middle-aged woman who looks like she is a bit past her sell by date. So in the attraction stakes I probably come a poor 3rd……. or maybe 4th……..OK OK perhaps in the bottom 10 of “Who would be the best looking bird in room to dance with?” competition. So most of the gentlemen will usually ask you if you are young, pretty, and slim and if you fall into this category the answer to the above would be “No I don’t need to ask!” But I, and others like me, will be left drooling at the side of the dance floor before the younger bucks look our way. So for us the answer is “Yes we do need to”.
2. The other reason is that unless you fall into the above pretty, young, skinny-minny category the other reason they will not ask you to dance is that they don’t know you, or know what level of dancer you are. So they are now looking at a middle-aged slightly over weight woman who looks a bit like their mum and they don’t even know if she can put one foot in front of the other! So no they are not going to ask which means that, yes, like it or not you will have to ask them first.
Watch this space in the next few days for my top ten tips to help in plucking up the courage to ask the guys to dance and the best tips for landing the best dancers who will come looking for you if you do it right.
1. I’m a middle-aged woman who looks like she is a bit past her sell by date. So in the attraction stakes I probably come a poor 3rd……. or maybe 4th……..OK OK perhaps in the bottom 10 of “Who would be the best looking bird in room to dance with?” competition. So most of the gentlemen will usually ask you if you are young, pretty, and slim and if you fall into this category the answer to the above would be “No I don’t need to ask!” But I, and others like me, will be left drooling at the side of the dance floor before the younger bucks look our way. So for us the answer is “Yes we do need to”.
2. The other reason is that unless you fall into the above pretty, young, skinny-minny category the other reason they will not ask you to dance is that they don’t know you, or know what level of dancer you are. So they are now looking at a middle-aged slightly over weight woman who looks a bit like their mum and they don’t even know if she can put one foot in front of the other! So no they are not going to ask which means that, yes, like it or not you will have to ask them first.
Watch this space in the next few days for my top ten tips to help in plucking up the courage to ask the guys to dance and the best tips for landing the best dancers who will come looking for you if you do it right.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Is it quiet this January or am I just not up to date?
I know it's only the first week of January but seems to me that there is not enough salsa dancing goin on. Managed to get a salsa party in on Boxing Day at Noches De Salsa in Blackpool and another on New Years Eve at Salsa Calor in Chorley. But now there are no lessons or classes this week again!
I know you teachers need a break some time but enough with the cosy nights in already, I want to salsa!
I know it's only the first week of January but seems to me that there is not enough salsa dancing goin on. Managed to get a salsa party in on Boxing Day at Noches De Salsa in Blackpool and another on New Years Eve at Salsa Calor in Chorley. But now there are no lessons or classes this week again!
I know you teachers need a break some time but enough with the cosy nights in already, I want to salsa!
No laughing at the back, please..
It is guaranteed to raise a smile at the mere mention of this style of dance and I for one have never previously been much of a fan of it - Threesomes.
For me it's enough to look after one woman at a time so 2 at once seems to be rather overdoing things. So with a bit of trepidation I joined in the recent Noches De Salsa threesomes class. It appears that this is a quite infrequent activity of N de S but they run it a couple of times a year. How could I have missed it so far?
Wayne teaches the class in his usual impressive and apparently effortless style. And you know what.. I really enjoyed myself. The routine is one influenced by a recent congress so it's a quality piece of work.
It takes some time to get to grips with but once I've got the hang of it it's a blast. The only problem being that everyone is having so much fun the teacher is having trouble moving us on around the group.
So, anyone want a threesome?
For me it's enough to look after one woman at a time so 2 at once seems to be rather overdoing things. So with a bit of trepidation I joined in the recent Noches De Salsa threesomes class. It appears that this is a quite infrequent activity of N de S but they run it a couple of times a year. How could I have missed it so far?
Wayne teaches the class in his usual impressive and apparently effortless style. And you know what.. I really enjoyed myself. The routine is one influenced by a recent congress so it's a quality piece of work.
It takes some time to get to grips with but once I've got the hang of it it's a blast. The only problem being that everyone is having so much fun the teacher is having trouble moving us on around the group.
So, anyone want a threesome?
Xmas Round-up 1 - Noches Fancy Dress
Carol and Alan at Noches De Salsa once again do not disappoint with their Christmas salsa event, this time with added festive joy provided by optional fancy dress with a 'groups theme'. Boxing Day 2009 was a great night and a truly impressive effort was made by all. C&A were both Dennis of menace fame, Wayne was a great Rudolph in a costume that must have been about 103 degrees F inside when dancing - it was huge..There were various elves, hippies, groupies, comic book characters, period costumes, pop groups, and film characters, to mention a few, all salsa dancing their hearts out. As the temperature rose then some costumes were shed of a layer or two, though disappointingly the Cheeky Girls chose not to do this :-(
Xmas Round-up 2 - New Year at Salsa Calor
Just a quick thanks to Phil Kaila and Helen Walker (especially Helen) for a great night on New Years Eve in Chorley.But, boy it was HOT. Phew.. That is a good thing though as it was sub-zero outside.
It was a great night all-round with great music, great people, great dancers and a salsero Scottish piper bringing in the new year on traditional bagpipes. Everyone heartily joined in on a couple of choruses of Auld Lang Syne and there were smiles all round. This was followed by a couple of disco celebration tracks that went down really well and a compulsory conga line snaked it's way round the room before the salsa started again in earnest, but not before Phil had done a quick dance floor clean-up with a broom.
I think everyone had a splendid time - I know I did - dancing with friends new and old. If I missed you, many apologies and I'll make every effort to make up for this oversight in the coming months.
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