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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

Best of London Salsa: Letters


	I get so many emails & most get deleted after a few lines but you write so well I can't stop. Your style is so refreshing to our scene. Keep it up. Terry Lewis, Salsa Chillout. www.salsachillout.com Thanks Terry! Appreciated. Ed posted: Monday 27 November 2006

*Best of London Salsa: Your Letters*

		Still Time to Catch Alex on the Beeb

	This is a one-off email to let you and the salsa community know that my debut as a Radio 2 presenter can be heard at www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/ by clicking LISTEN AGAIN and selecting the 4th programme on the list. The show is called Alex Wilson's Latin Quarter and covers the broad church of Latin Music from Cuba to Brazil and Ska Cubano to Sting. Alex Wilson www.alexwilson.net alex@alexwilson.net Happy to oblige Alex! If you missed the show, make sure you get to hear it on Listen Again - the more hits the Beeb gets, the more chance we have of hearing more Latin music on mainstream radio - so please pass this news item onto your friends. Lee, Editor, *www.londonsalsascene.info* *Salsa London News Update 30.12.06 (see interview below)*

*Best of London Salsa: Your Letters*

	Salsero’s Question: Do you know if there is a link, somewhere along the line, between Eddie Torres (Salsa Dancer / Choreographer Extraordinaire) and Albert Torres (Salsa Event Promoter Extraordinaire)? Stephen, N London Good Question Stephen - We haven’t a clue! Can anybody answer this one for Stephen? Click here to email us. Ed.

Best of London Salsa: Your Letters


	Hooray! Henry’s Going to Cuba but Won’t Support Live Cuban Music


	It appears that Hooray Henries are alive and well in salsa. They are the people who turn up in their thousands and pack out the Royal Albert Hall for the annual Proms; the rest of the year they disappear and do not attend any other classical concerts.




	*”Can you earth people give me and Guillermo a hand? We’ve got tickets to see Spanish Harlem Orchestra at the Jazz Cafe but there are stairs...”*


	Likewise dance holidays to Cuba seem to be booming, people are willing to spend thousands of pounds every year for this experience. On the other hand when there is a dance event featuring a top class Cuban artist or salsa band for a very modest price, where are they? *Richard M*

Best of London Salsa: Your Letters


	WHERE ARE ALL THE LATINOS?

Latinos don’t go to salsa often because the classes look like aerobics training camps and that is not Latin!
   They prefer to have their parties amongst friends and in their houses.
   Salsa dancers at the clubs don't have passion or feeling. The people just dance because salsa nowdays is fashion and the teachers who the majority are not Latinos, they are only interested in making money.
   Unfortunately, you cannot buy the feeling that a Latino is born with.
   Latina Annie - Shoots from the hip


	Vamos South Amigos!


	*posted Sat 2 Sept 1500 by La Rosa Senora*

I live in West Hampstead but still manage to find the energy to travel all the way south to get my kicks with fellow Latinos there - Cheney in Elephant & Castle; Terromoto in Peckham - opposite that is another club - Bar Salsa and La Cantina (I think) in Elephant & Castle. Clubs tend to stay open to significantly late and entrances tend to be either cheap or free. Plus, the music is fantastic!
Alex Pereyra

I can of course only speak for my own area: North London/Enfield. About seven or eight years ago, Latinos turned up everywhere and anywhere, there was a salsa event.
In the early days at the Enfield Town-House, after the classes, they actually outnumbered the natives on the the dance floor. Naturally they danced in many different styles, but all had a certain "je ne sais quoi". These days there is just this one Latin guy who is occasionally seen on the dance floor.
At one stage they even had their own salsa night, Fridays at Club Guyando in Haringey - does it still exist? Where have they all gone? Richard M


	Thanks for keeping it real and speaking from the heart with passion, honesty and feeling, you guys. This is what we all love about the salsa spirit, on and off the dance floor! We want to hear from you if you agree or disagree with these dancers’ views! Click *HERE* *to email us. Ed.*

*Best of London Salsa: YOUR LETTERS*

	Wherefore Art Thou Damarys?

	Do you have any info such as web-site, e mail, tel no. for Damarys Farres of Cuban School of Arts. I attended her class at a weekender once and enjoyed it very much. I have looked on the internet unsuccessfully for her web-site. Your assistance would be much appreciated. Jasmin Jasmin - You can contact Damarys at: cubanschool_arts@yahoo.com She is due to start a Ladies’ Cuban Styling Course in September, definitely to be recommended. We’ll bring you more soon. Ed.

Best of London Salsa: Your Letters

School for Salsa Gets Top Marks


	We have just had a recent Ofsted inspection at my school Walthamstow School for Girls and got a mention for doing salsa dancing. Is this the first mention of salsa

dancing in an Ofsted report.
I started the classes last year with year 8 and was really pleased to see a
mention about in the report. Pleased as punch.
The actual extract from the report reads "In Year 8 students have the
opportunity to study non-examination activities of their choice, such as
film making and salsa dancing"
Jacqueline Mcleod
Salsa and maths teacher, Walthamstow School for Girls, London E17
Well done Jacqueline! Let your colleagues and students know they are starring on www.londonsalsascene.info Ed.
London salsa in Walthamstow, post Monday 16 April




	*Has Ofsted gone yet????*

*Best of London Salsa: YOUR LETTERS Wed, 25 July 07*

	Why Does London Salsa Scene Not Back Colombian World Champions?

	I'm still wondering why either my Festival or Swing Latino - triple World Salsa Dance Champions get no review in your website at all. Is it because these dancers come from Colombia and they promote a style of Salsa that does not conform to what is in fashion? These people are the best in the world and everybody is talking about them in the Salsa scene, three world titles prove it especially the one organised by Albert Torres the No.1 Salsa promoter in the world and which is broadcast worldwide on ESPN channel, yet they get no recognition from the few people that have a say in this small industry. Other Salsa promoters I can understand. Regards, Leoncio Caicedo, OLA LATINA / SALSA REPUBLIC / FESTIVAL ENCUENTRO LATINO www.olalatina.co.uk / www.salsarepublic.co.uk / www.festivalencuentrolatino.com Leoncio, Hi - Firstly, I absolutely agree with you - we should have been at the event! In fact, we should be at ALL the BEST and TASTIEST events on the UK Salsa Scene - that is our job (it’s a dirty one, but someone’s got to do it). We are passionate and driven regarding all things salsa and all things Latin BUT we are a titchy team and we run on a shoestring. While the spirit is willing, it’s just not humanly possible to get to everything to report on it. In fact, we listed and previewed all these events - and we are hoping to post a news item reporting on the weekender soon. We do our best to PREVIEW the Best and Tastiest Stuff, getting the word out there in advance and helping you to maximise the success of your event, but REVIEWING is more difficult - our team simply isn’t big enough. On that particular weekend, there were FIVE clashing events, and we were already commissioned to review the Afro Cuban Salsa Weekender launch event. This only goes to prove the old adage you can’t please all of the people all of the time. Running London Salsa Scene - the UK’s only genuine, independent and dedicated salsa/Latin Lifestyle magazine - is a massive job. The site is GI-NORMOUS, we have a huge subscriber base, optimised for google, shedloads of news features and stuff happening all the time. BUT to keep this going, we need the backing and support of the salsa community as a whole. Otherwise, LSS is fated disappear, just like every other magazine that has ever existed on the UK salsa scene - from lack of support by the community it serves. We are actively interested in featuring all salsa styles - Leo, please let us know of the next occasion, we would be delighted to cover, preview and review. EVERYBODY ELSE: We will publish your letters whether they are complimentary or challenging - as long as they are Tasty and have Sabor! Ed.

Best London Salsa: Your Letters

	Shall We Dance? Richard Tells His Story

	My salsa and dance career started 17 months ago (3 days and 3.5 hours) Being of the tender age of 47 at the time I’m often asked “how’s it going”…to which my only reply is a mumbled ‘middle aged, no rhythm, mechanical….’ Fortunately my friends don’t pursue the subject either through envy or lack of interest (its a girlie thing I hear them say). 15 months on and a huge time investment by my teachers I decided I needed more punishment and develop faster as time for me is of the essence. I therefore joined MamboLifestyle Foundation Course (0n2 !!*! on wot?! ). We are in the 5th week and the course is accelerating – certainly the confidence of movement has already changed and I know find myself smiling at times when dancing at clubs. I can almost breathe properly rather than hold my breath during moves and from time to time hear the ‘language’ of the music – which for me is what it’s all about. The 0n2 is not an ‘on wot’ now but needs developing and I’m hearing different instruments to create different styles – who knows a shine might come out at some stage on the dance floor. This is good for a middle aged, no rhythm, mechanical man – I guess I’m trying to go from a living stone to a rolling stone – it’s great and much more to come. Richard Gere (Not) Penfold* CONGRATULATIONS RICHARD! YOU’VE WON A COPY OF ROUGH GUIDE’S LATEST RELEASE, SALSA DURA!! CLICK HERE TO EMAIL US A REVIEW OF YOUR LOCAL CLUB AND YOU TOO COULD WIN A TOP CD!!! ED. *Right: Richard Gere sweeps Susan Sarandon off her feet in Shall We Dance? London Salsa in London Bridge, post Sat Mar 25*

©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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