The evening began with lessons as usual. Velina and Mark taught a beginner lesson and Evan and myself taught the intermediate turn pattern. The classes were packed and hopefully everyone could hear us over the noise. Regardless of the usual sound issues, everyone seemed to do really well with the combinations and hopefully the turn pattern stuck with everyone throughout the evening so that it became muscle memory.

At 11:15pm our TDS Helper Team were introduced for their performance. For those who don’t know, about once a year we hold a special class just for helpers that teaches them how to become performers. This includes learning a professional choreography by our awesome choreographer Caryl (go Caryl!), fitting for costumes, and makeup assistance from professional makeup artist Shirley Yung (thanks Shirley!). The team, after months of practicing, has now performed at least twice and has been invited to several other functions to show their stuff.

Here is a list of the performers:

Barry Ip
George Reichert
James Anes
Sandra Villella
Tracey Hsieh
Winnie Fung
Manuel Alvarez
Marta Slowik
Ozzy Gul
Phoebe Yu-Kowalski

Needless to say the group looked amazing. They were polished, energetic and I was super proud of their hard work and dedication. Congratulations to them as well as David and Mildred who are part of the group but could not be in attendance on Friday.

Hopefully everyone had a great time at Plaza. Our next two outings are as follows:

1) Friday Feb 6th at Lula Lounge
2) Saturday Feb 21st at Peridot Lounge

See you all there!

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The judges have been way too nice. There has been very little critiquing to push the dancers to really become better. The choreography is somewhat fluffy – not edgy and memorable like Mia or Wade or some other amazing choreographers from the U.S. Show. The host is a little fluffy too and needs to develop a little edge herself.

The worst part of the show by far is the costume selection. Many people won’t notice how bad the costumes are but they are terrible. They look tacky and overdone and take away from the dancers and what they are expressing through their movements. If Nico is supposed to be a dark angel, having black wings really is not necessary. He can convey this with his dance, body movement and facials. Between the toy soldiers, clowns, fake afroed disco dancers and other ridiculous costumes, the dancing is lost and that is too bad because the dancers are quite good.

However, I will make an effort to comment on the final shows as we are getting down to the top few dancers and I do want the Canadian show to do well and improve. Hopefully they are reading viewers’ comments and can make some adjustments for next season.

In the next blog I will cover my favourite dancers…

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Toronto, ON, October 21, 2008 – Spain’s flamenco superstar José Porcel and his celebrated troupe of dancers, singers and musicians, showcase the art of flamenco with vivid costumes, fiery footwork and soaring vocals at Roy Thomson Hall on Friday, November 21, 2008 at 8pm. The world’s most joyous dance is transformed into an explosion of rhythm, colors, and emotions in the company’s new touring show “Alma Flamenco” (The Spirit and Soul of Flamenco), a seductive blend of traditional and modern flamenco.

Compañia Flamenco José Porcel has showcased flamenco throughout the world, providing an invaluable window on Spain’s rich history. The company creates a dramatic evening of precision and pageantry in a new program of electrifying solos and ensemble pieces including a taranto (a sensual duet), a rondena (a light yet rhythmic piece with the women of the company), the farruca and solea, joyous group pieces of choreographic complexity; and the great Porcel in two solos: the virile seguirilla and a largely improvised alegrias.

Born in Seville, José Porcel began performing the passionate folkloric dances of his Spanish ancestors at the age of 13. He made his professional debut with the Ballet de Valencia in 1989 and went on to become one of his country’s leading flamenco dancers and choreographers, touring the world as a principal dancer with the National Ballet of Spain and Compañia Espanola de Antonio Marquez. As a choreographer, Porcel’s lavish music and dance spectacles display both abundant creative genius and a desire to challenge convention while honoring tradition. Porcel leads his renowned company with a focus on unique choreographic interpretations of traditional flamenco styles.

Flamenco dancing, originally conceived as a way of accentuating rhythms while singing, is one of the world’s most richly expressive traditions. Bright costumes, sensual movement and exhilarating musical accompaniment have made flamenco one of the most popular forms of folkloric dance. It is believed that flamenco originated during the 15th century, when Gypsies arrived in the Andalucian region of Spain, bearing with them a culture that was a mixture of Arabic, Egyptian, Jewish and Indian.

This performance by Compañia Flamenco José Porcel is one of seven concerts chosen this season for Share the Music, the Corporation’s arts and education outreach program. 250 tickets have been distributed to under-served youth with the purpose of enriching their lives through exposure to world-class performers and related educational activities. The young guests will also attend a pre-concert flamenco workshop led by members of the Esmeralda Enrique Spanish Dance Company. Share the Music is sponsored by Sun Life Financial and supported by many individuals and organizations. For more information visit http://www.roythomson.com/shareMusic.cfm.

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The next new class to be offered is the very famous Zumba Fitness Workout 5 week session. This is a high energy, fun cardiovascular exercise program that incorporates Latin dance footsteps, body movement and arm movement to get the heart pumping and the muscles working. No partner is required. Cost is $70 for 5 weeks and the class takes place on Wednesdays 5:45 – 6:45pm starting November 19th. Here are some more details regarding this program:

What is Zumba Fitness?
Founded by celebrity fitness trainer, “Beto” Perez, Zumba Fitness Classes Toronto fuses hypnotic Latin rhythms and easy to follow moves to create a dynamic workout system that will blow you away. It’s an exhilarating workout of caloric-burning, heart-racing, muscle-pumping, and body-energizing movements meant to engage and captivate for life! The routines feature interval training sessions where fast and slow rhythms and resistance training are combined to tone and sculpt your body while burning fat.

In the past years Zumba Fitness Classes have become nothing short of a revolution. Coining the concept of “fitness-party” and making fitness fun, Zumba has spread like wild-fire throughout North America. The routines feature interval training sessions where fast and slow rhythms, and resistance training are combined to tone and sculpt your body while burning fat. Add some Latin flavor and international zest into the mix and you’ve got Zumba Fitness!

Zumba Fitness Classes in Toronto will get you grooving to Merengue, Salsa, Reggaeton, Cumbia, Bachata and Cha Cha Cha. The progressive level 1 class will start you with the basic footwork patterns and as the weeks progress, styling and fitness elements will be added to have you really working up a sweat! What are you waiting for? Join the party!

Toronto Dance Salsa offers Zumba Fitness dance classes in Toronto for beginners. This five week introduction class will address all the basics of the dances including technique, footwork, arm movements, body movement and styling.

Our Zumba Fitness Toronto classes are taught by Tracie Macko. Here is Tracie’s bio:

Tracie Macko, Salsa and Zumba Instructor
Tracie first fell in love with salsa in 2002 at a club in her hometown of Winnipeg, MB. Moving to Toronto that same year, Tracie saw the diverse dance and performing arts community that Toronto had to offer and immediately immersed herself into the Latin dance social scene. She quickly obtained a position as a Salsa dance group and private class instructor at Soles Dance Studio, and was a main dance instructor there until Soles closed its doors in the summer of 2004.

Since then Tracie has continued on as a private On1 Salsa Dance instructor, and, in 2005, expanded her teaching into the world of dance fitness, teaching ‘Zumba Fitness’ and Salsa Cardio at various fitness facilities throughout the GTA. Tracie has also established herself as a creative, dedicated and energetic dance performer and choreographer, making appearances on numerous Toronto stages in a variety of dance genres, ranging from cabaret style jazz to Salsa to Afro-Brazilian and Samba. She is currently a performing member of The Dance Migration, The Orient Dance Company and Las Gatas Entertainment. She is also a “regular” on the social Salsa dancing scene, dancing both On1 and On2 at clubs in the Toronto area, and is known for her unique style that reflects her diverse dance background.
Click here to view our Zumba Fitness Workout Classes Toronto.

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So You Think You Can Dance Canada Reveals First-Ever Top 20

TORONTO, Oct. 2, 2008 (Canada NewsWire via COMTEX)

After an exhilarating cross-country audition tour and intensive finals in Toronto, CTV announced during tonight’s broadcast the 10 men and 10 women who have danced their way to the top of the inaugural So You Think You Can Dance Canada Top 20. The dancers, who specialize in everything from Ballet, Hip-Hop, Salsa and everything in between, compete for Canada’s votes with the series first-ever Top 20 two-hour performance episode next Wednesday, October 8 at 8 p.m. ET on CTV (visit ctv.ca to confirm local broadcast times). Following the performance episode, viewers will have two hours to vote for their favourite couple. Learn more about the Top 20 in the So You Think You Can Dance Canada Top 20 guide to be published in Metro newspapers across the country on October 8.

“This first-ever group of Top 20 dancers are about to write a new chapter in Canadian television history,” said Susanne Boyce, President, Creative, Content and Channels, CTV Inc. “Their unbelievable natural talent and pure charisma will captivate the country.”

“The men and women in our Top 20 are some of the best dancers I have ever seen,” said Executive Producer Sandra Faire. “This group are not only some of the best dancers Canada has to offer, they are world class. Canada has some of the best choreographers in the world, and when they get their hands on the Top 20, we know viewers will be blown away by their performances.”

The Top 20 will be divided into 10 couples, who will work with top choreographers to learn a new dance routine each week from a wide variety of genres, including Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Broadway, Ballroom, Bollywood and more. The fate of these 20 finalists – one of whom will be named Canada’s Favourite Dancer – will be left up to viewer votes.

On the first live results show, debuting Thursday, October 9 at 7:30 p.m. ET on CTV, the three couples with the fewest number of votes will be announced. Each dancer in those three couples will have one last chance to impress the judges and “dance for their life” with a solo routine of his or her choosing. After all six dancers have performed, the judges will weigh in on the performances before sending one male and one female dancer home.

Starting next Wednesday (Oct. 8) and continuing for the next nine weeks, voting begins as Canadians make their voices heard for their choice of Canada’s Favourite Dancer. Voting will occur following the conclusion of Wednesday’s “performance shows” and is restricted to one, two-hour voting window in each region of broadcast (detailed voting information can be found at dance.ctv.ca).

Already the country’s newest homegrown hit, averaging 1.1 million total viewers to date, So You Think You Can Dance Canada is also ranking No. 1 online. As announced earlier this week by Yahoo! Canada, So You Think You Can Dance Canada is the top-searched new show for the week ending September 26, 2008 and is the seventh top-searched television show overall.

The Top 20 were selected after So You Think You Can Dance Canada’s exhaustive, cross-country search in five cities and the gruelling “Finals” cutdown in Toronto. Ranging in age from 18 to 29, The Top 20 dancers chosen from over 2,500 auditions are students, dance teachers and choreographers, all vying for the coveted title of Canada’s Favourite Dancer.

The Top 20 finalists (in alphabetical order) breaking it down for the first ever So You Think You Can Dance Canada performance episode on Wednesday, October 8 at 8 p.m. ET on CTV are:

ALLIE Bertram (18) is a Ballet dancer from Calgary, AB. She is a graduate of the International School of Ballet, and is excited to represent her style on the show. Allie has just returned from the Boston Ballet and is thrilled to showcase for Canada how much she loves to dance.

ARASSAY Reyes (21) is a Contemporary/Latin dancer from South Surrey, B.C. Born in Havana, Cuba, Reyes has been dancing since she was young and frequently incorporates her Latin flair into her routines. Arassay attended the Cuban National School of the Arts, later earning a spot in the National Contemporary Dance Company of Cuba (Danza Contemporanea de Cuba). Arassay is currently dancing with the Vancouver dance company Grupo America.

BREANNE Wong (25) is a Contemporary dancer from Whitby, ON who began dancing competitively at age 12. Now a dance teacher in Ajax, Breanne is also the co-owner of a dance studio, which she cites as one of her biggest accomplishments.

CAROLINE Torti (23) is a Contemporary dancer born in Kamloops, B.C., who now lives in Oakville, ON. Caroline, who started dancing at age three, has trained in jazz, tap, ballet, modern, lyrical, acrobatics, and hip-hop, but says that contemporary wins out as her favourite style of dance.

DANNY Arbour (26) is a Latin and Ballroom dancer from Montréal, QC. He knows that with his status as a professional ballroom dancer, he needs to impress the judges in all styles of dance that come his way.

DARIO Milard (19) is a Contemporary dancer born in Brooklyn, NY, and raised in St. Hubert, QC. He is a self-taught dancer who believes that his creativity and hard work have gotten him this far. Since taking an interest in dance five years ago, Dario has taken ballet and contemporary lessons at various Montréal-area schools, including Dawson College.

FRANCIS Lafrenière (28) is a Ballroom dancer from St. Bruno, QC. Francis owns his own dance studio and credits his students as his biggest supporters. He competed in the Blackpool Dance Festival in Blackpool, England, and looks forward to showcasing his infamous hip moves in the upcoming season.

IZAAK Smith (19) is a Hip-Hop and Ballet dancer from Prince George, BC. Dancing since the age of seven, Izaak attended North Shore Academy of Dancing and has studied at Judy Russell’s Enchaînement Dance Centre. He is also trained in ballet, contemporary, jazz, modern and musical theatre.

JESSE Catibog (29) is a B-Boy from Toronto, ON. Inspired by his hometown’s multiculturalism and versatility, Jesse honed his skills on the streets of Toronto. Known for his signature dance move, the coffee grinder-torpedo-coin drop-jump-jazz split-chair freeze, Jesse is excited to show Canada his moves.

JOEY Matt (19) is a Contemporary dancer from Calgary, AB. Joey believes that making the Top 20 is one of his greatest accomplishments. The support from his friends and family is what drives Joey to dance like there is no tomorrow and try out new styles of dance.

KAITLYN Fitzgerald (18) is a Contemporary dancer from Loretto, ON. She has been dancing since the age of two, starting out in tap, jazz, lyrical and ballet. Kaitlyn has studied at various schools, including the National Ballet of Canada, and her proudest dance moment came when she participated in the Solo Seal for the Royal Academy of Dance.

KEVIN Mylrea (22) is a Contemporary dancer born in Saskatoon, SK and raised in Westbank, BC. He attended DANZMODE Productions and KC Dance Connection, and says he is proud to see other dancers perform his own choreography. One of Kevin’s biggest accomplishments is working on The Lizzie McGuire Movie with Hilary Duff.

LARA Smythe (25) is a Contemporary/Acro dancer from Toronto, ON who started out as a competitive gymnast and grew up attending Earl Haig’s performing arts program. For the last five years, Lara has been working mainly as a choreographer for acrobatic routines.

LISA Auguste (27) is a Contemporary/Hip-Hop dancer from Rexdale, ON. She is a graduate of Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts, and the Canadian Aesthetics Academy. While in New York attending a class at the Broadway Dance Centre, Lisa had the opportunity to work with contemporary choreographer Mia Michaels – an idol of many other contestants in the competition.

MILES Faber (21) is a Popper and Boogaloo dancer from Calgary, AB. With no formal training, Miles was first introduced to hip-hop by choreographer Tara Wilson. Miles looks forward to testing himself as he takes on new dance styles and competes to become Canada’s favourite dancer.

NATALLI Reznik (28) is a Hip-Hop/Latin dancer born in Israel and now living in Toronto, ON. Natalli, who began dancing later in life, started with ballet at age 17 and moved into the modern, Latin, and hip-hop styles of dance. Currently studying fashion and visual merchandising at Seneca College, Natalli believes it will be her unique personality that will entice judges and viewers alike.

NICO Archambault (23) is a Contemporary/Hip-Hop dancer from Montréal, QC. He has been studying dance at Cégep du Vieux Montréal (http://www.cvm.qc.ca/), and enjoys rock ‘n’ roll as much as dance. Nico is looking forward to dancing with the rest of the Top 20 competitors and mastering new styles.

ROMINA D’Ugo (22) is a Jazz dancer born and raised in Toronto, ON. She started dancing as a child, taking jazz, tap and ballet. Romina attended the Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts, majoring in dance, before pursuing a career as an actor, graduating from Sheridan Institute’s Musical Theatre-Performance program. Her true passion, however, lies in salsa dancing.

TAMINA Pollack-Paris (19) is a Hip-Hop dancer born in Toronto, ON. With some training in jazz, ballet, and Irish dance, Tamina attended the Interplay School of Dance. She is currently busy taking classes at Toronto’s OIP Dance Centre and Street Dance Academy.

VINCENT Noiseux (22) is a Contemporary/Hip-Hop dancer from Saint- Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC. He has been dancing since the age of 13, and aspires to dance on tour with Janet Jackson. Vincent is overwhelmed with the amount of talent he has seen thus far in the competition, and looks forward to the weeks ahead.

Learn more about the Top 20 in the Wednesday, October 8 special So You Think You Can Dance Canada Top 20 guide in Metro newspapers across the country, or at dance.CTV.ca, the official online portal for the series and the source for everything SYTYCDC. The site is jam packed with exclusive footage and clips, fans can get up close and personal with their favourite dancers, judges and choreographers by browsing the image galleries, videos, forums, blogs from judges and more.

For those who missed tonight’s episodes and in advance of next week’s first ever So You Think You Can Dance Canada Top 20 performance episode, an encore of this week’s Top 200/The Finals episode will air on MuchMusic Sunday, October 5 from 9-11 p.m. ET. An encore of both performance and results episodes will air Sundays at 9 p.m. back-to-back on MuchMusic beginning October 12 (go to ctv.ca and muchmusic.com to confirm local broadcast times).

Watch Top 200/The Finals highlights, exclusive footage not seen on TV backstage footage, on demand on the CTV Video Player at dance.CTV.ca.

So You Think You Can Dance Canada is based on the Emmy Award-winning smash hit series created by Simon Fuller and Nigel Lythgoe that premiered in 2005. Canada joins the United States, Australia, Norway, Denmark, Greece, Poland, Turkey, Germany, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Africa and Israel as markets with an original So You Think You Can Dance production.

So You Think You Can Dance Canada was created by Simon Fuller and Nigel Lythgoe, and is produced in association with CTV by Danse TV Productions. Sandra Faire and Trisa Dayot are Executive Producers. Ed Robinson is Executive Vice-President, Programming, CTV Inc. Susanne Boyce is President, Creative, Content and Channels, CTV Inc.

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“So How Does ‘So You Think You Can Dance Canada’ Work?
Updated Tue. Sep. 9 2008 10:41 AM ET
Lindsay Zier-Vogel, CTV.ca

The show’s about to hit the nation but before Thursday’s premiere, let’s figure out how the show works…

Cross-Canada Auditions

Our cross-Canada audition shows feature the best of the best! So You Think You Can Dance Canada’s stellar roster of judges traveled from Vancouver to Halifax, searching for Canada’s top dancers.

How Does the Audition Process Work?

Before they even have a chance to get on stage the dancers lined up in wee hours of the morning, braving rain and wind and humidity. They nap, eat, bust a move and practice their solos while they wait, greeting old friends and meeting new ones.

The crowds erupt when host Leah Miller calls them into the theatre, and after the initial rush, there are forms to fill out, music to register, dance clothes to slip on and muscles to stretch. Before long, the dancers are finally up on stage, doing what they do best — dancing.

Solos:

After each dancer performs his or her solo for the panel of judges (in his/her own style to his/her own music), three things can happen:

* “It’s a no for me”: If the majority of the judges don’t think dancers can hold their own, they are homeward bound.
* “It’s a yes for choreography”: If the judges aren’t sure about the potential of a dancer, or just want to make sure he/she is versatile and capable of picking up choreography, the judges send him/her on to “Choreography” with Blake McGrath to learn a challenging multi-genre routine.
* “It’s a yes for me!: If the majority of the judges see great potential in a dancer, he/she will receive a “Boarding Pass” to Toronto and head straight to the Finals.

Choreography:

Dancers who are sent on to choreography perform Blake’s routine in front of the judges in small groups. After this performance, two things can happen:

* “It’s a no for me”: If the majority of the judges don’t think dancers can hold their own, their So You Think You Can Dance Canada journey ends for this year.
* “It’s a yes for me”: The strongest, most versatile dancers receive Boarding Passes to the finals.

Finalist Week in Toronto

The top dancers from each city travel to Toronto to compete for a spot in the Live Show’s Top 20.

Competitors are taught routines in several different styles by the two permanent judges, Tré Armstrong and Jean Marc Genereux, and third alternating judges, Luther Brown and Blake McGrath.

* At each stage, the judges vote on whether or not to keep the dancers in the competition.
* If the judges are split, contestants must “Dance for Their Lives” (i.e. perform a solo in their own style).
* After a grueling week, judges choose the Top 20 — ten male and ten female finalists — to participate in the live show.

Top 20 to Canada’s Favourite Dancer

With the Top 20 dancers ready and rarin’ to show Canada what they’ve got, it’s up to Canadians to decide who stays and who goes.

Each week, competitors are assigned different partners and dance styles to perform. From hip-hop, krump and pop-and-lock to salsa, quickstep, ballroom, and jive, the dancers perform group numbers, solos and duets every week.

Leah Miller hosts the evening and there will be three judges each week:

Two permanent judges: Tré Armstrong (a contemporary/funk dancer, choreographer and star of the MTV/Paramount dance film ‘How She Move’) and Jean Marc Genereux (international ballroom champion and guest judge/choreographer on the U.S. version of ‘So You Think You Can Dance’).

The third judge will alternate between a series of guest judges: Paul Becker, Luther Brown, Sean Cheesman, Rex Harrington, Blake McGrath, Mary Murphy and Melissa Williams.

Top 20: The First Five Weeks

The Top 20 Contestants try to impress both the judges and the voting public so they can remain in the competition.

Performance Night:

* Dancers perform duets created by the show’s choreographers in specific styles –contemporary, hip hop, ballroom and jazz, among others.
* The judges offer their take on the couples’ performances and provide feedback.

After Performance Show:

* Viewers are encouraged to vote for their favorite couple(s).

Results Show:

Dancers open the show with a group number.

* The three couples that received the least number of votes are revealed.
* Dance For Your Life: These bottom six performers are given one last chance to prove themselves as dancers as they each perform a self-choreographed solo in his/her own style.
* One male and one female contestant are removed each week based on the judges’ final decision.

TOP 10: The Remaining Weeks

Once our dancers are narrowed down to the Top 10, it’s up to the public’s votes send one female and one male home each week — ending their dream of becoming Canada’s favourite dancer.

Performance Night:

* Dancers perform duets created by the show’s choreographers in specific styles –contemporary, hip hop, ballroom and jazz, among others.
* Dancers also perform their own solos
* Judges offer their take on the couples’ performances.

After Performance Show:

* Viewers are encouraged to vote for their favorite couple(s).

Results Show:

The remaining dancers open the show with a group number. Special guest performers will also perform for the live audience

* The male and female with lowest number of votes are revealed and eliminated.
* In this part of the competition, the judges do not have any direct control of the elimination process, and the fate of the dancers is left entirely to the viewers at home.

Season Finale:

After the tough, exhausting months-long competition, one dancer is voted number one and heads home with the highly coveted $100,000 grand prize and the title of Canada’s Favourite Dancer!”

Can’t wait to see what they have done with the show – I’ll keep you updated but feel free to send me your thoughts especially about the salsa routines!

The post So You Think You Can Dance Canada appeared first on Toronto Dance Salsa.

SG – “What does salsa mean to you and how has it changed your life?”

BH – “For me Salsa is the genre that has brought together all the styles of dance and movement that I am passionate about. It is where I found I can truly express myself through movement to music that has captivated me since I was a teenager. It’s changed my life because it brought Victor, my partner and fiance, into my life and together we have made this our career and life’s work. It is something we both love and can share together.”

SG – “What are some of your salsa goals for 2008?”

BH – “Some of my goals for 2008 is of course to continue to grow as a dancer personally. To evolve in style and range of movement. I also hope to really challenge myself as a choreographer by pushing myself to try different things and take risks. I hope to put new choreographies out there that really make people think and appreciate the versatility that Latin music has to offer. It’s a scary thing to put yourself out there with something different for everyone to judge, but as an artist I’m striving for different and to have an influence on the evolution of this art form.”

The post Interviewing Burju appeared first on Toronto Dance Salsa.

SG – “Are there any things students should avoid doing in their development?”

BH – “The only thing I can think of that students should avoid doing in their development is acquiring bad habits by practicing bad or incorrect techniques. It’s important to take lessons in order to find out what the correct techniques are. It is also important to do your research when looking for instructors to make sure you have found professionals with adequate credentials and experience to teach you.”

SG – “Are there any obstacles you can remember experiencing in your salsa development and how did you overcome these obstacles?”

BH – “Sure I have faced many obstacles, I still face them today. I struggled with spinning for a long time when I started, and today I struggle most with continuing to evolve my style and evolve our choreographies. You know you are continuing to grow if you keep facing obstacles because you are pushing yourself to try things you never have before. The thing to do is just keep working at it. I get frustrated all the time when I don’t get something right away but I’ve learned that I have to put in the time and have the discipline to work at it.”

Definitely inspiring to hear that everyone struggles to grow and develop artistically. Stay tuned for part #3 of Burju’s interview. But in the meantime check out their website at www.hymstyle.com.

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SG – “What is the most important piece of advice you can offer a person learning how to dance?”
BH – “I can’t be sure that this is the most important piece of advice but it is certainly top on my list when it comes to my practices. Always be a student first. Learn from as many instructors, styles and even different genres of dance as possible. The more you continue to learn the easier learning becomes and the more versatility you will have.”

SG – “What are the most important actions that students can take to see improvement?”
BH – “In dance in general to see improvement a student must continue learning and practicing as much on their own as possible in order to really apply the things they learn in classes. For Salsa specifically there is an element of reflex and spontaneity when social dancing that can only be acquired through experience. You become a better social dancer by social dancing as much as possible. It’s the same idea as driving. You become a better driver through experience driving.”

For more information on Burju and Hacha Y Machete Dance Co. (HYM Style) please click here. Part two coming soon!

The post My Interview With Burju appeared first on Toronto Dance Salsa.

Burju is one of the original 4 founders of H.Y.M. In 2001 she became the director along with her fiancé and dance partner, Victor. The two of them ran the company part time after their day jobs. In 2003 Burju made a life changing decision to pursue a career in Latin dance. This decision was prompted when her good friend and mentor Juan Matos offered her an opportunity to tour Italy for one month. She left her job at Putnam Investments and has since traveled to over 50 cities all over the world teaching and performing. She directs and choreographs for 3 teams consisting of over 40 dancers as well as choreographs and produces showcases for a national award-winning teen troop. She has helped develop the “Learn Through Dance” in-school program that affords inner city elementary students the opportunity to learn dance and experience the benefits of engaging in the arts.

Burju has worked very hard to develop her own style of Salsa that incorporates her background in different disciplines. She began as a Rhythmic Gymnast and trained in Ballet and Jazz at a fairly young age. She then became interested in Hip-Hop and Modern and danced in various dance troops and productions. In college she became a part of a dance troop that incorporated Latin dancing. Here’s where she began her journey.

Burju met her fiancé and best friend through dance, which is the main reason it remains such a major part of her life. Dance has given them the opportunity to be entrepreneurs together and to travel the world together.

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