Reasons Behind The Urge To Salsa

Help the needy, the poor, the handicapped, the ailing, the broken-hearted, the homeless, the lost, and the environment. The list can go on. When you help the needy - in services, monetary value, or other forms (lending a shoulder to cry on or an understanding ear to listen to other people’s problems) - the returns are ten folds over. However, don’t expect anything in return. Just the contentment you experience in your heart is an incomparably satisfying feeling. Giving something wholeheartedly without expecting anything in return is divine. Imagine yourself as the person on the receiving end. You can’t wait to return the favor once you get the opportunity to do so. Another way to enjoy life is to listen to music. Play your good old favorite songs and sing along. Sing your best. Sing carelessly or out of tune - whatever it takes to make your heart contented and whatever makes you laugh. Just hum the tune if you don’t remember the words. Sing until you laugh heartily. The idea is to cheer up. Do this in private with your close friends or relatives though. You don’t want to annoy your neighbors. The sound of nature is also music. The sound of river flowing, the gust of wind on a tree branch, waves on the seashore, and birds chirping are as natural as nature can be, and the way music should be. The sound of nature can make you optimistic because it is a beautiful and serene sound. Let’s face reality. Life has its share of troubles, disasters, and misfortunes. Bad news exists and it disturbs the mind. Totally ignoring it may not always be the answer to approach life in a realistic manner. However, you can always find ways to avoid being affected by it to maintain the dominance of life’s beauty. the power of moving the hips to the gyrating rhythms of salsa music has been an effervescent treat for me. The issue holding me back from more venues are purely logistical. I know with time that I will be out there among the beautiful people once again tearing the dance floor into shreds.

Bodies Built for Dancing

Image by Michael_P via Flickr

 

We've watched the rise and fall of celebrities learning to dance, often-- for the first time. As it turns out, dancing is not just for the stars.

Dik and Lynda LaPine of Superior, is spinning into the world of dance under the watchful eye of their instructor, Nik Zhelev. He teaches local hopefuls the fun-- and the art-- of moving to the music.

"There's something special about twirling a lady around and dipping. It's about just dancing and feeling the song," Zhelev says. "once you get into dancing, you can never really stop."

And that's exactly the case for the LaPines. "Both of us were a little bit scared in trying it out," Lynda says of her first experience with lessons. But the once reluctant duo of 29 years, has taken the plunge feet first into the trend of 'social dancing.' It's a throwback to society's more traditional roles-- with the man taking the lead, and the woman following.

Lynda sees it as a chance to replenish her soul-- and her relationship.

"I was one of those mom's where i was always focused on my kids and not myself," Lynda says. "But, I thought, 'oh, this would be something that would be good to build on our marriage.'"

"You become lovers again, and that's what's the magic behind all this," Dik adds.

"Once a week Dik, a mailman and Lynda, a church secretary-- set aside their daily tasks, and just dance.

"Forget about everything else, even if you're just doing the basics," Zhelev tells the couple during a lesson at Over the Top Dance Studio. "Just dance for a while."

"When you come to dance class, you cease to be your roles as mom and dad, and husband and wife," Dik says.

The two have already finished one 8-week session of the class, and are working on their second. It's called Latin Style Ballroom, where they learn the classics, such as: the Rhumba, the Tango, the Salsa, and the Cha-Cha.

It's a scene played out on other dance floors, as well. Duluth's Score Bar & Grill offers free Salsa lessons every Tuesday night between 7 and 8. For the mostly twenty-somethings, the music's a little louder and the lighting a bit more subdued. But the attraction is the same.

Instructors Byron Johnson and Juliana Bertelsen mastered the steps years ago. They say, for beginners, the biggest barrier is just getting out and giving yourself permission to try.

"It's that initial step to getting out there and doing it-- that's the hardest part," Johnson says.

"It can be really intimidating," Bertelsen agrees. "But after a while you realize, it is possible and you can learn another step and another step.

Nate Gange knows first hand about trying it and improving. At it for just one month, his ever-blossoming skill has left him optimistic. Not only will he look good on the floor, he says, but on the dating scene-- knowing how to dance is a huge bonus.

"A guy that knows how to dance, come on," Gange says. "It's like, I know how!"

So, as Nate practices his salsa steps, he also waits. Someday, he'll find his life's true dance partner, just as Dik and Lynda found their's almost

Trying Salsa As A Fitness Regimen

THE unfamiliar sound of sensuous music fills our small living room, where my partner is clutching the hip of a voluptuous woman in tight glittery black trousers and a plunging red sweater. He is sweating. She is smiling, but keeping a watchful eye on his feet. After all, it's not every day a girl gets to dance with a 6ft 4 Aussie bloke put together like a series of uncontrol-lable paperclips, whose notorious clumsiness resulted in him being banished to a corner of the room to sit still in a chair during the birth of our child. This is the man who wouldn't even dance at our wedding. Yet here he is, concentrating like his life depended on it, as he shuffles -- slinks, for God's sake -- into a sexy slow-step samba. Welcome to the world of salsa. It's a dance exercise trend that is sweeping the country and combines fitness, fun and even socialising. Most dancers are between 25-35 and single, but plenty of couples and older people are into it too. "A few couples meet at our classes -- one couple are getting married and having the reception in a tapas bar, with salsa music of course," says Hilary, our instructor. Hilary fell in love with salsa during a holiday to Italy 10 years ago, and became a qualified dance teacher. She now runs classes in Dublin five nights a week, with numbers ranging from 20, at her Salsa Fit sessions, to 100 at the traditional Thursday night gig held at the Garda Club. Although the starting level is slow, when you get skilled and confident enough to go to a club, you're likely to be dancing for up to four hours. "Now that's a good workout," says Hilary, "and fun too." She's designed a special cardio-salsa class for those signing up to improve their fitness. The format is more like an aerobics session -- we stand in line, with no partner required. But it still has the sensual body movements, great music and stimulating steps of salsa, and it's a good cardiovascular workout. And you don't need to have great Latin rhythm to take part. "The most common opening sentence I hear is: 'I've got two left feet'," says Hilary (35). But before I can lure my other half into a public class, he insists on a private lesson. Hilary instructs him to loosen his hands a little on my waist. They're white at the knuckles where we're linked in the centre between our feet, with thumbs raised. Our five-year-old hoots with laughter as Hilary instructs us in a "one, two, three, pause, five, six, seven, pause" mambo shuffle forward and back. "Do you want to join in?" she asks him. "Only if I can dance with you," he simpers. Smart kid. As for the adult male, he's starting to look like he's enjoying himself. He perked up considerably after being told he gets to lead: "This is good domestic role reversal," he mutters feelingly. By the end of the hour, we realise the dancing looks and feels better with smaller movements, instead of our start-out gambit of exaggerated clomping. To my astonishment, we are now going to group classes to try it out in public, where men often outnumber the women. "I wonder why that is," I ask my bloke. "It's got a lot going for it," he says. "Good music, simple steps, and the chance to call the shots with your wife -- and she can't answer back." We'll see about that.

Atlanta will Soon Love It's Salsa Dancing

Getting into dancing is ten times more fun with Latin Salsa dance classes Atlanta. More and more people are taking up ballroom dance lessons Atlanta because of so many reasons that will truly entice you into joining as well. Latin Salsa dance classes Atlanta come with very infectious music! The beat in Latin Salsa dance classes Atlanta is just too catchy that it really makes you want to dance. Even the shy ones find themselves tapping their feet to the music of Latin Salsa dance classes Atlanta – and after a minute or two, they are gamely on their feet trying out the moves themselves! Second, Latin Salsa dance classes Atlanta is very personal thing. It makes a lot of people feel good about themselves and serves as a motivation to get through the tasks of the day and find themselves back in the studio in the afternoon. Basically, ballroom dance lessons Atlanta is a commitment – and those who stick to it find themselves feeling better about themselves. Third, the many health benefits of ballroom dancing lessons Atlanta are just too good, Many researchers show that this type of dancing can reduce levels of stress and increase one’s energy. Ballroom dancing lessons Atlanta can also improve your overall muscle tone and body coordination. As you can see, dancing is a fun and unique way to burn those calories without getting bored! Fourth, ballroom dancing lessons Atlanta can be a good way to meet new people. Even if all of you come from highly different walks of life, your love for the music and the movement is what brings you together. In fact, one can probably say that dance is the language of peace – and there is definitely a lot of evidence of this in your studio. Fifth, ballroom dancing lessons Atlanta are a good reason to get creative and dress up a little bit. You wouldn’t want to attend your sessions dressed in baggy jeans, right? Because this is culture, you cannot help but dress up the part – so you can truly feel it and feel that you are part of the entire thing. Let us face it – we can be competitive even if it is already a friendly match. In ballroom dancing, competition just ups the excitement value of the dance so you are witnessing better moves and techniques. Ballroom forces one to be a bit competitive to show other people that you have as much right to be on the floor as them – thanks to your wicked moves and dips. At the end of the day, ballroom dancing is a really great thing to get hooked on. You have a lot of fun and in the process of dancing you learn that culture can be experienced in a different ways using your body as the vehicle for interpretation. Who knows – you could be dancing your way to success and inspiring other people in the same way that you were inspired to dance!

Cuban Salsa In A Step By Step Process

Dance has been an important part of rituals, celebrations and entertainment since before the birth of human civilization. In the beginning, before we had written language to record things, the purpose of dance was often to tell stories and to pass them down to future generations. The story of dancing in Cuba In Cuba, as in ancient times, dance tells its own story. The passion and energy of Cuban dance reveals the strength and conviction of the Cuban people, determined to enjoy life despite ‘la lucha’ (the struggle) of living in a strictly regulated country where the average monthly wage comes in at around 400 pesos - less than £10. The richness of Cuban music and dancing also tells the story of Cuba’s melting pot of cultures. From the high-stepping flamenco brought by the Spanish settlers in the 15th century to the frenzied tribal dances of the West African slaves, dancing is in the blood of the Cuban people. From the teenage girl in denim shorts to the cigar-seller on the street corner, Cubans are given to break into spontaneous dance steps. Furthermore, the people dancing on the streets of Havana are likely to be just as good as the professionals, because in Cuba dancing is simply a way of life. The variety of Cuban dances Cuba boasts a huge range of dances including classical ballet, contemporary, flamenco and folk dancing. But it is the partnered routines that appeared in Havana dancehalls between the 1920s and the 1950s - Salsa, rumba, mambo and cha-cha-cha - that can be seen in every Cuban bar, club and street. Of these, Salsa is the most popular dance internationally. Since the name ‘Salsa’ (it’s Spanish for ’sauce’) was coined, Salsa dancing has exploded in popularity in Latin America and across the world. Salsa dancing classes are now hugely popular but to really get into the swing of it a Salsa holiday in Cuba itself is a must. Tips for Cuban Salsa dancing If you do take yourself on a Cuban holiday, you’ll have the unique experience of watching Cubans Salsa dancing. It sometimes appears that by some genetic aberration they have been born with super flexible joints, defying physics to carry out all the complex manoeuvres they have integrated into the dancing. Their remarkable twisting body movements and natural sense of rhythm will dazzle you. If you have the right technique, Cuban Salsa is easier to learn than many other forms of dance. The basic footwork is a fairly simple walking motion, pausing every fourth beat, and there are some six basic steps you can follow to make sure you’re on the right tracks. 1 Relax To dance Cuban Salsa well it is important not to rush, but to relax into the steps. Movements should be precise and deliberate in addition to being flowing and smooth. 2 Walk with purpose Salsa dancing involves a continual circular motion. Couples walk around each other with an imaginary axis between them. This makes turns look smooth and effortless. Walking gives time to untangle your arms after each turn. 3 Have confidence in your lead The leader (usually the man) should have constant tension in his arms, while his hands guide his Salsa dancing partner around the floor. There is no need to clamp onto each other’s hands, only to use the right amount of tension to provide a leading signal. 4 Be flexible when following In order to follow well, ladies should try to match the tension of their partner. The exception to this is when arms need to be relaxed and flexible to complete arm-twisting Salsa moves without injury! 5 Keep balanced when you spin The key to all the spectacular spins in Salsa is not to lose your balance. One way to do it is by spotting while you spin - focusing on one spot at each turn - an age-old dance technique. 6 Use your body In Salsa dancing, ladies should make use of their body and be sensual, playful and creative. This can involve some creative arm movements, going with what feels right and basically showing off a bit. Enjoy!

Trop's Philly block Is Saying Alot For Everyone With Salsa In Mind

THE TROPICANA Casino & Resort in Atlantic City, in bankruptcy and looking for a buyer, has been in the news recently more for its financial woes than big casino payouts or top-flight entertainment. However, that didn't stop crowds from attending the Philly Block Party during a blustery March weekend. The hotel's popular Quarter features 60 stores, entertainment venues, the bluemercury spa and restaurants as diverse as the upscale Palm, P.F. Chang's China Bistro and Corky's Ribs & BBQ. When the Quarter opened in 2004, it was heralded as a welcome addition as Atlantic City casinos sought to lure younger visitors, non-gamblers and others seeking excitement beyond the casino floor. Restaurants can open and shut quicker than a cooler of cold drinks on a hot day. But the restaurants here seem to have done well, brimming with customers undeterred by (or perhaps drawn to!) the $10 vodka shots from the ice bar at Red Square restaurant, or the premium-brand mojitos at Cuba Libre Restaurant. The Quarter looks and functions in the true spirit of a Latin piazza. Grandparents watch children play near the fountain. Palm trees soar two stories up toward a ceiling painted to look like a tropical daytime sky 24/7. During our recent visit, young, energetic travelers carrying their own coolers, couples eager for a weekend alone, and seniors raring to play the slot machines all lined up at the check-in desk of the Havana Tower, Tropicana's newest hotel addition, located in the heart of the Quarter. There are three additional hotel towers that make up the Trop. The North and South Towers sit atop the casino floor and recently were refurbished with gorgeous linens. The West Tower is part of the Tropicana complex but not connected directly to the casino. No matter which room you choose, an ocean view room won't cost you extra since they are provided on request, availability permitting. My husband, Weller, and I hadn't been to Atlantic City in quite a while. In fact, we'd never spent the night there. We had arrived early, beating check-in crowds that at one point backed up in a line that snaked around the hallway. Our guest room was rather simple, not at all what was expected, and the flowered bedspread had us wishing we had perhaps stayed in one of the towers with the luxurious new bedding. But the room had an unexpected southern view that displayed Atlantic City from a different perspective. Turning off the lights and leaving the draperies open, one could fall asleep in the moonlit, neon glow. Waking to a morning view of the ocean, I thought, "Who needs the nightlife of Manhattan to have a good time?" Marylanders pride themselves on their crab cake recipes. But I defy anyone to find a more delicious crab cake than the sandwiches at Cuba Libre. However, we made two mistakes. First, we ate waaaay too much at Cuba Libre, considering we were dining at Carmine's that evening. Second, by eating too much at Carmine's as well, we went upstairs to sleep rather than hit the dance floor at Cuba Libre for a late night of salsa dancing. With its heaping, family-sized portions, Carmine's solidly reinforced Italians' legendary love of food. Smart guests know to avoid eating at least six hours before their dinner reservation there - and to bring friends and family who are not bashful about eating like every day is Thanksgiving dinner. First, bread arrived, fresh and warm, with little dishes of herb-seasoned olive oil for dipping. Pace yourself - there's a lot more to come! Salad came - a bowl the size you would hurriedly prepare after a workday to feed the entire family. Next was a beautifully presented antipasto platter of Italian meats, cheeses, olives, pickles and vinegar peppers, followed by heaping bowls of country-style rigatoni, beans, sausage and broccoli. Then the servers arrived with platters of honey-brown, oven-roasted chicken and sizzling sausages and porterhouse steaks - the latter plate so heavily laden the server needed both hands to place it on our table. It was the Lenten season and I was abstaining from meat, so it required serious willpower to keep from sampling even a tiny piece, especially while listening to the appreciative murmurs of other diners. Finally, dessert arrived. There's just one way to describe a foot-long platter of ice cream topped with hot fudge, caramelized fruit and whipped cream sitting on a chocolate torte. Sinful. Carmine's, however, has labeled this signature dessert "The Titanic." At the end of our family-style meal, the waiter wrapped doggie bags for our party of about 10. Whew! Bless the woman who cooks like this on Sundays. *

Students Get Involved In Salsa Dancing Contest

About 150 youngsters from Indio, La Quinta and Palm Desert will take to the floor in the Desert Sands Unified School District's first ballroom-dancing competition later this month. Advertisement On May 16, students will tango, fox-trot, salsa, East Coast swing, or cha-cha their ways through the competition, said Bob Horn, who is co-organizing the event. Each dance will have its own competition with participants engaging in two dance-offs. Judges will select three couples to remain on the floor to compete for first-, second- and third-place medallions, Horn said. All competitors will receive a participation ribbon. The schools with the entrants who win first place in the competitions will also receive a trophy that will be displayed for a year, Horn said. Horn and his wife, Nancy, who are professional dancers, held free dance lessons for after-school-program teachers at schools in the district. Those teachers then taught children in their programs.

Quick And Dirty Guide From a Salsa Beginner

After decompressing from a busy week, I was up for something spontaneous. Something to feel immersed, alive and in a different city. Just so happened my friend Mel called out-of-the-blue to tell me I had some lookalike on the tele. I could hear her husband Rod laughing in the background as I searched for “Jonas Brothers” on the Disney Channel. I did find the actress. And it was creepy. As we were talking, it dawned on me that I was speaking to two of the best dancers I know. They are the only two among my circles of friends who have actually taken lessons (swing, salsa, etc.) Within 15 minutes of the conversation, we talked each other into a convoluted plan that would take us to Chicago's Nacional 27: salsa dancing. We walked in, got a table by the bar and ordered one of my personal favorites, caipirinhas. The booming music, chatter and element made me feel I was somewhere in Latin America – Sao Paolo? Mexico City? Bogota perhaps? I perused the menu and noticed the amazing dishes as I walked by to check out the dancefloor. Dishes that included smoked chicken empanadas, shrimp adobado with pineapple-vanilla salsa, boniato and plantain croquetas, barbecued lamb tacos, and variations of bamboo skewers, ceviches and paellas. Oh. My. Word. After an amusing, yet in-depth chat with James the Navy pilot-turned-physician at the bar, we picked up a few more cocktails and headed to the “club.” My goal was to hold my own. The dancefloor was already packed. I sat and watched Mel and Rod show me their dance prowess. It brought a smile to my face in reminiscing of our days at UW-Madison when people would clear the floor to watch Rod dance. And here we are almost 20 years and how many kids later, starting our evening at 11pm just to dance Latin-American style. They told me of the basic dances, salsa, cha cha, merenge and mambo. Though subtle, each had a definite style of its own. I’m thinking the difference is in the hips. Those who have the coordination can sell it; those who don’t …not so much. The simultaneous smooth stepping and walking with sultry hips and shoulders to an upbeat tempo -- that takes focus. It was exhilarating for me to feel the music press against my body while simply people watching…from neophytes and laughter to polished serious dancers. Then Rod turned to me and took me out on the floor. Oy. Growing up in the disco era with four sisters who lived for dancing pretty much equated me with self-proclaimed coordination. Any confidence in that thought quickly diminished. Rod taught me his and Mel’s favorite: bachata. It involves moving to the side and ending with a hip thrust on the fourth beat. For some reason, I just couldn’t get it. What was my problem? I looked more like a Ms. Jazz Hands version of John Travolta’s 10th “Saturday Night Fever” sequel, “Stayin Alive”. My sisters would hang their heads. Mindless and freeform for him; focus and confusion for me. How embarrassing when we are surrounded by pros. The neat thing was everyone was in their own zone. After Rod made a few suggestions, I got it! Then he smoothly led with turns and spinning me behind his back, all the while, keeping the same counting and side-stepping with such finesse. Mel made a good observation. At a place like this, if someone comes up and asks you to dance, he genuinely just wants to dance. No expectations or motive necessarily. Just a polite “thank you” afterwards and heads on his merry way. With a ginger-passion sangria, strangers dancing with strangers surrounding us, it felt like I was on holiday. Nacional 27 offers salsa lessons every first and third Tuesday of the month. Guess I was a week off, though I notice it is holding its first annual Cinco de Mayo fiesta. A 2-fer.

The Ultimate Cinco De Mayo Cheat Sheet

Our list of Cinco de Mayo parties is full of $3 Corona bottles and DJs spinning salsa, so to help you figure out which of today's events is right for you, we've compiled this list of tips. Best for Free Drinks The annual blowout fiesta hosted by LatinVIP.com and a number of Hispanic professional and student groups always does something special for early arrivals. This year, the party's at the Park at 14th, and it features free beer and tequila from 5 to 6 and a free buffet from 5 to 7. In Georgetown, the Cinco de Mayo party at Mate opens with free Dos Equis beer from 8 to 9. Best for Free Food In addition to the party at the Park at 14th, Town Tavern has a free taco bar from 4 p.m. on, and Mister Days will have a taco bar to go along with the free salsa lessons and discounted Coronas and margaritas. While it's not free, it's still a great deal: for $10, McFadden's is offering an all-you-can-eat taco bar and two drinks of your choice after 8 p.m. Best for Live Music A number of places are promising live mariachi music, from a street festival in Silver Spring to a late-night bash at Lima. But for authentic mariachis, you probably won't do better than the D.C. Mariachis, a group of native Mexicans who perform in and around Mount Pleasant. They're making a special fiesta out of a regular Tuesday night gig at Haydee's; the music begins at 9. If you'd rather spend happy hour listening to a live salsa band, head for Cafe Citron, where Rudy y Su Locura performs from 6 to 9. You'll also find half-price food and drink specials. Best for People Who Want to Listen to Something Other Than Salsa DJ 2-Tone Jones and DJ RBI have been rocking the artist-versus-artist hip-hop night formula at Almaz for a hot minute, but at tonight's special Latin Quarters party, they're spinning hip-hop from artists like Fat Joe, Big Pun, Cypress Hill and the Beatnuts. Beer and tequila specials should help get the dance floor moving. Down U Street, DJs Doc Delay and D-Mac are planning a night full of Latin funk and soul, hip-hop, disco and other booty-shaking beats at the Velvet Lounge. Best for Random Weirdness Town Tavern will have a live donkey on its patio today as part of Cinco de Mayo Mayhem. Yes, you read that correctly. A live donkey. I'm guessing el burro will be more of an attraction than the free taco bar or the midnight pinata-smashing contest, but you never know. Get your picture taken with the donkey, post the hopefully-not-too-embarrassing photo to Town Tavern's Facebook page, and you could win a free happy hour for yourself and 25 friends. Best for Dressing Up Cafe Citron is offering a pair of costume contests, which begin at 8 p.m. at midnight. (Advice from the organizers: "Be original! Be Cool! Women Be Sexy!") Winners take home $100 cash. Everyone (in a costume) is a winner at Rosa Mexicano, where the first 200 people to show up in Mexican wrestling masks, sombreros or other costumes after 5 p.m. get a free shot of tequila in a souvenir glass and are eligible for prizes and giveaways all night. McFadden's is looking for the most decorative sombreros in its annual Best Sombrero contest. Winners get bar tabs and other prizes. (If you just want a sombrero of your very own, the parties at Mackey's, Town Tavern and Kitchen are all giving them away while supplies last.) Best for Networking (since this is still D.C.) Make sure you've got plenty of business cards when you arrive at the Park at 14th: the Hispanic Bar Association, the Hispanic Lobbyists Association and the National Society of Hispanic MBAs are among the groups hosting the annual Cinco de Mayo happy hour. Best for Helping Others Pinatas, food, music, and beer and tequila specials help to raise money for the Junior League of Washington's literacy programs at Kitchen in Glover Park. (A $5 donation is suggested at the door.) Meanwhile, at Chi-Cha Lounge, a happy hour with drink specials, dancing and a silent auction benefits Hope House, a charity that helps children whose parents are in jail. (A $15 donation is requested.)