Hey guys, this is a review about the salsa party at Zenzi this Sunday(13th Oct) which I managed to reach pretty late around 11.15 , didn’t bother to find a date , as going solo is sometimes lot of fun. I realized that I was going to a Salsa party after almost 6 month, Just wanted to see some familiar faces and feel a sense of belonging .Which i relaize is not the greatest attitude to have when you go out for a party.Salsa community is a very small community in Mumbai, I could almost recognise most
of people at Zenzi by faces , though not by name, all the regulars were there.
This is a place where some of the fabulous dancers come, as most of them are Salsa India students which hosts this party, and it is very kind of Salsa India to keep it open for others too.But it is not a melting pot where everyone’s style of dancing is similar, you can almost make out from the style of dancing, to which school they belong.
To start with the music was exceptionally good, Ash and Derek were alternating at the console , I guess the music has really evolved since the last time I heard some. Unfortunately I have never been comfortable dancing at Zenzi, the reason maybe Salsa India students are all good dancers, and I for one can barely dance, and it is very important for a guy to be better than the lady. This is a place which clearly doesn’t encourage making a fool of yourself, so one needs to exercise some restraint.People are very serious , they mind their own business, even people who you have been seeing for ages, wont say Hi to you, maybe a couple of exception like Kaytee and Ashwin who are the perfect at their PR, they make you feel great about yourself.But the general feeling is you are not really welcome.
Even the beginner level student from Salsa India is probably too good, and also these people know each other so well that a outsider like me , who turns up at a event once in 6 months, has barely any hopes of finding a partner. They are absolutely no beginners,who you can ask for a dance, and I better not ask any women who is better than me.
So if there are no beginner level enthusiasts students there, there is certainly no hope for me to find a partner, so I stood there for sometime. Being an old timer at Salsa parties, I tried my usual trick , wait for some one to look at you and see if anyone is remotely interested in dancing with you, there were none, till my eyes met this beautiful celebrity Sophie (see pic courtsey India Glitz) , She might have been probably been thinking whether she is being stalked.
I do feel Salsa Party at Zenzi has lost its charm, I find the people there trying to out do each other, be it at dancing, or women trying to act like they are the sexiest thing to hit the floor. Also at the risk of sounding a puritan like MNS , I found the bachata dancing were getting very sleazy, it has to be sensual period.
Well I would appreciate your feedback about this event at Zenzi which is there every sunday till 12 am. You can comment here, mail me at manoj@mumbaisalsameetup.info
BTW I realize this is very awful piece of writing, but I need to get talking(blogging) on Salsa.I promise to work on my writing as well as dancing skills , if you keep reading.
October 14th, 2008 at 7:30 am
Manoj,
I think you are being a tad over sentimental here. Quiet honestly, those who are good salseras have spent time practicing it and when they are out .. would like to have a fun engaging dance… rather than be hurled into other dancers or have their toes stepped on. You may call this snobbery, but they have not worked hard on their dancing abilities to spend time teaching someone on a “club” floor no less.
That said, I also do believe that everyone should be given a dance when requested – not every dance .. but at least one dance. Subsequently if you don’t want to dance with that person .. then that is fine. So if anyone is genuinely interested in dancing, they would spend some time practicing elsewhere. When they get that (one) opportunity to dance, they would prove their chops. As they say .. you can never put a good dancer down…
So my advice is .. get out there and practice so that you have the opportunity to turn people down rather than the other way around.
Bachata being sleazy?? never heard of that!!
Good luck with your dancing!
October 14th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Jay,
I agree with you on couple of points but I believe Manoj is commenting about the attitude of place / dancers in general. Good dancers have to be humble and down to earth, they were beginners at one point as well.
I have observed similar attitudes in delhi / mumbai with salsa dancers. Having danced with and learned with some of the best dancers in the world, I find it ironical that most the dancers in India who think they are great aren’t that great at all — be it dance skills or attitude / behavior. 99% of salsa india students don’t even know they dance on1!! Most of them can’t do any decent shines / partnerwork.. and they keep repeating 4-5 patterns they have memorized..
As you said, once people saw my skills it was not a problem to get any follows but the attitude before that was just terrible. I feel sorry for salsa scene in India.
October 16th, 2008 at 10:33 am
Anon,
I am sorry my post came out harsher than I wanted it to. I do agree with your observation about the “salsa-bots” .. but that is a symptom of human behaviour of wanting to show off their latest “moves”… without working on their basic technique with respect to leading, following and musicality.
I don’t care much about shines because I find it too narcissistic (unless its for a show .. not for a club dance floor).
I have danced at many dance floors around the world .. and the attitude you describe exists everywhere .. but I choose not to focus on those people. .. Its no fun dancing with them either cos they will do whatever THEY want to do without paying attention to your lead or the music!! What fun is that? The really good dancers WILL dance with everyone .. and if not them .. I would rather stand at the side .. far away from the flailing elbows (I have had a few of those making contact with my nose .. not pretty!) and just enjoy the music!
hope the real salsa dancers get out more often
October 16th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Jay I like being over sentimental sometimes , it inspires me to write.
Jay i not that a bad dancer that i will step on someone’s toes , i have been dancing for 3 years on and off.
I wanted the place to be a little bit friendlier and with lots and lots of newcomers.
Thanks Annoymous , atleast some one agrees with me here.
October 16th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Manoj,
this is probably an unconscious reason for my lack of enthusiasm to come to the recent salsa events..
I completely agree with u!
And this goes on to justify my absence in the salsa scene..
I havnt learnt from Salsa India… for that matter, i never learnt salsa “professioanlly” i picked it up after ballroom dancing..
I have seen such an enterprising attitude at Rockbottom, Bohemia, Banana Bar even. but I’m disappointed with the crowd at Zenzi. People dance with people and styles that they are comfortable with.
An open floor is at the end of the day, meant to have fun while dancing.
The crowd at Zenzi looks like they’re practising for a professional championship and they only dance with people and styles they are comfortable with.
hoping things change though!
October 22nd, 2008 at 6:25 pm
I am happy to see the way we have evolved when it comes to salsa, especially in Mumbai..
at least that’s what was for me..
I still remember when i came to Mumbai around three years ago, salsa was slowly picking up.. the idea was to meet people, dance and have fun!, which you would call it as a nice evening and you go home with a big smile!!
i am happy that salsa evolved in mumbai but, as manoj and suman pointed out, i guess we have lost the essence of it, FUN! the opinion could be completely rubbish!!
I guess today it is more of show-off and ‘who is better?’ kind of attitude..
Oh well, I still remember good old days in Mumbai!!
Keep dancing guys!
Arun
October 28th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
I kinda see what manoj is saying.. for a first timer its awe and inspiration… later its hostility and attitude which rings out. but hey dats wat kaytee exudes too especially if d poor soul is from a rival institute.. yup only sidc style chalta hai…but ya salsa fused wid other styles is worth all dat…
January 19th, 2010 at 9:47 am
I have not been in Zenzi yet. But had been in other club. There heard the same what manoj had pointed out here from the people.
I would like to write for those who are reading this if they think they successfull enough to do copybook salsa and feel proud about it. Then they are mistaken. Personal element that has been added in any form of dance has been always appreciated by people.
Also one should not dance to show others but to feel dance.I believe one is dancing s/he should only sank in things like enjoyment of dance.(Taking care of partener and not to disturb other is by default.)