Indian salsa
Salsa exists in India… not only exists but also flourishes in some instances… Linda and me joined a friend of mine who used to take classes and his friend who’s been into dancing and teaching for 5-6 years. The guys brought us to a salsa night at Tapas, bar at Vasant Continental. The latter is obviously 5-star hotel and I still cannot get why you have to get so posh to dance salsa… and in general…. The very concept of going to 5-star hotel just to hang out at a nice bar or a disco appears weird to me… However… 2500 Rs people paid to enter the party… No need to mention how nice and worthwhile to have friends ;o)
At the entrance I am taken aback by the looks of Indian girls in the queue – high heals, bare shoulders, short dresses with flowing draperies. Some couples already rehearsing in the lobby. Once inside we join the crowd of observers (losers ;o(). There are about 20 couple dancing and wow… many of them are really good. If fact, one was so astonishingly good that everyone stopped dancing and stood in the circle watching them. I guess, it must be a divine feeling to be so good at something so that to make people watch you in admiration…
My dancing experience that night comprised of 3 different parts. First I was dancing with the guy who’s been teaching and dancing for ages. I begged for some steps (all my salsa experience has been limited to pure observing by far), he smiled and said, “Enjoy the music”. I tried to the limit of my capacity. But I still believe that to enjoy the music you need some confidence and the latter comes once you master at least a few steps….
I remember this discussion with Abishek, Vishnu’s brother, an amazing dancer himself. We were dancing at the wedding and later I told him I was so impressed. He said he never specially learnt dancing… neither many other people did. He said it takes observing, trying… and just enjoying the process without thinking how nice you look and what people around might think. Golden rule, it seems…
Second, I was dancing with Piush who had even less clue about salsa then I did, but we enjoyed so much.. There were just two of us and we were improvising to our hearts’ content – each on our own, but generously giving feedback to each other… Free-style Latina it was…
Third, I was dancing with my beloved room-mate Juan-Mi for whom dancing is as natural as sleeping or eating. It was that first time we danced reggae-tone when I got the idea hot easy it is to follow him as he really leads… So, I just followed… Well, not at least, I believe we’ve already managed to develop some sort of confidence with each other so it helped a lot… It felt just so natural dancing with him… he asked where I’ve learnt… was really nice to see nicely surprised eyes of Kanak, Award for the Best Observer at the Salsa Night…. Not a rocket science after all this salsa is – some confidence in the partner, inner freedom and…. enjoying the music…
At the entrance I am taken aback by the looks of Indian girls in the queue – high heals, bare shoulders, short dresses with flowing draperies. Some couples already rehearsing in the lobby. Once inside we join the crowd of observers (losers ;o(). There are about 20 couple dancing and wow… many of them are really good. If fact, one was so astonishingly good that everyone stopped dancing and stood in the circle watching them. I guess, it must be a divine feeling to be so good at something so that to make people watch you in admiration…
My dancing experience that night comprised of 3 different parts. First I was dancing with the guy who’s been teaching and dancing for ages. I begged for some steps (all my salsa experience has been limited to pure observing by far), he smiled and said, “Enjoy the music”. I tried to the limit of my capacity. But I still believe that to enjoy the music you need some confidence and the latter comes once you master at least a few steps….
I remember this discussion with Abishek, Vishnu’s brother, an amazing dancer himself. We were dancing at the wedding and later I told him I was so impressed. He said he never specially learnt dancing… neither many other people did. He said it takes observing, trying… and just enjoying the process without thinking how nice you look and what people around might think. Golden rule, it seems…
Second, I was dancing with Piush who had even less clue about salsa then I did, but we enjoyed so much.. There were just two of us and we were improvising to our hearts’ content – each on our own, but generously giving feedback to each other… Free-style Latina it was…
Third, I was dancing with my beloved room-mate Juan-Mi for whom dancing is as natural as sleeping or eating. It was that first time we danced reggae-tone when I got the idea hot easy it is to follow him as he really leads… So, I just followed… Well, not at least, I believe we’ve already managed to develop some sort of confidence with each other so it helped a lot… It felt just so natural dancing with him… he asked where I’ve learnt… was really nice to see nicely surprised eyes of Kanak, Award for the Best Observer at the Salsa Night…. Not a rocket science after all this salsa is – some confidence in the partner, inner freedom and…. enjoying the music…
posted by Olga Tikhonova | 10:07 pm
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