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]