‘A Ver Quien Te Toca?’ or ‘Who will you get?’

Therein lies the question and the suspense in this upcoming competition of spontaneity, sensuality and your best improvised Latin moves. The best part of all is you won’t know with whom you’ll be dancing until the very last minute, the moment of truth!

The ladies will randomly pick the name of a gentleman from a hat at La Bodeguita Del Medio on May the 8^th at 9 p.m. the first of two preliminary rounds.  The DJ will then play a randomly picked song from a preselected list of songs that are all around the same tempo.  That person may or may not dance the same style that the woman who selected him does which can be ‘on 1’, ‘on 2’, or Cuban style. This is precisely what makes this type of improvised contest so fun and interesting. Who is going to dance with whom and how is that gonna work out!??

La Bodeguita Del Medio is celebrating its salsa roots which started in Cuba with lots of salsa flavor by celebrating this very theme which made them successful. The event is called FIESTA PATA SALADA.  ‘Pata Salada’ is the term often used for people who are born or have resided for many years in Puerto Vallarta.  The kickoff for this event will be a Jack and Jill contest as commonly called in the U.S. but here we’re calling it ‘ A Ver Quien Te Toca?’

It is open to all levels of dancing and all styles of salsa.  Choreography, technique, costumes and timing are not judged.  The only judging is the sense of connection to your partner, musicality, attitude and expression. The audience will judge the first two rounds by applause and the winners who make it to the finals will be judged by a panel of local media personalities.

A minimum of 5 couples on two different nights will compete to qualify for the finals. The day of the finals different salsa dance schools will exhibit their talent and showcase the different styles of salsa as La Bodeguita will offer Open Bar from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. and then a 15% discount on consumption thereafter. 

This event is this popular Latin bar’s way of extending their hand to the salsa community and saying thank you for being our essence, the ‘heart’ of who we are and the first step for La Bodeguita’s intention to recapture the flavor and Latin vibe that are its origins. They want salsa dancers to consistently be part of the landscape of this popular hangout.  It’s a small place, but anything is possible. And Vallarta dancers are always hungry for places to go Latin dancing.  La Bodeguita has plans to open up more dancing space to accommodate those Latin shakers. The event is a three-day contest. May 8^th and 9^th at 9 p.m. are the preliminaries, and the 11^th are the finals starting at 11 p.m. The winners will be awarded  package  prizes  courtesy of La Bodeguita Del Medio, Pop Diner and Cupocity.com. 

Come be a part of the fun!

Marcella Castellanos teaches salsa and soon bachata at Yoga Vallarta. You can contact her via Facebook or Twitter at Latin Motion PV or at www.latinmotionpv.com or visit her blog at http://latinmotionpv.blogspot.com/.

Who or What is Jack and Jill in Salsa?

Have you ever gone into a dance club or social and sat in awe watching different couples dancing like professionals moving so fluidly to the rhythm and timing of the music as they  demonstrate a close connection with one another. You’re mesmerized and pretty certain they have been dancing together for years and that’s why they look so good. Oftentimes, this is not the case. Sometimes it is, but more often it’s not. Salsa dancing by nature is a social dance which means that you are constantly switching partners to interpret music differently, dance to a different salsa beat-On 1 or On2,  and just plain vary your dancing.  Sometimes a dancer connects better with a certain dancer more than another and has almost nothing to do with how well they know each other or how long they have danced together.

 Because salsa dancing has such an international following, there are times that people, strangers, just show up at any given salsa venue and dance with willing partners with what has been determined to be  more or less their level of dance ability.  When this pairing happens, the result can be an incredibly spontaneous, improvised, awe-inspiring dance that looks like it had been practiced for weeks or months.

This is what Jack and Jill contests are all about.

Jack and Jill is the term used for a popular salsa contest in which dancers –leaders and followers, are randomly matched. Unlike most conventional, professional competitions in which the dancers are judged on choreography, costumes, technique, timing, and a string of many other qualifying criteria, this type of dance is judged based on how well you improvise-social dance. It is a lot more light-hearted by nature and is spontaneous and fun to participate in as much as it is fun to watch.

Basically, salsa dancers are randomly paired with each other and the new paired couples are asked to do an improvised salsa dance to the DJ's selection of the music right on the spot. No preparation can be had and no choreography allowed. Costumes are often not judged and usually anything goes in your dancing.

The term Jack and Jill commonly used in the U.S or Dance with a Stranger as it’s called in the UK comes from the popular nursery rhyme, Jack and Jill and also from Jack Carey the format innovator who is also a Swing Dance Hall of Fame dancer, choreographer and judge. 

Jack and Jill will be appearing in Puerto Vallarta soon and you won’t want to miss this exciting event of spontaneity and sensuality. The new contest name is " A Ver Quien Te Toca?" and will be held at La Bodeguita Del Medio this Sunday the 8th, 9th and then the 11th. 

Marcella Castellanos teaches salsa and soon bachata at Yoga Vallarta. You can contact her via Facebook or Twitter at Latin Motion PV or at www.latinmotionpv.com or visit her blog at http://latinmotionpv.blogspot.com/.

HOT Salsa Dancing for Fitness

Has your fitness routine become boring and predictable? How about trying something different than the conventional aerobic exercises such as running or step classes and taking up something fun and social like salsa dancing.  The cool thing is you sweat as much doing salsa as you would climbing a stair climber, but you get to wear something sexier than sneakers to participate in it.

As a woman, I get excited about getting all dolled up and wearing high heels to go salsa dancing. It’s part of the art, part of the ambience, part of the excitement.  Men generally take a bit more effort to look debonair as well.  Who doesn’t want to go out and look and feel sexy? Most of us do and who knew that it also counts as a great workout even if it involves a possible mojito and rhythmic, sensual, upbeat music with lots of friends.

Salsa music first appeared in New York City in the 60’s  as a rhythmic fusion of Cuban Son with Guaracha, Montuno and Guaguanc.  It also has a strong American jazz influence and Plena and Bomba from Puerto Rico creating a unique urban sound that just penetrates through your veins and makes you want to move and shake it. Oh yeah! I always look forward to my salsa workouts.

Salsa's popularity began to heat up in the early 70’s in Latin neighborhoods and soon spread into New York's ballrooms and dance halls. Although it’s become standardized for dancers who wish to enter professional competitions, most people dance to it in a spontaneous and highly energetic way true to its original form.  The lively and variant musical style allows for alternating very slow and very furious dance movements.

The sudden bursts of frenzied dancing can help to improve the anaerobic fitness essential to other sports such as basketball, sprinting and swimming. I find that I’m able to engage in other activities with ease due to the aerobic and agility gains that I’ve made from salsa dancing, stretching and some light strength training. Elasticity from dancing will help your overall range of motion, power and coordination.

 Salsa dancing merges aerobic and anaerobic training, working your leg strength and endurance. Dancing in general is a great way to build the perfect body shape- well; I can aspire to it, right? The continual movements and use of your whole body build up aerobic endurance while steadily burning calories over the course of the evening. This helps to strengthen and tone your legs at the same time you are shedding pounds—salsa is fantastic for this. And although I may not have the perfect body, my legs often receive great compliments.

According to experts,  dancing salsa can burn up to 10 calories a minute, without the potential cause of injury and jarring of the knees that high impact exercises such as running can cause. You can learn salsa with or without a partner, at home or in a dance studio or club and integrate it into your fitness program. As you learn and engage in more salsa activity to get fit, you’ll not only look and feel great, you’ll end up having a blast and forming a whole new facet to your social life.   Life is too short to waste on boring, traditional aerobics and group classes. Ladies, put some sexy heels on and learn how to dance HOT salsa to look and feel great!

Marcella Castellanos teaches salsa at Yoga Vallarta. And also teaches bachata. You can contact her via Facebook or Twitter at Latin Motion PV or at www.latinmotionpv.com or visit her blog at http://latinmotionpv.blogspot.com/.

Flash Mob en Puerto Vallarta. Quien se anima ? Who will show their support?

Where can I go Latin dancing?

Sometimes local venues will give salsa socials a try at least one night a week, but unfortunately if they don’t see profits or a big draw of people in about a 4-6 week time-frame the effort will come to a halt. As a result, it’s a bit difficult to know where to go, because at times, just as you’re beginning to find out about a new place, the social night disappears. However, there are a few venues that are dedicated to this genre of music. Included is  the always lively Cuban hang-out La Bodeguita del Medio located on the Malecon.  The live music begins at 10 p.m Tuesday through Sunday with a Cuban band playing on a yearly contract. The atmosphere is cheery and reminiscent of being in a smoky dive bar in Havana. The only drawback is that the dance floor is tiny and lends itself to lots of bumping bodies or tight squeezes when bachata or salsa dancing. Besides that, it’s a great place and the staff is always friendly, and there is no cover.

Candela Pura is one of the newer places in PV located at the turn-off to the libramiento and across the street from Mega. On Thursdays and Fridays they’ll have a salsa band or a DJ play Latin tunes from 10 p.m.  into the wee hours of the night.  The dance floor is expansive, the place has a dark, nightclub atmosphere and the loungy sofas and tables are comfortable for long hours of socializing with a cocktail. I like this place mainly because they seem to like and support salseros although I generally prefer tropical-like or beachfront atmospheres when wanting to Latin dance- it’s just more inspiring. Here the sultry Dulce Mireya Palacios Prado teaches salsa in Spanish Thurs. and Sat. from 8:30- 10:00 p.m. and the cost per class is 50 pesos. No cover here.

Then there is J&B Nightclub, one of the oldest dance venues in PV.  This place looks like a 70’s disco and plays different Latin tunes almost every night.  The biggest advantage here is the hardwood dance floor, perfect for dancing and there almost always seems to be enough room for freedom of movement.  The last Friday of every month, they present what’s called Fiesta Latina when different dance schools –instructors and students alike perform on stage. This place stays open until the early morning and is located at Francisco Medina Ascencio. It’s not one of my favorite places, simply because I would prefer to hear more salsa, bachata and cha cha cha music than cumbia which is what they love to play, but many seem to really enjoy it. The Latin Brothers teach salsa class in Spanish on Tues., Thur. and Fridays from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.  Each hour class costs 50 pesos. They are a talented, well-liked brother and sister team. Sometimes there is a cover of up to 100 pesos.

Next up, the Twisted Rose in Bucerias. Now this is a tropical gem tucked about two or three blocks from the beach, it’s easy to miss if it weren’t for the vibrant sounds of the live Cuban band emanating from the inside. The dance floor is great and the eats and drinks are inexpensive. There is usually a cover charge of about 50 pesos and the band plays Saturdays from 9ish until midnight.  This is one of my favorite places due to the outdoor, tropical atmosphere.  More specifically, it’s located about two or three blocks from the central plaza.

Last, but definitely not least, is Don Pedro’s in Sayulita. Beachfront and fabulous! Many PV peeps drive an hour there and an hour back every Monday just to get there dancing fix and hear the fantastic Cuban band. It’s a great mix of foreigners out to have a good time with salsa obsessed locals.  The oceanfront vibe here is always worth the drive and I hear the food is really good. Sayulita is so small that you can just arrive and ask where it is so that someone will point you in the right direction. The band starts playing at 8 p.m. until eleven. About 30 pesos gets you through the door.

Marcella Castellanos teaches salsa at Yoga Vallarta. You can contact her via Facebook or Twitter at Latin Motion PV or at www.latinmotionpv.com or visit her blog at http://latinmotionpv.blogspot.com/.

Bachata Madness

Salsa Dancing – A Sensuous Addiction.

Last week we discussed the various influences that created salsa music. Naturally, with the evolution and melding of different countries and rhythms has come a variation of different styles of salsa dancing. Again, the style of salsa that you dance will depend on where you live and what is most commonly danced in the area where you reside as well as what your personal preference of style is. Additionally, your heritage may come into play. Are you Colombian, Puerto Rican, Italian, Cuban, Mexican, from New York, Miami… In San Francisco or New York you might hear someone ask you, “On1 or On 2”. This does not mean what is your drug of choice. Unless, of course, you’re addicted to salsa.

In Puerto Vallarta what has been most commonly danced is ‘On1’ or LA style, but you will also see quite a bit of Cuban salsa, and Colombian salsa which is also called Cumbia especially on most nights at J&B Nightclub. Colombian style salsa consists of moving your feet back or to the side. There aren’t too many fancy tricks, turns, or spins in Colombian style – except if you are competing or are a professional dancer.  It’s a more casual, calmer but lively style of social dancing. Personally, I think the music is redundant and the moves are boring, but if there is no other option, I gotta keep moving my feet. So let’s talk a little a bit about the Cuban style you might see in “La Bode.” There is often a great band from Cuba on a yearly contract playing at that fun little place on the malecon.

Cuban style salsa is a more male-dominated ‘macho’ dance. All salsa is really, but Cuban style is more than the Los Angeles or New York style. This is because this style of dance is restrictive to the woman. Cuban Salseros grip the women’s wrists in a way that restricts her from extending her arms, fingers or doing any sexy styling. After a while, the woman gets bored because her freedom of movement and creativity becomes limited.  There are some popular contemporary bands, however, that play faster rhythms and allow for the woman to dance solo and display her beautiful, rhythmic body movements. I’m all for that! Dancing should always allow for creativity and freedom of movement. This leads me to the more popular Casino Rueda..

Casino Rueda, also known as Salsa Casino or Salsa Rueda, is Cuban style salsa danced in a circle. It incorporates Afro-Cuban elements such as Son and Rumba and combines turns patterns and intricate combinations that are inspired from the 1950’s Rock n’ Roll craze. In this exciting dance, couples form a circle in which one person calls or signals the different moves. It’s a fast paced, beautifully synchronized, exciting dance. You can learn Casino Rueda at Shanti Studio here in Puerto Vallarta.

Many salseros who have mastered On1 salsa are beginning to take up On2 rhythms. Both salsa styles are linear.  The main difference between the two styles is the approach to styling, and the ebb and flow of movement which begins on different breaks in the measure of the song. On1 is very flashy incorporating many flips and dips as you advance in the dance. It uses the contemporary mambo basic but executes the step by breaking forward on count ‘1’.  

New York style or On2  is more like Mambo. This style incorporates body waves, free style footwork, shines, rib cage movements and shimmying displaying smooth, rhythmic body movements. The counts are on ‘4’ and ‘8’ and is also known as Eddie Torres style. 

You’ll see more On1 and On2 dancers usually at Candela Pura here in PV or as far as Bucerias at the Twisted Rose or Don Pedro’s in Sayulita.

No style is any better than the other. In fact, many dancers take the time to learn different styles because soon you find that certain songs are complimented better by certain styles. The more important thing is to develop your own sense of style by taking classes, workshops, listening to music, discussing concepts with your salsa dancing friends and just having FUN!! After all, salsa dancing to many is the drug of choice.

Marcella Castellanos teaches salsa at Yoga Vallarta. You can contact her via Facebook or Twitter at Latin Motion PV or at www.latinmotionpv.com or visit her blog at http://latinmotionpv.blogspot.com/.