The Best of Salsa Classes, Salsa Clubs, Salsa Events Co-Author "Find the Rhythm" and Founder of London's Carnival de Cuba
London Salsa Scene News - Dateline: 12th July 2010
Romancing the Bridge
Click HERE - Miguel de las Foto's Eton Bridge Milonga Gallery
Staged on the Thames, against the backdrop of Winsdor Castle on a balmy summer evening as the sun sets over the river, the Eton Bridge Milonga has got to be one of the most romantic dates on the UK Tango calendar, writes Lee Knights. Over a single evening on Saturday 3rd July, Eton Bridge was closed to traffic and turned over to the sensual, sepulcral delights of one of Latin America's most achingly beautiful dances - Argentine Tango. Over 100 dancers came to bend cheek to cheek, torso to torso to ocho and gancho in fine style in a most English of English settings, more accustomed to the traditional black tailcoats, waistcoats and pin-striped trousers of Eton. For the first time, there was a chance for milongueros (tango dancers) to come from far and wide in the UK to attend the Milonga (simply, a tango event). Hosts Thames Valley Tango's Charles and Sarah Long partnered up with the Christopher Hotel on Eton High Street, to offer dancers a complete package, including afternoon tea, dinner and an overnight stay. "There are very few open air tango events in the UK and the setting here is blissful. The Milonga is incredibly romantic - the bridge, the river, the castle, the Windsor and Eton Wheel in the background, what more could you ask? I know from personal experience how romantic it is - I proposed to my wife on the Bridge." said Charles Long. For The Christopher's Steven Pritchard, the link up offered dancers an opportunity to make the most of the romance of the Milonga, with no need to rush off at the end of the evening. The Christopher is a listed building, a former coaching inn dating back to 1711, just yards from Eton Bridge. "We're particularly proud of our Moroccan chef, his signature dish is Moroccan lemon chicken tagine and our wine list – we hope this blend of traditional and contemporary will to appeal to dancers." For Charles Long, Argentine Tango won him over in a way other dances had not. "I'm a typical English bloke, I got dragged along to classes – but Argentine Tango caught my imagination. When I go made redundant 5 years ago – I was a manager in an insurance with all the usual trappings – desk, secretary and expense account – I set up Thames Valley Tango. This is a passion, not a job." Join the next Eton Bridge Milonga on Saturday 7th August, contact: The Christopher Hotel, 110 High Street, Eton, Windsor, Berkshire SL4 6AN. Call: 01753 852 359 or visit: www.thechristopher.co.uk call Charles Long: 07793 142743 email: dance@thamesvalleytango.co.uk Lee Knights, co-author "Find the Rhythm – The Dancer's Guide to Feeling Salsa Music"
LONDON SALSA SCENE - Feature Dateline: 26th April 2010
Keeping the Faith with Salsa's Dancing Gods
While the origins of most popular dances were lost in time centuries if not millennia ago, Salsa has retained a living connection to its primal folkloric roots and inspiration, writes www.londonsalsascene.co.uk's Lee Knights.
Born in Cuba, Salsa is a product of what the Cubans call "transculturacion", a melding of the traditions of African slaves, the Spanish ruling class, with the indigenous Indian people. Most of those taken as slaves were Yuroba, largely from Nigeria, West Africa. Forbidden from worshipping their own gods and goddesses (Orishas) and forcibly converted to Christianity by their Spanish overlords, the Yuroba resisted. As they appeared to worship Christian saints, they secretly linked these to their own pantheon. This way, they held onto their own belief system, sacred dances and music. Today, the Santeria is an everyday part of life in Cuba and growing stronger than ever. While the spiritual dances of the Orishas influence a host of genres including Cuban Son, Rumba, Cha cha cha, Mambo and others, they are strongest in Casino (Cuban style Salsa). This directly incorporates unadulterated movements from the Cuban folkloric tradition. For example, in Rueda de Casino (Cuban circle dancing in a group), some calls name individual deities from the Santeria and require dancers to perform actual sacred movements. At the Spring Salsa Fiesta at the South Downs Holiday Village, Bracklesham Bay, Chichester, West Sussex, on 9th -12th April, dancers packed out workshops on Afro-Cuban folkloric dance. These were led by Ariel Rios Robert, a former director of Cuban folkloric dance at the University of Havana and Lazaro and Paola Lopez, and Leo Henriquez, among the UK's leading experts. Ariel Rios Robert (right) has been teaching in the UK for four years. "I've been surprised by the real interest coming from dancers in the UK about the Orishas, it is becoming very popular now. In Cuba, everything is changing - now the political situation is opening up, people are no longer hiding their religious beliefs - this is helping us
create interest in the UK and elsewhere." This was a chance to get closer to the roots of dance itself, making connections between the basic footwork and body movements of salsa and its spiritual origins. Here, we experienced the compelling spiritual dance and music of the orishas, including Elegua, the opener of the way; the sensuality of Oshún, the Goddess of Love and the Sweet Waters; the fluidity of Yemayá, the Sea and Fertility Goddess, the ruggedness of Oggún, the God of War.
Whether we know it or not, we're worshipping the Cuban Gods and Goddesses when we dance salsa. More on the Orishas: www.afrocuban.co.uk – Afro Cuban Salsa Fiesta with Ariel Rios Robert, Alexis Hernandez, Osbanis Tejeda & Anneta Kepka at Mundesley Holiday Park, Mundesley, Norfolk, 10 - 13 September, call 01263 721 553 to book. www.afrofusiondance.com – Ariel Rios Robert www.afrocubano.co.uk – Paola (shown left with her Orishas) and Lazaro LopezFor insights into the roots of salsa music and its rhythms:www.findtherhythm.comLee Knights is an IDTA Salsa Instructor and Co-Author with Alex Wilson of "Find the Rhythm! The Dancers' Guide to Feeling Salsa MusicThanks to Ariel Rios Robert and Paola and Lazaro Lopez. We will be updating this item with details of where to learn more about the Orishas.
LONDON SALSA SCENE - OXFORD GALLERY Dateline: 11th March 2010
CLICK HERE for Salsa Calientita's Smokin' Class Act
LONDON SALSA SCENE'S BEST SALSA WEEKENDERS Salsa Calientita's Grand Oxford Salsa Weekend Tuesday 10 March 2009
Grand Chilled Friendly Party Vibe Alive and Well at Oxford Weekend
The Grand Oxford Salsa Weekend has done it again - if anything, the vibe was more friendly and chilled - this one's as classy as it gets. The setting at the Heytrop Hotel in Oxford, Friday 5th - Monday 8th March looks like a stately home, the setting for a posh Morse murder mystery. But the only murder here was on the dance floor! The party vibe was full on, and hosts Salsa Calientita's Clay and Debbie Thomas promise an even bigger and better event next year! Featuring Susana Montero, Super Mario, Marchant and Davina, Miguel Monteiro and more, this is the weekender for salseros looking for style, elgance, comfort and a really relaxed vibe. London Salsa Scene's Miguel de las Fotos caught all the highlights - CLICK HERE to view our all new gallery! (Above: Ladies in Red Dance showcase with Coleen and Miriam)More: www.salsacalientita.co.uk www.salsapromotionsuk.co.uk email: salsacalientita@yahoo.co.uk tel: 07973 390440
PHOTOGRAPHS BY THE LONDON SALSA SCENE'S MIGUEL DE LAS FOTOS - TO HIRE THE LONDON SALSA SCENE TEAM - 0797 280 283
CLICK HERE To See Super Mario's Most Excellent Oxford Routine!
