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| Enjoying Salsa and Mambo Music and Dance in the Capital. |
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| Salsa and the City |
| Salsa and the City! A column by SalsaBabe Summer 2001 As some of you, I'm fairly new to salsa and the DC salsa scene. I was first introduced to salsa about three years ago. A couple of friends had convinced me to join them for a class at a Latin dance club in Adams Morgan. It sounded like fun, so I obliged. However, much to my dismay the class was over-packed, and the instructor's teaching method didn't suit me. I didn't realize this at the time, of course. Suffice it to say, the experience left me frustrated and feeling like I had just been robbed of 10 bucks. Fast forward a year later to 2000. I'm at a friend's festive post-Valentine's Day bash, with the salsa beat reverberating throughout the house. Both those who knew how to dance and those who didn't jumped to the floor with equal fervor and started swaying, or at least attempted. But it was a couple in the corner that my eyes became fixated upon. They seemed to glide together on the floor with quick, unexpected twists and turns. They moved so effortlessly. I watched silently. I was mesmerized. And I knew then that I had to learn how to dance salsa. As luck would have it, a charming Italian lad I met at the party that night later introduced me to Lucky U Bar, commonly known as Lucky's. Although we got there too late for class one evening, he was the first to properly show me the eight-count basic step. Unfortunately, a previously scheduled trip out of state would delay my full entry into the world of salsa. I lost touch with him and with salsa. It wasn't until many months later that I recommitted to learning salsa. Armed with a recently broken heart, I was determined more than ever to keep myself busy, and trying to conquer this dance seemed like the perfect way to achieve two goals in one. So after failing to recruit friends to join my mission, I showed up at Lucky's one Monday evening – solo. I was an eager learner. And the instructor, Ricardo Loaiza, did not disappoint. The man is full of charm. And skill. Plus, he's got the sexiest smile I can remember. But it's his enthusiasm and love for salsa and the culture that really draws in people. His instruction is simple, clear, practical and infused with humor. He often injects real-life situations as examples to help students grasp both, the technique and spirit, of a particular move. This time, I left the class full of vigor, hope and determination. I am slowly starting to distinguish the various sounds, styles and tempos. On Friday, February 23rd, a friend treated me to a live Latin music concert at the Washington Convention Center. The event, organized by the TM Group, featured Fruko y Sus Tesos, Raulin Rosendo, and the main attraction, Papo Lucca and La Sonora Ponceña, celebrating its 45th anniversary and its debut performance in Washington, DC. With "Pure Salsa" as the theme, seasoned salseros and beginners like me, reveled in the Afro-Caribbean dancing music. To mark my new status, I decided that I needed a little pick-me-up. Something to motivate me should I ever feel discouraged or my interest waning. So the following Sunday morning I perused the boutiques in Adams Morgan and found a 70s-style outfit, what I affectionately call my "J. Lo." J. Lo as in "Puff Daddy's" ex, as in the infamous Grammy dress, as in Versace. And even though my dress could not be mistaken for a Versace by any stretch of the imagination, it is scandalous enough to do the trick. Some would even say more so. But I don't care. I am after all a "strategic" exhibitionist and the low-cut, crotch-revealing, Pucci-inspired number certainly does the job. Hey, don't say you weren't warned. That same day I went to check out Ricardo's studio, the Latin Vibes Dancenter, which he runs with his lively partner Elba Garcia, in Silver Spring. Well, imagine my surprise when I turned around to find my ex-boyfriend in my class. After recovering from the shock, I resolved to continue my classes. Now, six weeks and counting, I'm reveling in my single status and my new salsa skills, and loving every moment of it. Life is beautiful. I hit the clubs at least four times a week, five if I'm particularly energized. If only it were a full-time gig. I'm meeting lots of interesting people along the way. Take my friend Lee, for example. Fabulous girl with flowing dark, long tresses and a wicked laugh to boot. She told me about SalsaDC.com, an online hub of information about events, lessons, places to dance and all things salsa for enthusiasts, and I became a contributor to the site. So, I hope you use SalsaDC.com to read about my salsa travails, and that you'll be around when I wear my "J. Lo" outfit. At local clubs and studios, together we can discover and journey into the wonderful dance that is salsa. If my Italian pal is reading this, please contact me. I'd like to show you some of the moves I've since learned. -- SalsaBabe You may contact SalsaBabe at SalsaAndTheCity@yahoo.com Check for this column in the new issue of a salsa magazine available at salsa hotspots this summer! Salsa and the City Copyright 2001 SalsaDC.com TM |