Toronto Salsa Passion

Famous Salsa Dancers

Toronto Salsa Passion — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 11:57:00 +0000

New York Style

Eddie Torres (July 3, 1950-)

is one of the most famous salsa dance instructors in the world. He has trained thousands of dancers, including some of the most well known contemporary dancers such as Frankie Martinez and Seaon Brystol. Through his dance school, he has taught thousands of people how to dance salsa in his own distinctive style. He also has a children’s dance program that teaches approximately three hundred students a year.

Los Angeles Style

Johnny Vazquez (January 27, 1979; Guadelajara Mexico- )

Johnny is considered the greatest L.A. style dancer today, winning first place at many national and international competitions.

Johnny won 3 years in a row at a professional level salsa competition in Los Angeles. His career as a professional salsa performer and teacher took off. His dance partner at that time was Carolina Sarisola.In 2002 he decided to live in Valencia Spain. He formed his dance group “Johnny Vazquez y su imperia azteca”.

Frankie Martinez (born and raised in Queens, NY)

Frankie Martinez is one of the salsa world’s most well know names as a dancer, choreographer, teacher, and founder of the ABAKUA Afro-Latin Dance Company. Martinez was born in Forest Hills, New York and is of Puerto Rican descent.

Seaon Bristol

Seaon Bristol, pronounced see-on and often referred to as Seaon Stylist, is a renowned salsa dancer, choreographer, and instructor living in Los Angeles, California. He is probably best known for being a pioneer in the role of being a male follower, a position traditionally reserved for women.

Leon Rose

Leon Rose is a London born Caribbean salsa dancer, instructor, and choreographer who is regarded as one of, if not the best, salsa dancer in the United Kingdom.

Alex da Silva (March 271968; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil-)

Alex Da Silva is a dancer and choreographer, specializing in Salsa dancing. Da Silva is also known for being a recurring guest choreographer on the Fox TV show So You Think You Can Dance.

Salsa in the movies - Part 2

Toronto Salsa Passion — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 16:06:00 +0000

SALSA MOVIES (2001-present)

The Way She Moves (2001)

Trailer

N/ A

Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (2004)

El cantante (2006)

Mumbai Salsa (2007)

The Big Shot-Caller (2008)

Release Date: USA 2008

Summary: As a child, Jamie Lesser watched ‘Strictly Ballroom’ ninety-seven times a day and dreamed of becoming a salsa dancer. But in ‘real life’, his social awkwardness, failed love life and severe near-sightedness got in his way. After insurmountable disappointments, he turns to his estranged sister, Lianne, a streetwise, self-proclaimed hip hop dancing dynamo, inspires him to follow his dream, reclaim his self-esteem and become what he was truly meant to be.

Mango Tango (2009)

The winner of the Jury Prize at Ventura Film Festival

Release Date: USA 2009

Summary: Marlene, a New York City dance teacher, is driven to therapy by the increasingly neurotic men she meets. A vacation in the German Alps turns out to be her biggest challenge yet…

Salsa Lessons (2009)

Release Date: USA 2009

Summary: A love story about two people meeting by chance in New York City. Pedro is a Salsa instructor and Rosa wants to learn how to dance salsa. Through the power of salsa dancing they find each other and also discover that their painful past is very much still in their present. Can They move on? Letting go of the past is not as easy as we think.

Coming soon…

Born to Salsa

Salsa in the Movies 1

Toronto Salsa Passion — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 03:43:00 +0000

SALSA MOVIES (1988- 2000)

Salsa (1988)

Summary: Kenny Ortega, the man behind the moves of the hit “Dirty Dancing,” choreographs the sizzling Latin excitement in this red-hot story of a passionate young dancer (Menudo’s Robby Rosa) who sets his sights on becoming the “Kings of Salsa.”

Trailer

Buena Vista Social Club (1999)

Summary: A group of legendary Cuban musicians, some as old as their nineties, were brought together by Ry Cooder to record a CD. In this film, we see and hear some of the songs being recorded in Havana. There is also footage from concerts in Amsterdam and New York City’s Carnegie Hall. In addition, many of the individual musicians talk about their lives in Cuba and about how they got started in music.

Trailer

Born Romantic (2000)

Summary: Centered around a salsa club, three men pursue three women across London. Fergus is trying to find his ex-girlfriend, the elderly charmer Frankie the beautiful Eleanor and the robber Eddie is trying to find one of his victims, cemetery worker Jocelyn.

Trailer

Salsa (2000)

Director: Joyce Buñuel

Summary: At age 24, Rémi Bonnet, brilliant pianist, abandons Chopin and Toulouse to play the music he has secretly loved for years – Salsa! He heads for Paris, the salsa capital of Europe, only to discover to his great surprise, that nobody wants a white boy in Latin band! Felipe, his Cuban friend, sets him straight: ” You don’t have the Latino look, muchacho! Today, if your are not Cubano or Columbiano, you are out!”. Undaunted, Rémi deliberately takes on the identity, accent and complexion of an unemployed alien in a city where most foreigners will do almost anything to become French. Barreto, 75, the legendary Cuban composer, who is about to close down the once famous Casa Cubana, offers Rémi a job giving dance lessons to the locals. It is here that Rémi falls in love with Nathalie. Her family’s “secrets and lies” reveal parental links to Barreto. Do these links explain why this shy beauty ought to be a bomb on the dance floor?

to leave comment please visit:http://torontosalsapassion.wordpress.com/2009/12/14/salsa-in-the-movies/

Say it with me Now - Salsa terminology

Toronto Salsa Passion — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:29:00 +0000

by Jana Jankovic

As we reviewed the steps, and appropriate terminology complementing them in our last class, I couldn’t help but question their meaning. Sitting on the subway on my way home, I wondered how and why these steps, turns, and switch-a-roos (as I like to call them), were labeled the way they were. I wondered about the importance of their names.

For instance, the ‘hammer-lock’– that must have been invented by a dude. He hammers the woman by twisting her arm and then locks her in by not letting go. Pretty good system if you ask me. The women most likely came up with the ‘cat-walk’, and an eighty-year-old man must have given us the idea for the ‘comb’, since the last time I saw one was in my grandfather’s shirt pocket.

When I first started salsa I didn’t pay too much attention to the vocabulary. I was there to dance not study. As time passed and the lessons became more challenging I found myself getting a little confused as to what step we were doing next since I hadn’t memorized their names. I realized that for my and my partner’s sake I had to get familiar with these terms in order to refer to them on the dance floor and in class. In just one class, I put a name to each little spin, twist, and tap, and what a difference it made. I was now able to control what moves we did next as well. If I wanted a hook turn, I just said so, if I wanted the cross body lead I let the words slide off my tongue and off we went!

So next time you’re in class, pay closer attention to what you’re doing and what it’s called, and you’ll feel much more confident. If there are any nerds such as myself out there who’d like to get a head start and impress their instructor, here’s a little sneak peak at what you can expect to hear:

1. I turn, You turn: the male partner first turns himself and then the girl.

2. Cross body lead: the male partner takes a step to the side to let the female pass in front of him as you exchange positions.

3 . Cross body lead with a turn: the male partner pulls the woman to pass in front of him as in the cross body lead, but this time spins the girl at the end.

4. Hammer lock: a right turn for the girl but while still holding on to your partner’s hand with your left hand behind your waste.

5. Cat Walk: a cross body lead, but this time the woman going under the man’s arm so you end up in a hammer lock.

6. Comb: the man turns his female partner without letting go of either hand, so you end up facing each other with crossed hands. He then gently throws her hands into the air and she slides them along her hair and neck as if combing herself. To be contined....

My first time dancing salsa in a club

Toronto Salsa Passion — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:22:00 +0000

Last night was my first time at a real salsa club. It was sensational. Initially, I was a little intimidated. The dancers there were extraordinary. I sat down to have a drink and observe. It was both exhilarating and overwhelming. Men and women were all moving to the same sound but in such unique and diverse styles. It was like moving art.

After finishing my drink I gathered up the courage to join them. Although I was a little nervous at first, as soon as my feet reached the dance floor, no one and nothing else mattered but the dance. Just like the food, salsa as a dance has a tangy flavor and spice. It was hot both in temperature, and movement. I tried to keep up with my partner and fit in with the rest of the talented dancers. I was sure I looked like an amateur, but the people there were so relaxed and inviting, nobody seemed to care or be judging anyone else. It was nice to see people from different levels dance together and enjoy it. This encouraged me to learn faster and dance more often. I want to be as good as them. I want to be approached by a beginner like myself someday and be as inspirational for them.

After hours of meeting people, sweating and of course dancing, it was time to call it a night. I felt a lot more comfortable and confident by the time I left. Not only was it fun, but I actually learned a few stylistic moves and made new friendships. As it turned out, my first time was absolutely painless and pleasurable!

To leave comments http://torontosalsapassion.wordpress.com/2009/11/

Who takes the lead

Toronto Salsa Passion — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:05:00 +0000

Who plays a more dominant role while dancing?

The man or the woman?

By Jana Jankovic

Although women like to be in control of their relationships, in salsa it’s the guy who holds the power. In this case, the women seem to be the followers, while men take charge of the situation and guide us as they please. Sometimes, I think this may be a pretty good arrangement in romantic relationships as well. The only problem is, the men don’t always know when and how to take charge. Perhaps this is our fault.

When I first began learning salsa, I had a difficult time accepting that the man was in charge, and giving up control. I often had to remind myself to relax, breathe, and most importantly – trust. In any partnership if you don’t trust one another, the dance, relationship, or friendship will most likely fail. We must allow ourselves to let go, and our partners to guide us.

It’s understandable that when we can’t predict the next move we want to control it. Yet, I found it best when I simply stopped thinking about it all together. If you listen to the music and pay attention to details, it’s incredible how much you’ll actually feel in control. The squeeze of the hand or light pressure on your shoulder blade sends you signals to prepare you for the next spin, dip, or cross body lead. I still found my partner guiding me but felt more in control of my body and mind. Confidence goes a long way, and of course with practice you’ll have the perfect balance between you and your partner. After all, isn’t that what partnership is all about?

to leave a coment please visit http://torontosalsapassion.wordpress.com/2009/11/

Salsa Travel Guide

Toronto Salsa Passion — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:30:00 +0000

The Paris Salsa Scene

While you may not automatically think of salsa when you think of Paris, the “city of lights” does have quite the amazing salsa scene going on. While at one point it may have been difficult to even find good Mexican food in the city, this situation has changed immensely. Due to increased immigration from people in Latin America, the interest in salsa music has increased proportionately as well.

That said, the salsa scene in Paris is slightly different than the salsa scene in London, England for instance. In London, England, people tend to take a lesson at a club – and then dance at the club for the rest of the night. In other words, the people there generally treat salsa as a social event.

In Paris though, the people there tend to be a bit more serious about their salsa dancing. As such, in Paris, there are considerably more salsa dance studios than there are in London. As a result, people have the opportunity to learn salsa at a much more advanced – and personal - level than when they only take one lesson at a club.

Which Clubs Should You Visit?

There are a number of great salsa venues to visit when in Paris. One of the more established clubs is called La Pachanga. This club is open every night of the week from seven pm onwards. Upon paying the entrance fee, club goers are treated to free salsa lessons – and then can practice their moves the rest of the night. For those people who enjoy dancing to great salsa music while enjoying an incredible Latin America ambience, visiting La Pachanga is an excellent idea. http://eng.lapachanga.fr/w/restaurant/home.php

Another great salsa club to visit is Le Barrio Latino. This unique club boasts of four different floors. The first and third floors play amazing Latino music and the second floor is a restaurant that serves the appropriate regional Latin food. The forth floor of the building is a nightclub that also boasts of a VIP section. Be prepared to see people dancing everywhere in this club – including the hallways. http://www.barrio-latino-toulouse.com

for complete source of Salsa clubs in Paris visit http://www.salsafrance.com/article.php3?id_article=278

All in all, what could be more romantic then Salsa under the Paris bridges and next to the Eifel Tower? Paris has an awesome salsa scene that you should definitely check out sometime.

Best Salsa Music

Toronto Salsa Passion — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:48:00 +0000

Best Salsa Music

Here are 10 salsa songs from the last 5 decades

1960s

El Watusi by Ray Barretto

La Perfecta by Eddie Palmieri

1970s

Siembra by Willie Colon and Ruben Blades the best selling Latin album of the 70s with the song title.

Rebelion by Joe Arroyo

1980s

En Barranquilla me Quedo (I stay in Barranquilla, Colombia) by

Joe Arroyo

With some jazz sound in it as 80s were the years of innovation for SALSA.

Salsa romantica

El Ultimo Beso (The Last Kiss) by Marc Anthony

Tu Eres El Hombre (You are the Man) by Orquesta de la Luz

Asi es La Vida (So is life) by Luis Enrique

1990s and present

Mi tierra (My land) My favourite salsa song: it says the homeland you were born in you never forget. by Gloria Estafan singing with Marc Anthony (Grammy Award for Best Latin Tropical Album, 1994)

The Album: Directo al corazon (Directly to the heart) by Gilberto Santa Rosa (Grammy Award for Best Latin Tropical Album, 2007)

The first song of the album Locura de Amor (Crazyness of Love)

to leave comment visit http://torontosalsapassion.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/best-salsa-music/

Can Salsa Change your Life?

Toronto Salsa Passion — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:50:00 +0000

by Jana Jankovic

Salsa can change your life.Don’t believe me? Then I challenge you to try it. When first asked to write about salsa I was a little stuck. I mean there’s only so much you can write about a dance…or so I thought. I started thinking about the footwork, the dance, the partnership, but I forgot to look beyond and into the history of how Salsa truly came to be.

Then I wrote a mini Encyclopedia including the dictionary definition and comparing it to the spicy tomato sauce salsa literally translates to mean. All this was good valid material but it was lacking something…passion. Then my instructor and the founder of Toronto Salsa Passion told me about how salsa changed his life. While working at a bank, he knew he wasn’t doing what really made him happy.

One day he simply quit to pursue his dreams. In February 2008, Toronto Salsa Passion was born. As my friendship with Tony grew, I asked him about his other passions. He responded with, “You may have only one passion that overpowers all the rest. The rest are all hobbies.” From then on I paid closer attention to the way I felt while dancing this spicy dance to its sultry accompanying rhythm. It was always there, I just wasn’t sure how to define it.

This feeling of confidence, freedom, and passion flowed through my body every time I stepped foot on the dance floor. I was immersed in the music. I was submerged in sweat. With my feet burning and my hair stuck to my face, I forgot where I was and indulged in the wave of rhythm and dance. There was nothing else. Toronto is a city of art, culture, fashion, and music. I find Salsa a mirror image of our city as it possesses all of the above.

We’re not always aware of the things Toronto has to offer, but I found myself a little closer to its soul as I began dancing salsa. It’s right there in front of us. We just have to look, feel, and let ourselves be taken away. So whether you think it may be a passion of yours or simply a hobby, salsa can help you find yourself or just have fun!

For those interested, I’ve included my research and the benefits of this saucy dance… Music: Salsa involves diverse styles of music and movement. When African rhythm is blended with Spanish music, the result is a seductive sound of drumbeats and jazz. tHe multiple instruments add great depth and passion to this voluptuous dance. Anywhere from ten to fifteen instruments can be used to create the salsa tones and rhythm. The most important instrumentation is the percussion. This includes claves, cowbells, timbales and conga.Other instruments used are trumpets, trombones, bass guitar, piano maracas, guiro. This mixture of vibrations provides the dancers with great variety in movement and style.

History and Culture: Developed in the 1960s by Puerto Rican and Cuban immigrants, this dance was first established in New York City. Today, we can enjoy salsa in London, Miami, Seoul, Bangkok, Toronto, and many other places around the world. Because salsa is open to improvisation, different dancers from different cultures with their own unique styles, can all perform the dance in a similar, fluid motion. No two people are alike and therefore no two dancers are alike either. Some can feel the music and know when to move, while others must be told and take a more strict approach to learning when to start or turn. Still, people all over the world love to learn and teach Salsa.

Health: This expressive dance is very healthy for your physical and mental health. While freeing your mind of any stress, you’re also freeing your body of any calories. Dancing salsa is equivalent to bike riding or swimming, when it comes to cardio workouts. Many therapists recommend salsa for people who have trouble expressing themselves, or feel depressed. The dance floor is a place of comfort and assurance, and you are in control. After spending some time in Salsa clubs I was pleasantly surprised to see people drinking water instead of alcohol. This addictive method of working out without even knowing it makes you feel and want to be healthy. Salsa dancers usually like being active, hydrating on water, and eating healthy.

Socializing: Salsa helps build new relationships and make old ones stronger. Couples become more intimate and self-esteem rises. People are high on energy and confidence and therefore feel more comfortable interacting with others. You’ll feel good in this learning environment where everyone is at equal levels of ability and the only person anyone’s judging is themselves. Not only are the classes a great place of interaction but as there are frequent excursions to salsa clubs and extra workshops, you’re always meeting new people.

So You think you can dance Canada complimentary school outing!

Toronto Salsa Passion — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 06:37:00 +0000

On September 16, Toronto Salsa Passion, with a special complimentary invitation from "So You think you can dance Canada" visited the elimintation show. It was an exciting and unforgetable opportunity to get a glimpse into the world of dance competition and entertainment that is sweeping North America.

From Toronto Salsa Passion attending So You Think You Can Dance Canada Show Season 2 Elimination Round

The profesionalism of the whole production team was at the top level and the show was colorful and energizing. Emotions ran high when contestants had to dance for their lives and the audience cheered with support the whole time.

Everyone had lots of fun. There were many contests and special prizes for the audience members and one of the TsP invitees Heba Fadil and Imran Hanif won a special hoodie with the "So you think you can dance" logo on it.

From Toronto Salsa Passion attending So You Think You Can Dance Canada Show Season 2 Elimination Roun

Big thank you to the to the crew! They did and amazing job and took great care of us!

So You Think You Can Dance Canada-Special Dancer and Top 20 Revealed, Aug 23

Toronto Salsa Passion — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 21:12:00 +0000

The Top 20 will be revealed on Sunday!

Watch an amazing dancer Vicky Luo, who have already made it to the finals

The level of talent is extraordinary. As a result, CTV will add an extra hour of So You Think You Can Dance Canada on Sunday, August 23 at 9 p.m. ET.

Following Tuesday's audition show and Wednesday's Finals show, Sunday's special episode will feature the pivotal moments when this year's SYTYCDC Top 20 are revealed.

"These 20 individuals will capture our imagination with the language of dance," said Susanne Boyce, President, Creative, Content and Channels, CTV Inc. "Over the next few months, viewers won't want to miss a second as these talented dancers evolve even further in front of our eyes."

"We had amazing talent our first season, but the quality of the dancers we discovered this year has set the bar even higher," said Sandra Faire, Executive Producer SYTYCDC. "We can't wait to introduce this newly discovered talent to the country."

In Sunday's special one-hour Top 20 reveal episode (August 23 at 9 p.m. ET), the final group of competitors find out whether they proved to the judges they have what it takes to make it into the Season 2 Top 20.

With a week of battling nerves behind them, the remaining competitors learn their fate one by one as viewers discover who will be competing for their votes this season.

The SYTYCDC Season 2 Top 20 are poised to tear up the dance floor during the first Performance episode on Tuesday, August 25 at 8 p.m. ET, followed by the elimination of the first two dancers Wednesday, August 26 at 7:30 p.m. ET on CTV.

Encore episodes air Sunday, August 23 at 2 p.m. ET and Sunday, August 30 at 5 p.m. ET on MuchMusic, before moving to the regular timeslot of Sundays at 6 p.m. ET beginning September 6 on MuchMusic (visit muchmusic.com to confirm local broadcast times). The Season 2 broadcast schedule continues as follows on CTV (all times ET; times and dates subject to change; visit CTV.ca to confirm local broadcast times):

Sunday, August 23 at 9 p.m. ET (one hour) -- Top 20 Reveal Special Tuesday, August 25 at 8 p.m. ET (two hours) -- Top 20 Performance Episode Wednesday, August 26 at 7:30 p.m. ET (half hour) -- Top 20 Results Episode

So you think you can dane Season 2 begins Tuesday, August 11 on CTV

Toronto Salsa Passion — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 04:08:00 +0000

Season 2 begins Tuesday, August 11 on CTV

Updated Thu. Jun. 25 2009 10:38 AM ET

CTV

Watch the promo video here

As announced during the MMVAs, the eagerly-awaited second season of "So You Think You Can Dance Canada" jump starts CTV's fall schedule with a four-hour two-night premiere on Tuesday, August 11 at 8 p.m. ET and Wednesday, August 12 at 8 p.m. ET. Encore episodes begin airing Sunday, August 16 on MuchMusic (visit CTV.ca and muchmusic.com to confirm local broadcast times).

Premiering just one week after the season finale of this summer's most-watched television series "So You Think You Can Dance," Canadian dancers will captivate the country as they take centre stage this fall. "So You Think You Can Dance Canada" was the #1 new TV show in the country in 2008/2009, with an average of 1.4 million viewers weekly.*

Airing Tuesdays and Wednesdays on CTV, the series kicks off with the hard-hitting Toronto auditions, where hopefuls showed up for "So You Think You Can Dance Canada's" permanent judges, Jean Marc Genereux and Tré Armstrong plus returning guest judge Luther Brown, from the set of "So You Think You Can Dance" Mary Murphy, and Blake McGrath, who puts the competitors through the paces during his much anticipated and feared boot camp. The premiere episode is followed on Wednesday with highlights from auditions in Vancouver and Saint John.

Once again featuring Canada's most talented dancers, trained and untrained, as they compete for Canada's votes and strive to be named Canada's next Favourite Dancer, the Season 2 audition episode broadcast schedule unfolds as follows (all times ET; times and dates subject to change; visit ctv.ca to confirm local broadcast times):

Tuesday, August 11 at 8 p.m. ET (two hours) - Toronto Auditions
Wednesday, August 12 at 8 p.m. ET (two hours) - Vancouver and Saint John Auditions
Tuesday, August 18 at 8 p.m. ET (two hours) - Montreal and Edmonton Auditions
Wednesday, August 19 at 8 p.m. ET (two hours) - Finals Week

* Source: BBM Nielsen Media Research, (Sep. 22 - Dec.14, 2008), "So You Think You Can Dance Canada" performance shows

El Rancho Salsa Outing Students Thoughts

Toronto Salsa Passion — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:26:00 +0000

This past Saturday night, Toronto Salsa Passion had its r at El Rancho, one of the city's most dynamic and popular latin clubs.

About 40 students and guests attended the lesson led by Tony and Liz, learning or reviewing basic salsa steps and then moving right into an impressive routine.

The salsa lesson was followed by a bachata introduction and review. With practice on rearranging elements in both the salsa and bachata routines, students were ready to take to the dancefloor, practice and create their own routines and enjoy the vibrant music.

As the night went on and the club filled with salsa-loving dancers, the energy and passion became contagious. The nightclub experience, with our students, friends, and other salsa lovers, took us into the heart and soul of salsa and an unforgetable night.

Salsa Outings Afterparty Thoughts

Toronto Salsa Passion — Thu, 21 May 2009 02:47:00 +0000

by Julia Savitch

As I was returning home from Plaza Flamingo outing by Toronto Salsa Passion, I was feeling the pleasant tiredness that comes from knowing you just did something that was good for you â€“ moved, shook, rolled, and otherwise exercised for several hours in a row. But besides that, I was feeling joy, warmth and a sense of belonging. It is hard to rationally explain why a night out at a Latin club results in this kind of feeling, but I will try.

The night kicked off with lessons in salsa and merengue, which gave the guests an opportunity to meet each other, get in the dance mood and relax. Practice and free dancing to fiery rhythms followed.

One of the things I like about going to a Latin club is that people come there to actually dance. That is, as opposed to getting drunk, stoned or otherwise intoxicated and spending some â€œqualityâ€ time hugging bathroom installations. Not to say people donâ€™t drink at all in a Latin club, but there is no need to overdo it in an attempt to have fun, as everyone is having so much fun already. The joy of motion, the intoxication of the rhythm, the haze of speed â€“ all these things make it unnecessary to resort to additional doping.

Another thing I like about the Latin clubs is how easy it is to meet new people there. No stupid pick-up lines are required, no need to be afraid of embarrassing yourself when trying to approach someone you donâ€™t know. It suffices to come up to the guy/girl youâ€™ve laid your eye on and extend your hand. Maybe I havenâ€™t been going to Latin clubs for too long, but I am yet to see a case of a refusal.

Finally, on the sense of belonging. That comes from feeling you are a part of a group, sort of a special â€œnationâ€, who have the same interest â€“ that in Latin dancing, the same goal â€“ that of learning and improving oneâ€™s skills, same culture â€“ that of liberation and passion, and same language â€“ that of salsa, merengue, and bachata.

Next time there is an outing to a Latin club, come with us and see for yourself!

Bachata - Dance of My Heart

Toronto Salsa Passion — Sun, 17 May 2009 13:46:00 +0000

By Carma R and Tony

Arguably, the most sensual Latin music and dance of all times, Bachata is a genre of music that takes its origins from the colourful countryside and the rural neighbourhoods of the Dominican Republic.

As a music and as a dance, bachata expresses the desire for connection and intimacy. It's the longing we have for someone to know us in the deepest part of our hearts, to know we are not alone. It's a tender spot, the most vulnerable part of ourselves, where we wish to know another can reside and be close to us and know we are together in the world.

Even when strangers dance the bachata, modestly separate from one another, the paralleling of movements, the continuous contact, the graceful and gentle spins, are all invitations to walk together for awhile, to be close, to share in tenderness. I move you and you move me. No matter which way you turn, we are going together. The dance can be playful and light, a game of mirroring one another, of playing to the rhythms of the music.

But if you hear the invitation to what bachata has to offer, and accept, then two, become one, and move in synchronicity across the floor. In the closest of embraces, a couple can experience the powerful emotions drawn out in the music: feelings of love, warmth, joy, excitement. Something in the music touches your heart so powerfully, you can't resist and you respond instinctively in your movement. Bachata is about feeling the emotion in the music.

The longing and loss experienced in heartache are also expressed in bachata music and dramatized in the dance's movements. Turn away from me, I'll turn you back. Come back, come back, come back to me. Where you go, I'll follow. Stay here, close to me, feel my heartbeat, and remember.

Dancing under bachata's sensual rhythms, you are drawn into the present moment and elevated into a world of romance and passion, of heart-felt emotion and desire, of intimacy and longing.

So you think you can dance Canada audition dates and cities

Toronto Salsa Passion — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 00:44:00 +0000

Dance Canadian audition tour dates and cities announced

So you think you're the next Nico Archambault? Come out to this year's auditions for So You Think You Can Dance Canada, starting Saturday, April 4 at the Centre for the Performing Arts in Vancouver, B.C., and prove it!

Auditions for the dance tour are a grueling, intense process, and hopefuls must come prepared for the most important moment of their lives. After all, you wouldn't expect earning the title of "Canada's Favourite Dancer" to be easy, would you?

Audition dates and locations Registration begins at 8 a.m. in each city. Auditions will be held at the locations and on the dates listed below (subject to change):

Toronto, Ont. Monday, May 18 Metro Toronto Convention Centre John Bassett Theatre, 255 Front St. W.

In the inaugural season of So You Think You Can Dance Canada, Nico, the 24-year-old, from Montreal, Que., proved that he had the moves and came out on top. Not only did Nico earn the respect and admiration from dance fans across the country, but he also took home $100,000 and a brand new Mercedes C230.

CTV also confirmed today that the charismatic cast from Season 1 will return, including host Leah Miller.

So You Think You Can Dance Canada's esteemed panel of Canadian experts include Canada's international ballroom champion Jean Marc Genereux and Canadian dancer extraordinaire Tre Armstrong. Also returning as guest judges are edgy choreographer Blake McGrath and hip-hop guru Luther Brown.

"I was blown away by the talent that came out to the first audition tour and am really excited to be a part of the search for Canada's next favourite dancer!" said host Leah Miller.

The unstoppable "So You Think You Can Dance Canada" phenomenon began last April with the first ever audition tour stop in Vancouver and continued across the country with more than 2,500 auditions.

So You Think You Can Dance Canada is designed to showcase and judge the talent of Canadian dancers.

Rules and regulations

The So You Think You Can Dance Canada Season 2 cross-country auditions are open to all Canadians who, as of April 1, 2009, are of the age of majority in the province/territory in which they reside, and are no older than 30 years of age.

* Competitors must be either a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
* All competitors must be legally eligible to work in Canada.
* Competitors must be of the age of majority in the province/territory in which they reside and no older than 30 years of age as of April 1, 2009. The age of majority is as follows: 18 years of age in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Saskatchewan; and 19 years of age in British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut and Yukon.

* All competitors must provide two pieces of identification, including a government-issued photo ID (e.g. driver's license or passport), at the audition. * Competitors may bring a non-competing dance partner for purposes of the audition.
* All competitors must bring with them, along with the proper ID, the signed personal release, the completed preliminary questionnaire, and the music sheet. All will be available at the audition site and for download soon at dance.ctv.ca.

* All competitors are asked to bring with them the completed music sheet indicating the music they will use in their audition, along with the CD containing the indicated music.

* All songs must be "original" songs that are commercially available. A song must not be a re-mix of a song, a song downloaded from the Internet, or a competitor-created mix.

* Competitors will not be permitted to audition in any article of clothing with a visible designer, sports or other logo; artwork; name; photo; or other mark which may be subject to protection by copyright or trademark laws.

Find your way to peoples "Hearts" wtih your salsa dancing.

Toronto Salsa Passion — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 15:41:00 +0000

I am serious! Where ever you are in the world, Salsa is always a small community that everyone starts to know everyone (at least from their city / school) after a while; so you would guess how important it is to leave a good image of yourself. I know that some people have that charm; no matter where they are and when they come to the club, everyone lines up to dance with them.

Trust me, that charming person can be exactly you, only if you know how to behave. Let's review some of my personal experiences on how you can not only get to dance with others, but get them to actually like you for who you are, regardless of your dance skills.

Dancing Salsa is about having fun!

It is important to improve your techniques and you might be tempted to prove your worth by demonstrating the number and complexity of the moves you know, but that is not a turn on for any partner. Put that show off for some other time, probably when you are performing in a competition; flirt with your partner in a non-creepy way; feel the music and instead of using complicated turn patterns and cross-body leads right after you start the dance, try to feel each other's lead/following style and dance level.

I personally think that guys who just follow one routine with every partner, and that one routine happens to be a complicated one, are not confident of themselves; instead guys who smile, start the dance smooth and unhurried, feel the music and let their feeling lead them towards their moves are awesome dancers.

What I am trying to conclude here is that during a social dancing you don't need to pick your partner off the floor to make a good dancer unless you know them and have practiced the move before hand- what you need is confident smile, eye contact and caring about your partner. The latter applies to both girls and guys, so remember: pick up the fun attitude upfront and then walk over the dance floor.

"Dance like you will never dance again" and by this I don't mean be creepy! I mean ask different people to dance with you. If you are in a higher level, remember how you liked to dance with advanced dancers when you started learning, so ask beginners to dance with you; and if you are a beginner, don't be intimidated by the style of an advanced dancer, so don't hide away when s/he gets free, go ask him/her for a dance, and remember to tell him/her how much you know; as long as your advanced partner knows where you are, he/she can adjust the moves with you level. So don't be shy, "Dance like you will never dance again" (read The Art of Getting Rejected)

"If you are a lead, be a nice one" I always see guys dancing all over the crowded dance floor, trying to show all their moves and skills (going back to the first point), which ends in hitting other dancers, leading their partner to the middle of another couple's dance, etc.

Little accidents are inevitable on the dance floor and everyone tries to understand it to some point, but if it happens again and again people really start to get annoyed and think that you don't know anything about dancing and believe me or not, they'll start having little nicknames for you which spreads our through the whole community very fast!

So if you don't want to ruin your reputation and have yourself finger pointed, take care of your leading on the dance floor. If the dance floor is crowded or small, take small steps, try to stay in close hand hold positions and avoid flashy moves and dips unless you are really sure there is no one behind your partner and no one is going to change direction towards her.

Remember that women's dancing shoes are usually open toe with high heels; as the leader you are responsible for making sure that she doesn't move into a spot where she'll get stepped on or steps on someone else's feet.

Remember that having a slow and pleasure dance with no harm to anyone leaves a much better picture of you in your partner's mind as well as other people on the dance floor and that's what you really want as you progress dancing skills in classes and practice sessions.

Salsa Music Basics

Toronto Salsa Passion — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 20:26:00 +0000

For a long time I have been watching people while they are dancing in the clubs. There are people who have taken 5-6 levels of salsa classes; still, they don't seem to understand the music very well; when I talk to them, they say that they were not taught about the music and learned finding the beats in the music by themselves.

The truth is salsa is a hard music to discover on your own, because there are many instruments and voices on top of its base rhythm; and there are various base rhythms which are played on different beats. Dancing a while, we all start to feel the music and will be able to find the famous "one" through feeling and listening, but just like Salsa Dancing, Salsa Music is something you can totally learn about, and when you learn the music and its characteristics, it becomes much easier to find the beats while listening.

Learning to find the beats through gut feeling is the same thing as learning to dance in clubs; we all know that's not how it works.

That's why I've decided to write a series of articles about Salsa Music, its history and origin, instruments contributing in its formation, etc. I would like to clarify that my opinion is not a professional musicianâ€™s opinion and my only concern is to help beginner students learn and understand salsa music as they develop their dancing techniques.

Characteristics:

As you might know, Salsa Music is played in common time, which is four beats in every bar. The music is played in two bar phrases, thereby forming an eight-count. In New York style salsa, which is the dancing style we teach in our classes, Dancing Steps take place on 1,2,3 ~ 5,6,7 and counts 4 and 8 have a pause for weight transfer. If you imagine a ruler, you can visualize the beats as shown below.

1st Bar 2nd Bar

Origin:

There are different ideas about where the salsa music comes from. But according to Wikipedia, "Salsa's roots can be traced back to enslaved Africans that were brought to the Caribbean by the Spanish as slaves". Read more This goes back to 1930s; however, Salsa dancing was not officially born until 1960s and 70s in New York City. As a matter of fact, a Manhattan-based recording company introduced many of the first-generation salsa singers and musicians to the world. [Same ref.]

Instruments and Rhythm

This is the main criteria I want to dig into. In order to understand the music and learn to count with it, you need to understand its components. In order to hear each layer separately, go to this link. This is a very effective and useful simulator that you can use to understand salsa music components. Most salsa music songs have a base of clave or conga rhythm.

Clave: The word clave is Spanish for "key", in the sense of an answer key or a musical key signature. The word is usually pronounced [ËˆklaÎ²e] in the Spanish style, but many American musicians pronounce it to rhyme with save. Read more

Clave rhythm is the foundation of salsa; all salsa music and dance is governed by the clave rhythm. The most common clave rhythm in salsa is son clave, which is eight beats long and can be played either in 2-3 or 3-2 style. The one you can hear in Salsamerlizer is the 2-3 style playing on 2,3,5,6.5,8 beats. As you can see you can count it as 2 3 5 & 8 (pam pam pam pam pam). The 3-2 style goes: 1 & 4 6 7 (pam pam pam pam pam) Going back to our ruler, here is how each rhythm looks like:

Listen to some sample music and try to figure out the clave style in them. Rehearse this as much as you can with different songs. If you can understand the music, you can find the beats and can dance on rhythm, which is much more important than knowing a large number of moves! I want to emphasize again: good dancers aren't good because the know lots of moves; they are good because they know how to dance with music. I'll talk about other instruments next week.

Dancing gives you great opportunity to find the love of your dreams

Toronto Salsa Passion — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 00:29:00 +0000

Alon and Luda found each other @ Toronto Salsa Passion

These days “how we met” stories we hear from couples who’ve met in Salsa classes, socials, night clubs, etc. are countless. I was in Babaluu’s on Valentine’s Day where a guy proposed to his girlfriend and brought tears of happiness to everyone’s eyes! I think everyone would agree that dance classes are one of the best places to meet someone. If you are not too sure, read this writing;

Let me ask a question first: what do we do in our regular day to day activities that give us the opportunity to meet someone new for dating? As a rule of thumb, if you are looking for a date, “you must prospect”! This means you must go to places where you can meet new people, and if you are smart, and agree that you can’t find the right person at first sight, you will choose places where you can actually interact with people and get to know them more before asking them out. That’s exactly the opportunity a dance class or a dance social gives you.

In dance classes, you don’t need a partner and if you are not with a partner you will automatically follow the rotation rule; so everyone will meet everyone and has fun talking and laughing while practicing moves. In salsa practice sessions, you dance with different level dancers and can teach and learn from each other while getting to know new people and arrange next meetings in clubs or other sessions. All three places let you not only meet new people, but also talk to them, dance with them and get to know more about them. Let me stop right here and add a quote from Salsa Connection blogger Sam Gill; his February tip says: “Women, if you are looking for a relationship, dancing may give you great clues about a guy. How physically comfortable is he and how does this correspond with your own physical comfort levels? How interested is your dance partner in making a salsa connection with you? My guess is that if he doesn’t connect with you in ways you can experience on the dance floor, he’ll likely not be able to off the floor. If he blames you for his dance mistakes … you’ve learned something important about him. If he shows off his dance moves and pays no attention to you … you’ve learned something important. If he assumes you know nothing and proceeds to constantly instruct you … you’ve learned … You get the point. A social dance relationship reveals loads about a person and how they will approach other social and personal relationships. This is why I think dancing is actually a pretty great place to meet and get to know people.” Same things are true about women’s dancing attitude and men’s interpretation about it.

In addition to this, Salsa Dancing is a complete teamwork. There is a great line in the amazing movie “Dirty Dancing” where Johnny –the instructor- talks about each dance partner’s moving zone and dance frame and how each partner must learn to dance in his/her zone and avoid invading other party’s zone. We teach this in our classes and you’ll master it through time. This is a basic lesson of respecting each other. Good dancers are good not because they know 10,000 moves but because they’ve learned to respect other party’s frame zone and that will accompany them through their personal lives as well!

So you see? As I said, you’ll all agree that dance classes give you perfect opportunity to find your special someone through meeting new people, learning about their attitudes and personality in addition to their looks and then making a decision that is more likely to be the right one than your other dating decisions.

If you want to buy dancing shoes

Toronto Salsa Passion — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 04:42:00 +0000

Salsa Tip#2 from Tony

Some of you may feel that it is time to go for a new pair of dance shoes. I mean, this is totally something you feel!

If you’ve started feeling that even though you have the techniques, your turns are messed up because your feet literally swim in your shoes, or because you can’t rely on those strapless high heels, or because your shoe’s sole sticks to the floor, that’s the time for you to buy real dancing shoes.

There are two main categories of salsa appropriate dancing shoes: Casual and Formal.

Casual dance shoes: You want to wear these shoes for your classes, practices, and causal club nights. Formal dance shoes: these are the flashier, shinier shoes you wear at clubs. Many students use the same pair of shoes in the class as well. Previously you could only find formal shoes in open toe Latin models but now you can find them in various models even in boots.

Ladies/Men’s Ballroom Sneakers:

Ladies/Men’s Jazz Shoes:

Ladies/Men’s Standard Shoes:

Ladies/Men’s Latin Shoes:

If you line in GTA area, you may find the shoes you like at one of these places:

Addicted 2 Dance Shoes - 45 Brisbane Road, Unit #7, Toronto, ON, M3J 2K1 Tel: 416-663-6293 or cell: 416-508-8940, e-mail: biostyleinc@rogers.com

Malabar - 14 McCaul St (near Queen and University), Tel: 416-598-2581

Dance Plus - 22A Dorchester Ave, Tel : 416-251-5998

Toronto Dancewear Centre - 530 Wilson Ave, Tel: 416-630-2292

Helen’s Dancing Shoes – Helen Choi, 2619 Warden Avenue, Unit 5, Tel: 416-835-6903 – call for an appointment

Century Wide Shoes - 8 Glen Watford Dr. Unit#29, Scarborough, Tel: 416 -293-3303

Tips for beginners/new students

Toronto Salsa Passion — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 12:06:00 +0000

Tip#1 from Tony

What to wear to your dance classes

Wear something that you feel comfortable in. i.e. yoga pants/jeans, tank tops, t-shirts.

If you are coming right from work and can't bring your comfy cloths its ok too; just make sure you are dressed in light clothing; otherwise you are going to feel hot. Salsa is quite a workout! Some girls like to wear a skirt/dress for the class; it is especially common in our summer sessions.

When choosing your dress, keep in mind that you are going to turn and bend over, so choose something that you feel comfortable doing your moves in. Don't wear something that will prevent you from doing your move correctly and completely.

As for shoes, you do not necessarily need to invest on a dancing pair of shoes in your beginner levels. Basically any kind of shoe that has a slippery sole is acceptable. Do not wear rubber sole shoes because you'll not be able to move freely. Suede, plastic and leather soles will give you the freedom you need to lead and follow.

Ladies; stay away from certain types of shoes: Strapless Sandals/Slippers: Do not wear shoes that will not stay connected to your feet when you stand on your toes.

High heel strapless dress shoes: you can wear heels but I don't recommend shoes with heels higher than 2 inches for beginners, and again they should be strapped to keep your feet connected to your shoes at all times. You will dance on heels when you get into intermediate levels, but for a beginner class, its better to wear flats if you are not used to heels in your day to day activities.

And last but not least, be presentable and perfumed! Remember that you will continue dancing salsa like forever and your classmates will turn into your close friends. So come to your class as you would go to visit your friends!

I'll talk about different types of dance shoes and the places you can get them in my next posting. "

Toronto Salsa Passion

Famous Salsa Dancers

New York Style

Eddie Torres (July 3, 1950-)

Los Angeles Style

Johnny Vazquez (January 27, 1979; Guadelajara Mexico- )

Johnny is considered the greatest L.A. style dancer today, winning first place at many national and international competitions.

Afro-Latin

Frankie Martinez (born and raised in Queens, NY)

Frankie Martinez is one of the salsa world’s most well know names as a dancer, choreographer, teacher, and founder of the ABAKUA Afro-Latin Dance Company. Martinez was born in Forest Hills, New York and is of Puerto Rican descent.

Seaon Bristol, pronounced see-on and often referred to as Seaon Stylist, is a renowned salsa dancer, choreographer, and instructor living in Los Angeles, California. He is probably best known for being a pioneer in the role of being a male follower, a position traditionally reserved for women.

Seaon has been critized by purist salsa dancers as he plays with the gender role.

Leon Rose is a London born Caribbean salsa dancer, instructor, and choreographer who is regarded as one of, if not the best, salsa dancer in the United Kingdom.

Alex da Silva (March 271968; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil-)

Alex Da Silva is a dancer and choreographer, specializing in Salsa dancing. Da Silva is also known for being a recurring guest choreographer on the Fox TV show So You Think You Can Dance.

Salsa in the movies - Part 2

SALSA MOVIES (2001-present)

Director: Ron Lagomarsino

Trailer

N/ A

Director: Guy Ferland

Summary: An American girl (Garai) and her parents arrive in Cuba right before the Revolution breaks out. She meets a local boy (Luna) who instantly notices her dancing abilities and romances her. But as Castro’s forces are forcing Americans to leave the country, will she stay or will she go?

Director:Leon Ichaso

Director:Manoj Tyagi

Director: Marlene Rhein

Release Date: USA 2008

Director: Marianne Hettinger

Release Date: USA 2009

Summary: Marlene, a New York City dance teacher, is driven to therapy by the increasingly neurotic men she meets. A vacation in the German Alps turns out to be her biggest challenge yet…

Director:Antonio De La Cruz

Release Date: USA 2009

Coming soon…

Born to Salsa

Salsa in the Movies 1

SALSA MOVIES (1988- 2000)

Director: Boaz Davidson

Summary: Kenny Ortega, the man behind the moves of the hit “Dirty Dancing,” choreographs the sizzling Latin excitement in this red-hot story of a passionate young dancer (Menudo’s Robby Rosa) who sets his sights on becoming the “Kings of Salsa.”

Trailer

Director: Wim Wenders

Trailer

Director: David Kane

Summary: Centered around a salsa club, three men pursue three women across London. Fergus is trying to find his ex-girlfriend, the elderly charmer Frankie the beautiful Eleanor and the robber Eddie is trying to find one of his victims, cemetery worker Jocelyn.

Trailer

Director: Joyce Buñuel

Director: Joyce Buñuel

Say it with me Now - Salsa terminology

by Jana Jankovic

1. I turn, You turn: the male partner first turns himself and then the girl.

2. Cross body lead: the male partner takes a step to the side to let the female pass in front of him as you exchange positions.

3 . Cross body lead with a turn: the male partner pulls the woman to pass in front of him as in the cross body lead, but this time spins the girl at the end.

4. Hammer lock: a right turn for the girl but while still holding on to your partner’s hand with your left hand behind your waste.

5. Cat Walk: a cross body lead, but this time the woman going under the man’s arm so you end up in a hammer lock.

6. Comb: the man turns his female partner without letting go of either hand, so you end up facing each other with crossed hands. He then gently throws her hands into the air and she slides them along her hair and neck as if combing herself. To be contined....

My first time dancing salsa in a club

Who takes the lead

Who plays a more dominant role while dancing?

The man or the woman?

Salsa Travel Guide

Best Salsa Music

Here are 10 salsa songs from the last 5 decades

1960s

El Watusi by Ray Barretto

La Perfecta by Eddie Palmieri