A night at the famous Landhuis Brievengat filled with
the “salsa classics of all times” which will be brought to you by
the top salsa DJ’s of Curaçao. There will also be $600 worth on
prizes for the best couple doing “open shines”
Price:
$10
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Workshops
| Time |
Instructor |
Class |
Location |
| 12.00 - 13.45 |
Edie, The Salsa
FREAK |
Dips &
Tricks |
Curaçao Sheraton Resort Gym
area |
| 12.00 - 13.45 |
Rudsel Magdalena
(Curaçao) |
Salsa Partnering
Beginners |
Curaçao Sheraton Resort Gym
area |
| 14.00 - 15.45 |
pending |
|
|
| 14.00 - 15.45 |
Frika Carolie
(Curaçao) |
Salsa Jazz & Hip Hop
Style |
Curaçao Sheraton Resort Octagon
Room |
| 16.00 - 17.45 |
Rudsel Magdalena
(Curaçao) |
Salsa Partnering
Beginners |
Curaçao Sheraton Resort Octagon
Room |
|
|
|
|
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Edie's
Daily Report
You know, it's nice going on vacation alone, or with a loved one, but there's a certain
dynamic when going on vacation and meeting up with fellow friends. What's even better is when those friends DANCE,
and there's a place to go dancing EVERY NIGHT! This
occurred to me when I was walking at the hotel next to Olaf Bleck today, our Boston World
Correspondent for Salsaweb Magazine. We were
walking along a path, and I looked at him and just felt so thankful that he and his
girlfriend were here on this beautiful island with us in the middle of the Caribbean!
Giselle is also another
long-time friend of mine that I always meet up with at World Events. She is getting married soon, and we wish her all
the best with her new fiancé. When I see people I've met at other Conventions, and
then see them someplace else, it's like seeing family again. Coming to world dance events is like going to a
family reunion. You see how people have grown
in their dancing, how much they've improved, how much they've learned, and how much more
you enjoy dancing with them! The scene keeps
getting better and better. With more videos,
workshops and instructors, everyone is getting good; quickly picking up move after move,
and technique after technique.
Which brings me to another fascinating story about the Salseros on the
island of Curacao. Many of you have read my ongoing story of the island’s
dancers here since 1997. Over the past
four years, I've watched them grow and struggle against unbeatable odds. Here they are, a
small group of mavericks hungry to learn and thirsty to perfect their style. With little to no influence from top-ranking
professionals nearby to assist them, they have had to resort to videotapes, and attending
world events to pick up new moves and styles. Because
of the incredible handicap of being literally isolated on an island in the middle of the
Caribbean, they've had to adapt to learning on their own.
They’ve
also had to consider how they would be able to dance with people from different countries
all over the world who visit the island. The
dancers on the island of Curacao have literally ADAPTED to virtually every dance style in
the world. They “dance like they
kiss”, on the right, and the left foot, (reference 1998 article on Curacao), can
dance on the One, the Two, the Three,
have mastered Casino Rueda, and have developed a beautiful style all their own. It just blows my mind that only a few years ago,
they were “stuck” with their style of dancing with the right foot forward, and
only a few moves in their library.
The instructors on Curacao have now become world-class dancers,
rivaling some of the best dancers in the world for their style, technique, and creativity.
| FREAK Commentary |
I truly believe that the Salsipuedes Group of Curaçao
belongs to the best technical dancers in the world. Maybe not the flashiest ones with the
most awesome moves but consider this:
- They dance on the 1, 2, 3, 4 whatever you want
- Theye dance with the right foot and left foot forward
- They invented a cross body lead on the right foot
- Every style, they have adopted to: Cuban Moves, Eddie
Torres Moves, West Coast moves, moves from Europe, Samba Salsa, Casino Rueda....
Last but not least...
They do ALL shines right foot based AND left foot based. Have you
ever tried do do that? (Stand up and try a simple shine with the right foot and than a
more diffucult one)
Pretty AWESOME for such a small island don't you think...?
The goal Steven Walroud
has put himself two years ago has become reality now. They can dance with the world,
every style. GLOBAL SALSA!
GLOBAL SALSA what a concept..! Their invention. |
A person that has improved IMMENSELY is Rudsel Magdalena.
He is one of the island’s top performers and choreographers. His style and move library is to die for. He’s got a certain flair and sharpness about
him that captivates an audience. It’s an
upbeat flavor, with quick turns, spins, hooks and turn patterns that are truly unique. He adds a little hop in his cross body lead that
only “he” looks great doing. His
spins are outstanding, and his body control, world class.
Steven Walroud has also developed a powerful,
yet subtle lead that is very captivating. Some
of his dance moves will just blow you away. He
waits for the woman, and shows her off. His
body movement and flair have become second to none, and of course, no one in the WORLD can
do a body-slam like this man. I’m here
to tell you, people have tried it, but they just don’t seem to get it right. It feels awkward and almost disgustingly
uncomfortable with everyone else. Steven has
got his world-famous body-slam DOWN, to perfection, elegance, and CLASS. You don’t even realize it’s happening to
you, till afterward. Simply put, only Steven Walroud knows how to do it right. So guys, don't even try it,
it's no use. It never feels right when you do it (sorry Eric, not even you can get
it right), so don't even think about it.
Burton has also refined and perfected his style
of dancing as well. I remember when he was just starting with the left foot forward,
and how frustrated he would get. It's like learning an entirely different language, and
having to start all over again - from scratch. What is frustrating is that you
already know you're an accomplished dancer, but now, having to re-learn all the moves
"backwards", or the other-way-around can be very nerve-wracking. When
people switch, it's an extremely difficult transition for the first couple of
months. Virtually all of your senses are stimulated in dance. It's quite an
adjustment to re-adjust your mind to accept a new way of thinking - ESPECIALLY when body
motion connected, sight, and sound is involved. These are three of our most powerful
of senses. After your BRAIN has finally accepted the other-way-around, only then can
victory be celebrated!!!
Tonight we all went to Brievangat, which had a really great (fast)
dancefloor we all loved. There was a $600
amateur open-shines competition that was awesome. Some
of the competitors were excellent, and it was very difficult to choose the winner here. There was one gentleman from Colombia that
demonstrated the moves as a representation of certain animals. This is very customary and incredible to watch as
well. Afterward, Rudsel gave an open shines
demonstration that BLEW EVERYONE AWAY. Eddie
Torres would have been proud to see this! There
was also a demonstration done by Barbaro Hernandez from Cuba that was quite impressive as
well! There’s nothing like watching true
Cuban motion, directly from Cuba!
That Sunday afternoon The Curaçao
Sheraton had organized a Salsa Brunch ....... with the increddible band "Arnell i su
Orquesta". Ofcourse we did not hesitate to turn the lobby into a Salsa Club.
Wish you were all here to see this! See
you tomorrow!
- Edie, The Salsa FREAK
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