I did four hours taxi dancing for the Salsathon on Sunday. It seemed to be going very well even though numbers were down on last year. I was completely knackered having got carried away with the reggaeton in La Tasca (and it's amazing how many of the salsathoners were there) but I eventually got into the swing of it. Some lovely dancers there on Sunday, and some nice ruedas, though I must say my dancing wasn't that inspired.
I'm afraid I'm developing a bit of a taste for reggaeton, which is probably unwise at my age for reasons both aesthetic and medical. At least with salsa age doesn't seem to be too much of a bar - in fact, I was encouraged a few years ago by a tall, pretty German friend who was trying to decide which salsa night to go to and stated very firmly "I don't vont to dance with any young men".
Monday, February 23, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
Jaks
Got to Jumpin' Jaks last night for the first time since the opening night, and reminded myself just why Thursdays are unmissable. Lots of space even though there were loads of people there, and most of the best dancers in Cardiff: I danced almost non-stop until a quarter to twelve. It's a shame about the floor, though - it's not the worst floor I've danced on (that would be La Tentation in Brussels - it took my knee months to recover from that) but it's pretty iffy. It's worth moving around as some parts of the floor are fine.
Fortunately my pattern of work over the next few weeks means I should be able to get out most Thursdays.
BTW I'm back in Brussels in June. I'm hoping to get to the You Club on the Sunday afternoon, but I'm also planning to check out the Saturday night scene in Matonge (the Congolese district) so it might be too ambitious to try and get to both.
Fortunately my pattern of work over the next few weeks means I should be able to get out most Thursdays.
BTW I'm back in Brussels in June. I'm hoping to get to the You Club on the Sunday afternoon, but I'm also planning to check out the Saturday night scene in Matonge (the Congolese district) so it might be too ambitious to try and get to both.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
O'Neills monthly dance night
The monthly night scheduled for O'Neills on 28th February has been postponed to avoid clashing with the Wales-France game. It'll now be on the following Friday, 8th March, with guest DJ Erik B. Good news for me as I wouldn't have been able to make the 28th.
Also there's no salsa at the Purple Lounge this Sunday due to the Salsathon (1-7 at the Heath Sports and Social Centre).
Also there's no salsa at the Purple Lounge this Sunday due to the Salsathon (1-7 at the Heath Sports and Social Centre).
Monday, February 16, 2009
International night
Broke my usual rule of avoiding La Tasca on international nights as I was desperate for a dance. I nearly slept through it: I decided to have a nap at 8, was woken up at half ten. Oversleeping meant that it took me a while to get warmed up, but at least I did better than another dancer who missed the night because she slept until half past midnight!
It was a bit more crowded than usual (in other words, it was very crowded). I was very impressed with one woman from the Wednesday class - she's a fairly recent beginner but we danced in a very constricted corner with no problems.
A good, if hot and sweaty, time was had by all, though some tactical dancing was in order - 'accidentally' bumping into or stepping on drunks who looked as if they were about to try it on with the woman I was dancing with, or even about to lurch into the big rueda. I normally think of protecting the space as the leader's job, but I was dancing with one woman and a guy (not a drunk, as far as I could tell) went and stood in our space. She said "Just turn me into him" - so I led her into a gentle collision, she said "Oh, sorry!" very convincingly, and he moved.
You could tell I was enjoying myself because I even joined in the collective reggaeton at the end and actually wanted it to carry on when the lights went up.
Suffered a bit for it yesterday though: seriously dehydrated.
It was a bit more crowded than usual (in other words, it was very crowded). I was very impressed with one woman from the Wednesday class - she's a fairly recent beginner but we danced in a very constricted corner with no problems.
A good, if hot and sweaty, time was had by all, though some tactical dancing was in order - 'accidentally' bumping into or stepping on drunks who looked as if they were about to try it on with the woman I was dancing with, or even about to lurch into the big rueda. I normally think of protecting the space as the leader's job, but I was dancing with one woman and a guy (not a drunk, as far as I could tell) went and stood in our space. She said "Just turn me into him" - so I led her into a gentle collision, she said "Oh, sorry!" very convincingly, and he moved.
You could tell I was enjoying myself because I even joined in the collective reggaeton at the end and actually wanted it to carry on when the lights went up.
Suffered a bit for it yesterday though: seriously dehydrated.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Challenging
Not managing to get out much at the moment - I've missed all but the first night of Jumpin' Jaks as I have some 'challenging' work on Friday mornings which means I can't afford to be in my usual post-salsa state of sleep-deprivation and dehydration. I did drag myself out on Monday but it was cancelled because of the lack of punters (who are these wimps who won't come out dancing just because a blizzard is forecast?). Nice to sit around and chat with the other dancers though.
I finally got some dancing on Wednesday. I'm really enjoying Misael's class, even though it's just improvers' level, and I had a lot of fun dancing afterwards. And from next week he's adding an intermediate class. His intermediate stuff is great so I'm looking forward to it, but unfortunately I've shortly got six weeks of early mornings on Thursdays.
Next week should be a bit better - working 11-6 every day, so I can afford a few late nights : )
I finally got some dancing on Wednesday. I'm really enjoying Misael's class, even though it's just improvers' level, and I had a lot of fun dancing afterwards. And from next week he's adding an intermediate class. His intermediate stuff is great so I'm looking forward to it, but unfortunately I've shortly got six weeks of early mornings on Thursdays.
Next week should be a bit better - working 11-6 every day, so I can afford a few late nights : )
Friday, February 06, 2009
National Geographic
On the recommendation of the Guardian's Film and Music supplement I had a look at National Geographic's World Music site. It's got a fascinating range of music on it, searchable by artist or genre, with samples you can listen to or buy.
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Barocco and La Tasca
Changes to Barocco: all the classes on a Tuesday will now be taught by Sabina. See the listing (Cardiff salsa nights and classes) for details.
Misael is teaching at La Tasca on Wednesdays and Cwmbran Thursdays. I got to La Tasca late last night - working late, feeling frazzled - but joined in the last half hour of the class and learnt a new move. Even though it's supposed to be an improvers' class I found it useful, and there are some nice dancers there. (I was very surprised to see Charlotte in the class until I realised she was there as a leader.) I do feel sorry for some of the guys there who really get confused trying to work out which direction to go in: I remember getting just as confused as them in my first few months. It's just a matter of keeping at it until it makes sense, which it eventually will. And Misael includes plenty of revision, going over moves from previous weeks.
After the class it was a couple of ruedas (one of which I called, messily) and half a dozen dances and all was right with the world again.
Misael is teaching at La Tasca on Wednesdays and Cwmbran Thursdays. I got to La Tasca late last night - working late, feeling frazzled - but joined in the last half hour of the class and learnt a new move. Even though it's supposed to be an improvers' class I found it useful, and there are some nice dancers there. (I was very surprised to see Charlotte in the class until I realised she was there as a leader.) I do feel sorry for some of the guys there who really get confused trying to work out which direction to go in: I remember getting just as confused as them in my first few months. It's just a matter of keeping at it until it makes sense, which it eventually will. And Misael includes plenty of revision, going over moves from previous weeks.
After the class it was a couple of ruedas (one of which I called, messily) and half a dozen dances and all was right with the world again.
Monday, February 02, 2009
Timing is all
Friday was the first of Charlotte's monthly dancing-only nights with guest DJs. It was very quiet when I arrived not long after nine, which was nice - got to dance with Vania on an empty dancefloor. It filled up later on. The music was great (Henry Viña) and I think a very good time was had by all.
I noticed one guy there had very good timing. A few weeks earlier I'd wondered why one of my favourite dancers wanted to spend half the night dancing with him, now I know why. He's one of these guys who looks as if he's dancing in slow motion, even when he's doing elaborate moves. I wonder if that style of dancing is like cool jazz - recently someone analysed Miles Davies' playing and worked out that he was a few milliseconds behind the beat.
It is actually possible to do the opposite, as I discovered a couple of weeks ago. I was excited to be having the first dance of the evening with Sabina (if you've danced Cuban-style with her you'll know what I mean: the first time I danced a fast Cuban track with her was the first time I really 'got' what Cuban-style was about).
Anyway, I did a move (Sombrero Ochenta y Ocho) and asked her if I'd got the timing right. What I meant was, had I led the second turn at the right point in the move; what she said was "actually, you're dancing half a beat ahead of the music". I was horrified: she told me that it's actually quite common among musicians. One thing that can make people play ahead of the beat is caffeine: maybe that 11pm espresso at La Tasca isn't such a great idea after all.
I noticed one guy there had very good timing. A few weeks earlier I'd wondered why one of my favourite dancers wanted to spend half the night dancing with him, now I know why. He's one of these guys who looks as if he's dancing in slow motion, even when he's doing elaborate moves. I wonder if that style of dancing is like cool jazz - recently someone analysed Miles Davies' playing and worked out that he was a few milliseconds behind the beat.
It is actually possible to do the opposite, as I discovered a couple of weeks ago. I was excited to be having the first dance of the evening with Sabina (if you've danced Cuban-style with her you'll know what I mean: the first time I danced a fast Cuban track with her was the first time I really 'got' what Cuban-style was about).
Anyway, I did a move (Sombrero Ochenta y Ocho) and asked her if I'd got the timing right. What I meant was, had I led the second turn at the right point in the move; what she said was "actually, you're dancing half a beat ahead of the music". I was horrified: she told me that it's actually quite common among musicians. One thing that can make people play ahead of the beat is caffeine: maybe that 11pm espresso at La Tasca isn't such a great idea after all.
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