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.

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

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.

The  3rd Annual San Diego Salsa Festival has come and gone but there remains the great memories of performances, dancing, and meeting new friends.

The videos that appear here give but a glimpse of some of the great dancers that performed during this year’s festival.  If you want to see all the videos from the Festival check out the Ritmo Bello YouTube channel.  Hope you enjoy the videos!

It’s not surprising to see new dances grow in popularity.  Indeed, many of the Latin dances we enjoy today such as salsa have roots in other dance traditions that were once more common.  

Over the last few months I’ve noticed a lot of new Youtube videos showcasing a fairly recent dance called Kizomba.  Credited by many as coming from Angola, the music and dance also has connections with Portugal as many of the songs are sung in Portuguese.  When you see the videos here you’ll notice that some of the movements are similar to other Latin-style dances such as tango, samba, and merengue.  

So far I haven’t seen this type of music hit the San Diego dance scene, but I would not be surprised if took hold here.  For now we can watch the spread of this music and dance worlwide and await its debut in America’s Finest City.

Just wanted to send out a quick thank you to everyone who helps support Ritmo Bello through your contributions and readership.  We wish you all a happy and safe Easter holiday weekend.

God Bless,

John

You can always tell when someone is passionate about what they do.  Whether it is their job or simply a fun pastime, it’s clear that this passion drives them to do amazing things. 

Giancarlo Gabellini is a great example of this type of passion.  As the owner and creator of Gabellini Dance Shoes, Giancarlo has become well known within the salsa dance world for his innovative salsa dance shoe designs.  Indeed, Giancarlo’s passion for social salsa dancing has allowed him to dance, travel, and grow his business in a way that sets him apart from other salsa shoe designers.  I had the unique privilege to interview Giancarlo recently and learn more about salsa dancing from a shoe designer’s point of view.  I hope you enjoy the interview!

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Ritmo Bello:   Giancarlo, thanks for taking time out of your schedule to address the Ritmo Bello audience.  Salsa dancers here in San Diego would love to know what makes your dance shoes great for dancers.  What makes Gabellini Dance Shoes a good option for them to consider?

Gabellini Dance Shoes:   Gabellini Dance Shoes was created because of my introduction to salsa. While it goes without saying quality and comfort are essential our shoes reflect the lifestyle and the fashion sense of the salsa community.

Ritmo Bello:  How did Gabellini Dance Shoes get started? 

Gabellini Dance Shoes:  The idea came out of necessity. After taking dance classes for about 6 months I committed to buying dance shoes. When I shopped around I was absolutely shocked by the available styles, most of which looked like something from 1970’s. I could see that there was a definite need for a stylish dance shoe.  Putting the concept of a fashion forward dance shoe in motion was second nature because I have a background in production from my years in the garment industry.

Ritmo Bello:  How has your experience in the garment industry influenced the design of your dance shoes?

Gabellini Dance Shoes:  Working in the garment industry involves studying fashion trends and using quality manufacturing techniques, both of which are essential to putting out top notch dance shoes. As far as styling goes you look at what dancers are wearing as street shoes and then incorporate those features into beautiful dance shoe. Salsa has the best social dancers around and we deserve styles that reflect our lifestyle.

Ritmo Bello:  Your website describes the best dance shoe soles as those made of suede.  Can you explain why you make that recommendation?  Are there any advantages to these types of soles versus other types?

Gabellini Dance Shoes:  I always do my home work, the best way to test dance shoes is to wear them.  I wore different types of dance shoes, from rubber sole dance shoes that restrict your movement to a jazz slipper that offers neither comfort nor support. My best advice came from experienced performers and the consensus was that a suede sole is the perfect balance of friction and maneuverability.  I added a small rubber portion at the back of the sole for that extra stopping traction when you need it.

Ritmo Bello:  I know you that you offer five unique styles of dance shoes.  Can you describe what makes each one different and unique? 

Gabellini Dance Shoes:  Unlike traditional dance shoes that focus your entire weight on the heel and ball of the foot our styles have a new design concept. All of our shoes have a wedge shaped sole that distributes the weight of the foot over the whole surface of the sole.  We incorporate and build in arch support with metal shanks and reinforced sides. We always use 100% leather outer and lining to hold the form of the shoe.

Besides the distinct style options, there are some differences in flexibility.  The Fly is the lightest and most flexible shoe because it is 3/4 lined in leather.  The Classic has a leather outer and is fully lined in leather but it will soften up like a dance slipper and you’ll be able to reverse point.  The Lead and Sancho are structured shoes that offer full support and will hold their form.  All of our shoes are lighter than the average dance shoes because we use a patented material we use for our soles. 

Ritmo Bello:  You create shoes that are available for men and women? 

Gabellini Dance Shoes:  Yes, the Fly and Classic styles are available in women sizes. Our busiest day for women dance shoes is always Sunday afternoon, the ladies coming looking for comfort after a long weekend of workshops and all night dancing. 

 

Ritmo Bello:  Lots of dancers first learn about your products through the salsa congresses you attend each year.  Is it true that you attend 40 plus salsa congresses a year? 

Gabellini Dance Shoes:  We are now very popular with Swing and Ballroom dancers so we are doubling the amount of events we attend every year. With every business I’ve owned I consider direct contact with my customer crucial for success, there is no better way to get feedback about your product. Salsa Congresses provide what I call “grass roots marketing” and allows Gabellini Shoes to be part of the dance community and also helps support the events.

Ritmo Bello:  What’s the best thing about attending these salsa congresses?

Gabellini Dance Shoes:  Over the past years I’ve made friends with so many social dancers, instructors and performers. It’s always fun joining up at the events and exchanging stories about our salsa travels.  I share a character trait that I think all dancers have, we are very social people with a certain “joie de virvre”. No matter where I travel in the world there’s an instant connection with fellow salsa dancers, it like running into an old friend.

Ritmo Bello:  I assume, then, that you will be at the San Diego Salsa Festival this year in September?

Gabellini Dance Shoes:  Angel and Tulane are fantastic hosts and I had great time at the last 2 events so I’ll definitely be back. On a side note, now when people ask me the question” If you could live anywhere?” my first pick is San Diego.  I’m not sure how many shoes I have to sell for that beach front property!

Ritmo Bello:  For those interested in purchasing your shoes online, how do you know which size will be the best fit? 

Gabellini Dance Shoes:  I do have a size chart online that’s very accurate but I always encourage dancers to ask me questions if there any doubt about sizing.

Ritmo Bello:  What’s your return/exchange policy like?

Gabellini Dance Shoes:  I know you have to make a leap of faith when buying shoes online, I offer free return shipping for exchanges and refunds and an absolute 100% customer satisfaction guarantee. I’m old school when it comes to customer service.  The customer is always right. 

Ritmo Bello: I understand that you ship everywhere all over the world, is that right?

Gabellini Dance Shoes:  We have customers all over the world, To give overseas customer the same return shipping advantage we opened a warehouse in the UK this year. We will open a distribution center in Rome and Germany by the end of the 2009. 

Ritmo Bello:  Can you tell me a little about your “wholesale” program and who can participate in that program?

Gabellini Dance Shoes:  We want to put Gabellini dance shoes on anyone who loves to dance so we have many options available. Along with our very successful distribution program for dance schools we also offer dance troupes volume discounts.

Ritmo Bello: What is the most interesting story you have from your travels and business of Gabellini Dance Shoes?

Gabellini Dance Shoes:  One event in particular always brings a smile to my face. At my first salsa congress as a vendor, way before I knew anyone in the business, I was at my booth when a guy comes up and asks if I knew where the room for the advanced salsa workshop was. I pointed him in the right direction and warned him “Not to feel bad if it was above his head, I had heard the class was pretty challenging”, he went on to the class. Later someone told me his name was Tito, as in “Tito and Tamara” I guess he was amused too since he’s become one of my regular customers. 

Ritmo Bello: Anything else you’d like to share with San Diego dance community?

Gabellini Dance Shoes:  Make sure you take advantage of our draw for a free pair of dance shoes that we give away each month. We’re also excited about our new woman’s formal shoe line coming our by the end of the year, so stay tuned. 

Ritmo Bello: How can the Ritmo Bello audience reach you if they want to find out more information about Gabellini Dance Shoes?

Gabellini Dance Shoes:  The best way to contact me is via email.   I always answer questions and usually within 24hrs.  gabellini.net@gmail.com  You can also visit me at my website, Gabellini Dance Shoes.

Ritmo Bello:  Giancarlo, on behalf of the Ritmo Bello and San Diego dance community thanks so much for your time.

Gabellini Dance Shoes:  Always a pleasure, I’ll see everyone again on my next trip to the West Coast events. Come by and say hello!

Our friend Don Baarns at The Unlikely Salsero posted an interesting article about age and salsa dancing this week.  I encourage you to read the article (click here to see it) since it brings up a great discussion about social dancing.

I agree with Don that there really is no age limit for dancing salsa or pursuing those activities for which you have a passion.  In my own experience as a salsa dancer here in San Diego, some of my best dances have been with women over 40.  Indeed, I’m happy that the salsa scene here is very welcoming to older dancers since it adds to the overall sense of community when you see young and old interact in dance.

This video I’m posting here has been on youtube for a while now, but its still a great example that you are never too old to salsa dance.  See you on the dance floor!

 

 

Congratulations to the San Diego Chargers for making it to the playoffs!  We wish the team good luck as it takes on the Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday.  Go bolts!

 

Okay, so the economy is not doing so well, your 401K has tanked, and you are counting every penny you can hold on to.  Believe it or not, this can be the perfect time to go out and learn how to dance.  Below I am posting an article written by Kelly Rice, a local freelance writer and friend of Ritmo Bello, who approached me with some ideas for learning to dance on a budget.  I hope you enjoy her article and feel free to leave any comments you have on this post.  

John

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5 Tips for Learning to Dance on a Budget – An Article by Kelly Rice

If your finances have recently gone through an adjustment, chances are, like me, you have come to find that many things you enjoyed before you simply can’t afford anymore and have placed them under the list of “unnecessary expenditures.”  With an unprecedented drop in the US economy, it’s only natural that we are going to reprioritize our spending, but things that bring us joy in times of financial stress, especially those that don’t have to contribute to our monetary anxiety, shouldn’t be ignored.

Dancing is one of them.

Studies suggest that dancing can lower blood pressure, reduce stress, increase flexibility and fitness levels.  Like other sports, dancing releases endorphins which can make a person feel better, creating a great outlet for any pressing economic unease.  No matter your age or experience, dancing is something that can benefit your mind body and soul and believe it or not, it is possible to do it without draining your wallet.

With that said, here are a five tips that can help make dancing a realistic and affordable adventure regardless of your personal budget: 

1.  Jump in and Get Involved: Take Group Classes

While certain dances like Ballroom dancing are out of reach for us mortals who can’t or aren’t willing to spend all our extra money on $100/hour lessons, weekend competitions that require plane rides, hotel fees and entry fees and sequined outfits, there are ways you can avoid spending a lot of money while still transforming yourself into a good dancer.

Numerous dance studios provide group lesson for about $8-15/hour.  Usually purchasing a package will allow you to receive a discount.  Some examples of San Diego-based studios that offer great deals are: Culture Shock, Champion Ballroom and Cheek2Cheek Dance studio just to name a few. 

If Dance studios are still too much of an expenditure, try checking out your local YMCA University or Community College, where in San Diego semester-long classes are as cheap as $20/unit.

Group classes are great if you are not yet comfortable enough to go out and brave it on the dance floor.  Introduce yourself to the teacher and other people in your class.  Knowing that you will be showing up tells them that you care and they’ll hold you more accountable when you miss a class, keeping you inspired to keep coming.

Average Monthly Cost: $50 (based on two lessons per week)

2.  Get involved in the Community

While taking lessons (especially private lessons) are usually the most efficient and most helpful way to get started, money can often be an obstacle.  If taking even group classes a few times a week isn’t viable for you, look for community colleges or YMCA venues for special deals on group classes.  Take advantage of special club nights where a lesson is often included in the reasonable cover price of $10.00, $8.00 or, if you get there early enough, it’s often free! This is a chance to meet other dancers both new and seasoned and then by all means stay after the lesson to practice your newly acquired skills!

Meetup.com is an excellent place to stay on top of new and established lessons, clubs and venues.  Registering and joining specific dance groups means you will be regularly notified via e-mail when those types of events and special classes are being planned.

Average Monthly Cost $40 (based on going out twice weekly)

3.  Practice Everywhere

In front of the mirror, in line at the grocery store, with a friend or with someone you’ve just met, the only way to develop that muscle memory is to repeat basic steps, movements and patterns until they become as natural as walking.  Sure you might look silly when you spin out of your cubicle seat or cha cha your way to grab your drink at Starbucks, but you’ll be the envy of your friends when they finally get to see you on the dance floor.

Don’t be afraid to ask people to practice with you, as well.  While you start picking up a new dance you are bound to meet people who would love to show you a few moves, even if they aren’t a teacher.  Maybe he/she can help you in an empty corner of a dance venue next to the people who aren’t dancing.  Who cares if they watch you.  Learn to tune other people out.

Average Monthly Cost: $0  (if you need space, most studios will let you practice for $5)

4. Watch other Dancers

Seriously.  Whether you are perched at a seat at the bar with a mojito in hand watching Mr. Fancy Pants you so envy spin the brunette beauty you dream about being good enough to dance with, or just sitting at home watching youtube videos, there is a lot you can get out studying other dancers.  Like a surfer watching waves or an NBA player watching a basketball game, there are thousands of combinations out there and no way to ever know all of them, so why not learn from others and benefit from watching them.

The advantage of watching live dancers is that you can pick and choose who you want to watch at the literal blink of an eye.  Are you interested in the polished look of the teacher from the lesson earlier in the evening or are you intrigued by the guy in the corner who seems to be inventing his own movements, possibly a fusion from another type of dance?  Learn from other peoples mistakes and see how they recover from an attempted spin or move that went awry.  You can also look at the dancers and see who you’d like to dance with in the future.  It doesn’t take long to tell who is out there to dance and have fun with anyone, who is serious about only dancing with a certain partner.

While watching live dancing is probably more exciting than studying videos, the advantage of the latter is that you can watch dancers on video whenever you want.  A lot of dance teachers out there have great instructional clips online.  Another pro about videos is that you can pause, rewind and replay as many times as you want.  If you are a visual learner or trying a new move you cant quite understand, this approach certainly beats paying for a professional to explain it to you. 

Total Monthly Cost $0

In that vein, however, sometimes there is no substitute for a few classes with a professional to give you a “leg up.”

5. Set up a Trade. 

If you have a skill that you can trade for dance lessons, what better way to get great one-on-one classes with professional teachers.  Maybe he/she needs a new business plan, a website, legal advice, professional studio photos, nutrition help, a costume design, etc.    If you have a trade-able service, market it!  Chances are there are teachers who are also unable to pay for a service that you can provide them.  Private classes are amazing chances to get one-on-one instruction, correct bad habits, improve posture and balance, and expedite your progression as a dancer. 

Total Cost: Depends on the trade

Sure there are cons to dancing.  As in any physical activity, sweating is unavoidable and the occasional heel stab or mistaken turn that ends up in a bumper car-like collision can be uncomfortable, but compared to the multitude of health-benefiting pros, they are quite little in the big picture of things.  Dancing is a life-long investment you can enjoy at any age.  Once you begin the dance journey you might surprise yourself how much pleasure it can bring to your life.  An observer might see you simply moving your body and smiling, but to you the outside world momentarily ceases to exist as you experience flashes of dancing bliss.

About the Author:

Kelly Rice is a freelance writer and web designer, health coach, and substitute teacher.  She has her Masters of Fine Arts from California College of the Arts and since then has lived and worked abroad in Uruguay, Argentina and Puerto Rico.  Recently she moved back to San Diego and is enjoying learning to dance salsa.  When not writing, teaching, coaching or designing websites, she likes dancing zouk lambada, reading good fiction, cooking and contributing to the CouchSurfing Project. 

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The views expressed in this article are strickly those of the contributing writer and not necessarily those of Ritmo Bello.  Your comments and opinions are welcome on this post.  Thanks!

 

Thanksgiving is almost here and I know that many of you are busy with holiday travel and gatherings.  For those of you in San Diego and interested in taking part in something unique you might want to consider auditioning for a salsa musical.

The Old Globe Theatre is currently accepting applications for auditions to a new musical called “Kingdom”.  The musical will highlight hip hop dancing and salsa as they search for singers, dancers, actors, and actresses.  

Tony from Heatwave Productions is helping with submissions for those of you interested in auditioning.  You can find out more information about this and how to audition by emailing him at tony@heatwaveproductions.com.  

Good Luck!

That’s right!  Ritmo Bello launched exactly one year ago this day and it’s been quite a ride.  The picture I posted here is from the original Ritmo Bello website.  You’ll see that over this year our website has undergone many changes.   

Covering San Diego dance topics ranging from Salsa events to Tango performances, Ritmo Bello has been a fun endeavor for me personally.  Thanks to everyone that has contributed content to Ritmo Bello articles over this last year. 

Special thanks also to all those individuals and groups that have participated in an interview with me.  I’ve learned so much about the local dance scene and the people here who comprise it.  Without all of you Ritmo Bello would not be the great success it is today.

San Diego has a diverse Salsa and Latin dance scene as many of my articles demonstrate.  This next year I hope to bring you all even more great dance information.

Thanks and God Bless!!!

John

Ritmo Bello

The economy has been the front and center topic these last few weeks as we hear about the collapse on Wall Street.  All of us are affected to some degree and this also includes those of us that are part of the San Diego dance community.

One message I saw circulating on the internet mentioned that salsa dancing is a great way to work through the financial stress that we are all experiencing.  Indeed, I think its important to keep doing the things that keep us strong emotionally during this time and for many salsa, tango, and other forms of latin dance are such activities.  Although salsa and latin dancing may cost some money in terms of club cover or dance lessons, many times the ocassional expense is worth the huge benefits you can receive from the dance.

We all know too that small businesses have been hit hard by these tough economic times. The salsa and latin dance community as a whole can help support those businesses that help to create the dance experience we all enjoy.  E.K. Clothing, a small business I interviewed recently, is one such business that could benefit from our patronage.  The company has extended free standard shipping of any purchases of $50.00 or more if you use the special promo code “RITMOBELLO” (it ends 12/31/2008).   If you are not familiar with E.K. Clothing, you can check out their great assortment of salsa dance wear and shoes on their website.

Feel free to leave comments if you have other ways to keep positive and support the dance community during these economic times.  

From time to time I come upon something new in the dance world and today I found out about a dance called Zouk Lambada.  More specifically, the music is called zouk (it’s a french-caribbean inspired blend) and the dance is called zouk lambada.  Described as the “Coolest Dance You’ve Never Heard Of”, Zouk Lambada is becoming more popular with the salsa and tango scene worldwide.  

Usually salsa and tango dancers can pick up this type of dancing easily with a little help and San Diego is fortunate to have a visiting Zouk Lambada instructor coming in October.  If you see this video you’ll see some elements found in other Latin dances that appear in Zouk Lambada:

Willem Engel, a Zouk Lambada instructor from the Netherlands, will be hosting a workshop event at a local studio here in San Diego.  To get a sense of what this workshop will look like and to see Willem in action I’ve posted this video from a previous workshop he hosted in New York:

To RSVP for the event you can visit the San Diego Salsa and Latin Dancing Meetup and find out more information about where it will be held and times.

Come check out this novel Latin dance!

The 12th annual Celebrate Dance Festival in Balboa Park (San Diego) is this weekend August 22 to 24th.

The event is free to the public and will take advantage of Balboa Parks’ Casa Del Prado Theater (which seats 650 people).  There will be over 55 regional dance groups performing over the three days highlighting a diverse range of dance styles, types, genres, and music.  Many of Ritmo Bello’s friends will be performing at the event including TangoAlma Dance Ensemble , LaDiego Dance Theater , and TANGOCENTRIC.

TANGOCENTRIC presents one of the most novel presentations on Sunday August 24th at 2pm for the festival as the experimental dance company works with tango centered dramatic movements.  The group has been expanding and fresh off their recent auditions they are ready to entertain and educate the community about tango through dramatic story related dance.  I posted a video here of a recent performance they did.

The event will be a great reason to get the whole family together and to watch some great dance performances, all in the beautiful Balboa Park setting.  Come out to this FREE event and support dance in San Diego!

You can view the whole schedule for the weekend here or find all the information at the Celebrate Dance Festival website.

See you at Balboa Park this weekend!

Many of us know the health benefits from dancing tango, salsa , samba, merengue, and other forms of Latin dance.  But did you know that simply listening to these types of music can improve your health?

Recent studies show that listening to music of all types has the great effects of lowering your blood pressure, improving your concentration, and overall stimulating your brain.  Many studies also show that listening to music can improve performance on standardized tests.  For most salsa, tango, and other Latin dancers, the music can simply put you in a different state of mind and allow you to restart your day on a fresh note.

Tango Alma , a local San Diego tango group and friends of Ritmo Bello , was recently highlighted in a short documentary regarding the health benefits of music.  I posted that video here for you to watch and you’ll see both Todd and Marizabel of Tango Alma explaining how tango dance and listening to music is good for your health.  Enjoy!