Salsalicious!
I’m currently in salsa heaven…and this is great news! Because it’s a great source of inspiration for me personally as well as professionally. I recall the first time I was introduced to salsa music. It was Dirty Dancing, when Johnny Castles dances with his regular dance partner Penny Johnson. I still love that classic mambo performance. A few years later I got really into Gloria Estefan, when I saw the film Stakeout with Emilio Estevez and Richard Dreyfuss. Madeleine Stowe’s character does a memorable performance unwittingly stripping to “the Conga”.
But Latin music didn’t enjoy the same popularity as it does today, especially not in the backwaters of Sweden, so my only benchmark for learning those salsa moves was to swing my hips and do a haphazard mambo.
Some years ago I was completely taken with the whole salsa scene when a friend of mine who was staying with me following a bad breakup decided to take up lessons. This provided the perfect opportunity for me to join. I loved it. In fact so much that I took up more lessons and signed myself up to two different schools. Salsa is a very sensual and in some sense, sexual dance. Not in a stereotypical fashion, as most people tend to think. It’s more like a game…”catch me if you can”, flirting with all your assets but most importantly your eyes. The chemistry is not far from fireworks.
I stopped dancing for some time after I met Reinout, as all the everyday drama took too much time to dedicate myself to salsa. Later I picked it up again but being pregnant and dancing salsa didn’t feel like a cool combination. But now I long for it more than ever. So I am looking for a good salsa teacher to drill me after a year of absence from the dance floor. If anyone knows a great teacher, I would love to hear from you. Until then check out these three salsa favourites, Khaled’s Aisha, Joe Arroyo y la verdad – La rebelion and last but not least Salsa! the movie.
Enjoy!
Salsa y amor
- 5 Comments | inspiration, lifestyle
I see that you have left Hanky for new ground.
I´m comming to Holland on jan 27.
If you are up for it I would love to see you.
Johnny
reply to this commentYes, it was better going independent
Yes would love too. Don’t know how I will be around end of January as I’m due beginning of February. But if I haven’t dropped by then, that would be super. Let’s keep in touch until then.
reply to this commentIf this is close to you, Siktgatan 2 7tr, 16250, Vällingby, Sweden. Then the link below may help you find salsa lessons. I’ve seen them teach and perform.
http://www.dancelifestudio.com/
reply to this commentYour Message @salsato:
reply to this commentThanks for teh recommendation! But I am based in Haarlem, Netherlands. I’ve taken lessons here for quite some time, but I am now looking for a good private teacher to take me to the next level!
Your Message@fracas:
@fracas:
Let me know how you are and if you have the time.
Will arrive at schiphol 1635.
Have nothing planned that day. Will go to Alphen A/D rijn to spend the night.
Stay in touch.
reply to this commentJ