On Thursdays, Melanie Rivera from Salsa Des Moines teaches the free beginner lesson from 9PM to 10PM.  She tailors the class to the skills of the dancers  that night.  When I visited this October 15th, there were at about 36 men and women taking the class.    It was pleasant to see so many people coming to learn, some for the first time.   I would recommend this class if you have never danced salsa before.  Melanie breaks down the basic steps and turns for you at a slow pace and then ramps up the speed to that of a regular salsa song.   For those that can handle extra challenge, she adds some styling for the women.

From 10PM to 11 PM the music was mainly salsa with some bachata.  Overall the crowd was friendly and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves dancing.  As the night went on, more of the intermediate and the seasoned dancers appeared.    There was ample dance space at Miss Kitty’s Nightclub, I never had to worry about dancing in someone’s space or feel like I may get stepped on.

If I lived in Iowa, I would make this one of my regular nightclubs to go salsa dancing.  Please remember to show your support by buying some drinks while you are there.. This is one place I’d like to visit again when I’m in Iowa.

More information about salsa dancing in Iowa.

For those of you who bought Aspira Gala 2010 Tickets for February 6, 2010 to see Gilberto Santa Rosa, you may be looking for the announcement about exchanging your tickets..

What announcement?

Apparently, someone is lax on their duties and didn’t update the Aspira website at http://www.aspirapa.org/.  As of today 4/12/2010, it still shows the moldy message “ASPIRA will publicize shortly when tickets holders can redeem their previously purchased ticket for a new one as well as purchase additional ones.”

Here’s the unofficial scoop

I called Aspira and was told that you will need to exchange your old tickets. The tickets can be exchanged where you bought them.

So if you bought your tickets at Aspira, go to their office on the 3rd floor

If you bought your tickets at Centro Musical, go to their place:

I called Centro Musical and confirmed that you must exchange your tickets. They will “exchange them number for number” from what I was told on the phone. They close at 7:30 pm on Tuesday. I’m not sure what time they close the other days.

If you know why they are putting us through the hassle, let me know. It sounds crazy and ridiculous that they won’t just honor the old ticket. My guess is that its red tape.

At the same time the same thing can happen to a salsero. The woman may tell the guy how to lead when she herself  isn’t a good dancer!   Its the woman’s job to follow the lead no matter how good or bad the lead is.   If the guy doesn’t lead you to go somewhere, then don’t go there. Its not going to help the guy if you anticipate things and do things automatically.  If you follow the lead, then the only reason you didn’t go where he wanted you to go is because he didn’t give you a good lead. Its his job to figure it out and its your excuse to say “that’s where I felt you were leading me.”

Here’s a good rule of thumb.

Unless you are the dance instructor giving the lesson, or unless the other person asks you how to dance, don’t offer any advice. Just let them dance! Most people dance for health and to have fun and they are not aspiring to become a professional dancer.

If you need to tell the other person how to dance. It is better etiquette to ask if they want your advice.  Example: “Would you like me to give you a tip about ______?” (fill in the blanks)  Your feedback will be better received if the person receiving your advice actually wants it.

There are exceptions to this.. If you know something is dangerous where the other person can get hurt by doing the wrong move, by all means tell them.

More about dance etiquette:  http://www.salsa-dancing-addict.com/dance-etiquette.html

This is a true story that happened to me at the Philadelphia Salsa  Congress Pre-Kickoff dance a few years ago..  The dance floor was in the middle with rows and rows of seats along the perimeter.  I was dancing and wanted to sit down.  So I sit down in an empty seat..  As soon as I sit down, someone comes up to me and says, “sorry, but that’s my seat”.  I look to the left, look to my right and behind me.  TONS of empty seats around me.   WHY or why was this person telling me that this was his seat? What was the point? What is the purpose?  I got up with a puzzled look on my face and walked away. I was not about to fight about a seat.

This other incident recently happened at Posh in Mt. Laurel NJ.    There a dance floor in the corner with long L shaped bar that wraps along the two walls of the restaurant.  Opposite of the bar is a wall where the owners place dining seats next to each other so people could sit.  There were a bunch of random people sitting down and there was one seat free. (yay,  one seat for me!)   Yes, I wanted to sit down but some lady quickly put her hand down on the seat and said that she was saving the seat for someone! The first thing I thought was “What? Do I smell?”  Nope.. I took a shower and brushed my teeth before coming to Posh.   I looked around and didn’t see anyone that she’d be saving the seat for.   I asked her who’s she saving the seat for, followed by my puzzled “Really? Who are you saving it for?”  A couple more times of this and she suddenly changed her mind — “oh you can sit there.”  At this point, I just wave at the seat with disgust.  She again offers up the seat.  I said no forget it.  It really wasn’t important to me and I didn’t want to sit next to her anyway.

Estilo Dance Studio presents the 9th Semi-Annual Spring Student Performance!

Where:
Stardust Ballroom
363 West Browning Road
Bellmawr, NJ

5pm Early Evening Performance:
Doors Open 4:30pm
Showtime 5pm

10pm Nighttime Performance:
Doors Open 8pm
Salsa Lesson 8:30pm
Showtime 10pm
Social Dancing until 2am

ADMISSION PRICES
(only at door, no advance or online ticket purchases)

* Early Evening 5pm Performance:
Adults: $15, Kids (under12): $7
* Nighttime 10pm Performance
Adults: $20 , Kids (under12): $10

Featuring 16 Magnificent Performances ~ Music by DJ La Clave ~ Kids Welcome ~ Free Parking ~ BYOB

Salsa Party – Night of Mayhem

Bring in the Spring with a bang!
When:  Friday, April 2, 2010 at 9:00pm to 2:00 am
Where:

Mambodelphia would like to congratulate latindancescene.com on 4 years of providing weekly updates for the hottest events in the Tri-state area. The Latin Dance Scene newsletter currently has over 4000+ members and counting. Mambodelphia will be celebrating these milestones at the next Salsambo Dance Social in April.

Doors open at 9pm
There will be two special workshops taught by Go Go Earl Rush of Stuckonsalsa and DC’s best kept secret Pyson Mauricio

Then DJ Sazaam will be spinning the hottest Salsa, Mambo, Cha Cha, Batchata all night.

Special Performances by
Salsa Georgia Latin Dancers
Musicalente

Complimentary Latin Buffet and with lots of off street parking and spacious dance floor. This is one party that you do not want to miss!

Admission is only $12 online and $15 at the door.

For more information e-mail info@mambodelphia.com or call 609-330-6804.

Purchase tickets online at Mambo Store
www.mambodelphia.com

La Familia De La Salsa at Pastime Athletic Club

Salsa Dancing Addict went to visit this event recent.  Read more about Salsa Dancing in Syracuse.

From September 11th to 13th, 2009 Madrid, Spain will host Convencion Salsea, the first SALSEA Convention ever with a first class variety of artists and dancers.

Two nights and two afternoons there will be social dancing,  shows and performances. There will be more than 35 workshops and more than 2000 square meters of wooden dance floor! The event will take place in the Madrid hotel Auditorium, with perfect conditions and additionally 1000 rooms available for 34€/person (tax included).

So why is Convencion Salsea considered a Convention and not a Salsa Congress:
because they start at 11:00pm with spectacular performances and social dance at the same time (parallel) until 3:00am and after this until 5:30am pure social dance. You can also practice after the workshops or at the party with your professors. It is a big party of professional instructors, dancers, dj’s, and friends!

View our website for more information about Convencion Salsea, or view the official website for Convencion Salsea at www.convencionsalsea.com

Convencion Salsea 2009

Here’s a clip of the last 30 seconds of the Advanced Salsa Performance group!