Video Examples of On1 and On2 Dancing

As most of you already know there are different styles of salsa dancing. In the States the two most popular are On1 and On2 (also referred to as mambo). On1 is danced mainly on the west coast (Los Angeles Style) and On2 is dance mainly on the east coast (New York Style) and everyone in between can go either way. Most of us here in Indianapolis dance On1 if you did not know. To give you a quick and dirty description of the two dances, On1 dance is more flashy and showy while On2 is smoother and focuses more on the social aspect of the dance. While there are many exceptions to the rule, I just wanted to give a brief description of the two.

Here are two video clips comparing both On1 and On2 dancing (from a performance perceptive) to give you a feel of the two dances. Notice that on2 does not rely on tricks and lifts like On1, but more on styling. As I stated before these statements are not hard facts, but generalizations that have many expectations to the rule.

On1 example, Orville & Ana


On2 example, Eddie Torres & Nancy Ortiz

If you are interested in learning more about On1 and On2 dancing check out the Widkipedia definition of salsa dancing.

Music Video: Cachondea - Fruko y sus Tesos

While quality of this 'salsa music video' fell short in many areas such as actually salsa dancing, taste and artistic merit, somehow I was compelled to watch the entire video. Also this was the song that Chimere and myself used during our competition. If this does not get more men to checkout salsa dancing, then I do not know what will!

Cachondea - Fruko y sus Tesos

Update: I had the wrong salsa band listed. Thanks for the comments and phone calls correcting me. For some reason the video is listed as Sonora Carruseles. Honestly I should have caught this because I own music from both groups. This is what I get for blogging late at night after a glass of wine.

SalsaIndy Gets A New Look!

My Indianapolis salsa site has a new look! I would like to give credit to Kristy for the work she put in designing the new layout. Please navigate though the site and tell me what you think. You can either post a comment or just send me an email. I hope you all enjoy the new look and as always I will continue keeping everyone informed of what is going on in Indianapolis' salsa scene. I will also be hosting a website launch party earlier next year, I have not pick a date, but when I do it will be posted on SalsaIndy. Take care and keep dancing!

Saturday Night Salsa Melee!

Sometimes more is better, but when it comes to salsa nights in Indianapolis, more does not always mean better. Take two downtown nightclubs which are less than a 1/2 mile away from each other and host a Salsa night on the same night. This is a recipe for disaster! With winter upon us, the number of dancers coming out has dropped considerably. Wednesday night at the Red Room has been hit the hardest when it comes to dancer attendance.

The two clubs that I referring to are the Cozy hosted by DJ Taz and supported by SalsaIndy (hey, that’s me!) and the Vault hosted by the VIP Crew and IntoSalsa. For me as a dancer, this really sucks! Why? Simply because I would prefer to have all my favorite dancers at the same venue. More options of who we can dance with is better than having limited options. Both venues have a good dance floor, safe environment and good music selection. Because there is no hard deciding factor as to which venue is better, loyalty plays an important role. Followers of Taz go to the Cozy and followers of IntoSalsa go to the Vault. There is nothing wrong with loyalty being the deciding point, both Taz and IntoSalsa have worked very hard to develop such relationships in the community.

What happened to the good old days of IntoSalsa Night with Taz spinning everyone’s favorite salsa and international beats at a small Italian restaurant called Il Gargano? Back then going out to dance was about having fun, not having to be loyal or compelled to support someone. This and the drama that has been created have put a bitter taste in my month and have tainted my perception of salsa dancing in Indianapolis.

The solution is simple, someone should back down! We need to look past our self interests and do what is good for the Latin dance community. Competition is good, but the tactics that are being used have gotten out of hand and need to stop. What happened to unity that was the topic of Yang's (IntoSalsa) last article?

I will not post what I have heard and seen, because it is hard to separate fact from rumor. Feel free to post your thoughts on what has been going on and what should be done to bring peace back to our salsa community.

I wish for the good old days to be back again.

Update Cortisone Injections

Here is an update on the cortisone injections I was planning on getting for my knees. My doctor did not give me the option of getting the cortisone injections, but another treatment option with a product called Supartz.

Here is an some information I found about this product.

Hyalgan or Supartz are lubricating material originally used in the knee. They are used in other joints of the body today as they have shown promise in the knee joint. The primary goal is 5 injections given at weekly intervals for calming of the swelling and pain in the joint and added lubrication of the joint. The Foot and Ankle Institute doctors were and are among the first to use this treatment in the foot and ankle after promising results in the knee were noted. Refernce: Foot & Ankle Institute

My doctor was not able to do the injections during my office visit because they needed to see if my insurance will cover it. I was supposed to get a call back from my doctor last week on weather or not my insurance will cover it. It might be a good thing that I am force to wait because I am now having second thoughts.

I decided to give natural supplements another tried. I went to GNC and spent a small fortune on knee supplements. Even if my insurance covers the treatment, I might hold off on it for a few more weeks. There is no right or wrong answers when it comes to health and well being issues like this. In the end you have to do what you feel is right and hope for a good outcome.

Thanks to everyone who posted to my previous blog in regards to this and also to my friends over at Dance Forums who also provided some helpful advice and guidance.

4 Nights of Intense Dancing!

Two weeks ago, I told myself that I should take it easy for a couple of weeks to give my poor knees a rest. As always, I did the total opposite! This week was fanatic! I survived four (yes four) nights of intense, no holds barred dancing. What can I say, life is about simple obsessions and salsa is one of them.

Thursday Night @ the Jazz Kitchen
I will openly admit that I am not a big fan of the Jazz Kitchen. While the music selection is good, their floor gets way too crowded and serious salsa dancers tend to avoid this venue. But this night we managed to have a very good time. Sonja (my dancer partner) and I arrived at the Jazz Kitchen early. Cynthia was finishing up the free salsa lesson and the DJ started to play the music. When you get to JK early, there is more then enough room for you and your partner to give the spectators a good show. It only took an hour before the dancers began to flow in and crowd the dance floor. The floor was crowded at times, but it did not get overly crowed as it does during the summer months. For the first time, I was involved in salsa foursome! Two other Salseros and myself were dancing with Sonja during the same song. Overall a good night.

Friday Night @ Adobo Grill
This is where you will find me on most Friday nights. Either myself or Ryan teaches the free dance lesson before the start of the night. Salsa dancers love this venue with their hardwood floor and no reggaeton music in the rotation. We managed to pull off another salsa foursome, this time with Drea. I wonder which salsera will be next?

Saturday @ The Cozy
I was taking it easy at the Cozy because I had taught a private lesson an hour beforehand. It was a costume party, but I decided not to dress up. I did wear my 4 pocket Mexican shirt; if I'd had a Mexican hat, I could have pulled it off as a costume. Congratulations to Roberto in his dancing grammas costume for winning the costume contest!

Sunday @ Syndicate (Cincinnati)
Our friends at Midwestern Latino hosted a party at the Syndicate with Puerto Rican Power as the headliner band. Son del Caribe from Cincinnati was also there and gave an outstanding performance. I will not bore you with boring details about the night other then that the live music of both bands were fantastic. Here is a video clip of Diana (KamaSalsa Instructor) and myself doing some social dancing during that night. Not too bad for only dancing together one time before and on carpet.

Diana and Marques Salsa Dancing

Are cortisone injections the answer?

About a two years ago I injured both my knees during a racquetball game, which triggered my arthritis. With my active lifestyle and my family's history with arthritis, I knew that this fate was coming. I just wished it did not happen so soon and could have at least waited until my 30s.

About a year ago I decided to try the surgical route, which provided little to no pain relief for my knees. While the arthritis pain that I have after a long night of dancing is certain, it has not stopped me from doing what I love to do. My grandmother who has arthritis tried cortisone injections; they helped a lot with her pain, and hopefully my body will react the same. I am planning on attending the StuckOnSalsa Cruise at the end of November and I really want to attend this cruise without worrying about waking up with inflamed knees and having to ice them down day after day, which has almost become my daily routine.

I am scheduled to visit the doctor this Thursday, so wish me luck! If everything goes well, I should still be able to attend the Salsa De Los Muertos Masquerade party this Friday at Adobo Grill and teach the free salsa lesson.

While cortisone injections will not cure me of my arthritis, there is a good chance that it will stop the inflammation and pain for a few months.

I hope that they find a cure for arthritis in my lifetime; I miss the days where I could go running or inline skating for hours and not have a care in the world.

MySpace and Salsa Peer Pressure

Most of us are familiar with the free social networking website called MySpace. If you have not heard of MySpace you are most likely living in a cave. You either join MySpace because you are interested in expanding your social network, promotion (music, business, etc) or you have succumb to peer pressure.

I admit that I fell victim to 'salsa peer pressure' when my dance partner Chimere asked me to join MySpace. I resisted at first but in the end I gave in and created my page. At first you have not clue what to do with your page other then filling out your profile description, but after awhile you get used to the interface you and start posting pictures, video clips and custom layouts to match your personality.

Feel free to check out my profile. You may recognize some of my friends, some are from the salsa community and I have a few of the internationally known dancers (Josie Neglia and Eddie the Salsa Freak for example).

I would encourage everyone to check out this free service, it has kept me in contact with friends and help build stronger friendships. With my busy lifestyle, MySpace makes it easy and convenient to stay in touch and it keeps my cell phone bill from getting out of control.

You can find me on Myspace at http://www.myspace.com/indysalsero

L.A. Style Salsa Workshop Video Clip

A couple of weeks ago there was a L.A. Style Salsa Workshop at Latin Street Dance Studio in Chicago. I did not post any clips from the workshop because we were not allowed to video tape the instructors (Rodrigo Guzman & Vai Au-Hare) and the videp clips I took of myself 'attempting' the moves were not complimentary. My friend Dewayne came across a video clip on YouTube of another couple practicing one of the patterns that was taught. If you look in the background you will see myself walking by and Chad and Karina in the wall mirror. Stacie from Orquesta Bravo and India was also there taking the workshop. Over 1/4 of the class was from Indianapolis!

2006 Fiesta Indianapolis - Where's my taco?

Last Saturday people filled the grounds at Military Park for La Plaza's Fiesta Indianapolis. I attended Fiesta Indy last year and was very excited for this year's fiesta. While this year's fiesta was fun, it did not meet my expectations.

I understand how difficult it is to organize and manage large events such as Fiesta Indy and La Plaza did an excellent job. As I walked around, everything looked well organized and the live music started on time with little to no interruptions.

So how did this year's Fiesta fall short? Well for me, I went to the fiesta for 3 reasons: the authentic Mexican food, live salsa bands and the people. As for the food, there was only one vendor selling tacos. I waited in line for over an hour and a half. Typically, I would give up and find something else to eat, but I remembered how much I loved eating the tacos last year, so I decided to wait it out. Due to the long wait I missed the Rueda performance from OpenSourceSalsa, which I was planning on seeing. When I finally got my tacos, I was shocked! They Americanized my ‘authentic’ Mexican tacos! Authentic tacos are made with a soft shell, meat, pico de gallo and are served with lime. What they gave me was an undercooked soft shell, meat, and cheese with store-bought salsa on top. I could barely stomach it. I would have tossed the food, but after waiting for over an hour and a half, I could not. I will do the vendor a huge favor and not mention their name.

Now, what about the live music? I was only interested in the salsa bands and will not comment on the other bands. The first salsa band was Salsa & Company, an Indianapolis salsa band. Due to a private group class that I was teaching, I missed them, so I cannot give comment on their performance. I have attended venues where they have played in the past and have been very pleased with their work. The second band was Orquesta Iluziones located in Valparaiso, Indiana. I was given their demo CD in the past and they sounded good, but when I heard them live, they sounded much better. While their band’s performance was excellent, I did not like the vocals of their lead female singer. Her voice did not harmonize with the band. It would have also been nice if there was a big headliner salsa band like they had last year by bringing in Puerto Rican Power!

While 2006 Fiesta Indy fell short by my standards, it was still a great success. The attendance was strong throughout the day, everyone was having a good time (expect for us poor saps in the taco line) and there was lots of salsa dancing in the streets. If someone from La Plaza happens to come across this blog, please don't take offense, and take my comments as constructive criticism for next year's planning.

My First Salsa Competition!!!

A couple of weeks ago, IntoSalsa hosted their first annual salsa competition! Chimere and myself decided to complete. We were only given 3 weeks to put a routine together, but I felt that we did a good job during the finals. Below is the clip of our performance. You can also find our performance on YouTube. If you want to see all the performances (Chad and Karina a must see!!!) they are posted on IntoSalsa's video clips page. We placed third in the competition (hey it was some tough competition), but I am planning on creating a more refined routine for next time. I would like to encourage everyone to give dance competitions a try. It is not about winning, but about becoming a more confident and experience dancer. In my book everyone who completed in the prelims and the finals are all WINNERS!!! Next time there is a dance off in Indy I hope to see the original completing couples and a few new faces.

Salsa on So You Think You Can Dance

While I enjoy watching Fox’s So You Think You Can Dance. I have only seen a handful of shows. The main reason is because the show is aired on Wednesday night, the same night I go dancing at the Red Room. So I have the choice of either watching people dance or I can do it myself, which for me is a no brainier. Yesterday night I was cruising on YouTube for salsa clips and I came across a salsa performance from the show. Surprisingly I did catch this episode on TV, and was happy to see that someone posted it on YouTube. The routine was not mind blowing, but was very fun to watch (nice lift). As a bonus, the clip includes the judge’s take on the performance which was all thumbs up!

It is great to see mainstream media taking an interested in social and ballroom dancing (especially salsa). Hopefully this encourages more people to give social dancing a try.

Exclusive Seek Peak of SalsaIndy!

I would like to welcome everyone to take a sneak peak at my new website, SalsaIndy! While there are a handful of Indianapolis based salsa site (IndySalsa, IntoSalsa, OpenSouceSalsa, etc), I felt that we needed a place which could help link them all together. The idea of SalsaIndy is simple, if it has something to do with salsa dancing in Indianapolis post it! Our salsa community may be small, but our hearts are big. With unity we can bring Indianpolis' salsa scene to a higher level.

Indianapolis’ Source for Salsa Dancing

Let apologize in advance for the broken links and incomplete content, salsa may be my passion, but it is not my full time job. Expect the site to up to 100% within the next 2 weeks.

Also to clear up any confusion I am no longer associated IndySalsa.

Condo Warming Party Saturday, July 29

I will be having a Condo Warming Party on Saturday July 29th. I will supply drinks and bottle water. Feel free to bring your favorite drinks. There will be dancing (70% salsa, 30% everything else). I have over 270 sq ft of dance space (laminate hardwood) and common areas to socialize. My condo is a New York style loft with lots of character (exposed brick, duct work, steal beams, you name it!). Most of my friends already know where I live, but if you do not please send me an email (indysalsero@gmail.com) and I will give you my address.

The party will start around 9pm.

Category: [IndySalsero-events]

Adios IndySalsa

I have decided to leave IndySalsa. While the last 2 years was a blast, I have decided that it would be in my best interests to leave IndySalsa. So what will happen to IndySalsa? My former business partner Mathias will continue running the website and the dance studio. Does this mean that I am quitting salsa? No, my passion for dancing lives on and I will continue teaching private lessons to my current clients and for anyone else who is interested. I will no longer be maintaining IndySalsa.com, but I will continue updating my salsa blog with news, events and opinions and you can also find me on MySpace. Please send all emails to indysalsero@gmail.com, because my IndySalsa email will no longer be used.

Here are some upcoming events that I am still involved in.

---Salsa Mondays @ Urban Element Mon, June 19th---
This event has been cancelled.

---Road Trip! – CincyLatino Salsa Cruise Fri, June 23rd---
I will be driving to Ludlow, KY to check out a Riverboat salsa cruise! Tropicoso will be playing live that evening.

$20 Per Person
21 and up
Dress Code Enforced. Please No Hats, T-shirts

More info on CincyLatino Salsa Cruise page.

Take care and see you on the dance floor.

Marques

Category: [IndySalsero-myself]

Rejection on the dance floor

After reading Erin's article No But Thank You, I was inspired to publish my own personal thoughts on rejection on the dance floor here in Indianapolis.

When it comes to Latin dancing, men face the problem of rejection and women face the problem of not getting asked to dance. I see a lot of new dancers quit Indy’s salsa scene due to this. The ‘regulars’ have a tendency of dancing with those that they know or have practiced with in the dance studios. It is a comfort zone for them, they know that the next 4 to 5 minutes on the dance floor will be enjoyed. When a guy asks a lady to dance that he has never seen, it is like rolling the dice. Does she have any experience Latin dancing? Will our styles mix well on the dance floor? If the answer is no to either of those questions, expect to have an awkward experience on the dance floor.

I enjoy dancing with new faces in the clubs and have never minded taking a lady to the dance floor who has never danced to show her the basic steps and right turn. I will be honest that there are times where I just want to go out and dance and not play the role of instructor. If I am looking for a new face to dance with that does not need any instruction, I sit out for a few songs and check out the dancers. If she can do a right turn, cross body lead and an inside turn, I know that when I dance with her, it will be a positive experience.

Ladies may ask, what if I never get asked to dance and no one can see that I can? I would suggest putting in your time and socializing with the regulars. If you come out the clubs regularly (let’s say every other week), this will catch the attention of the salsa addicts and trigger curiosity to see if this new salsera can dance. Also, socializing with the regulars will create a more relaxed environment to be asked to dance. The issue I see is that a lady joins the Latin dance community, visits the clubs once a month and does not attempt to socialize with other dancers. They expect to be showered with attention from hordes of handsome salseros and dance the night away, but in reality this is typically not the case. After a couple of months of sitting on the sidelines watching everyone else dance, they get frustrated, blame the crowd as being too ‘clique-ish’ and quit. Latin clubs are not your typical hip-hop clubs, where guys are diving to the feet of every attractive woman wanting to dance/grind on. Guys can grind on anyone; salsa does not follow these rules. Clock in your hours in the clubs for a couple of months and be social (it is a social dance) before putting your dance shoes to rest.

For us guys, well, rejection is something we are always going to deal with. It is a fact of life. No matter what level dancer we are, how well we dress/smell, there will be times in the club where it feels that no one wants to dance with you. Been there, done that. From what salseras have told me, they are willing to dance with any guy who is not trying to sleep with them and knows what they are doing!

Guys, try selecting ladies that have a style similar to your own. If you have learned in a studio here in Indy, most likely you are dancing LA style salsa, where your basic steps are back and forth. If you see a lady dancing a cumbia step (back and to the side), expect a harder time leading her. Remember, the ladies are also watching you, if they have seen your style and know that it will not mix well, expect to be declined for a dance. I am not suggesting that we should never dance with dancers with other styles, but I would recommend getting confident with what you know before experimenting with other styles on the dance floor.

As for removing the stigma of being just a guy trying to pick up women, well, that is a hard one. Going to salsa clubs that are not labeled as meat markets will help. Establishing a reputation as a regular salsa dancer in the clubs of your choice will also benefit your image. Even with that said, we are men and will forever be labeled as ‘nightclub guys’ or players by women who do not know us. It is a numbers game, so suck it up and keep asking until someone accepts your offer.

Category: [IndySalsero-rants]

Needed: Dance Space

There are two things that the Indianapolis Salsa community is in need of. One is male salsa dancers, which I have covered in a previous article, and the other is dance space. All the venues in Indy suffer from insufficient dance space to some extent. Places like the Vault may have a full dance floor on a Saturday night and not be overwhelming crowded, but at places like the Jazz Kitchen you feel like a tightly packed sardine after 11:00 pm.

While is it great to see the popularity of salsa venues soar, it is becoming more and more difficult to find space to dance. For the more experienced dancers, we lose our ability to execute some of our stylish and more complex patterns on the floor. I am not talking about flipping someone in the air, but fun stuff that we like to do that requires the lead to move out of their slot to execute. When my portfolio of patterns is cut in half due to space, it makes it more difficult to express myself on the dance floor because I am forced to ask myself whether or not executing the pattern will send myself or my partner into a collision course with the couple next to us.

There are two solutions to this problem. Our quick answer is to increase the dance space provided. I feel that the owners of restaurants and clubs have already done an excellent job at providing dance space at their expense and risk. As our community grows, owners will invest in more space for the dancers. The other solution is more practical - for dancers to be more space conscious. I am no saint - when you are 6'3" it is not an easy task conserving space with arms and legs like mine, but I feel that I make great efforts in utilizing less space when needed. My issue is with the dancers who bluntly do not the take into consideration that there are other dancers and dance as if they are the only couple on the dance floor. I have broken down these dancers into three categories.

The Beginner Dancer
You and your dance partner are minding your own business and then you feel someone’s heel/shoe nail the back of your foot. You turn about and see a couple taking huge steps and not maintaining their slot on the dance floor. If this has happened to you, then you have encountered a beginner dancer. It is typically not their fault; sometimes their instructor neglects to mention it, or may not mention it enough for it to stick in their minds. I tell my students to take small steps and to maintain a slot when dancing. Salsa is a slot dance where the couple dances in an invisible rectangular box. A easy way to determine if you are staying in your slot is to position yourself parallel to the closest wall. After you have danced a song check to see if you are still parallel with the wall (not at an angle) and have not move too far from your original position (it is ok if you have traded position with your partner). Working on dancing within your slot takes time and effort, but after you have mastered it, you will find that you can utilize less room on the floor and your dancing will look more polished.

The Macho Dancer
You know who you are, we understand that you love the Jazz Kitchen and will do anything in your power to dance as if the floor is half empty, but you have pissed off at least a half of dozen dancers in the process. I really do not have any advice to these dancers other then to get off the floor if they do not know how to behave. Take it easy and there will be times when there is more room to dance.

The Drunken Dancer
Do us a favor and stay off the floor or take that mess to Rock Lobster or the Vogue. Most of us dancers have invested our time to learn how to dance and we feel cheated when a drunken couple hits the dance floor like a bowling ball and we are the bowling pins. There many non-salsa bars and clubs around Indy to get drunk and grind on your partner.

Till next time Indy, conserve your space and keep dancing.

Category: [IndySalsero-rants]

Tee and Jessica's Wedding

Let’s take a step back Indy and revisit last summer’s Wedding of the Year! Now what does a wedding have to do with Salsa? It has everything to do with Salsa if it’s the wedding of Tee and Jessica, two New York Latin dance instructors who were formerly based in Indianapolis.

I came across their wedding pictures on Larry Gindhart’s photography website. The caption mentions that Tee's pinstripe suit was custom designed by his son. His suit looks very sharp and when I find that special someone to marry, I would be honored to have a custom made suit from him. While I was not able to attend the wedding, looking at the pictures brought back memories from my experiences with them.

I first met Tee and Jessica at the Jazz Kitchen while they were teaching the free salsa lessons. After a couple weeks of attending their free lessons I decided to take lessons from them. I remember entering a small red brick studio with an interior that was in need of a new coat of paint and furniture. Like most newbie dancers, I was nervous, trying not to look 'that bad' learning the basic steps and turns of salsa. A few times I had to practice leading Jessica (also know as Frankie), which made me extremely nervous. She is a very beautiful woman and last thing a guy wants is to look like a fool. While my stay at their studio only lasted 2 months, due to the fact that my dance partner’s schedule changed, I still attended their free lessons at the Jazz Kitchen from time to time.

I was never close to Tee and Jessica, and I would not have been surprised if they didn't remember me if I had gone to their wedding. Even with that said, I would like to give my best wishes to them. Tee learned how to dance in Chicago and used his knowledge of Latin dance to help set the foundation of Salsa dancing in Indianapolis. Most of Indianapolis’ Latin dance instructors (including myself) have either learned from Tee or have been influenced by his style. I doubt that Indianapolis’ Salsa Scene would be what it is today if it weren’t for his efforts.

Category: [IndySalsero-news]

Is Havana Night Indy's Next Latin Hit?

It is very rare to become a hit success over night when it comes to running a Salsa night. I have seen a handfull of Latin/Salsa venues start up with great potential, only to see them close after a month or two of operation. Running a Salsa night is not an easy task and takes hard work, sacrifice, and having a few friends in the community to be successful.

IndySalsa’s Havana Night was first launched at Radio Radio in Fountain Square. Our opening night, in my opinion, was successful - our attendance was great and we were given compliments in regards to venue and music selection. While Radio Radio was an ideal venue, we decided to look for another venue due to the fact that we would not be able to reserve every Friday night. So we decided to move Havana Night to the Savoy. The Savoy, being an upscale and classy venue, was a perfect home for Havana, but our kickoff party which had a good turn out, paled in comparison to Radio Radio. There were various reasons - one being the kickoff of another Friday Salsa venue, winter weather and student dancers getting ready for finals (my dance partner was one of them).

You either sink or swim at this point, I thought to myself. We focused on promotions and other activities like expanding our music selection and bringing in live entertainment. In conjunction with AlexAlex Events, we brought in a live Salsa band from Cincinnati, which was received very well by the community. After a couple of months, Havana Night began to gain momentum and is becoming a popular night for both the salsa dancers and for the Hispanic community.

While Havana Night was not an overnight success, the venue is heading in the right direction. Our attendance has been growing at a rate faster than I had expected, and every night becomes more and more enjoyable and memorable. We have big plans for Havana’s future, look forward to seeing live bands from all around the Midwest, fun theme parties (check out our Blue Friday party), AlexAlex on the mic and Indy’s Salsa dancers heating up the dance floor every Friday night.

So where will you be dancing on Friday night?

Category: [IndySalsero-news]

The Salsa Experiment

Here is another high energy salsa video clip with sound effects for added effect! The clip is called the 'Salsa Experiment' and is performed by Ed and Stephanie, two exceptional dancers. I have never heard of the couple, but after watching the video, they certainly look like professional salsa dancers. There is also a downloadable video clip available for those who would like to steal a move or two from them.

Category: [IndySalsero-videos]

My 2006 New Year's Resolution Rant

Well, it is the start of a new year and it is time to make unrealistic resolutions, right? I am going to hop onto my soap box for a moment and say that self improvement is an ongoing and never-ending process. I was at the gym (I am typically there at least once a week) and it was packed! Was this to my surprise? Of course not! To get in shape is the #2 most popular New Year’s resolution. The other 9 are not at all that surprising either. All I am trying to get at is why use the excuse that it is January 1st to improve your life. Self improvement and reflection should be done on an ongoing basis so that we don’t let things like our health, love or finances go unchecked.

OK, let’s say you make a resolution to find a hobby (#9). You pick skiing for example, and you go out there on the slopes and discover that you do not like the cold. Typically that resolution will die out because there is no periodic check and you would have forgotten that you even made the resolution. Why not make a resolution and perform a quarterly review to insure that you are on the right path? If skiing does not work, your quarterly review will tell you to find another hobby. Then you find this interesting hobby called salsa dancing and fall in love happily ever after.

Now, why not have this quarterly review to check everything that is going on in your life. Hence you are now in a state of constant self improvement and when 2007 comes around you find that life is in order and you can kiss the New Year’s resolution nonsense goodbye.

So when people ask me what is my resolution for 2006, I tell them that I do not have one, but I have been working on balancing my work, IndySalsa and love since way before the start of the new year. So Indy, what do you think about the whole New Year’s resolution hype? Did you make one? Did you accomplish the one you set in 2005? Do you even remember your resolution from 2005? I am anxious to hear your answers.

If you cannot think of a good and worthwhile resolution, let modern technology generate one for you.

The 2006 New Year's Resolution Generator

In the year 2006 I resolve to: Teach my dog to fly. Get your resolution here

Category: [IndySalsero-rants]