The Best of Salsa Classes, Salsa Clubs, Salsa EventsFounder of the Official Fan Club for Latin Music & London’s Carnival de Cuba
Review: Marchant Birch - Alchemy Way
Marchant Birch - Alchemy Way Partnerwork Dance: Salsa/Mambo - On1 & On2 versionsWebsite and to buy: www.alchemydance.co.uk Call: 07770 807049 Price: £25, both versionsBalancing the elegance of cross body with the instinctiveness of Cuban style salsa, Saffa Marchant Birch has magic when he dances. This is what makes him one of the most popular and sought after dancers instructors and performers on both the UK and international salsa scene, writes Editor, www.LondonSalsaScene.co.uk Marchant’s debut DVD delivers 8 salsa routines executed over 60 minutes, infused with Marchant's trademark smooth and fluid style. There are two versions, with the same routines executed On1 (Salsa) or On2 (New York Mambo). Marchant and dance partner Davina Morris offer sequences to challenge intermediate and advanced students. The learning curve is a steep one; expect to slow the DVD down in places to pick up finer points. Sure, you can learn routines parrot fashion, but this loses the heart of Marchant’s approach - you need to drink this one in. This is predominantly aimed at leaders (my partner didn’t feel there was enough for her). To get value for money gents, you need a dance partner up to the challenge. If you want to get the hang of melting into the music when you dance, supplement practise with classes with the man himself.
LONDON SALSA COMPETITION - AUGUST 08
Competition: World World Music CDs
We’ve teamed up with World Music to give you the chance to win some of the tastiest music CDs around. In our latest competition, you can win: Think Global Salsa; The Rough Guide to the Cuban Street Party and The Rough Guide to Salsa Dance releases featuring La Sonora Carruseles, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Celia Crux, Sierra Maestra, Bamboleo and more. To enter, just CLICK HERE to email us. Please entitle your email “Fan Club for Latin Music Competition”, including your name, address and preferably a landline where you can be reached. Closing date: midday 10th August, 2008. To buy and for more on the latest Latin sounds visit: www.worldmusic.net
TERMS & CONDITIONS: Only ONE entry per person, no staff of World Music, London Salsa Scene may enter. All entries to be received no later than 10/August/2008 at 5:00pm. The winning entry will be selected by random draw. By accepting this terms and conditions you are allowing your details to be used by London Salsa Scene exclusively.
BOOK REVIEW Wednesday, 3rd September 2008
Travels on the Salsa Dance Floor
BOOK: TRAVELS ON THE DANCE FLOORAuthor: Grevel LindopISBN: 9780233002361Publisher: Andre DeutschPrice: £14.99
I get the impression that Grevel Lindop is a man of extremes. Six pages into the book – and after as many dance lessons - he decides to pack his bags, leave hearth, home and missus and travel across Latin America to discover the roots of salsa.
Lindop’s journey begins with an account of the salsa club scene in Manchester, seen from the vantage point of the absolute beginner. Here, Lindop sums up everybody’s first experiences with salsa – it’s well observed, funny and gets across the basic principles of the dance well. For most of us, dancing at the local club, topped off with the odd night up town, is enough. Not Grevel Lindop – he wants to learn to dance salsa authentically, in its original setting. So he takes off for the streets, bars and dancehalls of Cuba, Venezuela, Puerto Rico and more, asking one basic question – can a 6’ 4” white English poet learn to dance? I enjoyed Lindop’s accounts of salsa dancing in Manchester and the gods and goddesses of the Santaria. But once he’s in Latin America, he seems to lose touch with his own roots. There’s not enough about Lindop the man and the poet, his passion for the dance and his own interior journey to make for a really satisfying read. London Salsa Scene, 3rd Sept 08
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