I did manage to get to Aqua the Sunday before Christmas: it was a great way to start the festive break. It's quite small but it's got a nice atmosphere, and the smaller, shorter classes (compared with Thursday) are a definite plus. The floor is tiled so take smooth shoes. Finished off the year's salsa (unless I get some tonight) by calling a couple of slightly chaotic but enjoyable ruedas.
Two new things coming up in the New Year: firstly Kate is starting a new Cuban salsa night on Wednesdays, later in January, with classes combined with rueda and dancing afterwards. Also she's organising a 6-hour salsathon on 24th February in aid of the George Thomas Hospice.
Can't wait to get back on the dancefloor...Risa starts again on Thursday. Andy and Lucy are on holiday for a couple of weeks so it'll be Kate teaching the intermediate class.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Dance Britannia
Tonight is Irene's party in the David Lloyd Centre, and tomorrow is your last chance to dance in Cardiff before Christmas (in Aqua). But over the Christmas period BBC4 is showing a series about the history of social dancing in Britain that looks fascinating (click on the link above). If it's up to the standard of Jazz Britannia and Folk Britannia it will be well worth watching.
¡Feliz Navidad!
¡Feliz Navidad!
Friday, December 21, 2007
Monton de Estrellas
Andy had to start Monton de Estrellas twice last night so that Mikey could dance the whole thing. That's the song all the Spanish speakers sing along to - I do as well, but I've discovered that I can't dance well and sing in Spanish at the same time.
And for those who want to know what it's actually about, here's a translation I did a couple of years ago for a dancer whose favourite song it is.
I don't know why I'm singing to her
if I should hate her
with the strength of my heart
I stil haven't completely erased her
she's always present
like now in this song
innumerable are the times I've tried
to forget her and I haven't managed
to wrench out a single second from my mind
because she knows all my past
she knows me too well
and perhaps that's why she'd take advantage
because in love I'm a fool
who's suffered a thousand defeats, who doesn't have
powers to defend myself
but she always takes advantage
sometimes to reject me
and other times
she does it to keep me hanging on, that's how it is
Today I remember the song I made her one day
and basically I didn't know that would be bad for me
I gradually fell into an abyss
the same thing always happened
nobody knows what I suffered
a complete victim of her whims
but one day I opened my eyes
and angrily I wrenched her from my memory
little by little I made progress
and in the arms of another lover
I could bring this story to an end
But in love I'm a fool
who's suffered a thousand defeats, who doesn't have
powers to defend myself
but she would always take advantage
and if one day she'd kiss me, that was
just to keep me hanging on, that's how it is
That's how it was
just how it was
It was all because of her
I loved her, I adored her
but I had to hate her
That's how it was
oh yeah
it was all because of her
how I loved that woman
because I thought she was good
It was just like that
oh God!
It was all because of her
I could climb to the sky
to bring her down a bunch of stars
That's how it was
it was all because of her
a baby bird that was flying
and I took it to placate her
it was all like that
oh God!
it was all because of her
everything got away from me
and now I can't see her
That's how it was
just how it was
It was all because of her
she took me for a fool
that's how it was
I was in love with her
it was all because of her
she left me a novel
that's how it was
oh yeah!
it was all because of her
that's just how it was
it was just like that
oh yeah
it was all because of her
I loved her, I adored her
but I had to hate her
it was just like that
oh God!
It was all for her
how I loved that woman
because I thought she was good
It was just like that
oh God!
It was all because of her
I could climb to the sky
to bring her down a pile of stars
That's how it was
it was all because of her
a baby bird that was flying
and I took it to placate her
it was all like that
oh God!
it was all because of her
everything got away from me
and now I can't see her
And for those who want to know what it's actually about, here's a translation I did a couple of years ago for a dancer whose favourite song it is.
I don't know why I'm singing to her
if I should hate her
with the strength of my heart
I stil haven't completely erased her
she's always present
like now in this song
innumerable are the times I've tried
to forget her and I haven't managed
to wrench out a single second from my mind
because she knows all my past
she knows me too well
and perhaps that's why she'd take advantage
because in love I'm a fool
who's suffered a thousand defeats, who doesn't have
powers to defend myself
but she always takes advantage
sometimes to reject me
and other times
she does it to keep me hanging on, that's how it is
Today I remember the song I made her one day
and basically I didn't know that would be bad for me
I gradually fell into an abyss
the same thing always happened
nobody knows what I suffered
a complete victim of her whims
but one day I opened my eyes
and angrily I wrenched her from my memory
little by little I made progress
and in the arms of another lover
I could bring this story to an end
But in love I'm a fool
who's suffered a thousand defeats, who doesn't have
powers to defend myself
but she would always take advantage
and if one day she'd kiss me, that was
just to keep me hanging on, that's how it is
That's how it was
just how it was
It was all because of her
I loved her, I adored her
but I had to hate her
That's how it was
oh yeah
it was all because of her
how I loved that woman
because I thought she was good
It was just like that
oh God!
It was all because of her
I could climb to the sky
to bring her down a bunch of stars
That's how it was
it was all because of her
a baby bird that was flying
and I took it to placate her
it was all like that
oh God!
it was all because of her
everything got away from me
and now I can't see her
That's how it was
just how it was
It was all because of her
she took me for a fool
that's how it was
I was in love with her
it was all because of her
she left me a novel
that's how it was
oh yeah!
it was all because of her
that's just how it was
it was just like that
oh yeah
it was all because of her
I loved her, I adored her
but I had to hate her
it was just like that
oh God!
It was all for her
how I loved that woman
because I thought she was good
It was just like that
oh God!
It was all because of her
I could climb to the sky
to bring her down a pile of stars
That's how it was
it was all because of her
a baby bird that was flying
and I took it to placate her
it was all like that
oh God!
it was all because of her
everything got away from me
and now I can't see her
Looking up
Risa has been great lately - last night I stayed until the end for the second week running. Even thought there were 'only' 75 people there last night (as opposed to the usual 300) there were plenty I wanted to dance with. Smaller numbers meant Andy could do a proper warmdown - the second one was fast and furious, just like the old days in Life.
Four ruedas in quick succession - one of them was manic - and from then on I hardly stopped. Quite a lot of Cuban earlier on, and then it got faster.
I'm looking forward to the New Year, partly because there's something new and exciting coming up in January, but also because I discovered just last night just how interesting one dancer is to dance with - and she's up for partnering me for a private lesson : )
Four ruedas in quick succession - one of them was manic - and from then on I hardly stopped. Quite a lot of Cuban earlier on, and then it got faster.
I'm looking forward to the New Year, partly because there's something new and exciting coming up in January, but also because I discovered just last night just how interesting one dancer is to dance with - and she's up for partnering me for a private lesson : )
Friday, December 14, 2007
Just like old times
Last night proved my point about Pontin's: I did actually have more good dances in two hours than in a weekend at Brean Sands. Pontin's has definitely done my dancing some good, though: not so much the new moves as a bit more subtlety. I danced with everyone from absolute beginners to advanced dancers like Anne and Sara.
Abby was in town again so that was great: we stayed until the absolute end which reminded me of old times in the Toad when I used to stay until the early hours of Friday morning. For the last couple of dances we had the entire upper level of Risa to ourselves and we made sure we used all of it! Afraid I'm not going to make Llantrisant tonight (sorry Tammi) - I can hardly keep my eyes open.
Abby was in town again so that was great: we stayed until the absolute end which reminded me of old times in the Toad when I used to stay until the early hours of Friday morning. For the last couple of dances we had the entire upper level of Risa to ourselves and we made sure we used all of it! Afraid I'm not going to make Llantrisant tonight (sorry Tammi) - I can hardly keep my eyes open.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Brean (2)
Quite a lot of moans about Brean on Salsajive. And while Salsajive is notorious for moaning, I think they have a point.
Next year the combination is salsa and celtic/folk dancing, so that will really be one to avoid.
Next year the combination is salsa and celtic/folk dancing, so that will really be one to avoid.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Ho ho ho
Here's the Christmas break information for Andy's classes:
Bar Cuba last night 18th Dec, back 8th Jan
Bar Risa last night 20th Dec, back 3rd Jan
La Tasca last night 22nd Dec, back 5th Jan
Aqua Bar last night 23rd Dec, back 6th Jan
Not too much of a festive salsa drought : ) Must try to get to Aqua before Christmas - I haven't been there yet.
Bar Cuba last night 18th Dec, back 8th Jan
Bar Risa last night 20th Dec, back 3rd Jan
La Tasca last night 22nd Dec, back 5th Jan
Aqua Bar last night 23rd Dec, back 6th Jan
Not too much of a festive salsa drought : ) Must try to get to Aqua before Christmas - I haven't been there yet.
Brean
My first time at Brean Sands for three years, so I was very careful to pace myself - in bed by one on the first night. I was surprised how few people from Cardiff were there. I think the Swansea contingent was bigger. Maybe that's because the standard in Cardiff is a lot better than it was three years ago so people don't feel the need to travel.
The quality of teaching was very variable, again: just because somebody can dance spectacularly, as in the shows, doesn't necessarily mean they can teach. And some of the lessons were ridiculously full. Full marks to the teachers who could handle it: I could see why Lee Hunter is UK Salsa Teacher of the Year by the way he taught a very neat and usable intermediate level sequence to a class which must have numbered in the hundreds. Thanks to Anne I have a phone video of me dancing most of it correctly with June so I'll inflict it on somebody on Thursday night...
I've been embarrassed about my crap bachata for quite a while now, so I found Ian and Rohan's classes very useful and danced a lot of bachata over the weekend. Rohan's salsa twosome class (which Kate had been press-ganged into at very short notice) was entertaining and taught a twosome move I've always wanted to learn.
I overheard a group of punters discussing which level to do: one guy was saying "at intermediate level they teach, at Advanced level they just do moves". Most of the Level 3 and 4 classes I went to had too many moves in them and not nearly enough breaking down and explanation. The advanced classes weren't technically difficult, but they were a test of memory. I walked out of one particularly bad example when the teachers piled on yet another move when I'd already lost track of what came next. I've said it before and I'll say it again: demonstrating is not the same thing as teaching, and everybody needs repetition whatever level they are at (or think they are at).
The other thing you don't get in a crowded class is any check on whether you are doing it right: I was told of one lambada class where the teacher failed to notice that all the leaders had got the basic step wrong!
It took me a long time to warm up and really relax into my dancing, so I was relieved when things started to flow in my first dance on Saturday night. This was before it got really crowded, when it became hard to spot people to dance with and there was no space to do anything clever with an unfamiliar or inexperienced partner. Fortunately my fastest dance of the night was with Sara.
While I enjoyed the night and stayed until after 3 I would probably have had more really good dances on a good night in Risa. Which makes me think that instead of a weekender I might do better to spend a night somewhere that does a good class and where the standard is going to be high. I might head up to Birmingham for a Friday night once the festive season is out of the way.
On Sara's recommendation I did David and Jennifer's class on Sunday morning. Really nice moves, taught in a very clear and structured way, but I was half asleep: even though the sequence wasn't that long I lost the plot big time : ( Fortunately I videoed Stellan and Sara doing most of it so I can do some revision. What I did enjoy on Sunday was the free dancing. Too tired to learn anything, but some nice gentle dances made for a good afternoon. I gave Sunday night a miss and headed home.
The quality of teaching was very variable, again: just because somebody can dance spectacularly, as in the shows, doesn't necessarily mean they can teach. And some of the lessons were ridiculously full. Full marks to the teachers who could handle it: I could see why Lee Hunter is UK Salsa Teacher of the Year by the way he taught a very neat and usable intermediate level sequence to a class which must have numbered in the hundreds. Thanks to Anne I have a phone video of me dancing most of it correctly with June so I'll inflict it on somebody on Thursday night...
I've been embarrassed about my crap bachata for quite a while now, so I found Ian and Rohan's classes very useful and danced a lot of bachata over the weekend. Rohan's salsa twosome class (which Kate had been press-ganged into at very short notice) was entertaining and taught a twosome move I've always wanted to learn.
I overheard a group of punters discussing which level to do: one guy was saying "at intermediate level they teach, at Advanced level they just do moves". Most of the Level 3 and 4 classes I went to had too many moves in them and not nearly enough breaking down and explanation. The advanced classes weren't technically difficult, but they were a test of memory. I walked out of one particularly bad example when the teachers piled on yet another move when I'd already lost track of what came next. I've said it before and I'll say it again: demonstrating is not the same thing as teaching, and everybody needs repetition whatever level they are at (or think they are at).
The other thing you don't get in a crowded class is any check on whether you are doing it right: I was told of one lambada class where the teacher failed to notice that all the leaders had got the basic step wrong!
It took me a long time to warm up and really relax into my dancing, so I was relieved when things started to flow in my first dance on Saturday night. This was before it got really crowded, when it became hard to spot people to dance with and there was no space to do anything clever with an unfamiliar or inexperienced partner. Fortunately my fastest dance of the night was with Sara.
While I enjoyed the night and stayed until after 3 I would probably have had more really good dances on a good night in Risa. Which makes me think that instead of a weekender I might do better to spend a night somewhere that does a good class and where the standard is going to be high. I might head up to Birmingham for a Friday night once the festive season is out of the way.
On Sara's recommendation I did David and Jennifer's class on Sunday morning. Really nice moves, taught in a very clear and structured way, but I was half asleep: even though the sequence wasn't that long I lost the plot big time : ( Fortunately I videoed Stellan and Sara doing most of it so I can do some revision. What I did enjoy on Sunday was the free dancing. Too tired to learn anything, but some nice gentle dances made for a good afternoon. I gave Sunday night a miss and headed home.
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