The latin dance scene is beginning to reawaken after a long hibernation caused by the pandemic. Most dance communities that we follow now have regular in-person dance classes available and a few cities have between 10-20 socials per week. Mask requirements to attend classes or socials vary by organizer, but protocols are usually stated on the event flyer or invite.
With that said, we’d like to get your opinions on mask wearing in our poll!
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Welcome to DanceInk! DanceInk features artwork, tattoos, or creative projects that were inspired by dance. If you’d like to feature your work or tattoo, simply fill out the form below and submit a photo of the work. We will post the picture you send us and also the details that inspired the tattoo/art. Please see the sample entry and the contact form below.
Hi my name is Elizabeth and I’m from Barcelona. This tattoo was inspired by my sister. She is a dancer who taught me how to Salsa.
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Danijela Zimonjic is featured in this edition of Dance Spotlight! Danijela lives in Frisco, Texas and is relatively new to the Latin dance scene. She was nominated by Elisa Cano. Elisa said, “She has been dancing for a year with our dance academy and her improvement has been so amazing!” Check out some fun facts about Danijela, including her inspiring reason to try dance and her favorite dance video!
Want to nominate someone to be in the Dance Spotlight? Contact us!
I am from Belgrade, Serbia.
Basically, my whole life I have wanted to learn how to dance and I just love Latin culture. I grew up in Serbia during the hyperinflation, and my parents couldn’t afford dancing or acting classes (yes, I wanted to be an actress). Also, at age 14 I had spine surgery, and I thought I was never going to be able to dance or do things that I love. However, in 2020 I decided to make some changes in my life. My friend Alejandra introduced me to bachata and the Dallas Can Dance dance studio. I decided to give it (Latin dance) a try. Since day one I’ve been loyal to Elisa and Sebastian (my dance teachers) and they are my inspiration.
Yes, I do have my fav dance moment. It was at one of Elisa’s “Latin Addiction” socials before the pandemic. My best friend Brian and I decided to be dance partners because of our great connection and passion for dancing. My dance goal is that I would love to become a performer.
My dance peeve is definitely when there is no connection.
My favorite Latin dance style is bachata, for sure. I love the music, and I love how I can express myself while dancing bachata. Bachata is just so elegant, sensual and sometimes dramatic depending on the song (laughs). I’ve just found myself really liking bachata.
My favorite thing about being a member of the Latin dance community is meeting new, interesting people and being able to dance whenever I feel like dancing. You can find socials in Dallas almost every day!
This is hard question! (laughs). I have lots of bachata songs that I love! “Paris” by Pinto Picasso and “Bachata” a Lo Loco by Dustin Richie are two of my current favorites.
Favorite dance video you’d like to share?
Bachata music and dance has a rich yet controversial history. It originated in the Dominican Republic and early in its history the music was often censored and marginalized by various factions of the community. In fact, the first Bachata song was not recorded until after the Dominican president (and notorious Bachata hater) Rafael Trujillo was assassinated in 1962. The media did not support it. It had very little TV or radio play. Newspapers and magazines were not covering it to the degree it deserved. And recording devices weren’t as prevalent back then as they are today, particularly in rural areas, so no one was capturing moments when they were dancing. Bachata music has only seen significant strides in popularity since the early 1980s, and Bachata dance has flourished post-2000 thanks to the music becoming more mainstream across the latin dance community and the leadership of influential bachata dancers.
Unfortunately, much of the history surrounding Bachata dance has gone undocumented. Bachata music was inspired by Bolero and the traditional Bachata basic step is very similar to Bolero. See the video below.
Adam Taub is a Bachata dance instructor and historian. If there was a “Jeopardy: Bachata Edition”, I would bet all my money that Adam would win. He has gained an incredible amount of knowledge through his extensive travels, interviews, and interactions with people in the Dominican, as well as traveling across the country teaching at workshops and dance congresses.
Thanks to information supplied by Adam, we are able to take a glimpse into the history of Bachata dance. We’ve profiled two dancers who represent the spirit and culture of Bachata: José María Guerrero (Bonye) and Candelario Soriano.
José María Guerrero (1918-2007), better known as Bonye, was born in the southern coastal town of Bajos de Haina, Dominican Republic. His family had strong roots in the area as his grandparents, mother and father were born there as well. Bonye earned international fame as an outstanding Son, Bolero-son, and Tango dancer, and later learned Bachata as well. In terms of Bachata history, Bonye represents a legend who would have influenced the Dominican dancers of his day and beyond.
Dance was an important part of his life almost from the beginning, and he began dancing Son at age 14 at a local bar. In addition to the music and dance, he also loved dressing up and looking good.
Bonye started working as a mechanic with his father at age 9 and he would use the money he earned to buy fancy, colorful suits as a teenager. He performed in Cabaret’s early on in his career, and he often received compliments from popular dancers and club owners who admired his unique dance and clothing style.
Bonye had a vast and extensive wardrobe and he liked to wear elegant clothes. He often wore two-tone shoes, a beret or hat, and scarf or tie.
Bonye’s brother Pepillo introduced him to his life long dance partner, and love of his life, Inocencia Paredes (Chencha). Pepillo recognized that Bonye was an excellent dancer and knew they would make a good pair. They first danced together at a local club where Bonye performed, and they remained together for over 60 years.
Bonye and Chencha led a resurgence for dance in the Dominican Republic. They began traveling and performed in places such as New York, Puerto Rico, and Martinique. They performed in shows with Celia Cruz, music videos of Juan Luis Guerra, and Ricardo Arjona, and on television with Don Francisco. In 1986 started the National Soneros Club, and they were still winning dance contests into the 1990s.
Although Bonye passed away in 2007, his legacy continues to live on thanks, in part, to a contemporary Dominican music group called ‘Grupo Bonye’. They take their name from the legendary dancer and play Bolero, Son, Salsa, Merengue, and other latin styles of music. They can be seen at popular Dominican festival and hot spots.
Candelario (Cande) Soriano wasn’t a famous dancer. He didn’t have a dance school nor did he have a legion of followers on social media networks. He was a simple man with a simple life. He married his wife Juana at age 20 and they stayed together for 55 years. He loved his country, his wife, and his kids…and he loved to dance. He was self-taught like many dancers probably were within his community. He passed away in January, 2014 at the age of 74.
Cande represented the soul of Bachata. He lived it. He was born in a small town in the Dominican Republic called La Luisa Prieta de Monte Plata. Many a day he spent dancing shoe less in his house, the yard, a field, or wherever inspiration hit. He saw the birth of Bachata and it was with him until the day he died. Before he passed he said wanted to be buried with two CD’s: one of Luis Vargas, and the other his son Joan Soriano. He loved Bachata, sitting and listening to it, dancing to it. It gave him tremendous joy. For someone who works out it the Caribbean sun with a machete and hoe all day music is a tremendous release.
Cande is featured in Joan’s music video below.
If you listen to Bachata music then the surname Soriano should sound familiar. Joan Soriano has established himself as one of the elite in Bachata music and has a loyal following worldwide. Cande and Juana had 15 children, and many of them have followed in Joan’s musical footsteps. Nelly and Griselda are singers, Fernando is a musician, Amparo sings. a hand full more of the kids used to sing or play instruments. As far as dancing the girls in the family dance really well. Music is in their blood.
Bachata as a dance didn’t develop until the 60’s, so much of Cande’s childhood and early adult were spent dancing Son, Bolero, Merengue, and Guaracha. Cande was already married and with his first child by the time the first Bachata was recorded in 1962 by Jose Manuel Calderon (song below). At this time Bachata music was still referred to as Bolero. He also loved merengue, the official music and dance of the Dominican Republic.
Adam produced a documentary entitled, “Juana & Candé: A Dominican Family Portrait.” It’s a deep dive into the life of a family living in the countryside of the Dominican Republic and is defintely worth checking out. Adam said, “They are such amazing people, with incredible lives, wisdom, and warmth that I felt I had to do a full documentary, just on them. Maybe it was just an excuse for me to get to spend time with them and soak up their wisdom and stories.”
Adam has also done sample videos like the one below. It features instruction by Adam as well as dancing from Cande. In the video you see “Traditional” Bachata in it’s most basic form. Cande dances with one of his daughters and there are no fancy turn patterns, tricks, dips, or flips. Just the basics. And it’s beautiful in it’s simplicity and realism.
As Cande says when the music plays, “This is Bachata!”
For more information on Bachata music, dance and everything in between, please visit the Adam Taub Facebook Page.
Damn you to hell “So You Think You Can Dance”, “Dancing With The Stars” and “America’s Got Talent”. It’s all your fault!
Everything was fine with my life until you came along and made me realize just how much I was wasting myself, sitting at home, watching other people dance on TV when I could, in fact, be dancing myself in the real world!
But no – you had to come along with your dazzling productions, B-List celebrities and incredibly talented unknowns just to show me how much I suck. You know how much I hate it when people can do things I can’t.
Now I want to learn to dance! Dammit!
Sound familiar?
Salsa, Bachata, Kizomba, Swing and a whole host of other partner dances have slowly spread around the world, but dance scenes are still mostly confined to larger urban areas. What this boils down to is that learning to dance in rural areas or smaller towns is not quite as easy as saying “Quick, Quick, Slow”!
When I moved back to my family home in the Irish countryside I wanted to find a local salsa class to help feed my craving for dance after living 2 years in Colombia, and spending plenty of time dancing in Cuba and New York on my way back home. My internet search for salsa, however, left me disappointed (to say the least).
It reminded me of a similarly bleak situation when I first started dancing, many moons ago, when I lived in a small city in a mostly rural prefecture in Japan. But I still managed to learn!
Let’s face it, there exist places where it is just not possible to get to regular dance classes.
But you want to learn to dance and you’re not going to let little things like “convenience” and “logistics” get in your way. I salute you!
My own dance experience proves it can, with some determination, be done and I’m going to show you how.
There is absolutely no way around this. If you’re planning on learning a partner dance you’re going to need dance partner… duh! You simply can not learn the basic principals of leading and following without having someone to lead or follow.
When I started dancing, I did it with my girlfriend at the time which meant I had someone I could practice with and I also felt comfortable looking pretty stupid in front of her. If I hadn’t had someone to practice with I can’t imagine I’d ever have learned even the most basic of steps.
Look for someone who lives nearby and wants to learn to dance as much as you do. A significant other would be ideal but failing that someone who you feel comfortable with is what you’re looking for. You can help motivate each other to practice more and point out problems that each other may need to work on.
If you’re feeling particularly ambitious you might be able to get a whole group of people interested in learning. If you can, go for it. That’s how dance scenes are born!
“Well if I had a teacher I wouldn’t need to learn on my own. Would I?” Not quite!
You may not be able to make it to regular classes but you are still going to need someone to initially teach you the basics. Dance is a physical discipline and having someone “physically” instruct you makes a huge difference to your understanding of the subtle movements typical of dance.
What I suggest is that you (with your partner) book a long, private, introductory class with a teacher that you can visit, maybe in a city nearby, on a day trip or weekend away. The teacher can introduce you to the basics and tell you what you need to work on at home. You can even record the classes in case you’re worried about forgetting everything as soon as you walk out the door (which, let’s face it, is a distinct possibility).
I did something like this when I was an improver in Japan. I booked a 10 day holiday to Manila and Hong Kong and also booked private salsa classes with teachers there. I learned loads, got lots of constructive feedback and also got to social dance to practice while there. That 10 day holiday was responsible for the single most significant jump in my salsa level ever.
…and watch some Youtube.
There are a huge amount of instructional videos on Youtube that allow you to teach yourself virtually anything (homemade cottage cheese anyone?!) and dance is no different. Hop online and search for some videos THAT ARE APPROPRIATE FOR YOUR LEVEL and start practicing.
I really can’t stress how important it is that you choose videos that suit your current level. It’s all well and good wanting to be able to pull off the mind-melting combination that you saw Adolfo Indacochea execute perfectly in one of his choreographies, but if you still have trouble maintaining your basic step, you might just be over-reaching a tad. Don’t be that guy. Start with the basics and build from there.
Just as you can use the power of the almighty interweb to learn anything for yourself, so too can you be given personal instruction in a chosen discipline (for a fee).
Most people are aware that you can take online language classes that allow you to learn Japanese from a native teacher in the comfort of your own home (and in your underwear, because that’s the whole point of doing it at home right… to sit around in your underpants!!?). Well, you can also take classes with professional dance instructors from anywhere in the world. The huge advantage that these classes have over plain old instructional videos is the opportunity to get feedback and tailored advice from the instructors who can watch your movements.
Provided you have a fast internet connection, a decent web camera and a flexible schedule you can often book online classes with amazing teachers on the other side of the planet.
It may sound obvious, but it’s a tip that a lot of beginners forget to put into practice.
You may learn the moves in class but you learn to dance on the dance-floor! At the end of your practice, don’t forget to throw on a few salsa songs (maybe even some random ones) and just dance. Enjoy the music and dance it with your partner. That’s what dance is.
Maybe, if you get the chance, try and make a trip to a town or city with a decent dance scene where you can practice with different people and learn how to react to new moves and styles. Even if it’s just once every couple of months, it will make you a much better dancer.
Even if it looks like you have no way of learning to dance in your part of the world, don’t lose heart.
Where there’s a will, there’s a way and I’ve found that the desire to dance really takes care of the “will” part. It won’t be easy and progress may be pretty slow going but as someone who had to walk through the dance dessert myself, I promise you, it’s well worth it in the end.
Keep Dancing Folks.
Originally posted on SocialDanceCommunity.com (SDC) by Richie Kirwan. SDC is a partner site and is merging with GOLatinDance.com.
Yes, you’ve seen these type of lists on every Salsa/Bachata themed site you’ve ever visited. This will be no different. But why seven dancers instead of ten, you ask? Well, because it’s my list – plus I’m too much of a fan to leave any of them off the post. :).
First, the disclaimer.
Dance (like any art form) is subjective and creating a list that identifies ‘the best’ is practically impossible. However, we all have our preferences and this post will highlight my favorite male Salsa dancers.
Second disclaimer – Eddie “The Mambo King” Torres is the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). He is the dancer who codified and created the teaching methodology most Salsa/Mambo dancers use today. He is the original bad ass. Everyone else is benefiting from his greatness and striving to duplicate his style. Maria Torres (Eddie’s wife) and June Laberta (a fellow dance instructor) also share a great deal in his success. I HIGHLY encourage you to check out his YouTube channel. There are so many great videos and historical nuggets to witness. He and Delille “Mambo D” Thomas were the 1980s version of Adolfo Indacochea and Frankie Martinez. If you don’t know who the latter two dancers are, please keep reading.
With that said – you may recognize all seven or you may find someone that you haven’t seen dance before. In either case, enjoy. You’ll notice that most of my favorites are dancers who have been in the scene for a while. This list will be in no particular order. Fernando Sosa, Rodrigo Cortazar, Dom Ramark, Johnny Vazquez, Oliver Pinieda and G-Ya could also be on the list…maybe next time. :).
Who are your favorites? Feel free to leave a comment! Check out the Top 6 Female Salsa Dancers.
I love watching Franklin perform. His performances always seem to be very crisp, precise and full of flavor. The video highlights a show with Eddie Torres Jr. It’s one of my absolute favorites. Eddie could easily be on this list as well – but I don’t want to make the list really long!
Terry is one of the more popular salsa instructors/performers in the world and for good reason – he’s a great dancer. I love watching Terry dance, I only wish he’d smile a little more as he’s a supremely nice guy. I’ve met and interviewed him on a few different occasions. There are a ton of videos of Terry social dancing, but I’d like to highlight this performance with Dom Ramark (another one of my favorite dancers).
In my opinion, Adolfo is pound for pound the best dancer of this list. There isn’t anything he can’t do at a master level.
Frankie is not only a great dancer, but he has encyclopedic knowledge of Salsa/Mambo history and culture. He (much like Magna Gopal) is a great ambassador for the latin dance community and dancers can learn a lot from him. You can find lots of videos of Frankie dancing, but I’d like to highlight a video where he discusses different styles of Salsa dancing.
Gordon isn’t just a Mambo or Salsa dancer – he is a legit dancer. The video below is gold. It’s two incredible dancers (Magna Gopal and Gordon) having fun and improvising. I think it’s akin to great athletes working hard on their skills in a gym or a talented musician practicing their instrument, but with no particular song in mind.
I’m a huge fan of Alex and I try to pattern my social dancing technique and persona after him. Why? Because he’s skilled and (…wait for it) he has fun with is partner while dancing! I love watching Alex not only because he’s talented, but because he puts me in a good mood when I watch him dance. He mixes playful tricks and combos that keep his partner engaged, enjoying the dance and smiling. Some leads make it a habit of indulging themselves with flashy footwork and a thousand mechanical turn patterns while partner dancing, instead of sharing moments with their partner. Not Alex. Fadi Fusion is another dancer that I really like because (like Alex) he social dances with his partner and not for them.
Speaking of Fadi, here is a great example of him displaying his amazing talent, but also letting his partner (Jessica Patella) shine. Jessica is a beast of a dancer in her own right.
Yes, you’ve seen these type of lists on every Salsa/Bachata themed site you’ve ever visited. This will be no different. But why six dancers instead of five, you ask? Well, because it’s my list – plus I’m too much of a fan to leave any of them off the post. :).
First, the disclaimer.
Dance (like any art form) is subjective and creating a list that identifies ‘the best’ is practically impossible. However, we all have our preferences and this post will highlight my favorite female Salsa dancers.
With that said – you may recognize all six, or you may find someone that you haven’t seen dance before – in either case, enjoy. You’ll notice that most of my favorites are dancers who have been in the scene for a while. This list will be in no particular order – except #1.
Who are your favorites? Feel free to leave a comment! Check out the Top 7 Male Salsa Dancers.
Amneris makes dancing look easy and effortless and (even though she’s trained for countless hours) it just appears she was born to dance. Her performances (particularly with Adolfo Indacochea) are very precise, crisp and really fun to watch.
Griselle is the O.G. of this list, but she wouldn’t take a backseat to any of these ladies in terms of dance skill, persona and appeal. I love watching Griselle perform. She dances with happy passion and it feels like she’s connected to the music. I also love this performance with Franklin Diaz. These are the types of shows that warm my latin dance soul.
Ana is the dancer leading in the video below. This is what I love about Ana, she is not only an awesome follow – but she is a great lead as well. I’d guess that not many dancers (professional or otherwise) can do both at an extremely high level.
Fire. That pretty much describes Bersy Cortez when she dances. Want to see someone go toe-to-toe with one of the best Salsa dancers in the world and show no salsa fear? Watch 2:16 – 2:36. She dances with such power and confidence – and I like that.
Magna is like a professor who just happens to be one of the best salsa dancers in the world. Check out her MPowered video series available on YouTube. Being an influential salsa dancer is more than just ones skill on the dance floor – it’s also about the positive impact one can bring to the overall community. You can find any number of videos that showcase Magna’s impressive dance skills, but I’d like to highlight her dance related TEDx talk entitled, “The Benefits of Rejection”. Quiet. Professor Gopal is speaking.
Why is she #1? See this post. Sure, there are salseras out there who can dance just as well as her (see a few from the list above), but what I think makes her unique are her social dance skills and performances like the one in the video below. I definitely value when performers take risks or think outside the typical salsa box.
Much like cell phones or laptops, the Salsa Beat Machine isn’t new technology (created in 2009), but it can still prove to be extremely helpful. The Salsa Beat Machine is a handy site created by Visual Salsa that features a basic looping salsa track and the app allows you to adjust the song tempo, key and include/exclude certain instruments. There is a vocal audio queue that helps dancers to identify the ‘1’ and the ‘5’. There is a Merengue option available as well and the song switches to a merengue beat when the box is checked.
Below is a screenshot of the interface from the site.
Visual Salsa has even created great videos that mark the 1 OR 2 for you in a specific song so you can practice with it and never have to worry about losing your place.
Here are a few examples. You can find other examples on the Salsa Beat Machine YouTube channel.
Are there any other techie sites or apps that you use to help you with your dance journey? If so, leave a comment and let us know!
COVID-19 is having an impact on our lives in a variety of ways. This impact extends to the social dance community where contact while dancing (particularly with hands) is mandatory and this has led many organizers to cancel events until further notice.
We want your opinion on how the coronavirus is impacting your dance life! Feel free to leave a comment as well!
*Results will be shown once your vote is cast.
This event has been CANCELLED! No further information is available at this time.
The discount coupon code for the 2024 Aventura Dance Cruise is SDC50! Mention the promotional coupon code when buying your tickets and save $50 discount on the purchase price of your cabin. Save that $50 for a nice ‘colorful’ drink or an excursion!
Do you love cruises? Do you love dancing? Want to dance with thousands of dancers while getting your cruise on at sea? The 2024 Aventura Dance Cruise features a trip from Miami to Nassau! It sails November 8 – 11.
Want a preview of the cruise? Check out the official Aventura Dance Cruise promotional video below!
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*We receive a portion of the sales using code SDC50. Promotions help us maintain the site :).