Monday, December 29, 2008
Playing Castro's Tune
Radio 4 is broadcasting a two-part programme about the impact of Castro's revolution on Cuban music. Episode 1 starts tomorrow (Tuesday) at 1330 and is repeated at 1530 on January 3rd.
New Year's Eve
La Tasca on NYE is scheduled to start around 10 and run until around 12.30, so you'll need to get there earlier than usual.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Salsa a lo Cubano
Got to Barocco on Tuesday to find that it had been double-booked with a Christmas party. So instead I went to La Tasca on Wednesday for the first time - Sabina gave those of us who turned up to Barocco half price entry. The class was really good, and there were several good dancers there who I'd never met before. Cycling to work meant that I was also a lot more wide awake last night than I was on Tuesday. Even better, we did some rueda after the class, and everybody in the group - including some who hadn't done rueda before - could dance on time. That makes so much difference. Only downside was that the room was very hot.
Christmas breaks and new Thursday venue
Minor changes to the Christmas break details (see earlier post). Purple Lounge closed this Sunday (21st); Bar Cuba closed 30th December; La Tasca is open right through, including Wednesday 31st - New Year's Eve.
Jumpin Jaks, the replacement for Bar Risa, starts on 8th January. Jumpin Jaks is upstairs in the building to the left of Bar Risa.
Jumpin Jaks, the replacement for Bar Risa, starts on 8th January. Jumpin Jaks is upstairs in the building to the left of Bar Risa.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Parties
O'Neills Christmas party tonight; Salsabuena Christmas Dinner Dance tomorrow night (no food bookings left but you can still dance); Risa on Thursday. This should be the big one, I think - it looks as if most of the people I want to dance with are going.
Unfortunately Stevie won't be coming over to Risa any more. Shame - I really like his music.
Unfortunately Stevie won't be coming over to Risa any more. Shame - I really like his music.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Christmas
The good news is that with the exception of Bar Risa, Andy's other venues are carrying on as normal through the holiday period- that's La Tasca, Bar Cuba and the Purple Lounge : )
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Salsa famine
Not a complete salsa famine over Christmas - Irene and Shahid's Monday night classes in Fairwater (see link in right column) continue throughout the break.
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Christmas salsa famine
Looks like it's going to be the usual fortnight of no dancing this year, though if anyone fancies post-Christmas dancing in the City of Light there's this on December 27th. Very tempting...
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Bar Risa Xmas Party
I'm looking forward to the Bar Risa party on the 18th (though I think I might pass on the 'sexy santa' fancy dress). Sadly they will then be closed until February for refurbishment (where are we all going to get our fix?) Miguel and Mayana will do a show and teach the second half of the intermediate class, and Alain Hernandez will be leading a 'fun reggaeton lineup'.
Details on the Dancalatina homepage.
Details on the Dancalatina homepage.
Monday, December 01, 2008
Reggaeton special
It's a reggaeton special at Barocco tomorrow night - beginners' and improvers' salsa will be as normal, Alain Hernandez from the Cubania dance company will be doing a reggaeton class instead of the intermediate salsa, and he'll also be taking the rueda class.
Purple Lounge
I've been meaning to go for weeks. I was desperate for some exercise so I dragged myself out into the cold last night, resisting the temptation to slob out in front of the telly (amazingly, there are things worth watching on at the moment).
Good points: nice wooden floor, pleasant ambience (though no a/c). It's not a big room. The class was very small - I think there were ten people there. Good for learning, less good for dancing afterwards. Apparently it's busier sometimes.
As usual with Andy's classes the personal advice was very useful. He's good at pointing out little details that make a huge difference - in this case, how to lead a copa smoothly with an inexperienced partner. And it certainly worked: one woman told me that she'd fallen over trying to do the copa with everyone else there, but not with me. (Though she did manage to fall over later on in the routine...)
I'm hoping that the numbers will pick up as it's a nice way to end the weekend/start the week.
Good points: nice wooden floor, pleasant ambience (though no a/c). It's not a big room. The class was very small - I think there were ten people there. Good for learning, less good for dancing afterwards. Apparently it's busier sometimes.
As usual with Andy's classes the personal advice was very useful. He's good at pointing out little details that make a huge difference - in this case, how to lead a copa smoothly with an inexperienced partner. And it certainly worked: one woman told me that she'd fallen over trying to do the copa with everyone else there, but not with me. (Though she did manage to fall over later on in the routine...)
I'm hoping that the numbers will pick up as it's a nice way to end the weekend/start the week.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Respect
Major respect to Sabina for her part in last night's rueda class: dancing as a man, she did Pa'l Cielo twice (and kept smiling)! That's the move which follows La Rosa where the guys link arms, the women sit on their arms, the guys lift them up into the air and the wheel rotates.
Learning some more Cuban stuff also meant that, on a fast song between the classes, I was able to discover just what an exciting dancer she is. My best Cuban dance so far :)
Learning some more Cuban stuff also meant that, on a fast song between the classes, I was able to discover just what an exciting dancer she is. My best Cuban dance so far :)
Monday, November 24, 2008
Tasca Saturday night
I didn't get to La Tasca this week, but Hugh McIntosh (that's the Hugh who can dance, not the Hugh who runs the website) has put a video on YouTube which shows why people enjoy going.
Looks like fun with a lot of well-known Cardiff faces, including David (at the beginning - I think that's Irene he's dancing with), Shahid and Louise (after about 30 seconds), followed by the very stylish Andrea (1'10') and Mikey the DJ (2 minutes). At 2'50' Rhodri is dancing with the wonderfully funky Sara, and at 3' 20' there's Keith and Alison.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Cough cough
Couldn't make Risa last week as I'd just got back exhausted from a day in London. But I did make it to La Tasca as a friend of mine needed cheering up, and salsa is guaranteed to work (even though it meant a 60 mile drive for her). I hadn't been for ages: it started off quiet but improved by midnight. I wasn't feeling that inspired but things soon started to pick up later, particularly when Andrea- who is an exceptional dancer - arrived, and then Patricia turned up not long before the end. It's literally months since I'd danced with her. (She's been away challenging for the 'what's the most exotic place you've danced salsa' prize, and I think she's won - I can't top rueda on the 65th floor in Shanghai!) . Only had one dance but I quickly remembered what I'd been missing: fluid spinning and a delight to lead :) And my friend had a great time: according to her Facebook page she was still on a high from it on Monday night.
I dragged myself out to Barocco last night – despite my cough having come back, which seems to happen every time I try and get some exercise – with the help of paracetamol and an espresso. I was very glad I did. As someone who likes Cuban style but has a limited repertoire these classes are really useful. It's particularly good that stuff gets reinforced week after week, even in the intermediate class, which means it really gets embedded and there's plenty of opportunities to work out the subtleties of the lead. And all of the women in the class are at least competent (some are very good) which isn't always the case even in an intermediate class.
I had a lovely dance with Sabina after the rueda class, and then joined in a four-couple rueda which was great. Unfortunately I'm going to miss their Party a lo Cubano in Cwmbran on the 27th Thursday as I have too much to do the following day. I'm hoping to make the one after that, whenever it is.
Finally, a bit of news: the groundbreaking Cuban band Los Van Van are playing the Roundhouse in London on March 7th.
I dragged myself out to Barocco last night – despite my cough having come back, which seems to happen every time I try and get some exercise – with the help of paracetamol and an espresso. I was very glad I did. As someone who likes Cuban style but has a limited repertoire these classes are really useful. It's particularly good that stuff gets reinforced week after week, even in the intermediate class, which means it really gets embedded and there's plenty of opportunities to work out the subtleties of the lead. And all of the women in the class are at least competent (some are very good) which isn't always the case even in an intermediate class.
I had a lovely dance with Sabina after the rueda class, and then joined in a four-couple rueda which was great. Unfortunately I'm going to miss their Party a lo Cubano in Cwmbran on the 27th Thursday as I have too much to do the following day. I'm hoping to make the one after that, whenever it is.
Finally, a bit of news: the groundbreaking Cuban band Los Van Van are playing the Roundhouse in London on March 7th.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Complicated moves
Nice to see that Sabina and Misael are expanding their Cuban Tuesday night at Barocco to offer an extra class. At 8.15 - that's after the beginners and before the rueda - there will be a choice of improvers' level downstairs, and a new intermediate level upstairs, which will offer more complex moves. Just what I wanted :)
Saturday, November 08, 2008
Surplus men
Doesn't happen that often in Cardiff, but it's been happening for the last couple of Tuesdays in Barocco. Sabina has just sent out an urgent request for more women for the improvers class and above. Last week for the rueda she had to deal with the surplus in the traditional Cuban way - guys wait outside the circle until someone gets kicked out for getting a move wrong.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Tired...
Oops, I'm not going to make the Hallowe'en party tonight. The plan was to only stay until 11 last night to save my energy, but that didn't work out: I was having too much fun.
Last week the music had been good but a lot of my favourite dancers weren't there. But night there were some very welcome returners, including Sara R who hasn't been out for months. She was just as much fun as ever and doesn't seem to have forgotten anything.
It was Lee's last night dancing in Cardiff so I had several nice dances with her. This included introducing her to bachata, which she'd never encountered having been off the scene for a couple of years.
Last week the music had been good but a lot of my favourite dancers weren't there. But night there were some very welcome returners, including Sara R who hasn't been out for months. She was just as much fun as ever and doesn't seem to have forgotten anything.
It was Lee's last night dancing in Cardiff so I had several nice dances with her. This included introducing her to bachata, which she'd never encountered having been off the scene for a couple of years.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Barocco
I didn't really feel like going out last night but I decided to check out Misael and Sabina's class at the new venue. It was pretty popular, and it wasn't too hot as it had been sometimes for Kate's classes in the same venue: this weather does have some advantages. Sabina was away so Misael was doing the class on his own, fighting a cold (and having had that cold for a couple of weeks I sympathised).
I joined in the advanced/rueda class. Misael wanted to start by introducing a complex arm-wrestling Cuban move, but unfortunately everybody except me voted to go straight for the rueda. A shame, as I'd really like to learn some elaborate Cuban turn patterns and 'beso complicado' looked like fun.
But it was a really useful class and I learnt (or re-learnt) several moves, including noventa, quedate con sacala and the rather indecent enchufla con mambo con vacuna. ('Vacuna' is the rude bit. It literally means vaccinate, but you can imagine what it means - it originates in the original Afro-Cuban dance guagauncó).
I had several nice dances after the class. It's quite a friendly and youthful crowd there. There aren't many experienced dancers there but there's a lot of ability and potential; and I found myself remembering several half-forgotten moves. I'm definitely going to try to get to this class as often as I can.
On the walk back to the car I encountered a fox at close quarters (just a couple of metres away) in front of the museum, which was a nice end to the evening.
I joined in the advanced/rueda class. Misael wanted to start by introducing a complex arm-wrestling Cuban move, but unfortunately everybody except me voted to go straight for the rueda. A shame, as I'd really like to learn some elaborate Cuban turn patterns and 'beso complicado' looked like fun.
But it was a really useful class and I learnt (or re-learnt) several moves, including noventa, quedate con sacala and the rather indecent enchufla con mambo con vacuna. ('Vacuna' is the rude bit. It literally means vaccinate, but you can imagine what it means - it originates in the original Afro-Cuban dance guagauncó).
I had several nice dances after the class. It's quite a friendly and youthful crowd there. There aren't many experienced dancers there but there's a lot of ability and potential; and I found myself remembering several half-forgotten moves. I'm definitely going to try to get to this class as often as I can.
On the walk back to the car I encountered a fox at close quarters (just a couple of metres away) in front of the museum, which was a nice end to the evening.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Back in action
Really frustrating to miss three nights salsa because of a cold last week. I dragged myself out on Monday but I wasn't really dancing well, though I had one cool dance with Becky - I think her dynamism was just what I needed. Misael was away so there was no funky rueda. But I really like what Charlotte is doing with the classes, teaching short introductions to different Latin dances rather than yet more salsa turn patterns. Last night was the end of their bachata course and I learnt some new stuff.
A blast to work and back on the bike set me up for Risa last night, though, and I had a really good time. I was talking to someone on Monday who told me she doesn't like the music Stevie plays at Risa, but I'm really glad to hear some varied and unexpected music: a lot of it is stuff I would choose to listen to even if I wasn't dancing to it. Standout track, I thought, was Adamy Coly by Les Quatre Étoiles, a Congolese band. (You can tell it's Congolese by the guitar - you can't keep pianos in tune in the jungle so Congolese musicians have developed a beautiful ringing guitar style to replace Cuban piano).
One good piece of news is that Andy's got a new Sunday night in the Purple Lounge on Bute Street, starting on November 2nd (details here). I used to really enjoy the Wharf so I'm looking forward to this (I live in Penarth so the Bay is really handy for me). But I won't make the opening night as it's my elder daughter's birthday.
Kate's got a charity salsa night on Hallowe'en which I'm going to get to if I can (and which is going to feature rueda). It's a shame she's not doing a regular Cuban class now - my younger daughter Lowri, who's at uni now, told me that going to other salsa classes at uni has made her realise what a good teacher Kate is.
A blast to work and back on the bike set me up for Risa last night, though, and I had a really good time. I was talking to someone on Monday who told me she doesn't like the music Stevie plays at Risa, but I'm really glad to hear some varied and unexpected music: a lot of it is stuff I would choose to listen to even if I wasn't dancing to it. Standout track, I thought, was Adamy Coly by Les Quatre Étoiles, a Congolese band. (You can tell it's Congolese by the guitar - you can't keep pianos in tune in the jungle so Congolese musicians have developed a beautiful ringing guitar style to replace Cuban piano).
One good piece of news is that Andy's got a new Sunday night in the Purple Lounge on Bute Street, starting on November 2nd (details here). I used to really enjoy the Wharf so I'm looking forward to this (I live in Penarth so the Bay is really handy for me). But I won't make the opening night as it's my elder daughter's birthday.
Kate's got a charity salsa night on Hallowe'en which I'm going to get to if I can (and which is going to feature rueda). It's a shame she's not doing a regular Cuban class now - my younger daughter Lowri, who's at uni now, told me that going to other salsa classes at uni has made her realise what a good teacher Kate is.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Three weeks
I think three weeks is how long it took for me to start feeling like my old dancing self again after the holiday break: I finally started getting a bit of subtlety and spontaneity back in the last couple of dances last night. Enviably, Lee - who hasn't been dancing for about two years - didn't seem to have forgotten anything: it was a real pleasure to dance with her again.
Kate's birthday and Sarah's leaving were celebrated in the usual way, and Kate called a large rueda before starting on the birthday drinks. Not that many people there, but I did have a really good time. I was pleased to see that Margot was back, and Vania was on great form - she complained that her feet were killing her after being out every night, but she was a bundle of fun and hugely entertaining to dance with.
Kate's birthday and Sarah's leaving were celebrated in the usual way, and Kate called a large rueda before starting on the birthday drinks. Not that many people there, but I did have a really good time. I was pleased to see that Margot was back, and Vania was on great form - she complained that her feet were killing her after being out every night, but she was a bundle of fun and hugely entertaining to dance with.
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Salsa Technicians
This looks interesting, particularly if you live in Bristol. Stevie of the late lamented Salsamania is starting a new night specifically for intermediate and advanced dancers, with instructors from around the UK. Salsa Technicians launches 27th October at the new Jesters venue (135-137 Cheltenham Road, Bristol BS6 5RR) and will be every Monday from then on.
Intermediate is 8.15, advanced is 9.15, then Stevie's on the decks from 10 until 2. More information at www.eldj.co.uk
Intermediate is 8.15, advanced is 9.15, then Stevie's on the decks from 10 until 2. More information at www.eldj.co.uk
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Fun
Well, I didn't manage to find a partner for the advanced class (I couldn't get to Bar Risa on Thursday so I didn't have a chance to ask anyone). I'm not too disappointed as I'm enjoying Monday nights so much at the moment. Last night I got roped in to the class for the third week running due to a shortage of men - this time it was bachata. The level in the class is pretty basic but the teaching is good and clear.
Shame they haven't fixed the air conditioning, though: I was soaked in sweat after half an hour of the free dancing. I had a good time, and I was just about to leave (early start this morning) when Misael started one of his funky ruedas, so once again I had a later night than planned.
Looking forward to Thursday in Risa: Lee (that's Lee the scientist, not Lee the artist), who I haven't danced with for ages, is finally coming back on the scene, and I'm off Friday (as I'm working Saturday) so I can afford a late night :)
Shame they haven't fixed the air conditioning, though: I was soaked in sweat after half an hour of the free dancing. I had a good time, and I was just about to leave (early start this morning) when Misael started one of his funky ruedas, so once again I had a later night than planned.
Looking forward to Thursday in Risa: Lee (that's Lee the scientist, not Lee the artist), who I haven't danced with for ages, is finally coming back on the scene, and I'm off Friday (as I'm working Saturday) so I can afford a late night :)
Friday, October 03, 2008
Partner search and Hallowe'en
Anyone looking for a partner for Sunday's four-week advanced salsa course? My usual partner can't do it as she's away half the month.
Kate's organising another charity salsa event, this time at Hallowe'en. It's at County Hall on 31st October, for an ME sufferers' support group. Only a fiver. I enjoyed the last one. She wants people's opinions on what kind of classes she should run (LA-style, Cuban, shines, styling). I'd vote for Cuban or rueda myself. You can email her to cast your vote.
Kate's organising another charity salsa event, this time at Hallowe'en. It's at County Hall on 31st October, for an ME sufferers' support group. Only a fiver. I enjoyed the last one. She wants people's opinions on what kind of classes she should run (LA-style, Cuban, shines, styling). I'd vote for Cuban or rueda myself. You can email her to cast your vote.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Getting my lead back
Well, my lead's gradually returning after my salsa-free fortnight in France. It's very frustrating how little time it takes to lose it. I'm OK on most moves, but I have a few moves that rely on the lead being spot on in terms of timing and impetus, and at the moment they just don't work:(
Heavy week at the moment. I nearly didn't go out last night but I went to O'Neills as it was going to be my last opportunity for a few days. I was very glad I did: I had a really nice, relaxed Cuban-style dance with a woman who I've been dancing CBL style with for years, and then Misael called a couple of ruedas that were huge fun (and that I didn't mess up completely). Went home smiling.
This weekend it's Billy Cobham and Asere in St David's Hall (yes, there is space to dance) and competing with it there's the Claverton Rooms in Bath.
Heavy week at the moment. I nearly didn't go out last night but I went to O'Neills as it was going to be my last opportunity for a few days. I was very glad I did: I had a really nice, relaxed Cuban-style dance with a woman who I've been dancing CBL style with for years, and then Misael called a couple of ruedas that were huge fun (and that I didn't mess up completely). Went home smiling.
This weekend it's Billy Cobham and Asere in St David's Hall (yes, there is space to dance) and competing with it there's the Claverton Rooms in Bath.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Back in business
Risa was really busy last night - everyone seems to be back. First dance with Patricia for what seems like months, which was great.
Stellan said he was going to bring loads of people from Bristol and he certainly did, including Lisa who I haven't danced with for ages. Inexplicably I didn't get round to dancing with her, but I did dance with her lovely mum Jane who I hadn't danced with for even longer.
Great music, particularly later on with Stevie playing extended Latin jazz tracks. Trouble was I was running out of steam by then - I was tired (I'd stayed an hour later than planned) and my legs didn't want to co-operate after some fast cycling earlier in the day. I'd had a long ride in to work on my nice new road bike and on the way home I'd passed a guy on a mountain bike who'd decided to treat it as a challenge. Yes, he was half my age and riding slicks (fast smooth tyres) but it would still have been embarrassing if I'd let him past.
Probably won't be out much next week for work reasons but the week after I'm intending to keep Friday free so I can stay late and have a lie in.
Stellan said he was going to bring loads of people from Bristol and he certainly did, including Lisa who I haven't danced with for ages. Inexplicably I didn't get round to dancing with her, but I did dance with her lovely mum Jane who I hadn't danced with for even longer.
Great music, particularly later on with Stevie playing extended Latin jazz tracks. Trouble was I was running out of steam by then - I was tired (I'd stayed an hour later than planned) and my legs didn't want to co-operate after some fast cycling earlier in the day. I'd had a long ride in to work on my nice new road bike and on the way home I'd passed a guy on a mountain bike who'd decided to treat it as a challenge. Yes, he was half my age and riding slicks (fast smooth tyres) but it would still have been embarrassing if I'd let him past.
Probably won't be out much next week for work reasons but the week after I'm intending to keep Friday free so I can stay late and have a lie in.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Billy Cobham and Asere
Jazz musicians have been fascinated by the rhythms of Cuban music since at least the 1940s, when be-bop star Dizzy Gillespie formed a band which included Afro-Cuban drummer Chano Pozo. This time it's the other way round: jazz drummer Billy Cobham - who's worked with greats including Miles Davies – is collaborating with modern Cuban son band Asere.
They're playing St David's Hall on October 4th. There's a dancefloor, and a discount (£12.50 instead of £16) for salsa dancers who quote 'Salsa Attender' when they book. Should be an interesting evening.
St David's Hall event page
Billy Cobham and Asere on Myspace
They're playing St David's Hall on October 4th. There's a dancefloor, and a discount (£12.50 instead of £16) for salsa dancers who quote 'Salsa Attender' when they book. Should be an interesting evening.
St David's Hall event page
Billy Cobham and Asere on Myspace
Friday, September 19, 2008
Tonight's party with Helena and Nicolai
Change of venue - it will now be in the Tabu night club just around the corner in Westgate Street.
Migraine again
Damn. First night in Risa for four weeks and the migraine hit before I'd even had one dance. Second one in three weeks - I think it might be due to my nice new road bike encouraging me to cycle a lot harder than usual. The first one came when I followed two hot hours of cycling up long French hills by jumping into a cold swimming pool - I doubt if that's going to get my much sympathy ;)
Migraines mess up my dancing for several days so I'm not going to get to Irene and Shahid's party night at Pure on Saturday. They have Helena and Nicolai as guest teachers. I've been to a few of their classes (including at their home base in Leeds). They teach some great moves and, unlike some dancing partnerships, you get the woman's perspective articulately expressed. My only criticism would be that their sequences are usually a bit too long - but it's well worth going.
Migraines mess up my dancing for several days so I'm not going to get to Irene and Shahid's party night at Pure on Saturday. They have Helena and Nicolai as guest teachers. I've been to a few of their classes (including at their home base in Leeds). They teach some great moves and, unlike some dancing partnerships, you get the woman's perspective articulately expressed. My only criticism would be that their sequences are usually a bit too long - but it's well worth going.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Barocco
Just heard that Sabina's moving her and Misael's Tuesday night class to Barocco. There's a slight change to class times as well: rueda is now 9.30-10.15pm, instead of starting at 10, which is good as it means you can do the class and some dancing afterwards without getting home too late midweek. Free dancing until 11.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Cubanisimo
It's a shame that Kate's class in Barocco has ended, due to her other commitments rather than a lack of punters - it was proving popular. Despite that, Cuban salsa is getting a lot more common in Cardiff after years of domination by LA-style, with Sabina and Miseal's nights, and Misael's input to O'Neills. I didn't get back from France until 2am on Monday morning thanks to a ferry calculation, but I still made it last night. Misael and Charlotte were teaching chachachá and it was proper Cuban style (on one), none of that on 2 ballroom stuff. It'll be good if more people learn to dance it on one as that's the only way I know how to do it.
Plenty of nice dancers there; I joined in the rueda and stayed later than planned.
Plenty of nice dancers there; I joined in the rueda and stayed later than planned.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Last night
I nearly didn't go to Chiquitos for Shahid's birthday last night. Glad I did, though - I got to dance with several nice dancers I'd never met before, including several dances with the rather wonderful Margot. I'm just hoping that they'll all still be in Cardiff when I get back from holiday in mid-September (off on Thursday, might get to Koko Gorilaz and/or Cuba tomorrow but it depends on how much work I manage to finish during the day).
Friday, August 22, 2008
Looking up
Well, my friend Stefanja - who learnt her salsa in Madrid - thought her first visit to Risa (and first dancing for a year) was great. The night didn't start too brilliantly: for some reason I find it really hard to focus in the Thursday classes, so I gave up after the first half. But things definitely picked up later on: it was a lot livelier than it has been for a while, and I started getting my second wind around eleven. Some lovely dancers there, including one who hadn't been there for a while and one who's leaving us for three months to look after orang-utans (I hope they can dance).
I've not been feeling that I'm dancing very well lately – I'm missing the Sunday workshops and dancing with Patricia – so it was great that one dancer really liked Sombrero 88 (thanks Misael) and another told me I have a 'lovely lovely' lead : )
Best thing is that it looks as if Risa is on target to meet Andy and Stevie's ambitions for it: for the first time in a while it didn't fizzle out at midnight. There was a good contingent from Bristol there and a few strangers turned up late, so it was still going strong when we left at around quarter past twelve. Looking forward to some sleepless Thursday nights in the autumn.
I've not been feeling that I'm dancing very well lately – I'm missing the Sunday workshops and dancing with Patricia – so it was great that one dancer really liked Sombrero 88 (thanks Misael) and another told me I have a 'lovely lovely' lead : )
Best thing is that it looks as if Risa is on target to meet Andy and Stevie's ambitions for it: for the first time in a while it didn't fizzle out at midnight. There was a good contingent from Bristol there and a few strangers turned up late, so it was still going strong when we left at around quarter past twelve. Looking forward to some sleepless Thursday nights in the autumn.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Barocco
Kate's off on holiday for a fortnight so her Cuban salsa classes in Barocco start back on September 3rd.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
O'Neills
I went to O'Neills last night for the first time in months. I was expecting it to be quiet because of the holidays but it was actually very lively with several people there who I really like dancing with. Misael is now teaching there and was doing a very large rueda as I arrived.
There was quite a sizeable Cuban/Latin contingent and I slotted in to a rueda Misael was calling which included Manuel and Maria. I was pretty pleased with the way I managed to keep up on the first rueda, but later on I completely messed up one unfamiliar move, bringing chaos to the circle and leaving Liz dancing on her own (much to spectator Teresa's amusement). I think I've got it now...All in all I had a good time and I'll probably be back next week.
There was quite a sizeable Cuban/Latin contingent and I slotted in to a rueda Misael was calling which included Manuel and Maria. I was pretty pleased with the way I managed to keep up on the first rueda, but later on I completely messed up one unfamiliar move, bringing chaos to the circle and leaving Liz dancing on her own (much to spectator Teresa's amusement). I think I've got it now...All in all I had a good time and I'll probably be back next week.
Saturday, August 09, 2008
Role swapping
Kate's Cuban class on Wednesday was really useful with lots of points of style, and my rueda calling seems to have improved. Amusingly, Kate's boyfriend Jon was the best follower there by some distance (and according to my daughter, Debbie was one of the best leaders).
Swapping lead and follow is quite an entertaining thing to do. Perhaps that could be included in Andy's next advanced workshop series? The best female leader I've encountered was Anita: not only could she lead well - and she's tall enough for it not to look daft - but she was very good at explaining how to follow. I was just getting to grips with the principle of following when she went off to Japan.
Quick bit of info: Sabina and Misael's Cuban classes in Q Bar on Sundays are off until September as the venue is being refurbished.
Swapping lead and follow is quite an entertaining thing to do. Perhaps that could be included in Andy's next advanced workshop series? The best female leader I've encountered was Anita: not only could she lead well - and she's tall enough for it not to look daft - but she was very good at explaining how to follow. I was just getting to grips with the principle of following when she went off to Japan.
Quick bit of info: Sabina and Misael's Cuban classes in Q Bar on Sundays are off until September as the venue is being refurbished.
Monday, August 04, 2008
Rueda y La Tasca
I was talking to a dancer on Thursday night who had been hoping to find some good Cuban salsa in Cardiff. She should have been at La Tasca on Saturday - there were plenty of Cuban-style dancers there.
I haven't seen a rueda there before, but I'd just asked Sara for a dance when I noticed Gorka starting one. Sara's a rueda fan and Jordy moved over to let us slot in. It was great -there's nothing better than a lively, funky wheel where everybody knows what they're doing, and Gorka calls a great rueda. Quite an all-star (and largely Spanish) group: in addition to Gorka, it included James Perez (who taught the first rueda workshop I ever went to), and Nicky who teaches around Swansea, as well as Núria and Sofia. Turns out I was even luckier than I thought to catch it because Gorka has moved back to Spain and this was the last day of a visit to Wales.
I haven't seen a rueda there before, but I'd just asked Sara for a dance when I noticed Gorka starting one. Sara's a rueda fan and Jordy moved over to let us slot in. It was great -there's nothing better than a lively, funky wheel where everybody knows what they're doing, and Gorka calls a great rueda. Quite an all-star (and largely Spanish) group: in addition to Gorka, it included James Perez (who taught the first rueda workshop I ever went to), and Nicky who teaches around Swansea, as well as Núria and Sofia. Turns out I was even luckier than I thought to catch it because Gorka has moved back to Spain and this was the last day of a visit to Wales.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Heat and rain
I had it all worked out - take a day off today to take my daughters to the beach, and stay late at Risa last night. Well, it was tipping down with rain when I woke up, and Risa wrapped up not long after twelve. Oh well.
Andy's now moved the advanced class upstairs, which means there's loads more space - I might start going again. It was very hot up there last night though. One advantage, for those of us who don't do the classes, is that the free dancing downstairs started reasonably promptly. It's great to have Stevie on the decks: he's playing some really interesting and varied music. A lot of Cuban earlier on, some nice Latin jazz later, and no Colombian boogaloo. (I know it's easy to dance to but I've heard those Sonora Carruseles songs so often). A shame there weren't more dancers to enjoy it.
I went to Koko Gorilaz again on Tuesday, which I enjoyed: quite a few dancers there who you don't see anywhere else. After the classes Misael and Sabina took the time to help me sort out 'culebra' which he hadn't quite finished teaching in the earlier class. Sabina also told me some interesting stuff about Cuba: apparently rueda is often done as a game there, with surplus guys waiting around the circle to take the place of dancers who get ejected if they get a move wrong. Might improve the standard here ;)
Last of the July advanced workshops on Sunday. They've been really useful and I'm looking forward to when they start again in the Autumn.
Andy's now moved the advanced class upstairs, which means there's loads more space - I might start going again. It was very hot up there last night though. One advantage, for those of us who don't do the classes, is that the free dancing downstairs started reasonably promptly. It's great to have Stevie on the decks: he's playing some really interesting and varied music. A lot of Cuban earlier on, some nice Latin jazz later, and no Colombian boogaloo. (I know it's easy to dance to but I've heard those Sonora Carruseles songs so often). A shame there weren't more dancers to enjoy it.
I went to Koko Gorilaz again on Tuesday, which I enjoyed: quite a few dancers there who you don't see anywhere else. After the classes Misael and Sabina took the time to help me sort out 'culebra' which he hadn't quite finished teaching in the earlier class. Sabina also told me some interesting stuff about Cuba: apparently rueda is often done as a game there, with surplus guys waiting around the circle to take the place of dancers who get ejected if they get a move wrong. Might improve the standard here ;)
Last of the July advanced workshops on Sunday. They've been really useful and I'm looking forward to when they start again in the Autumn.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Party night
Irene and Shahid (Salsa Buena) have a Salsa Party night on Saturday 19th July at Pure, their new Tuesday night venue in Guildhall Place off St Mary Street. You need to have a flyer or an advance ticket - get them from Irene (Irene102@hotmail.co.uk or 07877-375317). Guest teachers are Simon and Angelique.
Friday, July 04, 2008
Risa
Having gone on about how great Paris was, I have to say that Bar Risa was rather wonderful last night. The Bristol contingent were there in force for Ali's birthday, and Stevie was back on the decks after a break for Glastonbury. I was feeling inspired after my Paris trip and some of my favourite dancers were there, so I think I've stopped pining for Cerise Matthieu (see the previous post but one.)
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Paris video
Sorry about the rubbish phone video. The top row is the outdoor salsa by Quai Saint-Bernard; the bottom row is Barrio Latino (bottom right is the birthday dance).
Barrio Latino
This former factory near the Bastille has a spectacular interior with balconies around a wooden floor.
I was feeling confident, having not been turned down once the previous night. I was a bit tired so my dancing was a bit variable to start with, but nobody seemed to mind. It’s pure cross-body style. With one woman I thought it was worth taking the risk of appearing in my own HM Bateman cartoon (‘The man who danced Cuban style in Barrio Latino’) and it went down well: she asked me where I’d learnt to dance Cuban-style and told me it was what she normally danced.
The best dancers mostly danced on the side of the floor nearest the DJ booth. I saw some terrific dancing by people who really seemed to be making it fun. Some of the top women only dance with the top men – I had a few refusals – but that wasn’t really a problem (I’d rather get a straight ‘no’ than dance with someone who’s not enjoying herself).
The music was uniformly excellent, almost all salsa, and unlike Madrid and Brussels I only recognised a couple of songs all afternoon. Very good-humoured: when I miscalculated a move and inadvertently inserted the woman I was dancing with between another dancer and his partner he just laughed it off.
Memorable dances included two with a woman who resembled Cerys Matthews, but smaller, browner, and prettier. She had an extraordinarily decisive bachata hip action – 1, 2, 3, BANG, 5, 6, 7, BANG... I tried to work out how she did it while I watched her dancing with someone else. Then there was the tallest woman I’ve ever danced with: she looked far too cool to dance with me (serious, pierced navel, tattooed hip) but when she said yes I had to hastily try and calculate which moves would work with someone who was probably 15cm taller than me.
Mid-afternoon I had two brilliant dances in succession, dancing better than I have for a long time. One was with the first woman I’d danced with the previous night. The second was one of the best dances I’ve ever had with a stranger, with some wonderfully subtle following.
I also realised that I really have learnt a lot recently as I was using of a lot of the points of technique from Andy’s advanced workshops (and Angus’s private lesson). And Misael’s Sombrero 88 and Ventilador worked with the Cuban woman.
One of the regular dancers had her birthday dance later, which was cool: just the top dancers circling her and taking it in turns (with plenty of joking around when somebody jumped in out of turn) while the whole club clapped out the clave.
Negatives? It was very hot (but then it was a very hot weekend), the drinks cost three times what you’d pay in Risa, and the dance floor got very crowded later on. None of these things should stop you going. Unlike Madrid – where I found the dance culture a bit alien – dancing in Paris seemed like the UK but just better: better music, better dancers and more fun. Definitely the most enjoyable three and a half hours I've spent dancing in a long time.
I was feeling confident, having not been turned down once the previous night. I was a bit tired so my dancing was a bit variable to start with, but nobody seemed to mind. It’s pure cross-body style. With one woman I thought it was worth taking the risk of appearing in my own HM Bateman cartoon (‘The man who danced Cuban style in Barrio Latino’) and it went down well: she asked me where I’d learnt to dance Cuban-style and told me it was what she normally danced.
The best dancers mostly danced on the side of the floor nearest the DJ booth. I saw some terrific dancing by people who really seemed to be making it fun. Some of the top women only dance with the top men – I had a few refusals – but that wasn’t really a problem (I’d rather get a straight ‘no’ than dance with someone who’s not enjoying herself).
The music was uniformly excellent, almost all salsa, and unlike Madrid and Brussels I only recognised a couple of songs all afternoon. Very good-humoured: when I miscalculated a move and inadvertently inserted the woman I was dancing with between another dancer and his partner he just laughed it off.
Memorable dances included two with a woman who resembled Cerys Matthews, but smaller, browner, and prettier. She had an extraordinarily decisive bachata hip action – 1, 2, 3, BANG, 5, 6, 7, BANG... I tried to work out how she did it while I watched her dancing with someone else. Then there was the tallest woman I’ve ever danced with: she looked far too cool to dance with me (serious, pierced navel, tattooed hip) but when she said yes I had to hastily try and calculate which moves would work with someone who was probably 15cm taller than me.
Mid-afternoon I had two brilliant dances in succession, dancing better than I have for a long time. One was with the first woman I’d danced with the previous night. The second was one of the best dances I’ve ever had with a stranger, with some wonderfully subtle following.
I also realised that I really have learnt a lot recently as I was using of a lot of the points of technique from Andy’s advanced workshops (and Angus’s private lesson). And Misael’s Sombrero 88 and Ventilador worked with the Cuban woman.
One of the regular dancers had her birthday dance later, which was cool: just the top dancers circling her and taking it in turns (with plenty of joking around when somebody jumped in out of turn) while the whole club clapped out the clave.
Negatives? It was very hot (but then it was a very hot weekend), the drinks cost three times what you’d pay in Risa, and the dance floor got very crowded later on. None of these things should stop you going. Unlike Madrid – where I found the dance culture a bit alien – dancing in Paris seemed like the UK but just better: better music, better dancers and more fun. Definitely the most enjoyable three and a half hours I've spent dancing in a long time.
A warm summer night in the City of Light
When I was invited to a seminar in Paris I couldn’t turn down my third European capital in three months. One contributor on SalsaForums reckoned it has the best ‘Puerto Rican’ (CBL) dancing outside New York, and it’s where Kate learnt to dance Cuban style. I headed over a day early to catch Barrio Latino on Sunday afernoon, and then I heard about the open-air Saturday nights on Quai Saint-Bernard.
It was still daylight when I found the square near the Musée du Monde Arabe on the Left Bank. I identified a dancer who looked good and intercepted her as she left the floor. A good choice: she had loads of style and a great attitude which encouraged me to dance in a relaxed way (though the free Limoncello after my pizza may have helped).
The vibe was really positive and easy-going and the women I danced with engaged, with plenty of eye contact and humour. I took it easy as I didn’t want to wreck my knee before Barrio Latino the following day, but even though I wasn’t dancing much I didn’t want to leave. I left around half eleven (after the sound system broke down for the third time). All around, on the grass and on the bank of the river, Parisians were having picnics in the summer heat as I walked back towards the Metro.
It was still daylight when I found the square near the Musée du Monde Arabe on the Left Bank. I identified a dancer who looked good and intercepted her as she left the floor. A good choice: she had loads of style and a great attitude which encouraged me to dance in a relaxed way (though the free Limoncello after my pizza may have helped).
The vibe was really positive and easy-going and the women I danced with engaged, with plenty of eye contact and humour. I took it easy as I didn’t want to wreck my knee before Barrio Latino the following day, but even though I wasn’t dancing much I didn’t want to leave. I left around half eleven (after the sound system broke down for the third time). All around, on the grass and on the bank of the river, Parisians were having picnics in the summer heat as I walked back towards the Metro.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Paris (1)
I don't have time to write a full report yet (I am actually here to work) but the salsa scene here is brilliant. Saturday night dancing in the open air on the banks of the Seine, and then Le Barrio Latino all Sunday afternoon. It's the best salsa club I've ever been to and the best dancers there are amazing. Pure cross-body style, but I'm thinking of looking for a Cuban club on Tuesday night (I need to get some sleep tonight as I'm giving a presentation tomorrow). I've shot some phone videos which I'll post when I have time. Trying to work out how soon I can come back here...
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Koko Gorilaz
I've been meaning to go to this for weeks but it's hard staying out late midweek. I've been wondering who Sabina was and realised when I got there that I'd had a very enjoyable dance with her in La Tasca a couple of weeks ago.
I didn't really know what to expect (the online videos show what looks like a lot of students appearing to have a good time) but the classes were serious. It turned out to be Ulisse's last night, so he just took the beginners' class before handing over to Misael. I found the improvers, and particularly the intermediate/advanced, to be really useful: funky, cool and authentically Cuban moves. There was a slight language barrier but there was plenty of emphasis on technique and he didn't try to teach too much, concentrating instead on repeating and embedding a small number of moves and looking at how to lead them: in the improvers' class it was setenta and sombrero ochenta y ocho, and the intermediate/advanced class started with sombrero ochenta y ocho and moved on to ventilador, which starts off with a very unusual lead. Patricia enjoyed it too, and reckoned it was the first time she'd been challenged in a class (apart from Andy's Sunday workshops) for a long time.
The only problem I have with going regularly is that it goes on so late! It should be OK over the summer holidays but I can't go regularly when I have to get up early for work the next day. Shame, because I learnt a lot.
I didn't really know what to expect (the online videos show what looks like a lot of students appearing to have a good time) but the classes were serious. It turned out to be Ulisse's last night, so he just took the beginners' class before handing over to Misael. I found the improvers, and particularly the intermediate/advanced, to be really useful: funky, cool and authentically Cuban moves. There was a slight language barrier but there was plenty of emphasis on technique and he didn't try to teach too much, concentrating instead on repeating and embedding a small number of moves and looking at how to lead them: in the improvers' class it was setenta and sombrero ochenta y ocho, and the intermediate/advanced class started with sombrero ochenta y ocho and moved on to ventilador, which starts off with a very unusual lead. Patricia enjoyed it too, and reckoned it was the first time she'd been challenged in a class (apart from Andy's Sunday workshops) for a long time.
The only problem I have with going regularly is that it goes on so late! It should be OK over the summer holidays but I can't go regularly when I have to get up early for work the next day. Shame, because I learnt a lot.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Bristol and Cardiff
Interesting if rather worrying explanation from Stevie on Salsajive as to why he's thrown in the towel:
http://www.salsajive.co.uk/salsa-chat/bd_22831.shtm
I hope we're not going to see the same thing happen here. Certainly some of the factors he mentions affect Cardiff as well - such as the proliferation of beginners' and improvers' classes, run by people who have other day jobs, sometimes in direct competition with established nights.
Looking on the bright side, Andy's Sunday workshops are continuing in July, which suggests that there are a reasonable number of people around who are prepared to pay for serious teaching.
http://www.salsajive.co.uk/salsa-chat/bd_22831.shtm
I hope we're not going to see the same thing happen here. Certainly some of the factors he mentions affect Cardiff as well - such as the proliferation of beginners' and improvers' classes, run by people who have other day jobs, sometimes in direct competition with established nights.
Looking on the bright side, Andy's Sunday workshops are continuing in July, which suggests that there are a reasonable number of people around who are prepared to pay for serious teaching.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
End of an era
Just heard that Steve West (El Diablito) is calling it a day with his Salsamania events in Bristol. He'll still be Djing for Andy on a Thursday in Cardiff for the foreseeable future. I've had some great nights in his venues and he's been one of the most hard-working promoters around. I assume that the reason he's given up is because of the difficulty of getting and keeping salsa venues because dancers just don't drink enough. Shame.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Friday
Kate's charity salsa party on Friday went very well. It was pretty quiet when I got there but there were plenty of people by the time the free dancing started, including Joanna who's magic to dance with. I wasn't surprised when she told me she learnt from the same teacher as Andy in Oxford. Jukebox, the young hip-hop troupe who were the beneficiaries (the event was aiming to raise money to get them to the world hip-hop championships in Las Vegas) did a very impressive show.
I was in a post-Bruce (Springsteen) daze by the time of Sunday's advanced class, but it was extremely useful. It took me out of my comfort zone (translation: I couldn't do all of it) but I really valued the emphasis on technique, posture and precision. Looks like the workshops won't be running again until the Autumn, so once this series ends I think a private lesson is in order before I forget what I did manage to learn.
I'm giving Kate's class a miss tonight as my knee is still a bit dodgy after Brussels, and I need to make sure it's better for Paris next weekend. I'll give Bar Risa a go for an hour tomorrow night, though.
I was in a post-Bruce (Springsteen) daze by the time of Sunday's advanced class, but it was extremely useful. It took me out of my comfort zone (translation: I couldn't do all of it) but I really valued the emphasis on technique, posture and precision. Looks like the workshops won't be running again until the Autumn, so once this series ends I think a private lesson is in order before I forget what I did manage to learn.
I'm giving Kate's class a miss tonight as my knee is still a bit dodgy after Brussels, and I need to make sure it's better for Paris next weekend. I'll give Bar Risa a go for an hour tomorrow night, though.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
¡Sabor!
Big salsa all-dayer at the Wales Millennium Centre on 28th June (click on the link above for booking details), with teachers including Andy and Kate, and Victor Hugo and his band playing in the evening. They are good and very danceable. I'm going to miss it as I'll be on the Eurostar heading to a seminar in Paris. (I'm going a day early with the aim of checking out the salsa in Le Barrio Latino on Sunday afternoon.)
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Brussels etc
I didn't actually get to the You club, which is the Sunday afternoon salsa in Brussels - I slept through it after early starts for work on Saturday and Sunday morning (and checking out the Belgian beer on Saturday night). But I got to La Tentation that night. It's a big warehouse near Place St Catherine. Rubbish floor (tiles, uneven in places), very hot, and a variable standard of dancing - but the music, the sound system and the atmosphere were really good and it was friendly. Unlike my experience in Madrid, here the dancers really engaged with plenty of eye contact and humour. I had a few really exciting dances and left on a high just after midnight as it was winding down. I was tempted to head over to Matonge, the African quarter, to check out the Congolese clubs, but decided - probably wisely - to leave that for my next visit and to round off the night with a glass of Kwak (great beer that comes in a wacky glass) instead.
Kate’s running another charity salsa party at the County Hall Staff Club off Schooner Way. I couldn’t go to the last one but heard very good reports about it. £5 advance, £6.50 on door (Risa this Thursday is your last chance for advance tickets).
Another diary date – Irene is teaching ladies’ styling June 10th and 27th and 4th July in Vitality Fitness Club above Henry’s in Park Place – starts 10am, cost £5 a class.
Finally, don't forget that Barrio Beatz is now weekly from this Thursday.
Kate’s running another charity salsa party at the County Hall Staff Club off Schooner Way. I couldn’t go to the last one but heard very good reports about it. £5 advance, £6.50 on door (Risa this Thursday is your last chance for advance tickets).
Another diary date – Irene is teaching ladies’ styling June 10th and 27th and 4th July in Vitality Fitness Club above Henry’s in Park Place – starts 10am, cost £5 a class.
Finally, don't forget that Barrio Beatz is now weekly from this Thursday.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Barrio Beatz
It's been a ridiculously busy and stressful week in work - up early every morning alternating between Bargoed and Briton Ferry. So busy that I had to postpone today's project because I hadn't had time to prepare properly for it. The bonus being that I could stay late at Barrio Beatz, or so I thought until the post-stress migraine kicked in at half past six. Incredibly frustrating - I still feel dazed, and a night's salsa was out of the question last night.
Instead, I took my camera along. I've put a whole stack of pictures on the Salsa Cardiff Facebook group and I've also added some of the best ones to my salsa set on Flickr. My technique needs a bit of fine tuning (pretty much anyone I photographed in the first half hour ended up as an artistic but unrecognisable blur) but I'm getting there.
Bar Risa was really full and everyone I photographed seemed to be smiling, so let's hope that it'll be repeated. If I get over the migraine I'll be out at La Tasca tomorrow night.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Bilingual
Quick reminder that Bar Risa is open til late on Thursday, with el Diablito on the decks. Let's hope it's a success so it'll be repeated.
Not sure if I'll be able to make it (my eldest daughter is going to be home having just finished her finals, so we'll be doing the vegetarian equivalent of killing the fatted calf) and even if I do I won't be able to take advantage of the late night as I've got an early start on Friday.
I had a great time in Barocco last week. The rueda on Thursday in Risa was fun, and I got the third compliment on my Cuban-style dancing in three weeks. I'm beginning to think that I might actually be getting close to salsa bilingualism thanks to Kate's teaching.
Not sure if I'll be able to make it (my eldest daughter is going to be home having just finished her finals, so we'll be doing the vegetarian equivalent of killing the fatted calf) and even if I do I won't be able to take advantage of the late night as I've got an early start on Friday.
I had a great time in Barocco last week. The rueda on Thursday in Risa was fun, and I got the third compliment on my Cuban-style dancing in three weeks. I'm beginning to think that I might actually be getting close to salsa bilingualism thanks to Kate's teaching.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
What's new
Quite a bit going on. One of the main things is Barrio Beats at Bar Risa. Stevie from Salsamania will be playing a mix of salsa, salsaton, reggaeton and other Latin beats until 2 in Bar Risa on Thursday 22nd. Sadly I have to be up early so I won't be able to stay late for this one, but if it's successful the plan is to continue it. Stevie's nights in Bristol are deservedly popular so if this takes off I'm going to have to plan work to avoid important stuff on Fridays.
I've been having a great time dancing lately, including Bar Risa and La Tasca. I've actually been complimented on my Cuban style dancing two weeks running (by two different people) in La Tasca, so Kate's teaching in Barocco is having an effect. La Tasca last Saturday was great. Abby was down from London, and though we mostly danced salsa I actually managed to convince her that bachata can be enjoyable (despite her previously having described the step as 'like a dog against a lamppost'). Patricia arrived later hotfoot from tango, and we've worked out how to do a cross-body lead with tango styling (she worked out how to do it, I've worked out how to lead it).
I'm wondering whether I ought to give tango a go sometime - in the meantime I've downloaded some earthy examples by Melingo from iTunes.
I've been having a great time dancing lately, including Bar Risa and La Tasca. I've actually been complimented on my Cuban style dancing two weeks running (by two different people) in La Tasca, so Kate's teaching in Barocco is having an effect. La Tasca last Saturday was great. Abby was down from London, and though we mostly danced salsa I actually managed to convince her that bachata can be enjoyable (despite her previously having described the step as 'like a dog against a lamppost'). Patricia arrived later hotfoot from tango, and we've worked out how to do a cross-body lead with tango styling (she worked out how to do it, I've worked out how to lead it).
I'm wondering whether I ought to give tango a go sometime - in the meantime I've downloaded some earthy examples by Melingo from iTunes.
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Nice to be back
I think I'm appreciating dancing in Cardiff more since getting back from Madrid. I'm enjoying Bar Risa on a Thursday night enormously: plenty of space, cracking music and a lot of good dancers with a great attitude who really connect when you dance with them. Later on Andy's varying the music a bit with some fast Latin jazz, and while the numbers thin out after 11 most of the people who stay are people you'd want to dance with. On the 22nd it's going to get a bit livelier: Stevie (El Diablito) is coming over from Bristol to run a Latin party from 11 until 2, which may be repeated if it's successful.
Picked up a couple of unusual leads from the final one of this series of Andy's Sunday workshops. I've enjoyed them, and it's been nice dancing with Katie (another good dancer with a nice attitude). I had fun dancing bachata with her in La Tasca last week while dodging the drunks. That was a good night despite the drunks, with the added bonus of getting to dance with Cristina who was back for the weekend (having missed her in Madrid).
Last night Angus Peters was guest teacher for Tammi's masquerade ball in Llanharan. I'd been really impressed both times I'd caught Angus' group lessons, so I booked a private lesson with Patricia. Angus' style is very different from Andy's (though diametrically opposite to Cuban style): it's cross-body style but with the emphasis on smooth, continuous motion rather than the dynamism of LA style. The lesson was really useful: a lot of emphasis on how to make the lead clear, accurate and effortless for both partners, with some apparently simple but extremely effective tips and small adjustments which worked well on the dancefloor afterwards. It's got me thinking a lot about how I should dance and how I can improve my dancing.
Still not sure if I'm going to get to Paris in July. But it looks like I may be checking out the Brussels salsa scene in a month's time as I've been asked to do a couple of days work there.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Little Cubans and hangovers
Dance partner working in Madrid for a month? Obviously a visit to check out the salsa clubs is essential.
Preparation didn't quite go according to plan - distractions like work and friends meant I'd done very little dancing in the previous couple of weeks apart from Andy's advanced workshops, and I was getting over a cold.
The first place we tried was Azucár on Friday night, ten euros admission. It was quiet to start with, which made for some nice easy dancing early on. But it filled up a lot later and got very crowded and smoky.
The tricky bit was when we decided that we really should do some dancing with the locals - easier for Patricia, harder for me as there was a surplus of guys (many obviously on the pull) and not many good dancers there. But I did have one good dance with a woman who I spotted could do CBL. Turned out when we compared notes afterwards that Patricia had had just one good dance as well.
Music was probably more bachata and merengue than salsa. I recognised a lot of the salsa tracks they played, which suggests that Andy has his finger on the pulse. Every so often everything stopped for an amusing reggaeton lineup. There was a bit of rueda too, most of which I recognised (apart from 'la goma' - which means glue, or in Central America it's slang for a hangover). Drinks were very expensive - six euros (that's nearly a fiver at current exchange rates) for a beer, a coke or a small bottle of water.
We should probably have moved on somewhere else, but Azucár is diametrically the opposite side of the city from the other main salsa clubs, Randall and Tropical House. Bit of a late night – it was nearly four by the time I got to bed.
Saturday night wasn't supposed to be a dancing night at all as Patricia had friends visiting. But she invited me along when they went out for a meal in Chueca (the part of Madrid with a big gay and club scene). After the meal and a couple of beers - and after looking in a couple of unappealing places playing techno – we came across Merodeo (Calle Pelayo 58): dark, empty, playing everything from Kylie to Latin pop. Hell, nobody's watching, the staff are friendly, the mojitos are good, let's dance. So we danced (or at least three of us did) with abandon, and it was great.
With a bit of a leap of the imagination the odd track was suitable for dancing salsa or merengue to, particularly after they were persuaded to put some Ricky Martin on. (You think that's embarrassing? Patricia has made me promise never to tell anyone about some of the other tracks she danced to.) Not sure whether it was the siesta, the cafe solo I had at six – or maybe it was the mojito that brought my mojo back – but I had my best dances of the weekend with Patricia in Merodeo and I didn't stop smiling all the way back to the hotel (early this time, in bed by 2.30).
By the time of the rueda class in Cats on Saturday I was struggling, particularly after my siesta had been cut short with a text telling my the class started at 6.30 (leaving no time for food). The rueda class was huge and the standard was pretty basic, but I learnt another new move (Cubanitos). People were pretty friendly, though I struggle with understanding Madrileño Spanish. Not much eye contact, which I found a bit disconcerting but I assume must be a local thing. (My former dance partner Charlotte was dancing in Shrewsbury once and got told off for it: "You don't do that looking thing, do you? We don't do that here.")
Quick exit for a cafe solo and some olives to supplement a Powerbar (nutritious supper, eh?) and then back for a few dances with Patricia before she left for some unmissable tango (apparently the tango in Madrid is brilliant). Then it was up to me. Very crowded on the main dance floor with a wide variation of ability. Quite a challenge identifying people to dance with, keeping them safe, and trying to think of interesting Cuban-style things to do with them in a small space. I had a few dances, all of which were OK but none of which were anything special. I watched some lively rueda and one very slick CBL couple. By half ten it became obvious that my second wind wasn't going to arrive so it was time to leave.
Worth going? Yes, it was good to see Latin music as part of real life rather than being a subculture as it is here (the shop assistant in the souvenir shop yesterday morning was dancing merengue). Madrid's an interesting city and my Spanish is a bit less rusty than it was a week ago. I was surprised at how little really good dancing I saw, but I think that might be different midweek when there are more salsa classes and specialist salsa nights.
Next salsa stop Paris, I hope, if my application to go to a seminar in June there is successful...
Monday, April 14, 2008
Cuba
Turns out Bar Cuba was open last Tuesday - the bouncer had told an obnoxious drunk that it was closed, so he couldn't tell me it was open. Not the best example of door control...
Great advanced workshop last night, with lots of interesting variations on copa, which is one of my favourite moves.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Friday night salsa party
Kate's organising a charity salsa party at County Hall social club off Schooner Way on Friday - £5 adv, £6.50 on door for beginners' and improvers' classes, buffet and dancing until midnight.
Going to miss this one, unfortunately. I'm missing a lot of salsa at the moment because of work and other things, and when I finally did get out to go to Bar Cuba last night I arrived at 10.20 to be told there was no free dancing after the classes. I don't know if this is temporary but I wasn't best pleased.
Going to miss this one, unfortunately. I'm missing a lot of salsa at the moment because of work and other things, and when I finally did get out to go to Bar Cuba last night I arrived at 10.20 to be told there was no free dancing after the classes. I don't know if this is temporary but I wasn't best pleased.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Wrong
There was a discussion on Salsajive recently about how humourless cross-body dancers are - apparently they/we get stroppy if partners get things wrong.
I don't recognise this on the Cardiff scene - but, more to the point, how do you define 'wrong'? Yes, it's good to dance with someone who you can rely on to follow your lead perfectly, but some of the partners I most look forward to dancing with are women who I know won't always interpret the lead in the way I expect. They are very stylish dancers - often from a ballroom or other dance background - but they haven't had standard CBL moves drilled into them. Having to respond instantly when a woman has done something unexpected with the lead makes the dance more interesting, exciting and unpredictable - and it also makes it more of a partner dance, rather than the woman just following what the man intends.
So, guys, the next time a woman does something 'wrong' don't stop and point out the error of her ways (she'll just think you're a git, quite rightly): keep dancing and treat it as an opportunity to show how spontaneous you can be.
I don't recognise this on the Cardiff scene - but, more to the point, how do you define 'wrong'? Yes, it's good to dance with someone who you can rely on to follow your lead perfectly, but some of the partners I most look forward to dancing with are women who I know won't always interpret the lead in the way I expect. They are very stylish dancers - often from a ballroom or other dance background - but they haven't had standard CBL moves drilled into them. Having to respond instantly when a woman has done something unexpected with the lead makes the dance more interesting, exciting and unpredictable - and it also makes it more of a partner dance, rather than the woman just following what the man intends.
So, guys, the next time a woman does something 'wrong' don't stop and point out the error of her ways (she'll just think you're a git, quite rightly): keep dancing and treat it as an opportunity to show how spontaneous you can be.
Congo
The best CD I bought last year wasn't the latest from Cuba or NY: it was Congo: Rumba on the River 1954-67, which I picked up while sheltering from the rain in WOMAD. It's a double CD of beautiful Latin-influenced music, mostly from the early 60s. You can dance to it but it's also gentle, warm music to chill to - remarkably, as the 60s was a bloody time in the Congo. Some of the songs are essentially Congolese versions of Cuban hits (with piano replaced by shimmering guitars) but there are also plenty of original pieces. I was familiar with some of the musicians - I photographed Rochereau (performing under his African name of Tabu Ley) at an early WOMAD - but I'd never heard of the wonderful Grand Kalle.
Looking at things the other way round, earlier in the year I bought Out of Cuba: Latin American music takes Africa by Storm. This CD is intended as a kind of ethnomusicologists' guide to the (mostly) Cuban music which was the source of much 60s African music, but it's also a great primer to early Cuban music even if African music isn't your thing. It goes right back to El Manicero, the first ever international Latin hit. Another thing that's good about it is that the clave is really loud on some of the earlier recordings: it can be difficult to hear it buried in the mix of a lot of modern salsa tracks, but you can't miss it on the old songs.
Looking at things the other way round, earlier in the year I bought Out of Cuba: Latin American music takes Africa by Storm. This CD is intended as a kind of ethnomusicologists' guide to the (mostly) Cuban music which was the source of much 60s African music, but it's also a great primer to early Cuban music even if African music isn't your thing. It goes right back to El Manicero, the first ever international Latin hit. Another thing that's good about it is that the clave is really loud on some of the earlier recordings: it can be difficult to hear it buried in the mix of a lot of modern salsa tracks, but you can't miss it on the old songs.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Easter weekend
Dancing's a lot more fun when you know you haven't got to get up for work the following day, and Thursday night pretty much everybody was in that position – the joint was jumping. I got into the buzz right from the start with Andy's warmdown/up, probably helped by having been at Barocco the previous night: unlike some of my other vices, dancing is more fun the more often you do it. For over two hours the only time I really stopped was to cool down (it was seriously warm). Ms X timed her arrival perfectly just as the first bachata track was starting, so that a good evening got even better.
Last night was my birthday, so after some very good curry at the Vegetarian Food Studio (highly recommended) it was dancing at La Tasca. At 1am I was flagging and thinking of going home, and then I got my second wind and the last hour was great. Think I'll try and fit in a few more late nights this week as I'm not back in work until next Monday : )
Monday, March 17, 2008
Wow
For anyone who, like me, was struggling with the Colombian footwork the other night (yes, my knee is much better, thanks) how about this:
It' s not just the footwork that's remarkable - watch what happens at about 1 minute 15 seconds into the clip.
BTW it's my birthday on Saturday, and thanks to the leap year it'll be on a dancing night again - if anyone would like to help me celebrate I'll be at La Tasca from around 11.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Ouch
It took a bit longer than anticipated for my knee to recover from last week's workshop. Missing dancing is bad enough, but not being able to cycle either made it worse - it doesn't take long for lack of exercise to make me feel like an irritable slug. To my relief it was just about OK by the time Sunday's private lesson came around. Even though neither of us was at our liveliest it was very useful, and I finally cracked a move I'd half-learnt a couple of weeks earlier. It's remarkable how small adjustments can make a huge difference to how smoothly a move works. And I learnt how to do bachata so that the step doesn't look like "a dog against a lamp post" (thanks, Abby).
A couple of hours off and then back for round 2, the advanced workshop. This was very entertaining, the most amusing bit being when both women and men had to do solo cross-body lead turns from one side of the dance studio to the other, and then go back doing sombrero turns. Finally we had to do it the length of the dance studio, which is where people's ability to spot really came into question. One woman (a brilliant dancer) showed how effortless it could be, after which everything ended up as a series of races with people shouting encouragement to the leaders. One dancer (who I won't name to save her embarrassment) was just about to win the final lap but fell over a metre from the line...
The partner work started by revising the move from the previous week, looking in detail at positioning, how to lead the move and how to 'anchor' the end of the turn. Finally Andy looked at fitting the moves to the music, identifying the stronger and weaker measures. Very worthwhile and a completely different emphasis from most salsa classes, with their emphasis on long sequences of elaborate moves strung together with no relationship to the music.
And I felt so much better after some dancing.
I tried out some of the new moves in O'Neills last night and a couple of them worked on someone who didn't know they were coming, which is the real test. Need a bit more practice to get them working every time, though. I'm thinking of trying to get a few people together to hire a dance studio for practising as those mirrors are really useful.
No salsa in O'Neills next week (St Patrick's Day) but as a bonus it's open on Easter Monday.
A couple of hours off and then back for round 2, the advanced workshop. This was very entertaining, the most amusing bit being when both women and men had to do solo cross-body lead turns from one side of the dance studio to the other, and then go back doing sombrero turns. Finally we had to do it the length of the dance studio, which is where people's ability to spot really came into question. One woman (a brilliant dancer) showed how effortless it could be, after which everything ended up as a series of races with people shouting encouragement to the leaders. One dancer (who I won't name to save her embarrassment) was just about to win the final lap but fell over a metre from the line...
The partner work started by revising the move from the previous week, looking in detail at positioning, how to lead the move and how to 'anchor' the end of the turn. Finally Andy looked at fitting the moves to the music, identifying the stronger and weaker measures. Very worthwhile and a completely different emphasis from most salsa classes, with their emphasis on long sequences of elaborate moves strung together with no relationship to the music.
And I felt so much better after some dancing.
I tried out some of the new moves in O'Neills last night and a couple of them worked on someone who didn't know they were coming, which is the real test. Need a bit more practice to get them working every time, though. I'm thinking of trying to get a few people together to hire a dance studio for practising as those mirrors are really useful.
No salsa in O'Neills next week (St Patrick's Day) but as a bonus it's open on Easter Monday.
Monday, March 03, 2008
Ow
That advanced workshop was good last night (I really liked the partner move Andy taught us) but my 'good' knee is giving me trouble after all that high-speed footwork. So I'll miss O'Neills tonight. Assuming my knee behaves I should be out on Wednesday and Thursday, and twice on Sunday (once for a private lesson, once for the workshop).
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Salsathon
Just got back from taxi dancing duties at the salsathon. It was touch and go whether I would get there as I went down with a sore throat on Friday. Plenty of Ibuprofen and water kept me going through the event (though my dancing wasn't exactly inspired) but I'm completely wiped out now. The time went remarkably quickly: it was broken up with plenty of lineups and ruedas which helped. A bonus for me was discovering a really funky, stylish dancer who I'd never partnered before (except in rueda).
Most people managed the whole six hours, which ended with a completely mad finale led by Andy. It was very well organised: congratulations to Kate - and, of course, well done to everyone who took part.
I think O'Neills may be a bit quieter than usual tomorrow.
Most people managed the whole six hours, which ended with a completely mad finale led by Andy. It was very well organised: congratulations to Kate - and, of course, well done to everyone who took part.
I think O'Neills may be a bit quieter than usual tomorrow.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Inspired...
...is how I'm feeling about dancing at the moment. At the beginning of the year I thought of packing in the blog because, although I was still enjoying dancing, I seemed to be doing a lot of the same old stuff. Finding a talented and enthusiastic dance partner has made a huge difference and got me thinking that I really could raise my game if I put my mind to it.
We did Andy's taster Intermediate and Advanced workshops yesterday. They were exactly how salsa ought to be taught: concentrating on getting the basics right as the foundation for everything else, rather than trying to learn yet another new sequence with a succession of partners of varying ability.
But I don't think I was the only person to get a bit of a shock from looking in the mirrors at the beginning of the Intermediate class: the way I thought I was dancing, and the reality staring back at me, were rather more different than they should have been after six years of salsa.
I wasn't going to do the Advanced workshop as I was tired and hungover, but I felt inspired after the Intermediate workshop. I'm glad I stayed. It was really interesting with lots of emphasis on control and clear leading. Patricia and I not only learnt a lovely new move but worked out how to make it even niftier - let's see if it works on Thursday...
We did Andy's taster Intermediate and Advanced workshops yesterday. They were exactly how salsa ought to be taught: concentrating on getting the basics right as the foundation for everything else, rather than trying to learn yet another new sequence with a succession of partners of varying ability.
But I don't think I was the only person to get a bit of a shock from looking in the mirrors at the beginning of the Intermediate class: the way I thought I was dancing, and the reality staring back at me, were rather more different than they should have been after six years of salsa.
I wasn't going to do the Advanced workshop as I was tired and hungover, but I felt inspired after the Intermediate workshop. I'm glad I stayed. It was really interesting with lots of emphasis on control and clear leading. Patricia and I not only learnt a lovely new move but worked out how to make it even niftier - let's see if it works on Thursday...
Friday, February 15, 2008
Salsa course
At last Andy's offering structured salsa courses in Cardiff. Starting on 4th March, he's running four to five week modules at each of four levels from beginners to advanced in a proper dance studio. This seems to me like a much better way of getting a thorough grounding than the traditional 'just turn up' lessons. There's a taster this Sunday (17th), after which you have to book for the courses. More details on the Dancalatina site.
Valentine's
I thought last night might be quiet due to the date but it wasn't bad - and the absence of several of my favourite dancers made me dance with new people. Including a woman who I think may be the best dancer I've ever danced with: incredibly stylish, fast and fluid (she's the tall woman who was doing ballet spins and dancing with the most advanced dancers).
It also meant that I had to practise my new improved moves with people other than Ms X, which is the way to find out if the lead really works. I couldn't quite believe just how much smoother and easier one sequence was since Saturday's private lesson. All in all a good night.
It also meant that I had to practise my new improved moves with people other than Ms X, which is the way to find out if the lead really works. I couldn't quite believe just how much smoother and easier one sequence was since Saturday's private lesson. All in all a good night.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Andy's private lessons
These are the way to go if you really want to improve. We had one on Saturday which started by looking at a move that I do quite a lot but that never quite works, and Andy showed me in a lot of detail how to make it more comfortable and clearer for the follower, showed another way to get into the move and showed her how to tidy up and control her spins. Instant improvement, and we learnt another cool new move as well. Andy's ability to instantly read exactly what needs sorting out with your dancing, and to give feedback at the right level, is very impressive.
Friday, February 08, 2008
Risa last night
Apart from Kate's teaching the other good thing about Barocco is that it's the night before Risa. My dancing is much better if I've had a dance the night before. I had lots of fun in Risa last night, even though I had to leave early (early start in the morning). Cracking warmdown from Andy, and then I called a couple of ruedas before Kate took over. Funny how it varies from week to week - last week was too loud, too crowded, too hot and not enough of the people I wanted to dance with. This week I had a great time.
Barocco
Barocco was great. Surprisingly full, with quite a few good LA-style dancers in the beginners' class. Kate's teaching was very structured with plenty of repetition and gradual progression, just what beginners need. It was my daughter Lowri's first ever salsa lesson and she enjoyed herself. I did as well, but I was quite shocked to discover just how much I have to learn about Cuban salsa.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Kate's Cuban night (2)
Don't forget it starts this week - 7.30 Wednesday. Looking forward to it, and I think I may have persuaded my younger daughter that she should come along as well.
Unfortunately I had to miss Cristina's last night in Cardiff a week ago Monday - hope it goes well in Madrid, we'll miss you in Cardiff.
The previous week O'Neills saw a flying visit from Gail (former Cardiff salsa stalwart and now Oz inhabitant). Some of my best dances ever were with Gail in the Toad, and even though she hasn't danced for a long time she's still got the magic.
Unfortunately I had to miss Cristina's last night in Cardiff a week ago Monday - hope it goes well in Madrid, we'll miss you in Cardiff.
The previous week O'Neills saw a flying visit from Gail (former Cardiff salsa stalwart and now Oz inhabitant). Some of my best dances ever were with Gail in the Toad, and even though she hasn't danced for a long time she's still got the magic.
Monday, February 04, 2008
Too much Aqua means no Aqua
Aqua on a Sunday night has now ended - people weren't drinking enough. Andy will shortly be starting a new Sunday night at a dance studio in Rumney where it won't matter if you just drink water.
I don't know whether Risa is under threat as well - they've stopped putting water out and they've turned the air conditioning down.
Personally I'd rather pay more on the door and drink tap water, rather than buying soft drinks which I don't actually want.
I don't know whether Risa is under threat as well - they've stopped putting water out and they've turned the air conditioning down.
Personally I'd rather pay more on the door and drink tap water, rather than buying soft drinks which I don't actually want.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Kate's Cuban night
Here are the details for Kate's new Cuban night on Wednesday evenings, which starts on February 5th. It's upstairs in Barocco, the old Bar is it? (where do they think up these names?) on Wharton Street. That's the partly pedestrianised street that runs from St Mary Street to the Hayes, next to Howells.
Times are as follows:
Beginners 7.30
Improvers 8.30
Intermediates 9.15
(Improvers and Intermediates also include la rueda.)
Free style 10-12am
Prices:
£4 per person for all classes
£2 free style only
Times are as follows:
Beginners 7.30
Improvers 8.30
Intermediates 9.15
(Improvers and Intermediates also include la rueda.)
Free style 10-12am
Prices:
£4 per person for all classes
£2 free style only
Friday, January 04, 2008
2008...
...started with a couple of rather drunk bachatas shortly after midnight with the woman who first introduced me to salsa all those years ago. Next was Risa last night. Steve and Sara were teaching. I'd never been to one of Steve's classes before. It was a really nice flowing sequence with some unusual leads, though I did lose the plot a bit in the second half. For once, the (rare) surplus of men was actually a good thing: when I was standing out I videoed the sequence on my phone, and then Sara gave me some really useful pointers on how to refine one of the more unusual leads.
2008 is looking promising: I've discovered a dancer who's only been doing salsa for a year but is great to dance with, and she's up for sharing a private lesson later in the month. Also, Kate's much-anticipated new night is scheduled to start at the end of January: at last Cardiff will have a proper Cuban night, on Wednesdays in Barossa, the refurbished 'is it?' off St Mary Street. I'll post details of exact times and the start date as soon as I know them.
2008 is looking promising: I've discovered a dancer who's only been doing salsa for a year but is great to dance with, and she's up for sharing a private lesson later in the month. Also, Kate's much-anticipated new night is scheduled to start at the end of January: at last Cardiff will have a proper Cuban night, on Wednesdays in Barossa, the refurbished 'is it?' off St Mary Street. I'll post details of exact times and the start date as soon as I know them.
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