Monday's Musings and Music!

So this is my new idea to make me more responsible and updating more often.  Random things that pop in my head or experiences will pop up, along with a new artist or song that is making my feet burn up the floor.

So my latest grievance I guess you can say is dance floor etiquette.  I know I've talked about it before, but recently Ive noticed some HUGE issues that have made my nights out extremely uncomfortable and almost undanceable.

First off....no one seems to be learning how to dance in a slot. AT ALL.  The only people that seem to be dancing in a slot are the more experienced or "professionals" if you will.  How are you supposed to protect your girl or get her to be able to follow if you don't stay in a fixed slot?? I understand having to adjust, but I see people starting on one part of the floor and then I turn around they are in my face and I get stepped on. I'm still in my "slot" that my partner have staked out and now I'm being bumped around.  It's almost like a foreign concept to many of the newer dancers I see, staying in the slot.  I think this also helps the follow know exactly what you want her to do or go.

Next, tricks on the social floor.  Big no no, especially if its a crowded floor. I had both of a girl's feet slam into me from behind, because the guy thought it was okay to throw her between his legs. This same guy does semi lifts, neck drops and also does not dance in a slot.  Just because you can do something doesn't always mean you should do something.  I was always taught that  tricks were not designed for the social floor at all, more for choreography. I mean you cannot really expect those types of moves to be "followable". That poor girl was flung so hard, she slid into me and hit me full force.  Good thing she was wearing ballet flats and not heels.  After that occurrence, I continued the song, until he tried a neck drop and scraped the back of my calf and ankle.  I had to stop dancing for fear of injury, and no apology given.

What in the world is going on? I mean seriously?  Even at socials I am finding it harder to find a safe slot that I can enjoy the song without a guy throwing some girl into me. With how serious I take my dancing, not to mention my job, I cannot afford an injury that sidelines me. I remember amazing advice that Griselle Ponce gave a group of us in Tampa a couple of years ago about etiquette and how to be careful when stepping to not throw your weight into your heels to prevent stepping on someone, its good advice, as well as good technique.

I hope that more people realize how uncourteous they are being and start trying to be aware of other dancers around them.  I want to enjoy my nights out, and not end up leaving bruised and frustrated.


Now onto the next part. Music.  I am always in search of new or new to me music that really speaks to me.  One of my all time favorite musicians, is Willie Bobo.  I had never heard of him before the Orlando Salsa Congress in 2009.  I took an awesome cha cha shine class with Shaka Brown and he always lets us know the artist of the song.  He introduced me to the song "Juicy". I then looked it up to have it, and found a plethora of other good songs.  He's most famous for "Fried Neckbones and some Home Fries", but one of my favorites is "Trinidad"  If you like Latin Jazz, you need to check his stuff out.  It has some awesome grooves and I cannot sit still when his music starts playing.  Cha cha aficionados definitely need him in their rotation.

That's it for this Monday. Next week I'll give you all a breakdown of what's going on in the Orlando dance scene.

Ciao for now,
White-a-Rican

Sad Day in Orlando Dance Scene

Today the sad word came that Dance Orlando, the premier place for ballroom and salsa socials are closing their doors.  The landlord has decided to sell the property to a neighboring mechanic's shop.  With it's large floating wood dance floor, vaulted roof and professional sound and lighting - it was perfect for extremely large socials. Some would be over 1,000 attendees for the Salsa Heat Socials. 

I have a lot of good memories in that warehouse.  I went to my first social there, took my first bachata class with Island Touch. Performed there 3 times, and attended almost monthly for 2 years.  

It truly saddens me to see this place go along with one of the bigger socials in town.  What's the future for Salsa Heat socials now?  As their E. Colonial location is way too small and Kissimmee too far - things seem up in the air for now. I wonder what is happening to that fabulous real wood floor?  Most studios have been opting for laminate flooring - which is sufficient at times, it just does not compare to real wood.  I hope its not just torn out and discarded.

Do you have any favorite memories of this Orlando institution?  Feel free to share below..

Ciao for Now
White-a-Rican

Updates!

Hola a Todos!

Things have been going well, and I'm dancing more and more, with less pain. Hooray! Jorge is stoked. We just got back from the Elegant Rumba Masquerade Ball in Ft. Myers, FL. If you ever get the chance to go to an ER social - GO! The passion that these dancers have is inspiring! I will be making more trips soon.

Jorge and I are continuing to dance On2. We are loving it and it's becoming comfortable, and I prefer it over On1 at times. I still get confused a bit from time to time, but I danced with people I've never seen this weekend, On1 and On2 - the switching sometimes is difficult, I find myself counting. We moved up a level now, and I would say I am an intermediate On2 dancer. Advanced On1, but intermediate On2. I think its helping my follow being able to do both, but I don't want to become a "confused" dancer.

So I am keeping up with my goal of dancing with people that I don't know. This weekend was a good one, I racked up 4 new people in one night!

We are also working on routines, and practiced lifts in the pool this weekend for fun. I put up a video on youtube of us playing around. I also learned that dancing in a masquerade mask is extremely difficult...your field of vision is limited and your breath gets caught in the mask and your face sweats.....so it only lasted one cha cha.

We are planning our road trip to Atlanta for the Bachata festival next month. Will you be there? If so look us up!

Ciao for now
White A Rican

Ut Oh, He's asking ME??!!??

Something I have noticed recently personally as well as with others is this nervousness of dancing with an instructor or someone that is "really good". As soon as a "pro" that I've never danced with before asks me to dance socially, I start freaking out. I second guess myself, and become almost petrified. I know I am not alone in this, I overhear it at socials, I discuss it with other dancers as well.

Why do we do this to ourselves? Dancing is supposed to be fun, why are we putting pressure on ourselves? Is it the fear that we are going to be so bad, that they'll never asks us again? Are we afraid of looking bad in front of others?

I find that when I do this, I often fall off timing, miss easy cues and just all around stumble through the dance....if I just relax and breathe, I can do things Ive never imagined!!! Sometimes I discover that someone that I thought was an amazing dancer, has a really odd lead, or bad timing or is confusing and hard to read. There may be a reason why they have never asked me before, I'm a school trained dancer, and they may have never really taken a class. They may be just as nervous as I am!!

The best advice, is to dance your best and stay on your timing, they will adjust. Technically, the dance should start off easier and progress, they should be figuring your follow out as well as you figuring out their lead. Smile and enjoy it. I will say some of my best dances are also some of the funnest! If I can let go of being the "perfect dancer" and just have fun, I look and feel soo much better. Even the best dancer, or instructor started off just like you, it just was a longer time ago. they know what you are going through.

This will be something I will have to work on for a long time. I do find that I am most nervous the first time and it gradually wears off. I know a couple of amazing dancers that I am never nervous with, and it's their positive energy and enjoyment of the music and each dance that I feed off of. Two that come to mind instantly is Nery Garcia, and Sean Wilson.

I just need to work on my self confidence and realize how good I actually am, and that I am worthy of dancing with the best! Actually I feel everyone is - its a good exercise to actually dance with people of varying levels, to work on your follow or lead.

I'm starting this weekend! I'm going to try and see how many new people I can dance with this month....how many can you rack up?

Ciao for now,
White-A-Rican

Update and Other Musings

Well February has been an interesting month for sure. I've been MIA for the past couple of weeks, due to an unforeseen illness. I ended up in the Hospital on the 6th for Gallstones. I eat really healthy and exercise, but from being fat for so long and on birth control pills it was a recipe for disaster. I wish someone had told me 10 years ago about it. So now I have to try and balance my attacks with work and dancing. I finally started again this past week, and it's kicking my butt to get back out there. The first night, I was winded and couldn't keep up, so now I have to take breaks, where I used to dance almost every song.

So a few developments on where we are headed. We are attending the Atlanta Bachata Festival in April, hoping to make some good contacts and get things rolling towards the new congress season. The Bahhari Dance Convention, is almost a given as well, since it's here at home, same with Orlando Salsa Congress. November is the Aventura Dance Cruise - another goal, as well as the DC Bachata Festival.

We've started posting videos and added a new one this week. That's a new goal of ours, to get more videos up. It's just hard getting people to actually tape us, even with our own recorder. And most of the clubs are pretty dark as well, which makes video near to impossible...

I have a great topic for this week's article - so look for it in the next couple of days. Right now I am striving for balance - I am sure I can get there, hopefully by the end of the month. Until then I'm going to just keep trying!

Ciao for Now,
White-A-Rican

On1 vs On2 - White-A-Rican's Take

Okay this is the most debated and hotly discussed topic in the salsa scene it seems.

"On2 is harder and more refined than On1"

"On2 dancers are stuck up, On1 is better"

I seem to find dancers on both sides of the fence turning up their nose at one style or another. For a variety of reasons....

What about me? I dance both. I started with On1, so it will always be with me. I learned On2 out of necessity. I signed up for a workshop with Jayson Molina and Griselle Ponce when I was a beginner, only to learn that it was On2!!! I further developed an ability to follow On2 because I dance Cha Cha (always danced On2. ALWAYS - but that's another article). Now I take classes in On2 salsa. But I have people who will only dance with On2 dancers and vice versa, or they argue with each other on which is better and why. Can't we all just get along?

Neither one is better than the other. They each have their place and style. I think that depending on the song, one style will fit better than others. I know that my partner starting out wouldn't dance to a song without a cowbell in it because he couldn't hear the On1 timing....well 2 years later, I realize that those were old school Mambos and On2 seems to "fit" the song better. Sometimes I find myself falling into one timing or another, because its like I am forcing to dance On1 to an instrumental Mambo, or On2 to a mainstream fast salsa.

On1 is what alot of people start with. It is more widely taught here in Florida, and just about everyone can do it. It is easier to grasp the timing and to hear it for a newbie than listening for the On2 Conga slap. When I started it was a foreign land and I steered as far way from it as I could. BIG mistake! I found that it was the same step! I had been brain washed by my school to believe that On1 was better, and On2 dancers were arrogant and not social. This is not always the case, so I started venturing into that side a little by little, and now I am trying it out and liking it! I do not feel rushed. I feel the school I dance at now, is very much into timing and musicality, and not just doing pattern after pattern, like robots, regardless of the actual music. My arms are not being ripped off, nor am I forced into a ton of multiple spins. Its a more laid back kind of dancing. Although there are times I do love to kill it On1 LA Style, On2 New York Style seems to suit my personal style a little better. I am more relaxed and able to focus on my steps and movements.

Honestly, I believe in the end it is what you are comfortable with and what suits the song. I saw a video interviewing Eddie Torres and he summed it up that if you are correct with your timing, it really doesn't matter. Everyone should have their own style. That is what I am attempting. Taking bits and pieces and making them my own.

So next time a guy asks you, On1 or On2...do what I do. Smile sweetly and say - you're leading, you pick - I'll follow.

Ciao for Now,
White-A-Rican

2011: One month gone already!!

Hola mis amigos!

Well the month of January is gone, and where is everyone with their resolutions? Well we are still dieting and dancing, so that's good. I am still going to class, also a plus, but the writing has become blocked. I had a hard time trying to figure out what to write about. From now on, it's just going to be whatever pops into my head.

So on the diet front, I am back down to 131 lbs and bought a size 3/4 jean at Aeropostle! Happy happy me! We've fallen in love with Veggies. Asparagus and Spinach are staples every week. I am also trying a new fruit/veggie every week, so I don't get bored. This week it is Temple oranges and Butternut Squash. I am finding new foods that I enjoy so much, and I am trying to help Jorge meet his goals as well. We do not have many processed items in our grocery cart, and I am proud to put them up on the conveyor. My pocketbook isn't as happy, as we all know its expensive to be healthy. I need to start going to other spots for veggies/meats, and stocking up on those sales.

On the class front, we are enjoying learning the new style...I feel more relaxed and not rushed or thrown around, which is nice. I feel that it flows more, and Joey Mambo and Sean Wilson have been giving me good pointers to take me to the next level. I feel that going back to beginner level, even though I've been dancing for 2 years is helping me "feel" the music more, and style. I have noticed though that some songs I cannot dance On1 to no matter how hard I try, because all I hear is On2 timing!!! ARGH! Look for an article this week on my views of On1 vs On2.

Latin Intensity news:

We are on YOUTUBE! We finally all got social dancing videos at this month's Bahhari social. Be sure to check them out, our channel is LatinIntensityDance. Let me know what you think. Look for us this month at the Zebra Room Social, Bahhari, and Why Not Lounge on Wednesday nights.

Ciao for now,
White-A-Rican

New Year - New Beginnings

Hi All!!

So in the spirit of the new year and new resolutions I thought I would share some of mine here.

For one, I have to get rid of the holiday weight, I took a brief hiatus from dancing and was super happy with my new relationship and holiday traditions. So I packed on 7 lbs. Doesnt seem like much to most people, but when you only weigh 129lbs to start with, it puts you in a whole larger size. And all of it is in my booty, thighs and belly - BLEH!

So in order to get back on track, I have started Weight Watchers. It has worked for me before, and once I start dancing more and more, I will have a little more wiggle room. I am hoping to be back in shape by the end of March. The WW plan is all about balance, accountability and portion control. I will admit it is hard to eat out, but I am learning to eat/make some yummy new things. I am eating so many fruits and veggies and feeling ALOT better, not so tired and sluggish. The only down side is the headaches from the lack of caffeine, since I have replaced most of my diet soda with WATER. My DH is also joining me on the healthy kick, although he's doing Atkin's/Low Carb stuff. Wish us luck and I will post our success and fabulous food finds here.

Secondly, Get back into class! I stopped taking classes due to conflict with work, and the holidays. I am signing on for an 8 week course in On2 salsa. I pay upfront, so it makes me have to go. I have not had training in On2, just the little bits Ive learned through dancing Cha Cha and following socially. So it's back to basics. Jorge and I are taking these classes together in order to get a good foundation and become more versatile of a follow/lead.

Third, get back on here and write write write. I will attempt at least one entry a week. Ultimately I would like to have it be something different every day and have the same type of article every day of the week and take Sundays off (a girls gotta relax) Feel free to send me emails as well, I love receiving mail and will answer any questions.

And lastly - get Latin Intensity Dance Concepts really up off the ground. I have help in this with my dance and business partner and my boyfriend/first student/musical director Jorge. It will be a multifaceted approach, and probably pretty tiring but the hard work will pay off in the future.

What are some of your resolutions??? Opinions? Feel free to comment or email me at FlBachatera@gmail.com.

Ciao for now
White-A-Rican

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