Saturday, December 8th

9:15 pm - 11:30 pm, $7 person

This is the Party Where
Christmas and Mexico
go hand in hand

Salsa Music in Room 1

(Wear Red and White and Green or You better stay Unseen!)

CRASH COURSES (7 - 9 PM)

CUMBIA - Luis
BEG SALSA - Alex
SLOW DANCING! - Jill (cpls only)
ADVANCED LATIN HUSTLE - Scott
BACHATA - Linda
ADV SALSA EXPLOSION! - Rebeca/Bjorn

Tejano Dancing includes the Cumbia and Mexican Polka.  Anyone who has ever seen Linda Cook and Timm Chavez dance a Western Polka with an unusual "Walk-Walk" style has seen the Mexican Polka (which obviously can be danced to Western Polkas as an interesting alternative to the regular Polka). 

 

BEGINNING SALSA - Alex
Prerequisite: No requirements

Salsa Dancing came to the forefront of America's consciousness with Ricky Martin's "Living La Vida Loca" in 2000.  In the years since Salsa has pushed Swing Dancing aside and Western Dancing aside to become the most popular form of Dancing in the entire country. Unlike most dance crazes that come and go within a year or two, Salsa just keeps growing and growing.

There are a few people on the Planet who still don't know how to Salsa. If you are one of them and you want to enjoy the great party we are having tonight, then this is the course to take.  Beginning Salsa is where it all starts.

Slow Dancing is a derivative of Foxtrot. Most people can shuffle from foot to foot, but when it comes to Slow Dancing well, the majority of people are clueless. 

This course covers ways to Slow Dance gracefully with several footwork combinations. We explain how different songs may require different timing and footwork.

There are moments when the ability to slow dance gracefully can be the most important skill in the world and if you don't have that skill, you're out of luck. 

This is the perfect chance to learn more about the Lost Art of Formal Dancing. With Holiday Parties and New Years Parties just around the corner, the ability to slow dance gracefully is likely to come in very handy.  

The Latin Hustle is the famous Disco Dance from the 70s. This flashy partner dance is a clever combination of Swing footwork and Latin hip motion.  The patterns and footwork are actually taken from Swing while hip motion and feel of the dance is more similar to Salsa. You will certainly enjoy this dance which is a unique blend of both dance styles.

Please note this is an ADVANCED Crash Course.  You must know how to do this dance ahead of time.

Bachata is a slow Latin dance that originated in the Dominican Republic. It is based on an ancient African dance rhythm known as 'Ibo' brought over by slaves stolen from the Nigerian Kwa tribe in the early 1800s.

Bachata lyrics are almost always about heartbreak or unrequited love. Known as  "la música de amargue" (the music of bitterness), it developed as music for the poorest neighborhoods of the Dominican Republic.

In many ways the history of bachata music is similar to that of American blues. Originally a rural, guitar-based form, bachata was the music of the poor and uneducated. Now it is entering mainstream Salsa music.

The lyrics often contain raw double-entendres and bawdy sexual innuendoes. Whether its the suggestive lyrics or the sensual style of the Bachata, this dance is starting to get a "bad reputation".  In fact Bachata has been compared to Bossa Nova, another Latin dance with a "bad reputation".

And now that you know about how naughty Bachata is, come learn how to dance it!

ADVANCED  SALSA EXPLOSION - Rebeca and Bjorn
Prerequisite : Completed one level of Intermediate Salsa

Bjorn and Rebeca are well-known in the Houston area for their dazzling Salsa performances.   They teach a regular Saturday afternoon Advanced Salsa class.

This Explosion Crash Course will be a fast-moving, very Advanced class featuring styling and advanced patterns.