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.

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.

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

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

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

I can understand a complete newcomer to the Salsa scene misbehaving, but what I cannot understand is regulars to the Salsa party who misbehave. I was particularly shocked to see a guy who is almost at all the Salsa Parties,forcing a kiss on a girl, after dancing K-style bachata on the dance floor. After being reprimanded, he explains, this is how things work and beginners should know.

As per the usual customs of social dancing, girls generally don’t refuse anyone for a dance, and if that is taken as a consent to molest her, I can predict that Salsa dancing as a social activity in clubs would die a premature death,and we would be restricted to hold dance events in school halls, where the deadline would be 9pm.

what do you ladies think? If any of you feel you have been abused in the name of power or dance, and want to warn these predators, write to me at manoj@mumbaisalsa.info

P.S For people who are wondering what’s K-Style Bachata is, “its a sensual form of dance, where the guys right leg are essentially(well most of the time) between the girls legs” still don’t get it, check out kaytee dancing in this video

8. You sing songs with words you don't even understand
9. You are the only non-latino in the Musica Latina section.
10. You practice your turns when no one is looking.
11. You lightly dance your basic when you are waiting for something or when no one is looking.
12. People do not know you are secretly practicing your footwork when they are speaking with you on the phone.
13. You convince yourself you can get by on 3-4 hours sleep per night.
14. You have lost about 10 lbs. from dancing so much.
15. Start spending more on salsa clothes than work clothes.
16. Friday nights are off limits for any events because you just CANNOT miss your salsa night.
17. You can't buy enough salsa music/clothes/shoes.
18. All your "former" friends have now abandoned you.
19. You have met all new (better and more permanent) friends.
20. Your friends and family do not understand what you are ranting and raving about.
21. When you say, "I need my FIX for the week." you are not referring to drugs.
22. You start talking 100 mph just because someone shows an interest that you like to dance salsa.
23. You use to be humble and shy, but now you just have to show off every chance you get.
24. You are on the web all day long visiting salsa web sites.
25. Your shoes are worn out from spinning so much.
26. You start clearing space in your room so you can dance salsa there.
27. You start changing your screen names to "Salsa-this" or "Salsa-that".
28. You are pondering getting a license plate with "Salsa" somehow in it.
29. You get stopped (at work, in a grocery store, in the mall, etc.) by random people telling you that they have seen you dance.
30. You get desperate to practice and you dance with an "imaginary" partner.
31. You realize that the only thing you have done for the past few months is go salsa dancing every weekend and you feel you still haven't gotten enough.
32. You realize that the only thing you have done for the past few YEARS is go salsa dancing every weekend and you feel you still haven't gotten enough.
33. Ladies…You are looking for a wedding dress that you can dance salsa in.
34. You have chronic knee and back problems from all the dips, flips, and tricks.
35. You start wearing tight t-shirts.
36. You try to pass your addiction onto your other friends.
37. You take something that has no relevance to salsa dancing, but somehow you manipulate the conversation to end with salsa.
38. Ladies… Your skirt keeps getting shorter and shorter.
39. You decide that going out salsa dancing is more important than studying for that big exam.
40. You decide the only man/woman you will marry has to be a salsa dancer.
41. When someone says salsa, you don't think of chips and dip.
42. Your profile picture is, or once was, of you dancing.
43. You join every salsa-related group on facebook.
44. You turn down a date with a guy/girl you've had a crush on forever because it clashes with your salsa night!
45. When making major decisions about travel destinatons and/or relocation, one of the first things you investigate is the salsa scene
46. You've just hurt yourself badly but you have a cool salsa party organised that same night. You still go dancing, even though it means not being able to walk for a couple of days after that.
47. Guys… When you can look at a really good couple (maybe even professional) dancing and you're not paying attention to how hot the girl is, but you're focusing on the guy to see what you can learn.

Music starts to play. What do you do?

A. Try to ignore it.

B. Start to shimmy your hips subconsciously.

C. Clear the area to allow yourself the largest possible space, grab an unsuspecting partner and break out into a Paso Doble. Or, work on your krunk. Or, Viennese Waltz your tush all over the place.

The first tips Tony Didier gives for dancing salsa are general ones not necessarily geared toward salsa: Find the beat and connect with your partner.

“When (students) can find the beat, I say, ‘Take a step on the beat,’ and you only take one step,” says Didier, a dance instructor at American Style Ballroom in Fort Wayne.

After the beat is established and a dancer can move in time, he says, the most important thing is to connect with one’s partner physically and visually.

What sets salsa apart from other ballroom dances is that salsa is grounded and heavier than others.

Salsa dancers are more bent over and use their full bodies, whereas other Latin dances, like mambo, can be more upright with a ballroom feel and long, striking lines, Didier says.

Plus, salsa is more authentic: It wouldn’t use any radio tunes, whereas popular songs like Shakira’s “Hips Don’t Lie” are perfect for dancing mambo.

Salsa dancing has a lot of turns and wraps to it, Didier says.

A wrap is where a couple starts out facing each other. The man turns his partner inward so her back is to his chest, and then back around so they’re facing each other again. This wraps their arms around one another.

“It’s fun. It’s sensual,” he says. “It has a lot of attitude to it.”

jyouhana@jg.net

The article was sourced from here http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20090524/ENT/305249997/1162