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Updated: January 1st, 2012




	TASTE THE DIFFERENCE AT BOURNEMOUTH'S CUBAN CONGRESS - January 2012

		The Bournemouth Ultimatum - Wine, Dine and Dance 'til You Drop!

"The undiscovered county from whose Bournemouth no traveller returns..."
if Hamlet had been around a few years ago, the Prince of Denmark's soliloquy could have read very differently. Now, the town has shuffled off its old image as God's waiting room and is shaping up as the south coast's premier party spot,
writes Lee Knights.

Traditionally, people have come to the south coast's seaside resort in Dorset to retire, but things aren't what they used to be in Bournemouth. Seemingly overnight, the town has turned into a chic, cosmopolitan destination.

By day, Bournemouth has all the charisma of Croydon by the sea - albeit with a heck of a lot more B&Bs. By night, though, the town lights up with stylish bars, night-clubs and restaurants.

But there is more on offer – an impressive all year round diary of dance events. Most nights of the week, you can try out everything from ballroom and Latin American, modern sequence Argentine tango, through to pole dancing, hip hop and hot and spicy salsa.

Bournemouth is home to one of the UK's most prestigious dance events - Made in Cuba, staged at the Bournemouth Pavilion from 2nd – 5th December. Bringing an authentic taste of Cuba in the UK, Made in Cuba has become a mainstay of the salsa calendar. Attracting beginners and more experienced dancers alike, you can dance practically non-stop over the weekend, through three late night parties and two full days of workshops.

The Festival is the brainchild of Cuban Enrique Perez (left, centre, dance photos courtesy Vera Vision), one of the UK's leading salsa impresarios. AEnrique is proud of his cultural heritage. "I wanted to create an event to show the best Cuba has to offer, the best instructors and performers. I wanted dancers here to experience the richness and variety of Cuban dance styles. Many of these don't get taught in the UK," he says.

Opening with a late party on Friday evening, I had plenty to time to get packed and get the train down from London. I wanted time to settle into my room, find out where the dance was, and have dinner before stepping onto the dance floor.

It was under a tenner in a cab from Bournemouth station to the Highcliff Marriot on St Michael's Road, only a short walk from Bournemouth Pavilion. On Google, the splendid four star Victorian hotel with its dramatic cliff-top sea views stood out. In real life, the art deco feel of the interior, plus a warm reception at reception had me feeling relaxed and at home right away.

Comfort matters to me when I'm away from home and the Highcliff delivered. The room was generously sized and tastefully furnished. There were huge windows, giving a panoramic view of the beach and endless, moody, December sea and sky, constantly shifting through a spectrum of emerald to grey greens and blues.

Winning two AA rosettes and pledged to using locally sourced produce, I was keen to try out the Highcliff's restaurant. As a starter, I went for warm mackerel echebeche served with horseradish foam. Marinaded in olive oil, the mackerel had a surprising delicate, soft flavour, made for a winter menu.

For mains, I chose fillet of sea trout, served on a potato crepe, with baby beetroot confit, curly kale and chervil hollandaise. This was art on a plate, too beautiful to eat. There was a deep layering of flavours, colour and texture, all enhancing the delicacy of the trout. High praise for the potato crepe in particular which was as light as air and brought the whole plate together. Price: £24.50 for 2 courses for 1, excluding wine.

Over dinner, I poured over the Festival's workshop programme. This promised to offer just as much of a flavoursome feast for dance lovers. On the tropical menu, there was Cuban-style salsa, rumba, son, cha cha cha, rueda de casino (Cuban style salsa danced in a circle) and Orishas (folkloric dancing) and more.

With almost 50 hours of dance workshops ahead over the weekend, it was difficult to pick out my favourites. I wanted to do all of them! First off, there was an all night dancing at Key West, a nightclub on Bournemouth pier. It was blowing half a gale and the rain was bucketing down but that stopped nobody enjoying themselves.

Next morning, I was one of the early birds at the Pavilion, joining around 40 other bleary eyed dancers for the workshop on Cuban rumba with top international teachers, Dawes Figueros and Rayda Salas.

The hour long session highlighted the world of difference though between authentic Cuban rumba and ballroom style rumba. In fact, these are two completely distinct dances. While ballroom style rumba is formal, elegant and danced in partner hold, Afro-Cuban rumba is earthy and raw, both as a rhythm and dance style. Not something we're likely to see on Strictly, more's the pity!

At 10.00pm, I headed back to the Pavilion's ballroom for the Saturday night party. There was a relaxed, friendly atmosphere, with strangers quickly becoming friends on and off the dance floor. Lack of experience was no barrier to getting a dance and no one left sitting down for long.

At midnight, the entertainment began with a host of professional dance performances. Instructors turned into performers for the night, with a stunning display of Cuba's rich cultural heritage, all danced with fluidity and grace.

On Sunday morning, I was up and about early to sample more dance workshops. A highlight was a session on Cuban son with the UK's top home-grown salsa expert, Kerry Ribchester (left).

This session promised to throw light on the roots of one of the world's most popular Latin American dance styles as Cuban son is the real inspiration for ballroom rumba. For dancers familiar with the ballroom version, it might come as a surprise to learn that Cuban son is danced with an accent the 4th rather than the 2nd beat.

Later on, Dawes Figueros and Rayda Salas (above) put on a demonstration of pure Cuban magic. Their salsa con timba session was a lethal cocktail of Cuban styles, salsa, son, rumba, mambo and cha, cha cha, all served up in a single high octane routine. Ahi Na mah!

On Sunday night, I moved home to the Connaught Hotel, on West Cliff Road, minutes from the sea front, the Highcliff and the Pavilion. Once again, I'd selected this three-star hotel from a Google search, persuaded by its proud claim to 2 AA rosettes.

On first acquaintance, the Victorian façade of this former well-to-do gent's residence seemed a little austere. Once inside, though, I knew I'd struck gold. There was a warm, natural welcome from personable staff who made me feel a valued guest and at home right away. There's no sea view, but my room was a generous size and well furnished.

I headed downstairs to Blakes the hotel's award winning, cozy restaurant, hankering after some fresh, locally caught fish. A friend joined me for dinner and we were chatting away as the first treat arrived - three different sorts of rolls, warm from the oven, freshly baked by the kitchen.

For starters, I had salmon three ways, gravadlax, oak smoked and hot smoke with caper berries while my guest went for Lymington Bay seared scallops, with crispy pork belly and parsnip crisps. Both plates were so pretty and dinky they could have been served at a scrupulous doll's party. The scallops especially deserve plaudits, according to my friend Ian, these were "sparkling", melting in the mouth.

The main event was to come – roasted cod, white bean and chorizo cassoulet for me, while my companion fixated on the Creedy Carver duck breast, served with pressed potato, buttered kale and red wine jus. My mate managed to lift his head long enough to call his main "cracking". Mine, on the other hand, was unbeatable; rustic, gutsy, peasant fare, busting out with deep, earthy flavours, and good looking to boot. Price: 2 courses for 2, excluding wine: £40.00.

The Connaught has a double appeal for dance lovers, offering not only fine dining but dance holidays on site. There is a chance to learn Argentine tango from Friday 13th – Sunday 15th January while ballroom, Latin and sequence dancing comes to the Connaught from Friday 13th – Sunday 15th April.

Bournemouth is not a typical seaside resort - there are no amusement arcades, donkey rides on the beach and rollercoaster. What the place has in spades is wow factor - some of the best dance action around, plenty of opportunities to spoil yourself with great cooking, great service, award-winning hotels and restaurants. Lee Knights

Bournemouth's Finest Contacts:

For more on salsa dance events in Bournemouth, visit: www.salsaexplosion.com email: Enrique@salsaexplosion.com telephone: 07969 633701. Thanks to Enrique and Robert Carroll for a brilliant and well run event!

For more on the 4-star Highcliff Marriott Hotel (2 AA Rosettes), St Michael's Road, Bournemouth, Dorset BH2 5DU, visit: www.bournemouthhighcliffmarriott.co.uk telephone: 01202 557 702

For more on the 3-star Connaught Hotel (2 AA Rosettes), West Hill Road, West Cliff, Bournemouth, Dorset BH2 5PH, visit: www.theconnaught.co.uk
email: reception@theconnaught.co.uk and dancebreaks@theconnaught.co.uk telephone: 01202 298020.

Exclusive Salsa Course!
Learn to dance salsa and enjoy fine dining with Find the Rhythm's Lee Knights at a top hotel in Bournemouth. Join Enrique Perez in the evening for club dancing. Lee is a qualified IDTA dance instructor and co-author of "Find the Rhythm – The Dancers' Guide to Feeling Salsa Music".
For more details, contact Lee on: 07979 280283 or www.londonsalsascene.co.uk or email: lee@londonsalsascene.co.uk


		Find the Rhythm! The Dancers' Guide to Feeling Salsa Music
		by Alex Wilson and www.londonsalsascene.co.uk's Lee Knights price £29.99 plus p&p, visit: www.findtherhythm.com www.salsaveritas.com More: www.londonsalsascene.co.uk and www.alexwilson.net Email: lee@londonsalsascene.co.uk

	London Salsa Scene World-wide Inc has offices in Havana, Cali, New York, Los Angeles, Paris & Penge. Call Penge First and We'll Transfer You. Dateline: January 2012


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We cover salsa dance, salsa clubs, salsa classes, salsa events, Latin music, gigs, Latin musicians in London. We also cover rueda classes and rueda events in London. We cover eating out at Latin restaurants in London; Latin resaurants where you can dine and dance in London. We cover the full range of London Latin eating experiences, including Cuban, Peruvian, Colombian, Brazilian, Venezulan restaurants. We cover live Latin music events, live Latin gigs, Latin cultural events, music, live dance and music, religious, film, clothes, jewelry, dance shows, Latin American Travel, Dance shoes, Learn to speak Spanish, the whole empanada, in London, Greater London and the South East. We cover salsa classes, salsa clubs and events in areas including Acton, Addington, Addiscombe, Alperton, Ardleigh Green, Arkley, Balham, Bankside, Barbican Estate, Barking, Barnes, Barnsbury, Battersea, Bayswater, Becontree, Becontree Heath and Beckenham. We cover Salsa Dance and Music, Dance Classes, Clubs and Events in Beddington, Bedford Park, Belgravia, Bellingham, Belmont, Bermondsey, Bethnal Green, Old Bexley, Bexleyheath, Biggin Hill, Blackheath, Bloomsbury, The Borough, Brentford, Brixton, Brockley, Brondesbury, Camberwell, Canonbury, Carshalton, Catford, Chadwell Heath, Chalk Farm, Charing Cross, Chase Cross, Cheam, Chessington, Chingford, Chislehurst, Chiswick, Clapham, Clerkenwell, Cockfosters, Collier Row, Coulsdon, Cowley, Cranham, Crayford, Creekmouth, Cricklewood, Crofton, Crouch End, Crystal Palace, Cudham, Dagenham, Dalston, Debden, Deptford, Dulwich, London East Dulwich, Edgware, Edmonton, Elephant and Castle, Elm Park, Elmstead, Eltham, Emerson Park, Epping, Erith, Farringdon, Feltham, Finchley, Finsbury, Finsbury Park, Foots Cray, Fortis Green, Fulham, Gidea Park, Goddington, Golders Green, Goodmayes, Greenford, Gunnersbury, Haggerston, Hampstead, Hampton, Hanwell, Hanworth, Harefield, Harlesden, Harlington, Harmondsworth, Harold Hill, Harold Wood, Harringay, Hatch End, Havering-atte-Bower, Havering Park, Hayes, Heathrow, Hendon, Herne Hill, Heston, Highbury, Highgate, Holborn, Holloway, Homerton, Hornchurch, Hornsey, Hoxton, , Ickenham, Ilford, The Isle of Dogs, Isleworth, Kennington, Kensal Green, Kentish Town, Kensington, Kenton, Keston, Kew, Kidbrooke, Kilburn, Kingsbury, Knightsbridge, Leyton, Leytonstone, Limehouse, London Bridge, Borough, Bermondsey, Maidstone, Malden, Mark's Gate, salsa clubs, Swanley, Dartford, lebone, Mayfair, Mill Hill, Mitcham, Morden, Mortlake, Mottingham, Muswell Hill, Neasden, Newington, Norbiton, Northolt, Northwood, North Woolwich, Norwood, Notting Hill, Ockendon, Orpington, Osterley, Paddington, Palmers Green, Peckham, Penge, Perivale, Petersham, Petts Wood, Pinner, Pimlico, Plaistow, Plumstead, Poplar, Pratt's Bottom, Purley, Putney, Queensbury, Rainham, Roehampton, Romford, Rotherhithe, Ruislip, St John's Wood, St Pancras, Selsdon, Shepherd's Bush, Shoreditch, Sidcup, Sipson, Snaresbrook, Soho, Southall, Southgate, Stamford Hill, Stanmore, Stepney, Stockwell, Stoke Newington, Stratford, Streatham, Surbiton, Sydenham, Swanley, Teddington, Thamesmead, Thornton Heath, Tolworth, Tooting, Tottenham, Tottenham Green, Tottenham Hale, Totteridge,Salsa in Timbuktoo, Tufnell Park, Tulse Hill, Twickenham, Upminster, Uxbridge, Vauxhall , Waddon, Walthamstow, Wallington, Walworth, Wandsworth, Wanstead, Wapping, Wealdstone, Welling, Wembley, West Ham, Whetstone, White City, Whitechapel, Willesden, Wimbledon, Winchmore Hill, Wood Green, Woodford, Woolwich, Wormwood Scrubs and so on. We cover salsa in Swanley, Herne Bay, Bickley, Bromley, salsa classes and clubs in Folkestone, salsa on Isle of Wight, Caterham. We cover salsa events in areas including Bognor Regis, Hayling Isling, Suffolk, Bodelwyddan in North Wales, Pakefield, Lowestoft, Birmingham, Folkestone; we cover salsa in Gatwick. Salsa in Bodelwyddan Castle, North Wales; we cover salsa classes and clubs in Basildon, Essex & Chorley, Lancashire. We cover salsa events at Pontin's Brean Sands in Somerset. London Rueda classes and workshops in all areas, including Ealing, Chiswick, Marlow, Beckenham, Croydon and so on. We cover salsa in Oxford and Birmingham. We cover all Latin lifestyle events, services, fashion, jewellery, dance shows, musicals, theatre, the broader dance scene in London and the South East. Please call 079 79 280 283 or
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