Getting Sarah to come to Risa last night meant it was two days rather than six months : ) I wasn't feeling quite as inspired as Tuesday, but this was my third salsa night running. We still had really good fun, though - at one point we had the whole of the raised floor area to ourselves so we could do some really silly stuff. It's not just that Sarah is a great dancer and a really good follower (which she denies) but she's also willing to try anything and treat it as a joke if it goes wrong. Good thing with some of the daft moves I try and make up when I'm dancing with her.
No Kate : ( so I ended up calling a rueda myself with the other Sarah, Jordy, and a good woman dancer whose name I've forgotten (sorry). I really need the practice: I think I averaged about one call every four measures, so it wasn't the most exciting rueda ever. Positive things were that I think I managed to time all the calls right, and I actually managed to call setenta and do the move correctly.
Getting a bit too old for three nights running - I'll have to spread it out next week.
Friday, February 23, 2007
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Wow
That was such fun last night!
I'd been feeling like s*** all day, having not slept well, but I was walking on air when we left Bar Cuba. I'd finally managed to get Sarah to come dancing for the first time in about six months. Apart from one dance with Sara, I danced with Sarah all night, and instead of just repeating stuff it got better and better.
I was expecting it to be fun but it was something else: by about the third dance I was doing stuff I'd forgotten I could do, and we had the kind of effortless connection which lets you just play and improvise: making the moves very small, make the lead very light, slow right down then speed up, try out subtle and adventurous stuff including things I wouldn't even try with anyone else. Magic. Hope I don't have to wait another six months before she comes out again...
I'd been feeling like s*** all day, having not slept well, but I was walking on air when we left Bar Cuba. I'd finally managed to get Sarah to come dancing for the first time in about six months. Apart from one dance with Sara, I danced with Sarah all night, and instead of just repeating stuff it got better and better.
I was expecting it to be fun but it was something else: by about the third dance I was doing stuff I'd forgotten I could do, and we had the kind of effortless connection which lets you just play and improvise: making the moves very small, make the lead very light, slow right down then speed up, try out subtle and adventurous stuff including things I wouldn't even try with anyone else. Magic. Hope I don't have to wait another six months before she comes out again...
Friday, February 16, 2007
Los Van Van in London next Friday
Los Van Van are playing the Hammersmith Palais next Friday, 23rd February, for the opening night of the 'La Linea' Latin music festival. One not to be missed for the Cuban music fans. Unfortunately I'm going to miss it :(
Los Van Van are the leading Cuban band, led by Juan Formell, the inventor of the 'songo' style. You'll be familiar with some of their tracks - eg 'Temba, Tumba y Timba' and 'Este te pone la cabeza mala'.
A brief warning, by the way: there's a CD around called 'The Best of Juan Formell y los Van Van'. I bought it and was disappointed to find that it's all older stuff (which isn't really to my taste) and doesn't have any of the storming more recent tracks.
Los Van Van are the leading Cuban band, led by Juan Formell, the inventor of the 'songo' style. You'll be familiar with some of their tracks - eg 'Temba, Tumba y Timba' and 'Este te pone la cabeza mala'.
A brief warning, by the way: there's a CD around called 'The Best of Juan Formell y los Van Van'. I bought it and was disappointed to find that it's all older stuff (which isn't really to my taste) and doesn't have any of the storming more recent tracks.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
O'Neills
Just a quick post to say that if you haven't been to O'Neills for a while you might be pleasantly surprised by the music under the new management. Trevor plays some really interesting stuff, including some unusual mixes or versions of familiar tracks.
It's also attracting some people I wouldn't expect to see there - I had a really nice dance with Lisa on Monday.
It's also attracting some people I wouldn't expect to see there - I had a really nice dance with Lisa on Monday.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Not quite as planned
Definitely suffering from sleep deficit last week. I thought I'd get an hour's nap before Risa and woke up two and a half hours later :(
I went to Irene's event at the Electricity Club on Friday. I was pleasantly surprised to see how many people were there considering the weather. There were some good dancers in the classes, including some from over the bridge.
Nicolai's classes had some really nice moves, but I wish he'd teach shorter sequences. I'll definitely use some of what he taught but I've already forgotten some of the good stuff. I can imagine absolute beginners - of whom there were a few - being completely intimidated by his beginners/improvers class.
Other good stuff included a floor show from the Constantinou girls and a nice buffet (the dolmades were great - can I have the recipe?). The music was good but the pace was a bit relentless: it would have been nice to slow it down a bit now and then as it was pretty hot. It was a relief when he played some bachata tracks towards the end.
I went to Irene's event at the Electricity Club on Friday. I was pleasantly surprised to see how many people were there considering the weather. There were some good dancers in the classes, including some from over the bridge.
Nicolai's classes had some really nice moves, but I wish he'd teach shorter sequences. I'll definitely use some of what he taught but I've already forgotten some of the good stuff. I can imagine absolute beginners - of whom there were a few - being completely intimidated by his beginners/improvers class.
Other good stuff included a floor show from the Constantinou girls and a nice buffet (the dolmades were great - can I have the recipe?). The music was good but the pace was a bit relentless: it would have been nice to slow it down a bit now and then as it was pretty hot. It was a relief when he played some bachata tracks towards the end.
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Rueda
The improvers' rueda course was good last night, with some talented dancers there (Cristina, Nuria and Jordy for a start). Like most people I stayed around for the beginners which also had some good dancers, including one woman who I'd never encountered before.
Missed Monday as I was too tired, and the trip to Bath on Saturday is off. So I may well go to Irene's event at the Electricity Club tomorrow night. Nicolai teaches some nice moves.
Missed Monday as I was too tired, and the trip to Bath on Saturday is off. So I may well go to Irene's event at the Electricity Club tomorrow night. Nicolai teaches some nice moves.
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Busy
I dragged myself out to Risa on Thursday even though I hadn't really shaken off my cold. It was worth the effort: I had a good time and I got the nicest compliment anyone's ever paid me about my dancing.
This week is looking very busy: I should be at O'Neills on Monday, there's rueda on Wednesday (there are still spaces for men on this), Risa again on Thursday, and my first visit to the Claverton Rooms for ages on Saturday. I'm going with Anna and Lee (the scientists) so it should be like old times.
This week is looking very busy: I should be at O'Neills on Monday, there's rueda on Wednesday (there are still spaces for men on this), Risa again on Thursday, and my first visit to the Claverton Rooms for ages on Saturday. I'm going with Anna and Lee (the scientists) so it should be like old times.
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