Tuesday, April 26, 2005

New night in Bristol, etc

Promising new Thursday night starting at Bristol Golf Glub, which should be easy to get to from Cardiff as it's just off Junction 17 of the M5. Classes from 7.30 with Angus Peters and Phil Heath, then dancing til midnight. Angus is an excellent teacher, very clear and structured; I don't find Phil's classes that easy but I always pick up something useful from them.

I think this might get popular with people who are tired of getting kicked and elbowed in the Toad. (Having said that, Andy's class was spot on last week - just the right amount of material -and things improved on the dancefloor later on).

Quick reminder that O'Neills no longer runs on Bank Holidays (but for John's fans there's salsa, dinner and dancing at St Donat's on Saturday).

Wednesday, April 20, 2005

Capture Wales

My digital story is finally on the BBC website, so if you want to know who's behind the screen name (and haven't already worked it out) visit the link above. You can also see what I looked like 20 years ago and have a good laugh at my dancing.

Tuesday, April 19, 2005

Finally getting somewhere...

O'Neills last night after yet another week away from salsa, and it was surprisingly lively with the very welcome return of several people I hadn't seen for a while. Music was pretty good on the whole apart from the odd bit of cheese. Nice variety of dancing styles, including an exciting dance with Cardiff's most individual, stylish and expressive salsera (who was dancing with remarkable enthusiasm for someone recovering from broken ribs).

Unfortunately the video screens are working again, so I could see just how rubbish my bachata looks. My partner said that doing the hip wiggle made her feel like a dog cocking its leg on a lamppost, which can't be how it's intended to be danced!

Monday, April 11, 2005

Going backwards

I'm working away all this week, as it happens, which means yet another week without salsa.

I can feel the quality of my dancing going backwards, which is frustrating. It's not just that I can't get to the 2 nights a week I reckon I need to keep up to standard - it's also that three of the women who I've danced with best have acquired boyfriends and get to salsa little if at all, while a fourth has left Cardiff. Oh well, after this week I should be able to get back into going regularly, and I imagine a private lesson or two will help me get back up to standard.

Monday, April 04, 2005

12 and 16 April

I'll be away, but there's a Latin American solidarity evening at Kiwi's Night Club, Wyndham Arcade, Cardiff on Tuesday 12 April from 7.30 until late. Only £1, and there will be Latin music (and a bit of beginners' salsa teaching) from John Pamplin.

Also it's the Claverton Rooms in Bath on 16 April. Guest teacher is Angus Peters, who I was impressed by when I went to his class at Pontins.

Glasgow

The original plan was to get to the Favela (formerly Cuba Norte) for Farah and Duncan's Thursday night Cuban class and some rueda. Didn't work out like that - I couldn't get there in time for the class - so I went to Havana on Hope Street instead for some CBL. I got there just before 10 as a very crowded beginners/improvers class was ending. In the free dancing people were much better at dancing compactly and sticking to their own space than in Cardiff. (Maybe that's a result of learning in such crowded conditions). None of the "I'm going to do the moves I want and everyone else can get out of my way" attitude you sometimes see here.

Good standard, generally friendly, and I had some nice dances there, but god it was hot and crowded! I'll certainly go again the next time I'm in Glasgow.