This is a great video showing a stellar performance by Positive Energy at the recent Grupo Niche concert here in San Diego. You’ll notice the first part is tango inspired and the latter portion switches to salsa dancing. A great performance overall…
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I love history, especially when it deals with dance. I wanted to share some video resources out there with those of you wanting to learn more about Argentine Tango.
This first video has a short overview of the history of Argentine Tango by a Florida based Tango Instructor. I think it serves as a good intro to the subject:
This second video explains in more detail the history of the dance itself and its influences:
This next video is actually one in a series of videos that does a great job of breaking down the history of Tango according to the development of orchestras in the genre:
I’m sure there are many other good videos out there concerning the subject, so if you have one to share please do so by leaving a comment on this post. Thanks!
Our friends over at TANGOCENTRIC are hosting a unique event here in San Diego.
The TANGOCENTRIC Dance Project will have a special lecture/workshop on how Tango and Shakespeare fit together so perfectly.
Alex Sandie, President of the San Diego Shakespeare Society, will share his unique expertise in the area of theatre. Passion, love, and betrayal will be the focus of “Shakespeare and Tango.”
This program is open to all levels of dancers and dance enthusiasts.
What do you think of when someone mentions the tango dance?For me the dance conjures up images of fashionably dressed and sophisticated people connecting to exotic melodies.Indeed, the intertwining of fashion and tango dance is evident throughout the history of the dance.
A local event here in San Diego called Tangolicious will examine this link between fashion and tango dance.Tangolicious will feature guest artist and headwear designer Susan Lake and performances by the TangoCentric Dance Project.(Check out the interview I did with Susan Lake for Ritmo Bello here) The event also boasts special Tangotini cocktails and plenty of desserts to enjoy as well.
There is a great tango dance event coming up here next Friday January 30th for the TANGOCENTRIC Dance Project.
The event is a preview performance where the group will preview works that are currently under consruction from their workshop and performing ensemble.
Under the artistic direction of Susan Lake (you can see the interview I did with her in a previous post), TANGOCENTRIC’s projects are unique in that they incorporate traditional Argentine Tango along with ballet, modern and interpretive dance.
That’s the question that crossed my mind when I recently heard about The San Diego Tango Festival coming here in January. (The picture of the two killer whales tango dancing is the logo for the festival). Although tango and salsa dancing are intrinsically different in a number of ways, the idea of having a festival here serves the same local interests.
First, as we saw in the San Diego Salsa Festival here recently these events help promote the dance in a way that is different from your everyday exposure to the dance. This is so because these events help foster intense immersion into each dance in a way that is not possible unless you live, breathe, and work in the dance world. With tons of workshops and classes to be a part of, salsa and tango festivals are great ways to jump into the dance.
Secondly, these festivals are great for San Diego in that they bring great exposure to our local dance scene. With the recent San Diego Salsa Festival, people from all over the world traveled to participate in the event and helped to bring more visibility to our growing salsa dance community. Although I have yet to attend the San Diego Tango Festival, I imagine that it will work in a similar way to bring great exposure to the tango dancing that San Diego has to offer.
I’ll write more about this event as it approaches. In the meantime, I invite any readers out there familiar with the event to post comments or contact me with more information. For now, I leave you with a video taken from the 2007 San Diego Tango Festival. Enjoy!
Our friends at Tango Caminito contacted me recently about an exciting event coming to San Diego. Cristian Cisneros and Virginia Porrino from “Forever Tango” fame will be hosting a Tango Workshop here in San Diego this weekend.If you are not familiar with the dancers I’ve attached this video of them dancing in past performance at the beginning of this post.
The event will be held at Champion Ballroom Academy ( 3580 5th Avenue, downtown San Diego) and runs all weekend long beginning with a performance on Friday at 9pm.
The tango dance workshop schedule is as follows:
TANGO WORKSHOP:
OCTOBER 25, Saturday
1: 00 pm to 2 :00 - SACADAS Y SECUENCIAS
2: 15 pm to 3:15 - DIFERENTES BARRIDAS
3 : 30 pm to 4:30 - MILONGA LISA
OCTOBER 26, Sunday
1: 00 pm - 2:00 – MILONGA CON TRASPIÉ
2: 15 pm – 3:15 - ADORNOS FOR MEN AND WOMEN
3:30 pm – 4:30 - GIROS Y CAMINADAS
5 pm to 7 pm – PRACTICE. MILONGA. SHOW with CHRISTIAN and VIRGINIA,
(additional $ 5 per person).
For pricing information and any questions please contact Elena at 760-728-7185
I’ll leave you with another video of Cristian Cisneros and Virginia Porrino. Enjoy!
As most of you know, I’ve been dancing street salsa for many years both locally here in San Diego and around the world. Over those years I’ve been fortunate enough to enjoy the dance and the positive changes that it has brought to my life. From time to time I reflect on these changes and it occurred to me that my salsa dancing has affected me in a way I never would have imagined.
When I opened up my closet recently I noticed that I have not one but two separate parts to my wardrobe. Indeed, on one side I had all my regular clothing and on the other I had what I call my “salsa wardrobe.” Any of you out there that have been dancing salsa for a while understand immediately what I mean by this simple revelation. The clothing worn by a dancer can define that person just as much as their dance style and my separate salsa wardrobe reflects that to the core.
This got me thinking about an often overlooked part of our dance world, the people that provide the wonderful range of clothing and shoe options for us to wear. One organization in particular, e.K. Clothing caught my attention in the Latin dance community and I recently sat down for an interview with the company’s owner, Nicole Shahian, to talk about outfitting the Latin dance world.
Ritmo Bello: Nicole, let’s go ahead and begin. Many people that are new to salsa dancing here in San Diego are not sure what type of options are out there for footwear and dance clothing. What makes e.K. Clothing a good option for them to consider?
e.K. Clothing: Our prices are pretty reasonable and usually if orders are received Monday – Saturday by about 1pm or so, they’re shipped the same day. Returns are easy and most of our styles are great for Salsa and other types of Latin dancing.
Ritmo Bello: How did e.K. Clothing get started?
e.K. Clothing: Well, just like the song – Todo Empezo…Bailando! About 4-5 years ago, I was out dancing almost every night and was always looking for new Salsa clothes, because you know how it is…Salseros usually have a semi-separate Salsa wardrobe, right? I made a couple of purchases from several major online retailers and was disappointed in the price vs. quality. So I figured maybe I could offer dancers a better option…
Ritmo Bello: I know that salsa and mambo dresses are one of the things you specialize in providing to the dance community. Can you provide some helpful tips on what somebody might look for and consider when shopping for a salsa or mambo dress at your store?
e.K. Clothing: Any clothing that has ruffles, flounces, slits and cascades will extend or accent your movement and actually make you *look* like a better dancer. Halter straps (as opposed to tank straps) are nice because they don’t slip off the shoulders. Mid length skirts with zig zag bottoms spin beautifully. Also, blends of Polyester, Nylon and/or Spandex are the best kind of fabric blends for dancers because they stretch nicely, wash easily and dry quickly.
Ritmo Bello: Are there different options available for ladies interested in specialized dresses for ballroom or Argentine Tango?
e.K. Clothing: Some of our ready to wear items are popular with Tango dancers – usually the more elegant, sharper styles or those with some sort of lace detail. For Ballroom dancers, a lot of our skirts are great for practice wear. At this time we don’t offer custom Ballroom dresses, though.
Ritmo Bello: I also understand that you offer skirts and pant options to women dancers. What are some of the advantages of choosing an option like this compared to a full dress?
e.K. Clothing: Dresses and skirts typically have a lot more movement and can be much more eye catching. Pants are quick and easy and you never have to worry about them flying or inching up as you’re dancing. Pants and skirts are a nice option for those who like to mix and match and sometimes are better for women who may need a different size up top than what they wear on bottom.
Ritmo Bello: How does a dancer find the right sizing for a dress, skirt, or pant when considering some of your clothing?
e.K. Clothing: It is always important to consider your body type. There are certain styles that are more flattering to different figures and it is just a matter of finding what cut/style suits you best. Everyone has their favorite pieces of clothing that they tend to wear over and over again. If you can figure out what it is that you like about your favorite outfits and look for those qualities when clothes shopping, you’re more likely to be happy with your new purchases. Also, knowing your measurements (these can be taken with a tailor’s tape measure) is always helpful. Every clothing manufacturer is different, so ALWAYS take a look at the size chart if you’re shopping online!
Ritmo Bello: In terms of footwear, what are some things you recommend to somebody looking for good salsa, mambo, or even tango dance shoes? What characteristics make for a really good dance shoe?
e.K. Clothing: Dance shoes should be flexible, have a non grip bottom that has just enough traction for spins and should always STAY PUT on your feet, especially around your heels. For women, wearing dance shoes (instead of regular street shoes) absolutely makes a difference. Although dancing shoes might be a little more expensive, usually they are made with quality materials and last a long time. For suede bottom shoes, almost any cobbler can replace the suede when it wears out, so don’t worry too much about preserving the suede – just dance!
Ritmo Bello: In your opinion what is the best heel height for dancing?
e.K. Clothing: The best heel height is what you’re most comfortable in–for women, if you’re not used to wearing high heels, dancing in them will take a while getting used to. I’d suggest a thicker heel if comfort is the main concern, because the more area that weight is distributed across, the better. However, the most common heel for women’s Latin dance shoes is 2.5 inch slim heel. Padded soles or inserts help with getting used to higher heels.
For men, usually a 1 inch heel is the standard. Some men who dance a lot or compete prefer the 1.5 inch heels, but I’ve been told those take some getting used to as well.
Ritmo Bello: Do you offer customized shoe making options for dancers? If somebody had an idea for creating a custom shoe with e.K. Clothing what is that process like?
e.K. Clothing: We do! We have many, many custom colors available for all shoe styles. Custom designs can even have 2 or more chosen colors/materials. Customers specify the style, color/material(s) and heel height and in 3-5 weeks the shoes will be finished.
Ritmo Bello: I’ve talked to a number of professional dancers that have mentioned your store as a great place to find group dance or performance style dresses. What kind of options do you offer to those dance groups looking to outfit their whole team?
e.K. Clothing: Group discounts start at 10% for purchases of 3 or more of the same item, regardless of color or size. We also carry sizes S-3X and often have a larger selection of colors in stock, which varies by season. Also, depending on the style, we can accommodate custom sizes and colors with a fairly quick turn around.
Ritmo Bello: Although most of your offerings are geared towards women, do you offer anything for men visiting your store?
e.K. Clothing: Currently we have men’s shoes. Hopefully by the end of the year, we’ll have some clothing for men as well…we’ve been told they’re feeling a little left out…
Ritmo Bello: Is there any chance we’ll see you in San Diego wearing some of the items you sell at e.K. Clothing?
e.K. Clothing: Right now, probably not John …I’m pretty much glued to our retail store in Lomita, CA 6 days a week.
Ritmo Bello: How can the Ritmo Bello audience reach you if they want to find out more information about e.K. Clothing?
e.K. Clothing: We can be reached at the e.k. Clothing website , 888-831-0925 or info@ekclothing.com.
Ritmo Bello: Nicole, on behalf of the Ritmo Bello audience and the San Diego dance community thanks so much for providing quality clothing options for dancers…
e.K. Clothing: Thank you! Maybe one day I’ll see you on the dance floor!
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!
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!
Ever wish you learned to dance as a kid? I recently saw a documentary about dancing in Argentina and noticed that very early on kids there are taught Argentine Tango along with their regular studies. Although I’m not sure how prevalent this really is in Argentine society, it’s safe to say Argentina has produced some very good Argentine Tango dancers as a result.
What if we could start having our kids learn to dance early on as well here in San Diego? Well, its already happening.
Dancing After School (DAS) , a 501c3 non-profit organization, is dedicated to providing comprehensive life changing dance programs to youth in under-served areas throughout San Diego County. Dancing After School has been able to make tremendous strides in educating and inspiring youth to learn dance. Based locally here in San Diego and founded by Walter Meneses, the organization serves all of San Diego including the border regions teaching dance to thousands of elementary school children.
Why teach kids to dance? There are lots of reasons I can think of including giving kids a positive role model to follow in terms of instructors, giving them something to master in their free time, and getting kids up and moving around. Indeed, with obesity rates rising every year with our youth I think it’s paramount to give kids another outlet for meeting their needs.
The video I’ve posted here is from an Argentine Tango dance class taught by DAS instructors. They also teach other types of Latin dance including salsa, merengue, bachata, mambo, Cha Cha Cha, and Jazz. After the students are taught the dance for a term they are given an opportunity to showcase their work. This next video shows a performance by a group of kids who’ve gone through the classes.
If you’ve followed Ritmo Bello in the past you may remember a saying that I used to post on my old website that read “If you can walk, you can dance!” Well, I’m pleased to report that I’ve been wrong all this time. Let me explain.
Absolutely Dance Sport, a specialized dance studio catering to the disabled here in San Diego, opens its doors on August 5th , 2008. The focus of the new studio is to bring more attention to a growing movement called Wheelchair DanceSport . Wheelchair DanceSport is a partner dance competition where at least one dancer in the pair is in a wheelchair.
Wheelchair dancing is not actually new. Since 1977, international competitions in Wheelchair Dance Sport have been organized and supported by organizations like the International Paralympic Wheelchair Dance Sport Committee and International DanceSport Federation. There is even an American Dance Wheels logo similar to the NBA’s iconic sign as seen below:
Wheelchair dancers participate in combination style dancing with an able-bodied partner or duo dance with two wheelchairs. The dances that are performed with wheelchairs pretty much are the same ones that a non-disabled couple can perform. That means that a wheelchair dancer could dance salsa, samba, cha cha cha, rumba, paso doble, and other popular Latin dances.
I found this tango video especially captivating to watch:
My immediate reaction to all this is that I am very thankful that there are people in the community concerned with bringing dance to the disabled population. Indeed, if I were ever in a position where I needed to rely on a wheelchair I would most likely seek out this studio to be around empowered individuals passionate about salsa and latin dancing.
Tango dancing has moved in many new directions over the last few years. Here in San Diego a unique dance ensemble called TANGOCENTRIC is making its mark on the dance scene.
TANGOCENTRIC originated with 6 talented dancers under the direction of Susan Lake .
Experimenting with Jazz, Ballet, and contemporary techniques, this innovative dance company is pushing the boundaries of what we all know as tango. Definitely not for the weak of heart, the challenging choreographies break the traditional look of what we have accepted as tango dancing today.
Saturday morning on August 9th, the first TANGOCENTRIC dance auditions will take place as the company continues to find its place in the theatrical dance community. For anyone wanting to expand their dance experience, this would be a dance "must" according to Susan Lake, director of TANGOCENTRIC.
Here in San Diego the dance community is particularly privileged to have one such professional from the Tango world helping keep the dance alive.
Susan Lake from Susan Lake Productions recently sat down with me for an interview to discuss tango dance and music here in San Diego, California. Below is the article. Enjoy!
________________________
Ritmo Bello: Hi Susan, thanks for taking the time to address the Ritmo Bello audience. What is the focus of your organization in relation to the San Diego Dance community?
Susan Lake: My company, SUSAN LAKE PRODUCTIONS, has always been about bringing to San Diego the best information on dance. 10 years ago, I created the TANGO BALL which served as an arena for not only some of the best tango performers in the world, but became the beginning roots of dance fusion in San Diego. As the Artistic Director for TANGOCENTRIC , a performing tango dance ensemble, I have opened the door to experimental dance using tango as the dramatic center of the choreography. At present I am conducting workshops in San Diego for performers and advanced dance companies who wish to integrate tango into their own particular dance styles.
Ritmo Bello: What are the origins of your production company?
Susan Lake: I am originally from New York City, Where I attended Hartt College of Music. When I came to San Diego I became part owner of Mac Vitties Dance Studio. After selling the studio, I started a dance company called TANGO LAGO. I organized dance classes, brought guest artists to San Diego conducted educational tours to Argentina for the study of tango and eventually originated the longest running event of its kind, the TANGO BALL. At present my company is called SUSAN LAKE PRODUCTIONS and my career has led me into the areas of Producer, Director, Project Developer and lecturer.
Ritmo Bello: A question I often get from my audience deals with identifying what is and is not Tango. What is Tango? How do you know if a piece of music is tango or not?
Susan Lake: The dance tango, has its origins in Argentina. It is the result of immigrants from Europe coming together in a time in history when people were being displaced from the countries they once called home. The dance tells the stories of humanity and its stuggle for an identity.
As far as tango music is concerned, yes there is music that is considered traditional tango music and is commonly identified by the sound of the bandoneon . However, today tango is danced to everything from jazz to symphonic music and electronic sounds.
Ritmo Bello: What is the difference between American and Argentine tango?
Susan Lake: One of the most distinct differences is the use of the legs. Secondly is the embrace or what is commonly known as the dance frame. One of the unique and beautiful aspects of Argentine tango is the use of the "pause", which significantly adds to the drama or "tension" of the dance. It is very typical to watch American style tango and be able identify "set" patterns. In Argentine tango, the combinations are endless and it is common to observe that everyone is creating their own story through the dance itself!
Ritmo Bello: I heard you mention earlier that you have a new performing ensemble called TANGOCENTRIC. Could you tell me a little bit about what that is all about?
Susan Lake: Yes, I started TANGOCENTRIC a year and a half ago. It is an experimental dance ensemble that incorporates different dance styles in the choreography. They have performed locally at several different venues and we are currently working on a unique Tango program.
Ritmo Bello: Do you have contact information in case anyone from the Ritmo Bello audience wants to contact you?
Susan Lake: Yes. As I am now an organizer on the San Diego Salsa and Latin Dancing Meetup Group and will continue hosting Tango events for the group’s members. I will also be available to anyone who may have tango questions. You can e-mail me at susanlakeproductions@gmail.com and you can reach me at 888-796-9670.
Ritmo Bello: Susan Lake, Thank you so much for your time and I hope to attend some of your Tango events in the future.
Susan Lake: My pleasure John. Hope to see you at one of my upcoming events!
What this means is that the current feed will expire and you will need to subscribe to this new feed for Ritmo Bello.
(For those of you not familiar with subscribing or RSS feeds I found this useful Google Reader tutorial created by Andy Wibbels that will help.)
Along with the new feed, you’ll also notice that the new address for the site will be www.ritmobello.com . (Note: The old site address of www.sandiegosalsadancing.com will still get you to the new site as well once the changes take effect.) This is in line with my efforts to start adding in more Latin dance information covering samba, tango, cha cha, merengue, and bachata along with the same San Diego salsa dancing information you’ve come to enjoy reading on my website.
If anybody has any questions feel free to contact me direct at bello_jf@ritmobello.com . You can still find me on on my Twitter page for Ritmo Bello as well.
