The Best of London Salsa Classes, Salsa Clubs, Salsa Events in London & the UK
Founder of the Official Fan Club for Latin Music & London’s Carnival de Cuba

We would like to apologise for any weird stuff you are experiencing currently as we are re-launching the site. Weird stuff off-site is your own affair.
Editor: 07979 280 283  editor@londonsalsascene.co.uk

Letters: One, Chew, Three - To Chew or Not to Chew

Gum But Not Forgotten

Dear Editor
I think it’s (chewing gum) a disgusting habit at the best of times ... but on the dance floor - shocking! But some venues are guilty of promoting this habit by having complimentary gum on the front desk! We give out mints at our venues so that everyone (we hope) is fresh-breathed and discourage gum - in fact I cant remember the last time I danced with a chewer! As for leaving it on the dance floor or - God forbid - underneath a table or chair, that deserves a lifetime ban fom all salsa venues! Let’s name & shame!                   Wolfie

Dear Editor
I chew gum myself,it keeps my breath fresh, also it might sound silly, but it helps me concentrate, as I know it does with some teachers, and also because when your close to someone you dont want to have smelly breath.
I don’t like it if someone has this problem nor would they appreciate me either with bad breath. (It’s that hygiene thing) but I don’t chew-chew-chew with mouth wide open I do it discretely.
Angela Chandler, Salsabrisa
SEE LETTERS FOR MORE CHEW CONFESSIONS!!!

Photograph taken with a concealed camera while dancing with Mr X. Later that evening, I trod in Mr X’s carelessly disposed of gum. Ugghhhh!!! Is it nice or what??? Ed

NEWS: CHEW CONFESSIONS

Warning: Gum Can Seriously Damage Your Health Salsero!

Chewing on the dancefloor is perhaps not as bad as stomping on people and elbowing others. Dance ettiquette is very important and we are among the teachers who bother to include it along with everything else we teach.
   Apart from the nuisance of finding gum on your shoes, we think it dangerous as it may suddenly get swallowed and/or become stuck in the throat when the user engages in a challenging dance manoevre. I also think it may affect the users timing unless they can somehow synchronise their jaw action with the footwork, in which case they have to also get in sync with the music too.
   It used to be considered bad habit to chew gum, and is still banned in public in Singapore. However, salseros would all tolerate it more, if users were more thoughtful of non-gum chewers.                                                   Paul & Lindsay, Ezyfeet Dance

Chew or Pew?

I chew gum sometimes on the floor - it helps to keep the saliva flowing and breath fresh although I agree it doesnt look particularly lady-like! Also many men suffer from bad breath when dancing especially if they've been drinking beer so it helps if they chew gum.
   One other thing which is far more important is the way a few men (and also a few ladies I think although that’s much less of a problem), not only do not wear anti-persp but also enjoy the fact that they sweat lots - they think its sexy - it’s not!! They need to be aware of the need to change t-shirts more frequently and also it’s not pleasant to dance with a smelly man.                                       Annette

BUBBLE AND SPEAK! CHEW CONFESSIONS!

“I can’t chew gum and dance” - US President

Hi there you folks in downtown England Europeland. It’s not true what they say. I can’t chew and dance at the same time. Just to prove it, here’s a picture of me getting rid of my gum before getting out on the floor and strutting my funky thang.                                                                 George  x

 PUNCH AND CHEWDY!!!

Chewing gum before one gets on the dance floor is a good thing because it helps to freshen the breath. But I don't think that it looks good seeing the mouth chewing whilst dancing and even worse on the floor and under one's shoes. Chewing gum on the floor makes it difficult to spin as well!                                                                            Boogaloo Barry

Chewing whilst dancing is disgusting!  And I'm forever worried that someone's going to choke to death from the habit, it's seriously dangerous!!!                   Frances

STAR STUCK - This couple (left) were just getting it on when gum ejected by another dancer crashed between them like a meteor.

STICK UP OR STUCK UP?

When I first started dancing salsa (about 8 years ago) I couldn't understand why I lost my voice when I went on salsa weekends.

 The problem was the air conditioning and depending on how much and how fast you dance a lot of nasty air conditioning air goes down your throat! Now I chew gum at salsa and it has solved the problem. I don't chew it like a cow chewing the cud, and I certainly don't leave it anywhere someone can get it on there clothes, shoes, etc. So leave us gum chewers alone!!There are much more annoying things at salsa like bad body odour, selfish use of floor space, men pulling your arms out of your socket, your partner not looking at you or smiling for the whole of a dance, and people who think they are God's gift to salsa and have nothing left to learn. So I don't really think gum chewing is such a big crime!!! Tracey

Above: Our forensic expert takes a sample from gobbed out gum. DNA testing at our laboratories will reveal the identity of the owner. dah-dah-DAH!

London Salsa Scene World Exclusive! The Big Stories!

Does Your Chewing Gum Lose its Flava on the Dance Floor  Overnight?

Why are so many people chewing on the dance floor these days? This seems to be an epidemic now; at least 3/4 of the partners I dance with chew.
In order to dance fluently, you must breath freely. A bar of music equals one human breath. If you chew, you can't breath properly. Would you swim or run whilst chewing? 
There needs to be a serious debate about this problem! Some teachers are indeed guilty of encouraging the habit! In my opinion it must stop!                                                                              Richard M

Ed replies: Wooaahh, Richard!  It’s not the chewing per se that gets me going - it’s evil booby traps gobbed out on the dance floor and elsewhere. I’ve been forced to scrape mega-icky substances off the bottom of the suede soles of my expensive and beloved dance shoes more than once. This is a gruesome, ralf and huey job. If people have to chew, why can’t they dispose of their masticated mouth-contents thoughtfully? 

Chewing gum found in the nick of time on a dance floor recently. Is it yours?

We Want to Get Your Views on a Sticky Topic: Should Promoters Ban Gum at their Venues?
If you’re against it, email us and get it off your chest, your shoes, your coat and everything else.
If you chew gum and dance - why do you do it? Do you have any fillings left? Confess all to us and we’ll publish your posts here. Email: editor@londonsalsascene.co.uk

London Salsa Scene World Exclusive!

Confucius Reigns as
Chinese Puzzle Mystery
Grips the Capital’s Salsa

Dancers

Julian “The Duke” & Super
Mario Named in Cover-up

Dear Editor,
Does anyone know how to get hold of a Louie Ramirez album, featuring the rare "Ching Chong Chow" track? Louie is best known - at least on the London Salsa scene - for his song "Ching Chong Chow". It comes from an album from the late 1960's in New York. Julian the Duke and Supermario have played the track but, as I’ve heard, are reluctant to release details in case it gets overplayed. Consequently the hunt for Louie Ramirez has begun with salseros travelling the length and breadth of New York and Amazon.com for copies of this rare album featuring the phantom "Ching Chong Chow" - but to no avail. Can anyone help me find out where to obtain a copy of this album? Can I prevail upon the Duke or Super Mario to take pity on me and let me know the name of this mystery album? Mr E
Amigos! You can help solve the great Chinese Puzzle Mystery.
Email us at editor@londonsalsascene.info and we’ll forward to Mr E (get it?). Editor and ex-Sun reporter

We get Salsa Sherlocks using their little grey cells to solve this baffling puzzle! We bring you the exciting denouement soon!!

Salsa Private Eyes in Worldwide Hunt

Salsa Detectives Solve
Chin Chon Chow Mystery

After a worldwide hunt, a handful of Salsa Sherlocks have cracked the baffling mystery of the elusive "Chin Chon Chow" track.
   Salseros turned detectives months ago when the London Salsa Scene joined the hunt for a lost Louie Ramirez album from the late 1960's in New York, featuring the so-called Chin Chon Chow number (see our news section).
   Derick Benoit, alias Mr Holmes, dismissed the puzzle as elementary: “Found it in less than 5 minutes. I am in the US and do not know what the fuss is about.”
   For Salsa Sleuth, recollections from the past Miss Marple style provided a vital clue to the source of the track. “First heard Chin Chon Chow on a dance holiday in Barcelona. Marchant Birch chose the track for his classes. Lovely. Very addictive. It always brings back memories of rum, sun and fun filled holiday dances. Louie Ramirez - Vibes GaloreCD (Alegre 8450), Released 1966; Re-Issued 1998 Produced by Al Santiago. Song titles include:Chin Chon Chow. Hope this helps with your hunt.”
   Richard E Miller was as taciturn as Phillip Marlow: “Track Chin Chon Chow from album "Vibes Galor", by Louie Ramirez - Alegre 8450. Available from www.descarga.com ”

   Bob Long used the leetle grey cells a la Hercules Poirot. “That one is easy. Vibes Galore by Louie Ramirez. Not a bad album. In fact, anything by the late, great Louie is worthwhile. He was/still is one of the greatest talents and influences, and the creator, of modern salsa. He featured on or arranged much of the best salsa out of NY/PR in the 60-80's.”
  Steve Mullins, simply told us whodunit:

 http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004TWC2/qid=1129 518403/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-0798050-2939036?v=glance&s=music& n=507846
   Just one more thing, Columbo style from Austin Joseph. “A thorough search of the Internet revealed that the extremely rare Chin Chon Chow (on some websites, deleted) track can be found on the album Louie's Grooves. However, the album (probably due to popular demand) was re-released by Amazon UK on November 14. It is on vinyl & CD formats. Click on http://www.juno.co.uk/artists/Louie+Ramirez/showlisting=all to hear an exerpt.”
   Last word goes to Dorance Lorza, the band leader of Sexteto Cafe. “Music should be available to everyone. If there are people who are keeping music to themselves, they should not be doing this. These songs were not recorded just for people to keep as a treasure for themselves, on the contrary, those in the top position in salsa need to be generous and encourage greater knowledge and understanding on the music. I have some copies for sale if people can’t get hold of it.”
Email: editor@londonsalsascene.co.uk to contact Dorance.

Best of London Salsa: Your Letters

Frankly, My Dear,
Ah Do Give a Damn

Dear Editor - Please help me. aaah’m just a poe l’il Southern Belle salsera and aah’ve just started dancing in yo’ clubs and there’s

something aahh just don’t understand.
   Why do yo’ gentlemen here not dance to the music? A southern gentleman dances with his belle, pays her attention, dances on the beat, listens to the music and interprets the music so she enjoys the dance.
   Well, aah declare, yo English boys just don’t do that? You just spin, spin, spin til the po’ girl is worn out. Why don’t you English ladies tell yo gentlemen how to behave on the dance floor?
   Frankly, my dear, aah do give a damn about this. Yo’ English guys need to learn to dance with a lady and to the music.                                     Scarlet Salsera

Scarlet Salsera posted 8.7.06 by Rhett Butler

©London Salsa Scene is an online, independent magazine guide covering salsa and the Latin lifestyle in London and beyond. The views published  are not necessarily those of the Editor. All rights reserved. London Salsa Scene retains Copyright over all the articles and photographs published on this website - it is an infringement of that right to use this material elsewhere without our written permission. Disclaimer: London Salsa Scene publishes information on behalf of promoters, organisers, dancers and others in good faith but is not responsible if these events are cancelled, altered or if performers and instructors billed not not appear; this is exclusive liability and responsibility of the event organiser.

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