Salsa Dancing in the Age of COVID 19: Keeping Your Passion Alive Through Online Virtual Resources

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

During this unprecedented Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak it seems as though every part of our normal routines have been upended. Just a few weeks ago we had regular social dancing but with recent government mandates most if not all gatherings have been cancelled. Worst yet many people are in total quarantine without any indication of when all this will change.

I thought it would be helpful to provide some helpful local resources and ideas for continuing your passion of dance from where ever you are, lock down or not.

Many if not all dance studios here have begun the process of offering their salsa lessons online through video instruction. From Deseo Dance to Ooh La La and others they are extending many of these new resources directly from their websites and leveraging platforms like Facebook and YouTube to keep connected with students.

Many of these resources have the added benefit of being provided live in real time with the instructors responding to viewer generated inquiries. Here is a sample from Deseo Dance’s Serena Cuevas today:

As we see more local studios adding live content and offerings virtually it will be interesting to see the support from the community. As with many artists during this time it will be the local dance community that keeps the spirit of dance alive through the help of talented instructors. If you know of any other resources you’d like me share please send me a message via email and I’ll help spread the information as best I can.

Please be safe during this difficult time and stay positive. For you that pray, St. Vitus (Patron Saint of Dancers), pray for us…

John ;-)

@RitmoBello

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San Diego Salsa & Latin Dancing Meetup Group Enters a New Era

Wednesday, June 26, 2019

This month marked a major change in the San Diego Salsa & Latin Dancing Meetup Group as I formally stepped down as the main organizer for the group. Over the course of a number of years I helped to spread the word about Latin dancing of all types here in San Diego and had a great time doing so in the process.

The new person at the helm of the group is San Diego’s Salsa Susie from Ooh La La Dance. A great promoter of San Diego’s local dance scene, she’s already brought back many former members to the group and is expanding it past the 3,500 member mark for the first time.

If you are unfamiliar with the San Diego Salsa & Latin Dancing Meetup Group or have been away for a while I encourage you to check it out anew to find out all the great events San Diego has to offer.

I am still serving as an Assistant Organizer for the group so if you have any questions or comments on how we can improve the Meetup please let me know.

See you all on the dance floor!

John ;-)

@RitmoBello

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EXPANDING: Grand Opening Party for Ooh La La Dance Academy Sunday, October 9th

Monday, October 3, 2011

Ooh La La Dance Company is going big and expanding their offerings through a brand new dance academy that launches October 9th.

This free event for the general public is going to be a family, all ages event complete with an official ribbon cutting ceremony at 2pm.  There will be live music, free massages for adults, games for kids, face painting and a number of other activities for the whole family.  The grand opening will also be a great opportunity to meet the 19 master instructors that will head the new dance academy.

RitmoBello.com and the San Diego Salsa and Latin Dancing Meetup Group will be out to support Salsa Susie and Ooh La La Dance Company for this fun event.  We encourage you all to come too and you can find out more information on this RSVP page that Salsa Susie created on the Meetup calendar (click here).

See you all at the Ooh La La Dance Academy Grand Opening Party!

John ;-)

@RitmoBello | Ritmo Bello on Facebook

Salsa Susie’s Ooh La La Dance Team Competing on America’s Got Talent

Monday, May 23, 2011

The season premiere of NBC’s America’s Got Talent airs Tuesday, May 31st at 8pm and San Diego’s Ooh La La Cosabellas were hand-selected to audition for the show.  Salsa Susie, director of the group,  has worked hard over the last few years preparing her dance teams and it looks like the hard work is paying off in a big way.  The picture above and video below show some highlights of the dance team’s competition.

Along with competing on network TV, Ooh La La is  hosting a huge FREE event for the San Diego dance community in the form of a “Day of Dance & Wellness”.  As Salsa Susie describes it herself, the event is her way to thank everyone that has allowed Ooh La La to continue with great success:

“I’m giving back to the community and really want the San Diego Salsa & Latin Community to be able to enjoy what dance & wellness has brought to my life.”

I’ve included a schedule below outlining some of the events Ooh La La will be hosting on Saturday June 11th:

For more information on the event please contact Susie directly at her website, OohLaLaDanceCompany.com.

See you all on June 11th!

John ;-)

@RitmoBello

Upgraded Websites and Content Help Boost Local San Diego Salsa Teams

Friday, May 20, 2011

Many of San Diego’s dance teams and studios have been busy upgrading their online presence over the last few months.  If you’ve visited David and Jennifer Stein’s MajestyinMotion.com, for example, you’ll notice the new upgraded feel of their website.  The site is simple yet elegant and gets you the information you need about the organization.

Deseo Dance also upgraded their online image recently with a new website that integrates the essential information you need along with a sleek presentation.  Some of the video links are still being upgraded but overall it looks like a great start to match Deseo’s powerful image.

Other dance studios and teams are working with their established online presence, continuously adding new content that is appealing.  Salsa Susie’s Ooh La La Dance offers easy ways to reach information and in particular videos of performances in case you missed a recent competition on their nice website.

If you know of any other salsa teams or groups upgrading their online image let us know so we can share with the whole San Diego salsa scene.

John ;-)

@RitmoBello

New San Diego Salsa Venue Old Town Latin Wednesdays Grand Opening February 23rd!

Monday, February 7, 2011

I’m very excited to share news about a new Wednesday night option for salsa dancing here in San Diego.  Spin Nightclub will boast San Diego newest and biggest night club for salsa and Latin dancing that we’ve ever seen.  Hosted by Salsa Susie’s Ooh La La dance company every 4th Wednesday each month, the new venue will feature  3 levels, 2 rooms, over 10,000 Square Feet and a 24 hour license to allow till dawn salsa dancing to your heart’s content.

Ritmo Bello and the San Diego Salsa & Latin Dancing Meetup Group welcome you to attend the Grand Opening of the new venue this Wednesday February 23rd 2011. You can RSVP for the event here at this link (click here please).

Here are some important items to keep in mind when you go:

Doors Open at 9:30pm

FREE BEFORE 10pm, After 10 there is a $10 Cover Charge

Open until 5am or when the Party Stops

Plenty of Free Street Parking right off the 5 Freeway

21 & Up with Valid ID

State-Of-The-Art Sound System

Awesome Lighting

Lounge Areas & Pool Table

Drink Specials & All Night Restaurant

See you all at the new Old Town Latin Wednesdays at Spin Nightclub!

John :-)

@RitmoBello

UPDATE: San Diego’s Ooh La La Dance Company WINS 2010 RAW Performing Artists of the Year Award

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

RitmoBello.com congratulates San Diego’s own Ooh La La Dance Company for winning the 2010 RAW Performing Artists of the Year Award.  I recently wrote about their coveted nomination for the award and now the talented group directed by Salsa Susie will be able to enjoy a number of benefits as a result of the award.  Some of those benefits include artist support for the group in the form of money grants and complimentary photo shoots.

Ooh La La is not resting on their laurels, though, and will start 2011 strong by hosting a special “Day of Dance & Healing” that will highlight dancing along with free complimentary massages.  Ritmo Bello and the San Diego Salsa & Latin Dancing Meetup Group will be there to support Salsa Susie and we encourage you to attend too.  You can find out more information about it and RSVP for the event here.

See you all at the January 15th event!

John ;-)

@RitmoBello

John F. Bello

Meet John ;-)

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