Bar Q

Sunday night salsa at Bar Q is no more...Andy's looking for another venue. Shame.

Photos

To anyone waiting to see the pictures I took at Risa the other week, I'm afraid I won't be putting them online – they were absolutely terrible! I'll have another crack sometime soon.

Saturday salsa party cancelled

Tammi's salsa party on Saturday in Llantrisant has been cancelled, unfortunately (I was looking forward to it). Her next one is a Christmas party on 14th December with Leon Rose.

Last night

I was nearly sensible last night: after a day in North Wales and a three hour drive back an early night was tempting. But I dragged myself off to O'Neills and I was glad I did. Lots of nice dances, including the Other Kate who I'm glad to see is becoming a Monday night regular: a couple of years ago she was my favourite Cardiff dancer but she's been off the scene for a while.

For someone who'd been feeling completely wiped out earlier that evening I think I was on pretty good form. Best dance of the evening was with Nathalie, who was on great form and really inspiring. Yes, dancing with someone that good makes me aware of my limitations; but on the other hand it doesn't really matter because she makes even the simple stuff look dynamic and stylish. I decided to make that my last dance of the evening and go home on a high.

This Saturday is another of Tammi's party nights in Llantrisant, this time with Marchant Birch and Davina. More info on her website.

Lessons

Haven't been to a lesson for ages but I went to two this week. Kate was teaching at Bar Q: a very Cuban sequence called 'La Fuenta'. Very hot and most of the advanced dancers were off at the salsa congress. There were some good people there who I hadn't danced with before but nobody stayed around long for the free dancing.

I also did Andy's class at Bar Risa, which had a real shortage of men. A nice sequence: unfortunately I had to duck out halfway through as my shoulder started playing up. Some good rueda afterwards with Kate.

Risa

Haven't been to Risa for weeks, largely because I've had important things to do on a Friday for which I've needed a reasonable night's sleep. I musn't leave it so long next time - I had a great time in the hour I spent there. Good music, nice dancers and not too hot. The highlight was a rueda with Kate (who's teaching at Bar Q on Sunday as Andy's away at Congress): a small group who all knew what they were doing, keeping it fast and fairly simple. Also nice to dance with Lucy who I haven't danced with for ages, and bachata with Jorja. My bachata is rubbish, but Jorja is such a stylish dancer that she managed to make it look as if I knew what I was doing.

Andy's got some stylish DancaLatina t-shirts on sale for the poseurs (think I might get one).

For the Swansea crowd, there's a new Friday night (dancing only, no lessons) starting tonight at La Tasca.