Thank you for all the interest in our competition. We now have 11 confirmed couples, more than ever! I will be closing the entrance to the competition now so I can focus on collecting awesome prizes. In addition to all our usual sponsors, the Detroit Salsa Congress will be sponsoring us this year with lots of full congress passes and much much more.

If you know of a company that can donate prizes, big or small, let me know. It is always an overwhelming task to get prizes.

Please save April 25th as the Preliminary date to come out and support our competitors and watch some great performances from schools such as Go Dance Mambo, Latin Energy and, of course, the TDS Helper Team and the TDS Pro Team with their sexy new Cha Cha Routine.

Can’t wait for the big night 🙂

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`Meet your Top 10!

The Top 10 have now made it through five gruelling rounds of elimination and have survived various dance styles from dancehall, house, hip-hop, quick step, salsa and mambo.

The dancers range in age from 19 to 28 and represent a variety of dance styles including contemporary, ballroom, tap, ballet and hip-hop, and are representing communities across the country;

They are ecstatic to have made it this far…

AMY Gardner, 21, a contemporary dancer from Calgary, Alta.
“It has been a bit of a rollercoaster so far, but the show has taught me to believe in myself and has helped me have more confidence. I’ve made some great friends and worked with some amazing choreographers and it’s been so much fun. I want to thank my fans and supporters, and no matter what happens, I want to show Canada what unique style and versatility I have as an artist.”

AUSTIN Di Iulio, 20, a contemporary dancer from Mississauga, Ont.
“It’s amazing to have all of my efforts over this past year finally pay off. The experience has been surreal so far and I can’t wait to se what is in store. Much love to all my supporters and fans.”

CODY Bonnell, 19, a hip-Hop dancer from Unionville, Ont.
“I’m very grateful for this opportunity and I am looking forward to the challenges ahead.”

EMANUEL Sandhu, 28, a contemporary/ballet dancer from Vancouver, B.C.
“This journey is sometimes scary but also exciting and I’m grateful that I haven’t had to do it alone. I’m the happiest boy in the world right now. Thank you Canada!”

EVERETT Smith, 25, a tap dancer from Glen Morris, Ont.
“Last year I really wanted to make Top 20 and be a part of the show in Season 1, but I feel I wasn’t ready to believe in myself. This year, I wanted to be real from the beginning and lead with my heart. I want to bring tap back and thank everyone who’s always believed in me. No matter how hard the journey may get, believe in yourself and you can overcome anything that gets in your way.”

JAYME RAE Dailey, 21, a contemporary dancer from Montreal, Que.
“Last season I was sitting at home watching the show and I can’t believe I’m part of it now. This has been a great learning experience and I feel it’s the beginning of something amazing in my life. Most importantly, I feel blessed by all the teachers I’ve had and support from my family. They have given me the tools to be able to make it this far and I hope the journey continues.”

KIM Gingras, 23, a hip-hop dancer from Montreal, Que.
“I’m touched by all of the support I’ve received and I wouldn’t be here without it. I am thankful and blessed to be part of this experience and to have worked with amazing choreographers. Over a few short weeks I’ve had the opportunity to grow and learn as a dancer in such a short amount of time and can’t wait for it to continue.”

MELANIE Mah, 19, a contemporary dancer from Richmond Hill, Ont.
“Wow! I can’t believe I made the Top 10! All I have to say is thanks to everyone who has supported me on my journey so far. This has absolutely been the best experience of my life and I can’t say thank you enough to everyone who has pushed me and believed in me as a dancer.”

TARA-JEAN Popowich, 20, a contemporary dancer from Lethbridge, Alta.
“The experience so far has made my life. I want to thank everyone for their support – especially my hometown. Thanks Lethbridge!”

VINCENT Desjardins, 20, a ballroom dancer from Trois-Rivières, Que.
“When I auditioned my goal was to make Top 20, but making Top 10 is more than I could have hoped for. Thanks to my hometown for all your support!.”

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“Don’t miss the exciting second season premiere of the jaw-dropping, hip shaking SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANADA!

Tune in to CTV as SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANADA kicks off its second season Tuesday, August 11 at 8 p.m. ET on CTV.

Let’s dance!

For more information:
Andrea Allen, Communications, CTV
Tel: 416.384.5375
Email: andrea.allen@ctv.ca”

The post SYTYCD Canada Begins Tonight! appeared first on Toronto Dance Salsa.

The doors open at 6:30pm and we have two lessons lined up from 7pm – 8pm downstairs (intermediate) and upstairs (beginner) with Emely and Tracie.

From 8 – 9pm there is social dancing with DJ Efren who always keeps the mood fun and exciting with upbeat, sexy salsa, merengue and bachata songs.

At 9m the competition will begin. We have 4 couples competing in the finals:

Mridu and Elton
Winnie and Manuel
Maysa and Dan
Karen & John

Each will perform a 2 minute to 2.5 minute routine that they have choreographed. The judges (Oscar, Vanesa, Teddy, Rene and Angus) will have the opportunity to rate each couple and, once the 4 couples finish their routines, I will have the opportunity to add up the scores with Sara while the audience enjoys 3 performances by our fellow dance schools: Latin Energy, iFreestyle and Mambo Mosaic. The announcement of the winner will be announced after the schools perform and then DJ Efren will continue on with the social dancing for the rest of the evening.

Hope to see you all out supporting our competitors. I will post the results next week!

The post The finals are this Sunday! appeared first on Toronto Dance Salsa.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

So you think you’re the next Nico Archambault? Come out to this year’s auditions for So You Think You Can Dance Canada, starting Saturday, April 4 at the Centre for the Performing Arts in Vancouver, B.C., and prove it!
Auditions for the dance tour are a grueling, intense process, and hopefuls must come prepared for the most important moment of their lives. After all, you wouldn’t expect earning the title of “Canada’s Favourite Dancer” to be easy, would you?

Audition dates and locations
Registration begins at 8 a.m. in each city.
Auditions will be held at the locations and on the dates listed below (subject to change):
Vancouver, B.C.
Saturday, April 4, Centre for Performing Arts, 777 Homer St.
(CALL BACK AUDITIONS APRIL 5TH and 6TH)
Edmonton, Alta.
Tuesday, April 7, Winspear Centre, 4 Sir Winston Churchill Square (Corner of 99th Street & 102nd Ave.)
(CALL BACK AUDITIONS APRIL 8TH AND 9TH)
Saint John, N.B.
Tuesday, April 21, Imperial Theatre, 24 King Square S.
(CALL BACK AUDTION APRIL 22ND)
Toronto, Ont.
Monday, May 18, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, John Bassett Theatre, 255 Front St. W.
(CALL BACK AUDITIONS MAY 19TH AND 20TH)
Montréal, Que.
Tuesday, May 26, Théâtre St-Denis, 1594 St-Denis St.
(CALL BACK AUDITIONS MAY 27TH AND 28TH)

So You Think You Can Dance Canada is designed to showcase and judge the talent of Canadian dancers.

Rules and regulations
The So You Think You Can Dance Canada Season 2 cross-country auditions are open to all Canadians who, as of April 1, 2009, are of the age of majority in the province/territory in which they reside, and are no older than 30 years of age.
* Competitors must be either a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
* All competitors must be legally eligible to work in Canada.
* Competitors must be of the age of majority in the province/territory in which they reside and no older than 30 years of age as of April 1, 2009. The age of majority is as follows: 18 years of age in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Saskatchewan; and 19 years of age in British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut and Yukon.
* All competitors must provide two pieces of identification, including a government-issued photo ID (e.g. driver’s license or passport), at the audition.
* Competitors may bring a non-competing dance partner for purposes of the audition.
* All competitors must bring with them, along with the proper ID, the signed personal release, the completed preliminary questionnaire, and the music sheet. All will be available at the audition site and for download soon at dance.ctv.ca.
* All competitors are asked to bring with them the completed music sheet indicating the music they will use in their audition, along with the CD containing the indicated music.
* All songs must be “original” songs that are commercially available. A song must not be a re-mix of a song, a song downloaded from the Internet, or a competitor-created mix.
* Competitors will not be permitted to audition in any article of clothing with a visible designer, sports or other logo; artwork; name; photo; or other mark which may be subject to protection by copyright or trademark laws.

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La Excelencia’s first CD ‘Salsa Con Conciencia’ has sold over 9000 units without major distribution. The entire CD ‘Salsa con Conciencia’ and two singles from the CD “La Salsa y el Guaguanco” and “La Lucha” were chosen to be voted on by the Latin Grammy’s, and, The Grammy’s making it as far as the second round. La Excelencia’s music can be found on countless salsa/world music compilations, motions pictures, instructional DVDs, and can also be heard on radio stations and satellite radio both nationally and internationally.

This CD showcases the versatility of La Excelencia and the many talented artists within the orchestra. In fact there are 13 in the band and the depth and layering adds considerably to the sound.

La Excelencia is a Nuyorcian band, but do not expect pure Mambo, this is Salsa Dua with plenty of hard-core trombones and acoustic piano. They are creating a new mix style with Cuban, Colombian, Puerto Rican and African traditions in a complete and smoothly contiguous manner. Layed on top of each track, the lyrics have a cutting message and underlying story. Soneros Edwin Perez and Gilberto Velazquez certainly do the lyrics justice.

Song titles include:
La Lucha
Solo Sin Amor
Sentencia
El Tiempo en Tus Manos
La Salsa y el Guaguanco
Estoy
El Loco
Cada Dia
Hijo De Los Rumberos
Boogalu Pa’ Colombia
La Lucha (Remix) Fet: Shanny
Musicians include:
Jorge Bringas Bass
Willy Rodríguez Piano
Charles Dilone Bongo, campana, quinto
José Vázquez-Cofresi Congas, shekere
Julián Silva Timbales, maracas, tambora, catá
Ronald Prokopez Trombone
Tokunori Kajiwara Trombone
Jack Davis Trombone
Sam Hoyt Trumpet
Jonathan Powell Trumpet
Willie Oleneck Trumpet
Edwin Pérez Lead vocal, coro
Gilberto Velázquez Lead vocal, coro, guiro

Check it out and I hope to see you on the dance floor.

Louis
www.theClave.com
Supporting local Salsa Bands!
—

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“Toronto, ON (February 13, 2009) – Get ready to dance again Canada! As the cross-country tour pulls into Toronto’s Air Canada Centre today, CTV announces that smash-hit series SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANADA has been green lit for a second heart-racing season. Last season, approximately 2,500 hopefuls busted a move for the judges during the first-ever audition tour, ultimately crowning Montreal’s Nico Archambault as Canada’s first-ever, favourite dancer. This year, CTV and Danse TV Productions are warming up for another cross-country search for the next Canada’s Favourite Dancer (audition details to be announced soon). SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANADA is based on 19 Entertainment and dick clark productions’ popular international format SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE from a uniquely Canadian perspective.

“The success of the first season of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANADA has inspired a whole new group of dancers across the country,” said Susanne Boyce, President, Creative, Content and Channels, CTV Inc. “With the talent Canada has to offer, the second season is sure to be even more show-stopping than the first.”
This past fall, the first season of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANADA broke ratings records with an average of 1.4 million viewers tuning in each week on CTV, quickly making it Canada’s #1 new fall program with total viewers and the key demos A18-34, and A18-49. The home-grown hit consistently won its timeslot nationally and in Canada’s major urban centers, placing the series in the Top 20 list of the most-watched programs in Canada*. The series boasted a highly-coveted female audience (66% of total audience) and nearly a third of its viewers were from the key A18-34 age group. SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANADA was also the #1 program on MuchMusic for total viewers and P12-34 during its broadcast season.

When Quebec dancer Nico Archambault was named Canada’s first ever Favourite Dancer at the end of the first season, the audience peaked at 1.9 million viewers. “The opportunity to work with such talented dancers and choreographers was a great privilege,” said Archambault. “I’m definitely a better dancer for it.”
Today’s announcement comes at the half way point of the successful first-ever SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANADA 15-city tour. Playing at Canada’s premiere concert venues across the country, the tour has already strutted its stuff across stages in; Vancouver, Kelowna, Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon, Regina, Winnipeg and Sudbury. Cities still waiting to get their SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANDA tour groove on are; Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Hamilton, London and the final tour stop will be Kingston on February 21. The tour features Canada’s Top 10 dancers from the competition and some of the hottest performances from throughout the show’s first broadcast season. For more information on the must-see tour, visit dance.ctv.ca.
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 in association with CTV. 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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Dancing with the baby boomers
(Posted Date: Thursday, October 16, 2008)

As our population ages and looks for new ways to stay fit, many are turning to dancing
By Brian Baker
DANCING THROUGH LIFE: Couples of all ages are learning how to cut a rug, thanks, in part, to the popularity of reality dancing shows like Dancing with the Stars.

Adding a little spring to your step helps to tap dance on the head of the stereotype that says you have to take it easy as you get older.

Dancing, whether it’s ballroom or Latin, is a great way to ease into physical activity without the intensive regimen of weight training, say experts and participants.

Automotive industry executive Tony Dobranowski and his wife Janice started taking ballroom dancing lessons in the spring and plan to continue this fall.

Their goal was to get out for a bit of exercise and develop some dancing skills, Dobranowski says. And he credits Dancing with the Stars for helping to motivate the pair.

The TV show has helped timid baby boomers picture themselves as the next Fred Astaire or Ginger Rogers, says Sharon Galor, president and owner of Toronto Dance Salsa.

“I think (boomers) were hesitant a few years ago because it was still fairly underground and it was considered a young person’s dance,” she says. “Now you see Dancing with the Stars and you see people of all ages dancing — it’s not limited any more to young people. Everyone’s taking advantage of it.”

Galor, an avid Latin dancer for more than a decade, adds the show is a positive influence, since Marie Osmond, Steve Guttenberg, Jane Seymour and Susan Lucci — all baby boomers — have wowed audiences.

Besides popularity on television, dancing is a great low-impact way for older, less active people to stay in shape.

“First of all, it’s a cardiovascular exercise so you’re going to be sweating, you’re going to be getting the heart rate up,” she says. “You’re going to be using muscles in terms of toning, have the abs being worked, the hips being worked, and all the muscles in your arms and legs.

“So it’s a really good overall body workout, without being too hard on your body.”

Dancing also helps with coordination, reflexes and memory, Galor says.

“A lot of people come to us and the first few weeks they can’t remember any of the moves we teach them,” she says. “Usually by the end of the semester they’ve got the moves, they’re being able to put them together.”

Professors at York University’s School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences echo Galor’s dance floor observations.

But, associate professor Joe Baker says, there’s a pervasive stigma attached to getting older. And he wants to stomp out the negative stereotype that as we age we can’t be as physically active as we once were.

“Our big social push in the lab is to get more people physically active and to forget about the stereotypes of what it means to be an older person, because we are finding more and more that those stereotypes just aren’t accurate,” says Baker, who researches physical activity and aging at York.

His suggestion for those who are not as active is to get out and dance.

“Our general message is you need to be doing activities that will challenge the current state of your cognitive and physical functioning,” he says. “So if you are a baby boomer who hasn’t been that active in physical activity for the past couple of decades, dancing is a great way to start getting a little bit more exercise integrated into your lifestyle.”

More exercise means greater blood flow, which also benefits the most important organ of all: the brain.
“There’s mounting evidence that suggests any time you get your heart up and getting the blood flowing, it also flows to the brain,” Baker says. “And so the brain is getting more enriched with oxygen than if you were sitting on the couch.”

For Wendy Lavender, office manager and teacher at the William G. Pollock Dance Studio, the enjoyment of dancing is a lot simpler.

“Well, (dance lessons) get people up moving around the floor,” she says. “It’s a lot more social than somebody going to the gym and getting on a stationary bike.”

Pollock Dance Studio, in the Yonge and Davisville area, offers smooth dancing styles like the foxtrot, waltz and tango, and some more uptempo steps: rumba, cha-cha, merengue, swing and mambo.

Lavender, a dancer for 18 years, says plenty of boomer couples come into the studio because they have more free time to be together.

“They’re empty nesters now and they’re looking some time to spend with each other,” she says.

And it’s the ease of dancing that attracts Dobranowski even more.

“(Janice and I) have admired for a long time the ‘old smoothies’ who glided around the floor effortlessly,” he says, “and we were hoping we might be able to do the same.”

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“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!

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“Toronto Dance Salsa is taking you to Havana! We have teamed up with the global leaders in salsa holidays, Club Dance Holidays, to bring you a unique holiday this Spring. 7 nights of Salsa in Havana from 21 March 2009 to 28 March 2009. Salsa in Havana – what more could you ask for? This holiday is designed to completely immerse you in Cuban culture and the Cuban dance scene, both of which are energetic, very real and totally spontaneous. It’s all about forgetting who you are, where you come from and living in the moment. Enjoy 15 hours of Salsa classes with some of the most exciting Cuban Salsa teachers and dancers in Havana. We have a whole team in Havana dedicated to assist you in the classes in the mornings, take you to the best Salsa matinee afternoon dance sessions in the afternoons and accompany you at night dancing with you until late in intimate clubs, where the dancing is often energized by live bands.

The dancing …

You will love our team of professional Cuban dancers. What makes this Cuban Salsa trip special is the team of Cuban dancers who come out with you at night to the dance venues in Havana. This means that there are more dance partners to go round and enables you to dance with not just Cubans but Cuban trained dancers!

Cuban Salsa is about truly “inhabiting” your body, really dancing WITH your partner and feeling the music in your soul. You will find that there is more fluidity and body movement compared to LA or New York Salsa due to Cuban Salsa being at one with Salsa’s ancestors – Son, Rumba, Afro-Cuban dance, Cha Cha Cha and Mambo. Our team of Cuban instructors truly want to see you dance like a Cuban, and will work with you on the “feel” of the fluid Cuban body movement, as well as on the moves and the footwork.

What’s included?

*Thorough and entertaining syllabus in salsa (Minimum 15 hrs of classes)
*Beautifully organised programme of nights out with our team of Cuban dancers who really spice it up.
*Charmingly hosted by our team on the ground who are experts in salsa and in Cuba.
*Return direct flights with Air Canada from Toronto Pearson
*Meet and Greet upon arrival and return hotel transfers
*7 nights accommodation and breakfast in the luxurious Hotel Nacional – the best hotel in Havana.
*A well thought out programme including parties, soirees, restaurants, nights out dancing as well sightseeing suggestions.
*A full Orientation Pack containing information on where to eat, where to party, tourist spots, things to do etc so you can do your own thing
*A Welcome party and drink
*A choice of optional extras related to the holiday

How much is it?

The price is $ 2349 CAD. Book now and get the best possible price at $2149 CAD (for reservations booked prior to end of November). Be among the first 8 people to book and pay only $1999 CAD. This holiday has limited places and will sell out. This price includes all taxes.

How do I book?

Call Club Dance Holidays direct on 416 848 0501and refer to the “Toronto Dance Salsa Trip to Cuba for March 2009” and they will sort everything out for you. “

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