Salsa scene in 2003/2004.

I got introduced to the Salsa scene in 2004, when I first went to a place called Trafalgar Chowk in Bandra on a thursday evening researching about the Salsa scene in Mumbai, as I had recently taken over a group called Mumbai Salsa Meetup and I had no fucking clue what Salsa was!

When I reached Trafalghar Chowk and was ushered in to a small dance floor space with glass walls. I was shocked, surprised and overwhelmed to see people dancing so sensuously, and this was not cheesy it was really really sensual. I was completely out of the place, at that moment I felt I had slipped into a rabbit hole to discover a obscure and hidden place in bandra where people were having a sort of dance ORGY with the clothes on of-course. I wondered these guys are so damn lucky, they get another girl after every song.

The scene was too hot for me and i decided to beat a hasty retreat, but not before I mustered enough courage to walk to a guy called Ashwin Mushran who seemed to be person who was stage managing this. Ashwin was nice and friendly, he even introduced me to some people there, but I was too uncomfortable with boys and girls dancing so erotically and sensually with each other, so i left Trafalgar chowk. Life was never the same again, as my mind had witnessed something it never thought had existed.

Now fast forward to 2012

Now any brother with a Television set knows what the fuck Salsa is! Salsa is something what people get to see on mass media and that also the kind of Salsa which is highly adulterated, commercialised & mostly danced on Bollywood songs. Also Salsa Stars like Kaytee have uploaded numerous video’s of erotic and sensual dance on the Youtube.

The Point Is

Salsa is a niche dance form, it was popular as long as it was dark, underground and grungy. My fear is the very people who went on TV thinking they are popularising Salsa are indirectly responsible for Killing the Salsa scene.

When an art form attracts the masses, it doesn’t stay art anymore. An art is an art cause it is rare, it is special. Lets keep it that way, Shall we?

Note: The idea of the blogpost came when Vineet and Sahiba both agreed that the Salsa enthusiasm in Mumbai has reach a plateau.

2 lucky winners get free tickets to SE7EN – Mumbai`s 1st Latin Dance Theatre . To win you must answer this easy question in TRUE or False. Please leave your answer in the comment box below. More details about the event here

Today a old friend from the Salsa days called. He was an ace dancer plus a Salsa Instructor. He said I dont teach dancing anymore. This brought back  memories of the MUMBAISALSA MEETUP GROUP group.

My (self)claim to fame in Salsa is not my poor Salsa dancing skills but the because I used to run a community for Salsa right from 2004-2008 organising Salsa parties across various clubs in Mumbai. I wasnt the only one, I had more than ample help from others (wouldnt get into naming them, they all know) but rain or shine every Sunday i showed up at the place to take care of the guests and newbie Salsa enthusiasts who wanted to learn Salsa and dance. As a part of this group, we managed to host more than 150 Salsa parties in Mumbai.

I call this period the Renaissance period of club Salsa dancing in Mumbai.

There were other people organising Salsa dance parties, but the Mumbai Salsa Meetup Group with me as the Organiser was the only community driven Salsa event happening every week (after week). When I look back I wonder why I did it. I was thinking I would make some money (no I didnt make any). But lady luck shined on me with lady love. I asked her “Why does a beautiful woman like you want to be with me”, She answered, “because you are the organizer, the leader”. Well I guess that was reason enough for me to continue doing what I did as a Organizer of the group.

But like all good things come to end, the energy required to keep the parties going were too much, as club owners bickered to us, Salsa dancing is a loss making proposition for them. They said “no one drinks much”. The final blow came to us when Bohemia shut down as consequence of a raid on a rave party happening there (not us).

I never made very good friends in the group, there was no one in the group I met outside our dancing meetups. But they became more like brothers, where a silent relationship with salsa music and salsa dance connected me to them. I love them without having to say so and they probably know about this. Also there are so many newbie boys and girls whose hands I have held and forcefully (bullied) them into dancing with each other. Seeing newcomers on the dance floor gives me a lot of JOY. I like to see them losing their inhibition and becoming one.

It been sometime and this wonderful group hasnt seen any activity at all. My astrologer has predicted that this year would be good for me “salsa dancing wise”. I would be finally be able to devote more time to dancing/ learning, and would finally cross the “level 1″ of Salsa.

I would be mailing you one newsletter a month between 20/25th of every month, to keep you informed on the various events,classes.workshops and maybe gossips??? in the Salsa circuit in mumbai.
( Please don’t blame me if I am unable to do so, as you know this is not a paying proposition for me yet. But like so many other people who like to see/make people dance, I also would like to contribute.
)
YES, I would be sending only one email a month , so that i dont become a pest spammer on your list, and as a asst Organizer of this group, I would request you to keep your activity on the message board very relevant end meaningful.

Check out these interviews of 2 of the most admired and loved dancers in the circuit.

• Haansa-the quintessential Salsera
• Samir Prasad- A Gentleman in Salsa

Would love to interview more people, do email me at manoj@mumbaisalsa.info

Sa Sa Salsaaaaaa

Manoj

As you know, I haven’t been posting anything on the mumbaisalsameetup mailing lists, as I have been extremely busy with work.I would like to request dances schools to promote their events, classes, schedules on the salsa meet up board if required.

But please restrict your emails to one email per week per dance school.

If you need to send messages to all members on the mailing list, you can need to send an email to salsa-11@meetup.com.

Some Warnings!!!

• Please do not put a link or try to promote your facebook group
• this message board is strictly for sharing information and anyone trying to solicit members for joining their facebook group

Members would be warned and subsequently removed from the emailing list!

If you have any questions, do call me on 9967975586, and i would be glad to help you out.

 

Mumbai “Salsa Addicts” are people who are addicted  to Salsa, they eat,drink,sleep Salsa. Unlike other addiction, this addiction is not debilitating but is very liberating and they are the people who spread happiness and cheer, rain or shine they are always there at Salsa do’s,Parties and workshops! Here is a category dedicated to them, where Sa Sa Salsaaaaa picks ups the finest and the most sincerest “Salsa addicts” in mumbai and frames them for you, so you can look upto them and get inspired.

Presenting this month 3 featured “Salsa Addicts”

1. Aks aka “Abdul Karim Siraji”
2. Swati Shah
3. Suman Kalra

Hey its been a long time, lets have the first offline meetup for 2009 on 1st of Feb @ 8pm. @ CCD next to citimall.

To know more about the event and RSVP click the link herehttp://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=122991125371

I would be giving away Salsa,merengue,and bachata Cds free of cost .

You can also RSVP by

Email: manoj@mumbaisalsameetup.info

Sa Sa Salsaaaaa

Manoj

Hi,

Lets have a offline meet somewhere at a coffee shop every end of the month and get to know each other better, do support the initiative : “Mumbai Salsa Meetup Jan Meet”

The Agenda would be just talk about Salsa.The venue would be a CCD somewhere in Andheri West.

But before that I’d like to find out your availability and interest in the event. This link will show you my
proposed times. All you need to do is click on when is good for you …

http://whenisgood.net/mmPVNf

Thanks!

Manoj

manoj@mumbaisalsameetup.info

Dear All,
I would like to offer free advertising space to anyone interested in advertising on SaSaSalsaaaaa , but there are some conditions.

1. The person has to be a Salsa dancer.
2. The person has to send at least 2 articles with pictures every month to me of Salsa news/events/classes/festivals.

If you are an actor, dancer, studio owner, boutique owner , bloggers, website owners, dance instructors ,this would be a good place for you to get some exposure.
Here is a Comparison chart in terms of web traffic , between 3 leading Salsa websites. Click here http://tr.im/2ya9
Write back to me if anyone is interested in the free advertisement

Thank You
Sa Sa Salsaaaaa
Manoj

9892334681

manoj@mumbaisalsameetup.info