WE DUG OUR SPOON DOWN ALL THE WAY INTO THE SWEET, JUICY KNICKERBOCKER GLORY OF LATIN FLAVAS THAT IS BOURNEMOUTH’S PARADISE FESTIVAL RECENTLY (from 18th to Sunday 20th April 2008), writes Lee Knights, Editor, London Salsa Scene.
     THIS WAS A TEMPTING, MULTI-LAYERED, CONFECTION JAM PACKED WITH LATIN RHYTHMS, INCLUDING CROSS BODY SALSA, MAMBO ON 2, BACHATA, ARGENTINE TANGO, CUBAN SALSA, RUEDA DE CASINO, CH CHA CHA, SOCA AND MORE.
   SERVED UP OUT OF SEASON IN BOURNEMOUTH, LATIN FESTIVAL PARADISE TURNS OUT TO BE ONE OF THE MOST UNEXPECTEDLY SATISFYING DESSERTS ON THE SWEET TROLLEY OF DANCE WEEKENDERS.
     THE BIG CHERRY ON TOP WAS THE MASTER OF SOULFUL SALSA, MR ROBERT CHARLEMAGNE.
     THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I’VE SEEN ROBERT’S TAKE ON

Above: Anthony Gatfield &  Cassie Lawrence. Below: impeccably attired as ever, salsa’s best dressed dude, Colin from Southampton. ONY

TRICKS & DIPS AND - AS EVER - IT WAS DELIVERED WITH APLOMB AND FINESSE. THE GUYS PICKED UP THE ROUTINE - AND ERM, THE GIRLS - NICELY. AT LATE NIGHT PARTIES, THERE WERE LOTS OF SMILING LADIES GETTING WHISKED OFF THEIR FEET!
     CHOMPING OUR WAY DOWN LATIN FESTIVAL PARADISE’S LONG GLASS, JAM PACKED WITH LATIN RHYTHMS, WE GOT TO THE CREAMY LAYER, WITH SOME UNEXPECTED CRUNCHY BISCUITY BITS.
     Our long spoon scooped up Latin Motion’s Mauricio Reyes and Latin Collective’s Joe Davids. Smooth, creamy instruction from these experienced chefs, combined well with serious crunchy technical guidance.
     Mauricio Reyes delivered his essential guide to Salsa Rhythms and Timing workshop, breaking down the rhythms of individual instruments used in a salsa orchstra. This workshop is an absolute must for all dancers. To take your dancing to the next level, we all need a good understanding of the rhythms that make up salsa music.

Right: winner of the Spooky Mauricio Reyes Lookalike Competition is Latin Festival Paradise’s Alex Fright. Below: stylish dancing from Bournemouth couples and dance showcase performance.

 Next time round, give that workshop on turn patterns a miss and catch Mauricio’s introduction to the salsa orchestra.
 I’d really like to see Mauricio develop a follow up to his initial workshop, so dancers can deepen their understanding of Latin rhythms and translate this this into great musical interpretation on the dance floor.
 Joe Davids was on form with his introduction to New York Mambo On2. This was a another nicely balanced dish, with a lot of crunchy, biscuity technique. With plenty of explanation and time to drill and practise basic steps, dancers had just the right amount to chew on. Best of all, this was all flavoured with fluid, intoxicating conga rhythms. The net result was dancers got to experience dancing basic steps On2 in time with the congo rhythms - not in isolation from the music as in so many other workshops I’ve done.
 There was plenty of time to practice and drill too, to get a feel for the difference between Salsa On1 and Mambo On2.

AaTDIGGING DOWN FURTHER, THERE WERE MORE LAYERS FOR US JAMMY DANCERS TO ENJOY.
THERE WAS THE GORGEOUS, RICH SPONGE BASE, SOAKED IN VINTAGE HAVANA RUM, COURTESY OF THE EFFERVERSANT LEO AND CLAUDINE FROM BRIGHTON’S CUBASHE. Despite suffering a serious knee injury, Leo carrie doff his workshops on Cuban style salsa and rueda de casino with his characteristic sense of fun and sabor.
While Bournemouth has a reputation as a stronghold for Cuban salsa, the Latino Festival Paradise shows cross body style is on the up and up there. In fact, most of the dancers were cross body salsa specialists, so there’s a real shift happening down there in the south west. While it’s good to see numbers of Cross Body style dancers growing, I would hate to see dancers losing touch with their roots in Cuban style.
Other instructors included: Ariel Robert, Oxford’s Rosa and Giles and new for me, Adrian Martindale on LA men’s styling & shines and Colin Isaacs and Fiona Allen on cha vha cha and mambo.

IT WAS NOT JUST THE HOST OF DIFFERENT FLAVAS ON OFFER THAT IMPRESSED, BUT THE GENEROUS PORTIONS.
MANY WORKSHOPS OFFERED THREE SIMULTANEOUS SESSIONS FOR ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS, IMPROVERS AND INTERMEDIATE DANCERS, OFFERING SOMETHING FOR ALL TASTES.
A SWEETENER WAS THE CHANCE TO DANCE TO LIVE CONGO AND CLAVE SERVED UP BY TUMBAO  BAND MEMBERS DURING THE SUNDAY ON2 SESSION FROM COLIN & FIONA.
MORE OF THIS MIXING OF MUSICIANS AND DANCERS NEXT YEAR PLEASE NEV! A BIG HIGHLIGHT FOR ME WAS THE STRENGTH OF THE WELL PLANNED, STRUCTURED & DELIVERED WORKSHOP PROGRAMME.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EASY FOR A COMPLEX DANCE EVENT LIKE THIS TO TURN INTO A MUSHY LATIN TRIFLE.
INSTEAD, WE GOT HAUT CUISINE, SHARP, WELL DEFINED FLAVOURS, EXPERTLY DELIVERED, BUT LOSING NONE OF THE SENSE OF FUN AND FRIENDLINESS.
ALL CREDIT TO ORGANISER NEV ASHMAN AND HIS TEAM FOR PUTTING TOGETHER AN EVENT THAT TICKS ALL THE BOXES, FOR ALL LEVELS OF ABILITY AND ALL INTERESTS.
iT WAS NO SURPRISE THAT THIS WAS LATINO BEAT’S BIGGEST AND MOST POPULAR WEEKENDER YET, WITH 20 GUEST INSTRUCTORS, 30 HOURS OF DANCING AND 3 LATE NIGHT PARTIES.

Facilities are as good as anywhere
(a bit crowded with three workshops  in one room, but most people were cool about this)
Next year, event organisers will stage the event in one venue - the Carrington House Hotel, with three rooms, two ballrooms, and good sized wooden dance floors.