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…

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

“Free Dance Lessons at Paris Airports

Roughly 17 million air passengers travel through Paris during the summer, presenting the city’s airports with a significant logistical challenge. To keep tempers cool and spirits high this year, the Aeroports de Paris implemented an unconventional plan: free dance lessons for passengers.

Much like the free light therapy the airports offered over the winter holidays—which we covered back in January—summertime passengers can use their wait time at the airport to learn any one of 15 dances offered by the airport’s resident trainers from “L’Ecole des Vacances,” including Afro Jazz, Disco, Hip Hop, Mambo, Modern Jazz, Rock & Roll, Salsa, Samba, Tango, Cha-Cha and more. Music and trainer instructions are broadcast through cordless headsets so as to minimize the disturbance to other passengers, and lessons last 10 to 15 minutes each. At Paris-Orly, they take place on a dance floor in terminal South at boarding gate 17, with roving workshops also available in the boarding area at Paris-Orly West. At Paris-Charles de Gaulle, the dance floor is located in terminal 2E, gate E51, with itinerant workshops in Terminals 3 and 2F. Dance floors were designed by the Aeroports de Paris boutiques. Classes are available each summer weekend between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. through August 17th.

There’s nothing quite like free love to elevate consumers’ moods, particularly when it includes a dash of sympvertising to relieve the stress of travelling and provides some status skills to boot. No doubt the airport boutiques will benefit, but another possible scenario could involve the sponsorship of such an effort by a local dance studio chain. Either way, one to emulate in any travel or hotel context!”

Thanks to springwise.com for this great article!

The post Free Paris Airport Dance Lessons! appeared first on Toronto Dance Salsa.

David joined Toronto Dance Salsa in 2006 and very quickly moved up the levels and joined the helper group. Since then he has demonstrated an exceptionally warm, giving and helpful personality. He is always ready to assist, whether it is to take on more helper shifts, lend a CD at outings, providing T-shirt slogan ideas, dancing with students in the social and more. I have received many comments from students and instructors about David. He was mentioned several times in the 2008 summer semester feedback and because of all of this David is our first Helper of the Semester!

As well David has given us the slogan that we will be using on our salsa t-shirts that will be coming out shortly. David will be the first person to receive a t-shirt for his contributions. In addition, as Helper of the Semester, David will receive a free TDS class for next semester and a discounted rate for all TDS classes for an entire year.

Make sure you congratulate Dave when you see him!

The post Our New Helper of the Semester! appeared first on Toronto Dance Salsa.

“Learning proper dance-floor etiquette rules

Raymond V. Whelan
Special to the Wilson County News
August 12, 2008

If you are a single person who is really earnest about meeting and making friends with the opposite gender, learn to dance.

Take social dance lessons from accomplished relatives, friends, neighbours, or professional instructors, whatever it may take to get you out on the dance floor. And don’t let anyone, including yourself, say you can’t dance because you have two left feet or some other reason.

Furthermore, don’t ever let anyone tell you tough guys don’t dance. Look at James Cagney. He was a tough guy who tap-danced all through the movie Yankee Doodle Dandy, and he won an Academy Award for doing so.

Whether you enjoy blues, country, pop, salsa, or swing, or any other kind of music, you can learn to dance well to a particular style of music with reasonable effort and practice.

Learning how to dance is really simple. The most difficult and important part of the dance is knowing and understanding dance-floor etiquette, no matter if the dance is for a birthday party, block party, homecoming, hootenanny, high school prom, family reunion, or wedding reception.

Most dance floor “rules of the road” involve nothing more than common sense. For instance, don’t allow your body or clothes to look or smell like old unwashed laundry, and don’t let your breath reek of alcohol or tobacco before you meet your partner on the dance floor.

Frequently, both men and women can be quite shy while searching for a dance partner. However, when you decide to ask someone to dance, it ought not be a complicated operation. Just extend your hand toward a prospective partner and ask politely, “Would you like to dance?”.

Anyone may decline someone’s offer to dance at any time, for any reason, without any explanation. Certainly, you can just say “No” whenever you decline an offer to dance. However, “No, thank you” sounds better.

Take care not to leap from your seat and dance with somebody during a dance number immediately after you have declined to dance with someone else during the same dance number. To do so would be the height of dance-floor tackiness.

If you are terribly afraid or paralyzed by the thought of a potential dance partner refusing your invitation to step onto the dance floor, you may resort to a defense mechanism.

Before you ask potential Partner A to dance, keep potential Partner B within your peripheral vision. If potential Partner A refuses your offer to dance, proceed without complaint to potential Partner B and ask him or her to dance. You should be able to move to the alternative partner without actual or visible discomfort to your ego.

It is a very good idea to wear proper shoes on the dance floor. Boots are cool for country two-step and country waltz, but they tend to be wrong for foxtrot, tango, swing, and other ballroom dance styles. Depending on the type of event, music, and dance floor, sneakers may be OK.

If you maintain eye contact with your partner, it will help you anticipate movement and always make you look more confident during a dance number. So, do not stare at your feet while you dance, because eyeballing your feet will make the dance much more difficult than it should be.

And please, don’t get downhearted when you mess up the proper steps on the dance floor!

Women seem especially prone to express embarrassment when they fumble on hand or foot maneuvers. Truth be known, most gentlemen do not pay much heed to their lady partners’ missteps, because they are happy enough just to enjoy dancing with an attractive person in the first place. If your dance partner has any grace or experience at all, he or she should reassure you when you make some minor mistake during a dance number.

Take some time to show your partner some appreciation for taking the time to dance with you after the end of a dance number. For ladies, it could be a simple “Thank you”. For gentlemen, it could be “Thank you”…

Remember what Ella Fitzgerald said “It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing” meaning that dance should enhance your social skills, add some exercise and energy, and who knows, maybe even some romance to your life.” by Raymond V. Whelan.

The post Country Dancing Etiquette! appeared first on Toronto Dance Salsa.

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IT’S COMING…..

May 16, 2008…..

Ritmo Masacote’s “Fantagious” CD Release!

A NOT TO BE MISSED 2 HOUR THEATER Concert Featuring Ritmo Masacote AND Masacote Dance Company LIVE!
7:30-10:00pm

Buy Your Tickets Online Now! NO Tickets sold @ door!
http://www.masacoterecords.com

— LAST DAY TO PURCHASE YOUR TICKET AT THE DISCOUNT RATE OF $25 IS APRIL 18TH! Prices will increase to $35 after!

— Student Discount: $20; Contact us for Group Rates!

Tickets Not Sold @ Door!

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What to Expect

— A 2-hour Theater Production
— A Latin Jazz concert with Ritmo Masacote Live!
— Dance Performances by Masacote Dance Company!
— Special Guest Artists from Bermuda, Atlanta, Texas!
— Singing DEBUT of Gordon Neil, Masacote Records!
— Special Surprises!
— An Afterparty to top it all off!!!

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BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW!
NO TICKETS WILL BE SOLD AT DOOR! BUY NOW!

http://www.masacoterecords.com

— $25 Discount Until April 18th! Buy Now! Prices will increase to $35 after!
— Student Discount: $20
— Contact Us for Group Rates!

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Official Website:
http://www.MasacoteRecords.com

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More Info on Ritmo Masacote:
http://www.masacoterecords.com/ritmomasacote

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More Info on Masacote Dance Company:
http://www.masacoterecords.com/fantagious/dancers/

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More Info on Masacote Dance Company Feature Dancers:
http://www.masacoterecords.com/fantagious/dancers/1.html

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More Info on Special Guests Flown in Specifically for show!
http://www.masacoterecords.com/fantasias/guests

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On Saturday April 19th:

4 PM
Mad Hot Ballroom

Hot from the Sundance Film Festival where it garnered massive critical acclaim, this engaging documentary follows a group of 11yr old street kids from Washington Heights (an urban New York City neighborhood) as they compete in a city wide ballroom dancing competition.

6:30 PM
Dirty Dancing (1987)

Chronicles social dancing’s place in the 60’s as experienced by one 17-year-old girl. Like the world at large, Frances “Baby” Houseman comes into her own in the summer of 1963, but in the most unlikely of places – Kellerman’s Mountain House is the Catskills, where she accompanies her family on summer vacation. One evening while exploring the grounds, Baby comes upon the staff’s all-night dance party. Amidst the excitement she discovers Johnny Castle, the resorts dance instructor. Overnight, her …

9 PM
Shall We Dance

Chicago lawyer John Clark knows his life is almost perfect. He loves his beautiful wife, he’s built a successful career and raised two wonderful kids. And yet . . . the workday is always the same routine, the commute is a grind and the family’s usually too busy to spend time together. Sometimes John wonders if this is all there is, until one evening on his way home from work he gets off his train and does the unthinkable. Without telling a soul, he secretly begins taking dance lesson…

11:30 PM
Hollywood’s 10 Best

S7, Episode #053 Hollywood’s 10 Best Dance Movies

An interesting look at Hollywood’s 10 Best Dance Movies from the movies of today and yesterday

On Sunday April 20th

4 PM
Shall We Dance

Chicago lawyer John Clark knows his life is almost perfect. He loves his beautiful wife, he’s built a successful career and raised two wonderful kids. And yet . . . the workday is always the same routine, the commute is a grind and the family’s usually too busy to spend time together. Sometimes John wonders if this is all there is, until one evening on his way home from work he gets off his train and does the unthinkable. Without telling a soul, he secretly begins taking dance lesson…

6:30 PM
Hollywood’s 10 Best

S7, Episode #053 Hollywood’s 10 Best Dance Movies

An interesting look at Hollywood’s 10 Best Dance Movies from the movies of today and yesterday.

7 PM
W Docs

You Should Be Dancing is a one hour documentary special that celebrates the recent popularity of dancing, by exploring the personal stories of people whose lives have been unexpectedly changed by dance for the better.

8 PM
Obsession.

New ballet teacher Reed Holloway takes a special interest in Erika, who is at first flattered with the teacher’s interest in her dancing. And Erika’s newly-divorced mother, Deborah, is pleased as well, as Deborah and Reed begin to date. But things turn sour when it becomes apparent that Reed is just using Deborah to get closer to Erika, as part of a carefully designed and diabolically executed plan. Erika, it turns out, reminds Reed of his late wife, and Reed is determined to have Erika take …

Hope this gives you some dance movie satisfaction. Happy watching!

The post W Channel Gives Us Dance Movies! appeared first on Toronto Dance Salsa.

Below is their bio for anyone interested in learning about this new band…

“Those who witnessed up close and personal the “Salsa Explosion of the 1970’s” in New York City and Puerto Rico remember and agree that the majority of the musicians and bandleaders were mostly youngsters.

Now, inspired by the masters of salsa is the new group from New York City that goes by the name of “La Excelencia.” Percussionists Jose Vazquez-Cofresi and Julian Silva formed the band, featuring a young ensemble that would appeal to their generation, while performing and creating “salsa dura” (hardcore salsa) with a positive social message.

This debut CD “Salsa Con Conciencia” (salsa with a conscience) delivers 10 original scores, showcasing the versatility and depth of the band. The tracks swing with beautiful harmonies and powerful arrangements of free-flowing horns and lively percussions.

Lead vocalists Rene Leslie and Edwin Perez command the spotlight with arresting readings full of social messages that enlighten the listeners to everyday situations in peoples’ lives.

Tasty choruses complete each track, delivering high-octane rhythms, without losing essence and true roots of salsa. These young-bloods are the real thing. -Rudolph Mangual (Latin Beat Magazine)”

Let us know if you have discovered any new salsa bands and we will be sure to check them out!

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So we created a 2 hour double DVD set that goes through everything we cover in level 1 salsa (no merengue and bachata though – that would take another hour!). From body movement exercises to basics to turns and turnpattern combination, the DVD covers it all. We also include drills and exercises after every new move so you can practice along side us as well as on your own to solidify the muscle memory.

The DVD is available for purchase on our website at a discounted rate for our students for $23 taxes included. We can bring it to class for you or you can have it shipped to your home for a nominal fee.

Thanks to Rob, Sara, Mark and Kimberly for their assistance on the DVD as well as Cache who provided us with Canadian salsa music. We hope you enjoy the DVD!

The post Our New DVD! appeared first on Toronto Dance Salsa.

First of all, the Performance Choreography Class is for helpers only. Many students ask why this is so and the main answer is that the helpers deserve their own class that caters to their own development. They are always volunteering their time and helping others so Caryl and I want to do something special for the helpers. That is why we offer a discounted rate to them and why Caryl spends so much time and effort to create a wonderful choreography and teach our helpers to become performers.

Here are the details for the helpers. There will approximately 12 couples and 1 or 2 couples as the understudies if needed. Caryl will choreography a full routine that will be approximately 2.5 minutes. Classes begin Wed Oct 10th from 9:15-10:45pm for 1.5 hours for each session. This will last for 9 weeks and there will be one or two additional rehearsals before the group performs their routine at our pre-New Year’s outing which will be a large event. If necessary, we may do a second performance.

Performance classes can really transform your dancing. You become aware of your styling and movement, your facial expressions and non-verbal body cues. For those who learn better by repeating each move until there is muscle memory, a performance class is excellent as you tend to remember everything you learn way after the performance is finished.

For the helpers, this class will sell out so if you really want to do it reserve the spot now because I have a feeling there will be a few disappointed people.

Let me know if you have any questions – can’t wait to see how it turns out!

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