SaSaSalsaaaaa

Article written by Lourd Vijay for OnlineSalsa.com

The salsa scene in Kolkata has been a fairly recent addition to the city’s culture and is ingrained with the presence of Aditya Upadhaya who moved there in October, 2005. Prior to that, few individuals taught moves to Hindi songs and called it Salsa. There was no concept of the salsa rhythm “quick-quick-slow” or the count “1,2,3,- 5,6,7”

My meeting with Aditya happened in Delhi in 2005 approximately at the same time he had moved to Kolkata. On December 9, 2005, Aditya organized the city’s first salsa party ever, which he called “Vive la Salsa Night at Roxy, The Park”. When asked about it, he confesses that it was only him dancing on the floor and luckily a friend from Delhi was visiting so he had someone to dance with.

Slowly over the years the level of dancing has risen, and currently Salsa parties of the “Vive la Salsa Nights” at Venom is usually packed with budding salseras and salseros.

Salsa in the Conservative Kolkota

Salsa nights are organized twice a month at Venom on Wednesdays, and once a month on Sunday at Plush. These parties attract teachers from other schools, but somehow they do not attract their students. One major problem cited about students in Kolkata is that the majority of them are not locals but are in the city for a few months and have to leave soon. These non-locals usually are the ones who stay on longer at the parties and seem to enjoy salsa more.

Kolkata being more conservative may seem different from Delhi, Bombay or Bangalore as far as the comfort level between partners is involved – especially Bachata – and many girls do not join because they feel awkward dancing with strangers, even just Salsa. In spite of this, most students who have stuck on for more than 3 months tend to stay on for long. The largest batches are the intermediate level Salsa dancers. It is observed that Bollywood is what makes the people have fun, which is why most English movies are not released in Kolkata even though they would have in other parts of India.

So today all Kolkata residents are welcome to the world where you can ‘Live Salsa’!

A Growing Salsa Community

The Salsa community in Kolkata has been growing steadily since its inception and the sessions even bring together entire families. They assure genuine and detailed instruction coupled with plenty of opportunities to enhance social life, physical and mental wellness and make new friends while learning how to dance. Students have also had opportunities to perform at, and attend Salsa parties and festivals around the country.

Casa de la Salsa (House of Salsa) was formed in May 2005 and operated through workshops in and around Eastern India. After the success of these initial workshops, the company’s name was changed to Vive la Salsa, ‘Live Salsa’, to better embody the organization’s aim of building a community. Salsa enthusiasts in Kolkata have taken Salsa to new lengths. Some of them have gone all the way to win the first place of the salsa championships at the International Salsa India Fiesta 2005, held in New Delhi, and placed second at the India International Salsa Congress in Bangalore in August 2007.

This is Vive La Salsa’s newest dance routine performed at the Hong Kong Salsa Festival 2010.

List of Salsa Schools

·       Vive la Salsa
·       Vishal Kanoi
·       Salsa India Dance Company
·       Twist n Turns
·       Mambocity
·       Dew drops
·       Tito Dey
·       Suman Mukehrjee
·       Sudipto Kumar

About the Author

Lourd Vijay is the principal Promoter of Latin culture, music and dance in the Asian Region. He recently stood 10th at the “most Popular Entrepreneur of the year 2009” amongst 180 nominees from across the country. An innovative choreographer and a very able instructor, he is the director of the Lourd Vijay’s Dance Studios (www.lvds.in | www.indiasalsa.com ) in India.

Lourd holds a Post-graduate Diploma in Management. He has just launched a project called the Street Kids Street Dance Initiative – a project to impart dance as a vocation to socio-economically challenged individuals. Lourd is also the organiser of The India International Salsa Congress, the All India Salsa Championships, the Chennai Salsa Festival, the Goa Salsa Festival, the Winter Dance Festival, The Spirit of dance festival, Free Spirit Street Arts Festival as well as the Ambassador of the Hong Kong Salsa Festival.

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Written for OnlineSalsa.com by Lourd Vijay

It’s hot! It’s happening! And it’s very, very saucy!! Salsa is hot! No matter when and where, it is spicing things up – film, music, and dance…just about anything.

The Sunny Source of Salsa

Salsa is a dance like no other. Its genesis began in not just one country or origin, each wrapped in its own brand of misty mystery, but through several streams melting into a mix which is still developing and transforming to this date. My gut feeling has always been inclined to the esoteric, and maybe because I wanted to believe it so badly, that when I stumbled upon it during my favorite salsa R&D sessions, my jaw dropped. Here was the proof that I always believed existed.

In some inconceivable way, India, I was convinced, was connected with the origins of Salsa. I guess you are surprised and I dare to say intrigued too. Don’t be! Our country is one having given rise to high societies, religion, free thinkers, and inventions, fueling ancient global developments, which today is what we would say…history.

From Gypsies to African Slaves

So here is what I know…a zillion moons ago, Gypsies from Northern India drifted aimlessly (yes, yes, I know, all gypsies do that!). They camped by rivers and dared unknown trails.

By night, they sat under the stars and let the flames of a blazing fire form the backdrop for a rare dance, which we later recognized as India’s classical dance, the Kathak.

The following is a clip of two young ladies dancing modern Kathak. Notice the hands telling a story. This manner of using the hands when dancing  Kathak evolved into ‘styling’ in Flamenco Dance (- S -).

In time, they danced their way through the portal of the Arabian world to the Iberian peninsular (what we commonly today call Spain), where their dance form merged with that of the local Spanish dance, and the fusion saw a hybrid take shoot – The Flamenco – one of the most fiery dance forms!

The following video is of a ‘Sevillanas Enamorado’, a ‘Love Sevillanas’. Sevillanas is the only ‘Couples Flamenco Dance’ which has been developed by the gypsies in Andalucia, southern Spain. The hands and arms are now used as natural extensions of the dancers’ emotions, and to mimic the movements of bull-fighters (- S -).

In later years, European Colonies set foot on Latin American soil and began work on the plantations. ‘Labour’, as in slaves was imported from Africa to work on the cotton, sugar and coffee fields. Having toiled all day, they amused themselves with song and dance, at the haciendas, in secret.

Eventually their African music intermingled with that of the French, Creole and Spanish, giving rise to completely new forms of music like the Son, Rhumba, Guaracha, Conga, Mambo, Cha-cha-cha, Pachanga and Nueva Timba.

Centuries later, a similar exodus was emerging in the USA, where
New York became a melting pot for Cubans, Puerto Ricans, Dominicans and other Hispanic communities settling down and working in the New York & New Jersey area. Their interaction, spearheaded by Latin illuminaries and revered music enthusiasts such as Machito, Mario Bauza, Dizzy Gillespie and Chano Pozo, gave rise to music such as the Boogaloo, Latin Jazz….and the Salsa.

The following videoclip of Griselle Ponce from New Jersey shows how the ‘Flamenco Hand Styling’, which would become a standard for Latin American Dances,  merged with Afro-Cuban body movements resulting in modern Salsa Arm and Hand Styling (- S -).

Excerpts from my book “Salsa in my Pocket”

About the Author:

Lourd Vijay is the principal Promoter of Latin culture, music and dance in the Asian Region. He recently stood 10th at the “most Popular Entrepreneur of the year 2009” amongst 180 nominees from across the country. An innovative choreographer and a very able instructor, he is the director of the Lourd Vijay’s Dance Studios (www.lvds.in | www.indiasalsa.com ) in India.
Lourd holds a Post-graduate Diploma in Management. He has just launched a project called the Street Kids Street Dance Initiative – a project to impart dance as a vocation to socio-economically challenged individuals. Lourd is also the organiser of The India International Salsa Congress, the All India Salsa Championships, the Chennai Salsa Festival, the Goa Salsa Festival, the Winter Dance Festival, The Spirit of dance festival, Free Spirit Street Arts Festival as well as the Ambassador of the Hong Kong Salsa Festival.

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Salsa in Mumbai -An Introduction:

Salsa in Mumbai really took off in 2003, when a few people mainly students of Sandeep Soparrkar (who at that time used to teach only ballroom) got inspired by seeing  Ashwin Mushran (now an actor in bollywood) dancing salsa. Ashwin having returned to India after teaching at Supermario’s dance school was the original inspiration of many of the early Salsa enthusiasts in Mumbai. There was a select crowd who used to gather way back in 2003 at Trafalghar chowk, a lounge in bandra to dance every Thursday, the first time I ventured out to Trafalghar chowk to check the salsa scene i was left gaping. I never knew there could be something so sensual and beautiful on the dance floor. I could only believe because I saw it.

I was determined to learn Salsa, so I got in touch with another talented Salsa teacher named Raunaque Sidana and took classes for a couple of months. With Raunaque started the “Mumbai Salsa Meetups” which was organised at various clubs in mumbai, this was the only party where students of all instructors in Mumbai would come and dance, it continued with hot & sizzling Salsa Parties at Bohemia, a club which used to be in Juhu with Haansa Singh and Kiran Shriyan to become one of the most popular hangouts for Salsa lovers to venture out on a Sunday evening and dance with abandon. One of the most popular instructors to shift base to Mumbai from delhi earlier that year was “Kaytee Namgyal”. Kaytee’s Salsa India parties on Sunday at Zenzi bandra, were also extremely popular. As I interacted with Salsa lovers I came to know, that these people came from various backgrounds, stock brokers, doctors, businessmen, sculptors,painters,actors and celebrities. There I met another die hard Salsa lover, Yogesh Karikurve who is one of the pioneer to introduce Salsa in Mumbai way back in 1999, when he used to have a Salsa Night’s at “Starters & More” Churchgate. The other popular instructors in Mumbai are Anand Majumdar, Ravi Akhade, Nakul  Ghanekar, Conrad Coelho, Vivek Yadav. For a complete list of instructors click here

Mumbai cannot claim to be the Salsa capital of India yet, as close in competition are Bangalore and Delhi, where Salsa scene is very vibrant. But we do host a few world class events. Salsa India host’s a yearly “Salsa India Festival” and also “Bachata festivals” where some extremely talented foreign performers and instructors are invited.

Salsa popularity in Mumbai, rose and eventually a few instructors from Delhi moved base to Mumbai. The first documentary on Salsa was made by Sangeeta Kumar called “Masalsa” in 2006, and a finally no one could believe that a mainstream bollywood movie would be made with Salsa as a theme called “Mumbai Salsa” by director Vikram Bhat in 2007. As I am writing this Hritik Roshan’s international blockbuster “KITES” is going to be released across India tomorrow, the celebrity instructor Sandeep Soparrkar has choreographed Hritik in Kites, and I am hoping we might get to see one of the hottest star of bollywood dancing Salsa in this movie. Salsa had finally become mainstream with every dance school worth its Salt, including “Salsa” as a part of their teaching curriculum. It also gives instructors who were not trained in Salsa an opportunity to cash in, and exploit ignorant students, who pretty much didn’t have any clue about Salsa.

Salsa dancing now has become more of a fad in Mumbai, and the art for me has lost it’s charm and sense of wonder, blame it on television dance shows or instructors trying to sell salsa as a “seduction skill”. As a very popular instructor in Mumbai recently confessed to me “I don’t feel much appreciated in India, as well as I am appreciated abroad, I will give it a few shots here, and then maybe move abroad if things don’t start looking good”. This statement coming from one of the most popular Salsa instructor, the competition between Salsa dance school’s to acquire new students is fierce, which is further damaging the spirit of this wonderful dance form, in the city.

Still there are efforts to keep the spirit alive by die hard Salsa enthusiasts who go dancing socially whenever they have an opportunity. Mumbai now has popular Salsa parties happening every Sunday at Zenzi bandra, Wednesdays at Zenzi Mills, lower parel, and also Thursdays at H20 bandra. Besides some dance schools hold their monthly & annual events, where students get to dance and perform. As for me, my commitments to salsa are deep, and though i don’t dance much now, I will keep on promoting Salsa in Mumbai as a part of a clubbing activity, and try to restore the old charm.

The above article was written by Osho (nickname), who publishes the only website for salsa in mumbai at  http://mumbaisalsa.info/ , he also promotes the first social network for salsa in mumbai at http://www.mumbaisalsa.me/ and he manages the only directory for Salsa schools in India  at http://salsaindia.tel/

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For all of the guys out there wondering what goes through the minds of salseras (or women in general), I sat down with some fellow lady dancers and discussed behaviors that guys should avoid at the club. In any dance culture, there is a certain unspoken etiquette. For those who are new to salsa dancing, these tips may come in handy so that you don’t give the wrong vibe.

1. We don’t endorse the use of force.

Ask the lady to dance with you, don’t tell her she is going to dance with you. Grabbing her wrist and urging, “Come on. Just one song” does not fly. If she declines, the best reaction is to acknowledge her choice and walk away. No verbal persuasion, cajoling or physical dragging should be utilized – especially when her boyfriend is around. If she gives the bathroom excuse, do not wait for her outside the bathroom- that is just plain creepy.

2. Ask her twice, she’ll turn to ice.

You can ask twice in one night, but not one right after the other. When a song has ended, it is best not to ask her to dance right away. Even if you both seemed to have fun, give it some time and leave her wanting more… that is much better than risking her wanting to push you away.

3. Yakkity Yak? We won’t come back.

Leave the chatting to Cathy! Keep talking to a minimum- exchanging names and where you are from at the beginning of the song is fine, but what the ladies don’t like is when guys sacrifice the dance itself, and end up doing basic step the whole song while chatting. This comes across as hitting on us.

4. Giving advice is not very nice.

A HUGE dancing no-no is giving lessons on the dance floor. Many guys assume the girl is a beginner (and if she is not, this is extremely insulting) and give her lessons or tips while dancing. Advice has its place…in the studio.

5. Look at her eyes, not at the prize

Maybe the girl is so enthralling (read: hot) you want to gaze into her eyes (or  somewhere else) while dancing–but resist this temptation. It comes across as predatorial. Staring at her the entire time without blinking comes across sort of serial killer-ish. On the other hand, too little eye contact comes across as disinterested. Ladies appreciate a lead who makes eye contact now and then, to “check in”, or establish a connection. This ensures that both of us are having fun

Read the rest of the article here

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One of the earliest friends I made in the Salsa circle was Yogesh, I know him as a die hard Salsa aficionado and inspiring teacher & passionate dancer of Salsa.He is a constant reminder to me how life should be easy without any hangups, his dance personifies this attitude, check out this interview with Yogesh, known as YK in the Salsa circle, who i believe is one of the earliest Salsa dancers the city has seen.

• How and when did you get introduced to Salsa? Who were your teachers who helped you hone your dancing Skills?

I was studying in a small university town- iowa city, USA -where i went our dancing and saw this soulful dance which looked like jiving. Though I managed to pick up the steps, i realised that i was quite offbeat. I resolved to learn the dance asap. We had a student who was conducting salsa workshops in the university and I learnt my basics from him- Modei – a mix of Latin and African parents. Hanging out at the local salsa pubs with Latin students helped me add finesse and passion to the steps. Later on i went to learn other forms of Latin ballroom in Washington DC from world champions- Maria and Martin- and was an instructor in their studio there.

• What difference has Salsa made to your life?

Besides making me a more social person Salsa has immersed me in a new culture- that of Latin Americans. This dance has helped me keep fit- physically and mentally. It has won me many friends around the world . I have also been able to help absolute newcomers to learn dancing and this has boosted the confidence of many aspiring salseros. I also learnt Spanish to understand Salsa better.

My students have varied from teenagers to those leading a busy corporate life to senior citizens. It gives me immense pleasure to see someone happy while dancing. And of course salsa has given me an alternate profession- Two Left Feet – a dance group that we started to teach dancing to people who are short of time and want to learn it in a fun and fast manner.

• How long have you been dancing Salsa? which is you “other” favourite Latin dance?

Its been 12 years since I first danced salsa. After that it has literally been a way of life. Brazilian Samba and Argentine tango are my other favorite Latin dances. The fun and footloose Samba is exactly opposite to the passionate and disciplined Tango.. yet they mesmerise the soul and body alike.

• What do you think about the Salsa Parties happening in Mumbai?
  

It is heartening to see more salsa parties in Mumbai after I first started dancing with Devika Shahani at Liquid Lounge in 2002.  Now there are atleast 4-5 places in a week to dance salsa. I look forward to seeing more live music salsa parties and maybe open air parties too.

• How many Salsa congresses in India and around the world have you attended?
  

I have attended one each in Bangalore and Bombay.One of the first things that I do when i travel is to go dancing at a salsa club. i have danced in more than 25 cities across more than 15 countries in the world.  I enjoyed the Salsa congress the most in Amsterdam and Berlin.

• How does your family react to your passion for Salsa? Do they support you?

When I first started to dance, it was an uphill task convincing my parents as the perception of the dance was very negative in India. Over the years they have seen me perform and the dance has also received rave reviews. Now they are proud to inform people about my passion for dancing.

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Be a part of the movement – Let’s bring salsa to the big screen. It’s time to show the world what we all love and enjoy.

The filmmakers of MANO are passionate about salsa and the social dance movement that has evolved on a global level. Salsa is a rich and soulful music that is uniting people of all races, color and creed worldwide, however it yet has been given credible recognition on the big screen. We produced MANO, the 24 minute salsa dance drama with the plan to raise interest and support for the full length film The Spanish Harlem Project, now in pre-production. Every genre of dance has had it’s 2 hours of fame, now it’s our turn.

We are raising awareness and resources by making the Award-Winning Short Film available for the first time to the public for a nominal donation – a portion will go into the budget we are raising for the full length feature film; and a portion for the non-for profitBaile de los Niños to further increase awareness for young dancers around the world.

WATCH MANO THE FILM AT WWW.MANOTHEFILM.COM

A 24 minute SALSA MOVIE now available for the first time to the public on-line.

Check out the trailer here http://www.manothefilm.com/trailer2.cfm

MANO, written and directed by Anthony Nardolillo stars Laz Alonso(Avatar – head warrior of Navi tribe, Fast & the Furious, Stomp the Yard),Lee T. Young (Friday Night Lights, Hills Have Eyes 2, Flash Forward), Giancarlo Esposito (Do the Right Thing, Usual Suspects) and introducing Anthony Nardolillo, Yesenia Adame, Cristian Oviedo and Alfredo de La Fe. MANO also features Magna Gopal, Kimberli Flores, Gordon Neil and Esti Ashkenazi and 20
other renowned dancers.

The film is available in English, Spanish and Italian.

Original music by Alfredo de La Fe and New
Swing Sextet.

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Have you just started learning how to Salsa dance? If so, you know that learning new steps and patterns can often times be challenging, not to mention having to pay attention to the complex rhythms of a fast tempo Salsa song. We understand that dancing to smooth, slow-tempo music maximizes your ability to focus not only on the rhythm, but on your steps and your partner as well- it allows you to enjoy the dance! The songs listed on the right are some of our favorite slow tempo songs because they are fun and easy to dance to. If you’re a beginner Salsa dancer, we recommend that you make them part of your Salsa music collection and that you practice dancing to them! Have fun!

1. Fruko y Sus Tesos – Barranquillero Arrebatao
2. Grupo Niche – Oiga, Mire, Vea
3. Rey Ruiz – No Me Acostumbro
4. Sonora Carruseles – Micaela
5. Joe Arroyo – Yamulemao
6. Ibrahim Ferrer – Compositor Confundido
7. Marc Anthony – No Sabes Como Duele
8. Poncho Sanchez – Mambo De Cuco
9. Afro Cuban All Stars – Campina
10. Celia Cruz – El Son Sigue Ahi
11. Coco Valoy – Juliana
12. Eddie Santiago – Lluvia
13. Oscar D’Leon – Melao de Cana
14. Ricardo Lemvo – Mambo Yoyo
15. Wayne Gorbea -  Cogele el Gusto

Article Source: latindancepro.com

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She stood by the bar
And smiled with an effervescent glint
Her eyes enigmatic
Looking, not giving any hint

She ordered
And waited for her drink
When led, moved smoothly
Like a skater in the rink

When the music started
And upped the beat
Her magic moves
Turned on the heat

Twist, turns and drops
Our chemistry was unprecedented
Her passion was sizzling
First drops of rain on a roof cemented

If beats maketh a ‘music’
And moves maketh a ‘dance’
Wonder what
is this cryptic word ‘Romance’

Salsa, merengue, cha-cha
The music never would stop
The tempo was up
Our HIGH never took a DROP

I woke up in the morning
‘It’s a dream”, I thought as much
But my heart kept pounding
I could still feel the touch…

Sourced from: YK’s blog

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