Thanks to over 200 people who came out to enjoy the evening.  Olivier and Elise taught the beginner salsa class and Evan and I taught the intermediate salsa lesson.  Ladies, we needed you!  There were at least 5 men who could have used a partner so ladies, come early to the outings so you can enjoy the workshop and get to meet some great dance partners.

There were tons of new faces and dancers of all levels.  As well, it was great to see some old friends and those who have been out of the salsa scene for a while.   Thanks to all my great dances including Rob, Teddy, Bryan and of course Evan and all the new dance partners I met.

Our next outing is the last one of 2010 and it is our TDS Christmas Party at Acrobat on Dec 18th, 2010 at 8:45pm.  There will be performances by the TDS Pro Team, the TDS Students Team and the TDS Reggaeton Team.  Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

The post Saturday at Acrobat! appeared first on Toronto Dance Salsa.

Workshops ($35 each, 2 for $65 or all 3 for $90):

1) A Taste of Tango Workshop
This workshop is a intended to be a fun and easy introduction to the sensual world of Argentine Tango. This workshop will focus more on the attitude and styling of Argentine Tango – learn some basic Argentine Tango figures and how to add some smoulder to your dancing. Suitable for all levels including those with absolutely no Tango experience! Sunday August 15th from 4pm – 6pm at Empress with Tracie and Daniel.

2) Dips & Tricks III Workshop
Back by popular demand, Tracie & Daniel bring you Dips & Tricks III: Introduction to The Lift. This workshop is meant for salsa dancers serious about developing their performance and possibly competition skills. Learn how to execute a new set of dips, tricks and easy lifts to enhance your salsa routines! This workshop will also focus on technique, styling and clean execution and, of course, safety. For dancers who have completed TDS Level 3 and up or by assessment. Sunday August 22nd from 4pm – 6pm at Empress.

3) Musicality and Shines Workshop
Yearning to work on your salsa footwork and musicality skills? Learn new ways to get your feet moving to the salsa beat as well as how to use your body to interpret the music. Musicality and Shines are an integral part of salsa dancing – it is what bridges the gap from being a student to a dancer. This workshop will open your mind and body to these essential elements of salsa dancing which you might have not yet been able to develop yet. Learn a fun and challenging shine routine (suitable for both men and women) and work on your Shines and Styling improvisational skills. For dancers who have completed TDS Level 2 and up or by assessment. Sunday August 29th from 4pm – 6pm at Empress with Tracie and Daniel

The post Our Summer Workshop Series! appeared first on Toronto Dance Salsa.

“I just have a quick question. The other day I went to a salsa class and the instructor said we shouldn’t use our thumbs when holding onto the woman’s hands. For me I find it easier to create and control the tension if I use my thumbs especially when it comes to dancing with women who lack tension in their arms. I tried not using my thumbs and it feels little awkward. What do you recommend?”

Well Mark here is my answer:

When you close your thumb or palm over the follower’s hands, the follower immediately relaxes their arms and, even subconsciously, thinks that because you have them they don’t need to do anything. The result is a follower with Spaghetti arms who won’t follow quickly and accurately your lead. So you may think that you have more control because you are holding on but in actuality the follower will not respond properly to your lead.

Instead, if you open your thumb and palms and curl your finger tips and try to have your partner create the same tension with only your fingertips, you will force your partner to create resistance in her frame to keep from letting go. The more often your partner lets you go the more she will strengthen her fingertips and create more resistance. So you may feel like it is out of control at first because you are losing your connection but eventually your partner will firm up her fingertips and frame and then you will have a partner who will follow you quickly and accurately.

In other words, it is worth the initial growing pains to get the right tension and frame so that you can move on to become a great intermediate and then advanced leader.

So followers and leaders, make sure you never use thumbs and palms and instead curl your fingertips slightly and pull a little to create consistent tension and resistance.

Hope that helps – happy practicing!

The post Mark’s Question! appeared first on Toronto Dance Salsa.

Tracie Macko will be teaching a Ladies Intensive Salsa Styling & Conditioning Class on Tuesdays beginning June 9th from 7-9pm for 3 weeks at Empress Studio. This 3 week x 2 hour per class course is a great way to learn a lot of information quickly without the commitment of a full 9 week course at only $90 per person. This class is limited to women who have completed level 2 with us or with permission.

Registration is now open and is limited. Here is a description:

Whether you dance with an experienced or inexperienced dance partner, being strong in your centre and being able to use it to play and style more in your dance will make you a much better and happier dancer. Learn the basic rules of thumb for being a good follow, executing spins and turn patterns and incorporating fun and flirty styling to your dancing.

In the first hour of every class Tracie will lead you through core strength and flexibility conditioning exercises designed specifically for dancers. In hour two Tracie will lead you through technique exercises that will cover musicality and styling in both shines and partnerwork, following, spins and turn patterns. Please dress comfortably, bring a yoga mat and your dance shoes.

The post New Ladies Styling & Conditioning Class 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.

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

Have you guys seen the show America’s Got Talent? Well they have a salsa act that is in their top 8 for the first time. It is a brother and sister combination – Emily and Junior and they are very young, very fun to watch and very popular. The video above shows their audition footage.

I think it’s great that salsa is so mainstream now that it can potentially win a talent show and that salsa dancers are confident enough about the dance to audition. We have to thank shows like So You Think You Can Dance for really showcasing the art form.

America’s Got Talent is actually having the public vote for the winners. If you are interested in voting on the website visit http://www.nbc.com/Americas_Got_Talent/index.shtml. You can vote as many times as you like – I just voted once to cheer on my fellow salsa dancers.

Congratulations to Emily and Junior!!

The post America’s Got Talent. appeared first on Toronto Dance Salsa.

It was great to see many of my students and helpers in the class. I think everyone really enjoyed the class. It is a condensed intensive class which means we do 2hrs a session once per week for 4 weeks. The vibe in the class was excellent and even after 2 hours of dancing the students were super excited.

Bryant is a fun, dynamic instructor that has great passion for his art form. I like the way he uses all the students to demonstrate moves, whether he grabs a female in the class or asks a couple to demonstrate the right way of doing a move.

Argentine Tango is interesting because it is not as structured as salsa in the sense that there is no basic to learn that is a structured basic. The man choose which leg to use and the woman follows his lead. He can change directions when he wants and with a slight lean and use of abs, chest and shoulders the woman can follow.

With salsa most of the leading comes from the man’s right hand on the woman’s back. With Argentine Tango it is the man’s left hand so that is something to get used to and adapt. But the hardest thing by far is not using your hips! Salsa dancers are going to find it challenging to avoid hip movement when dancing and I personally think that will be my biggest challenge.

Overall a great first class! For anyone who is interested in Argentine Tango we have just posted a level 1 class starting September on Thursdays at 9pm and our first ever level 2 class on Tuesdays at 9pm.

T-A-N-G-O!!

The post My First Argentine Tango Class appeared first on Toronto Dance Salsa.

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.

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

SM – “Phew, this story is long but to keep it short…Salsa has changed my life completely. From a person who was overweight with no confidence to who I am today – it was a loooooong journey. But you know who I am today and what I am, and that is important. I love my dancing and traveling – meeting people and saying what I am saying now, to get everyone together. I am sorry if I come across as a sad salsa loving teacher but I do love everything about it and more……I love teaching and sharing this knowledge that was given to me and dancing with so many lovely dancers around the world. It’s all good.”

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

SM – “Salsa Goals….hmmm….I always like to go to 2 new countries every year. And this year, I have Taiwan and Lithuania. So goals achieved. ;)”

Fore more info on Super Mario and to try a free online class, visit his new website:
www.salsaclass.tv

Thanks Super Mario! By the way Super Mario is visiting mid June and I am taking him to Babaluus. Will let you know closer to the date so you can come and experience some of his awesome moves. He is also donating 20 DVDs to the competitors of the the Toronto Dance Salsa Amateur Salsa competition so thank you to him for all his support and help!!

The post Super Mario’s Goals. appeared first on Toronto Dance Salsa.

Now it may sound like a simple process but preparing a retail space is hard work! You won’t believe how many logistical issues there are with every detail. Just the signs for the outside of the mall and the inside took me weeks to figure out. So many regulations regarding the size, type, material, brackets and anything else you can think of for the signage and everything has to pass approval. Needless to say, I know very little about choosing floors, mirrors, signs, cabinetry, soundproofing, underpadding, etc, etc.

Still it is a very exciting time with so many great ideas on how we can use the space to promote and encourage dancing in Toronto. I am most excited about the weekly salsa party (called a “social”) that we will be hosting every Sunday afternoon/evening in the studio. We will also be keeping everyone informed of our grand opening party which should be sometime at the end of May.

Until then any of you are or know decorators, flooring or mirror experts or anything else that may assist, please let me know! I need all the help I can get!

The post So Much Work So Little Time appeared first on Toronto Dance Salsa.