Toys for Tots & 1st Wednesdays of the Month w/Meetup.com at Cafe Sevilla December 2nd!

Sunday, November 22, 2009

1st Wednesdays of the Month with Meetup.com is coming up again and with it a great opportunity to meet new people here in San Diego.  It’s hard to believe that this is the twelfth and final Meetup event for 2009 at Cafe Sevilla!

To end the year off right we are asking people to donate to the Marine Toys for Tots organization here in San Diego.

Please bring any new, unwrapped toys for donating to the Marine Toys for Tots. We will have an area on site at the event (8pm to 10pm) to collect any new unwrapped toys to help out the less fortunate during this Christmas season.  For those of you unfamiliar with the Marine Toys for Tots organization check out these videos here that explain some of the great services they provide to our community:

This monthly event held at Café Sevilla is a great way to break the ice with new people in a safe and friendly environment. Just like last month, the event is FREE to attend!

For those of you unfamiliar with Café Sevilla, the venue is known for its great Spanish Cuisine and as a great salsa dance venue.

The event is open to everyone so feel free to come alone or bring any friends. We’ll meet downstairs at 8pm in the VIP area of club that will be reserved for our group.  Just look for the Meetup.com signs.  Valerie will give a free salsa lesson starting at 8:30pm.

For full details and to RSVP please check out the special event page here on the San Diego Salsa and Latin Dancing Meetup group. If you have additional questions feel free to contact me on Twitter @RitmoBello.

Don’t forget to bring your toy donations and see you all at 8pm Wednesday December 2nd at Café Sevilla!

There’s an App for That: Salsa Dance Apps for iPhone and Android Phones!

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Smartphones, those great devices that allow you to not only make phone calls but also do all sorts of web tasks, are increasingly becoming part of our daily lives. If you have seen the recent Verizon Wireless commercials (like this hilarious video called “Island of Misfits”) you know that these devices mean big businesses for those involved. Indeed, the iPhone, Motorola Droid, and other such devices are changing the way we interact with the world.

Salsa and Latin dancers represent a niche group that can take advantage of these great new devices in the form of phone programs called Apps. Although there are apps for everything from checking your bank accounts to finding movie times, you may not be aware that there are apps specifically for salsa and Latin dancers.

One great example available for the iPhone is the Latin Dance Factory app. This app allows a user to see video demonstrations of footwork, gives you tips for avoiding common pitfalls when leading or following, and provides a great resource overall for any salsa dancer.

Other apps available include the Ballroom Dance Channel app. This app teaches you Latin style dances like salsa, rumba, and samba beginning with simple steps and through big name instructors from shows like “So You Think You Can Dance.”

Apart from learning dance, other apps available on both the iPhone and Android Market can help you become more familiar with different forms of Latin music. Pandora, for example, allows you to build up your own music lists from free internet radio based on your own preferences. If you want to learn about different salsa artists, the program allows for great recommendations based on the salsa music you like to hear.

Other app programs like Shazam help you to learn about Latin music in a different way by allowing you to identify any song by simply playing a snippet of that song. For someone new to salsa and other forms of Latin dance this can you help you become more familiar with artists and expand your knowledge of each genre.

These are just the tip of the iceberg as I’m sure others are working on more apps for all the different smartphones coming out.  If you know of any other good salsa and Latin dance related apps send me a message via Twitter at @RitmoBello.

Dimelo! Records wants San Diego to Hop on Their Bus and Join the Party December 10th

Monday, November 16, 2009

That’s right! Dimelo! Records is hosting their annual Holiday Party on December 10th and this year they are hosting over 50 Latin music groups for the event.

Dimelo! Records recording artists Orquesta Tobaco y Ron, Chino Espinosa, La Charanga Cubana, Johnny Polanco, and Lucky 7 Mambo are just some of the great acts that will be performing live at the Mayan Nightclub where the event will take place.

San Diego salsa dancers have the opportunity to take part in this great event and hop on the Dimelo! Records Tour bus giving us all round trip travel to the event. For more information about the bus and event make sure you check out the Dimelo! Records website.

See you at the Mayan Nightclub December 10th!

Dancing During the Holidays: How to Stay Healthy on the Dance Floor this Winter

Friday, November 6, 2009

Tissue

Dancing During the Holidays: How to Stay Healthy on the Dance Floor this Winter

An Article by Ritmo Bello Guest Writer Kelly Rice

Dancing during the winter is like a natural prozac; when it gets dark earlier and the cold air forces us inside, we seek the refuge of the dance floor: it keeps us warm, it creates a blissful distraction from the shortened daylight hours, and, unfortunately, it creates a paradise for viruses, the dance room essentially becoming a petri dish for breeding strains that pass from one dancer to another.

The good news, though, is that there are some simple things dancers can do to stay healthy during the flu season.

Wash Your Hands

Before you go out, while you are out, and when you get home. A simple thing that can prevent the majority of germs that cause sickness. Avoiding touching your mouth/nose while dancing will also aid in keeping you healthy. Simple soap and hot water are clinically proven to kill most germs, and the best choice but if you are unable to get to a sink, an alcohol based cleaner such as Purell will help in a pinch.

Get Plenty of Rest

Our bodies’s immune systems are directly affected by the amount of sleep we get and jeopardizing our defense system by inadequate sleep will increase the risk of catching a cold or the flu. Maintaining your daily quota (most adults need 7-9 hours) during the flu season will keep you feel better and healthier out on the dance floor. For those of you who love to dance till dawn during the week, consider calling it a night a little earlier if your job requires an early wake-up call.

Stay Warm

It may sound funny, but staying warm is another vital key to keeping well during flu season. Sure you feel warm after you’ve sweated your heart out to 30 salsa songs, but leaving the dance floor, soaked in sweat, and going outside and getting chilled can compromise your immune system and leave you feeling not-so-hot in the morning. Bringing a change of clothes, or at least a dry shirt to change into before going to your car is the best method to prevent chilling.

Vitamin C

Medical experts agree that while most healthy adults need about 250 mg of vitamin C daily, when the immune system is compromised or our bodies are exposed to illness or excess stress, or vitamin C requirements are increased. A supplement such as Airborne or Emergen-C has 1000mg and is easy to mix with water. When out dancing, keep in mind that excess alcohol is known to lower immune system, so when considering a drink at the bar, why not opt for OJ on the rocks?

Get Vaccinated

syringe

There is not much debate between doctors about whether or not to get the flu shot. According to physicians at San Diego’s Lifewellness Institute, the flu shot is the most effective means of flu prevention.

This year especially there are questions about the H1N1 virus, or swine flu, LifeWellness breaks it down for us dancers: The H1N1 virus is a new genetic strain of virus which was created when viruses infected both mammals and birds. The result was altered DNA in the virus, creating a new “bug’ for which we have no antibodies. So the H1N1 vaccination, when available, is by far the best means of preventing this infection from curtailing your time on the dance floor.

Remember to Keep Dancing!

Being healthy means participating in a moderate amount of exercise, so by all means keep dancing. Following these tips can help arm your defenses and keep you well throughout the winter so you can salsa, boogie or swing your way through flu season.

About Kelly Rice

Kelly (a San Diego native) is a substitute teacher, graphic designer and health coach. When not working, Kelly enjoys dancing and teaching zouk lambada. Check out what this dance is all about on the San Diego Zouk website.

Join Cafe Sevilla On The Bay for a Pre-Thanksgiving Yacht Party

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Back by popular demand, Café Sevilla is planning one last yacht party for 2009.

For those of you that attended the last few yacht parties you know that this will be a great event that should not be missed. This time around Café Sevilla is providing a more intimate experience with a different twist.

Join Cafe Sevilla and Ritmo Bello along with 450 guests as we celebrate along on the waters of the Pacific.

The Adventure Yacht is an intimate boat that holds only 450 guests. You will be able to enjoy breathtaking views of the San Diego bay by night.

Some other highlights of the night will include:

*  2 Floors of music (Live Salsa Band & Hip Hop )
*  Professional Photography
*  An Outdoor deck to enjoy the California Ocean
*  Complimentary Tapas (These were really good last time!)
*  2 fully-stocked bars
*  Official After-party at Sevilla nightclub

The San Diego Salsa and Latin Dancing Meetup Group along with Ritmo Bello will be there to enjoy the evening with you. For more information about the event and to RSVP please visit the Café Sevilla Boat Party Page.

See you on the Café Sevilla yacht and message me via Twitter at @RitmoBello!

John F. Bello

Meet John ;-)

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