I believe I have told my story on several occasions, sometimes more briefly, other times diving into my past with a dreamy tone in my voice carrying the passion of a true salsera.

It all started in 1997.

I was temporarily working as a waitress in a restaurant in Tallinn that started with the salsaclasses in the first place. I had seen the flyers around the town but never had I paid particular attention to them so I wasn't even aware of where they were being held. I had also seen this latino guy in sportswear coming down the stairs a week earlier

(I remember it since I was wondering about the outfit -

people don't usually come to a restaurant in swetpants + he wasn't a badlooking guy ;) )

I remember it was a day like any other day at work.

I had gone inside to get some water for the customers and heard faint music playing. I went up the stairs and saw a bunch of people dancing to the warmest music. Believe it was Las Chicas Del Can :P

I stood at the door for a while and tried to follow a few

steps. Suddenly it all clicked. So thats why there was this latino guy running up and down the stairs. He walks up to me and asks me when will I join the class. I said "Next time there is a class" and kept my word.

It was a great atmosphere. Loads and loads of different people coming to the classes. Slowly I got to meet them all. We'd have trainings every second week for three days in a row, 1,5 hours for the beginners and 1,5 hours for the advanced. Many times I'd stick around after the beginners class and watch the advanced dance. It was amazing.

I started to do two classes in a row since I really wanted to join in and do all the moves that seemed so complicated.

Wanted to get the hang of it. Stubborn me :)

That was the most difficult time since the jump from the beginners to the advanced was a pretty big one. A whole new world. Thankfully the guys in the class were very patient and helpful. What also helped was that the classes were regular and we'd have a party every Friday, after each cycle of classes.

I remember us downstairs, sitting in this low-ceiling cellar

20 people around a table for eight, joking, excited about the chance to be dancing again to live music. The floor was awful and the room was so tiny and hot but nothing seemed to matter. Salsa mattered.

Over the coming years I would keep on dancing.

The people would come and go. We've changed the place for practising on so many occasions, a couple of times the crowd would totally dissapear and dancing salsa would have to be put on hold for some time since not enough people would show up. We'd also have the greatest parties with the

participation of so many wonderful Finnish salseras and salseros. We'd have classes in open air and in the evenings after we'd had a class together, we would rent a room somewhere, everyone would bring something to eat or drink and just salsa. Sometimes I would dance nonstop for hours and hours, it's as if once you've got beyond the point

of feeling tired you pick up all this energy from the music and keep on going. Like a little Duracell Bunny :p

After a while, in 1999, I started taking Spanish classes to understand the music. What also pushed me to do that was a certain evening all of us went for a dinner after the class with 4 fun latino guys (1 bolivian, 1 colombian,

1 mexican and 1 cuban).The conversation in Spanish must have been hilarious since they were laughing to their tears

(there was 2 ladies with the salsacrowd back then who were fluent in Spanish) so the conversation was just going and going. That's when I decided I had to learn the language.

Haven't been travelling quite that much for salsa. I have done a couple of salsacruises (between Helsinki and Stockholm, organized by the La Isla salsaclub). Also seen a few concerts in Finland (Celia Cruz with Alfredo De La Fe, Buena Vista Social Club, Klimax, Los Van Van, Afro Cuban All Stars, Cubanisimo, Los Papines) and taken some classes in

Mallorca while I lived there for a month (Puerto Rican style though). I will try to be travelling more this year.

I used to visit Helsinki all the time and I have finally been catching up on that.

Me and a friend of mine Sami also participated in the Finnish

salsa competition 3 yrs ago just for fun and ended up winning the third place.

I remember there was a Finnish salsaband playing in this little town in Estonia once. It was a one time thing about 4 years ago and I believe the band was called Septeto Son. They also sold books on the history of Cuban dance and music and I got myself one as well. It has been pretty educating reading about the different orichas and all sorts of religious parties that

the Cubans used to throw for the gods.

Back then the Internet hadn't really arrived to Estonia yet

so to order stuff (videos, books, clothes, shoes etc)

online was not possible. I was so excited about that book :)

Times have changed since then though and it's much easier to get your hands on salsastuff :)

Once again we have a good crowd together.

Since opening of the Havana Club in Tallinn there is a place to meet.Before that dancing to the Ricky Martin songs in a crowded and smoky nightclub was the best we'd get. The classes are not as regular as they used to be but we are getting there. It is great to see the determination and interest of our new salseras and salseros. Gives me hope that finally it will last and will

not dissappear again.

Salsaideas (or one of them anyways):

What Tallinn needs is a little Cuban style bar. Cuban all the way. Dark interior, black and white pictures of musicians and Havana on the walls, Cuban cigars and of course Mojitos.

A small dancing floor wouldnt be a bad idea and every now and then there would be live music (salsa, older Cuban

music, Latin Jazz...)It would serve traditional foods of Southern America and Cuba. Main thing is to start small and stylish.

My salsafav's:

Style: Cuban. Dont mind mixing all sorts of stuff together either. Might be because we all tend to feel the most comfortable with the style we start with or maybe I haven't had enough of a chance to familiarize myself with other styles. Yet. I love it's smoothness and down to earth feel. The

show stuff looks pretty but in the end it is the feel of it all that counts.

Song:

uuuhhhhhhh....loads.

>From salsa:

La Sonora Carruseles "Lola"

Los Van Van "Cabeza Mala"

Manolito y Su Trabuco "Marcando la Distancia"

Carlos Oliva "Vehicle (Tu Carrito)"

Ommar Hernandez "Un Disparo En La Mirada"

Fito Gress y La Banda Del Puerto "Havana Cola"

Klimax "Lo Que Me Falto Por Hacerte"

El Canario "Quiero Salsa"

Spanish Harlem Orchestra "Llego la Banda" y "Mamaguela"

Pretty much anything from La Charanga Habanera.

Other:

Manolito y Su Trabuco "Se Rompieron Los Termometros"

Manolito y Su Trabuco "Amor Ciego"

Ibrahim Ferrer "Como Fue"

Travel destination:

Spent loads of time travelling around the Mediterranean this spring and summer(worked on a cruiseliner for 4 months or so) but still... my dream destination remains to be Cuba. Have a hunch on what it'll be like and I can just picture the country after reading and hearing so much about it. I know it's there and waiting for me. I am going.It's just the matter of time.

I've been very lucky.

I've danced with many wonderful people and great dancers.

Each dance leaves a mark on you. Each partner adds to your experience and helps you to become a better.

In the end it's all about having a good time and enjoying yourself. No reason to dance if you are not enjoying it.

Also:

Have to have patience because it'll be most rewarding in the end.

I owe many thanks to Miguel and Carlos for having the patience and interest to keep on teaching in Tallinn. Without you guys we wouldn't be here.Also thanks to the members of the Finnish salsa community for introducing me to your crowd and for the many dances we've had (Sami, Aki, Arto, Markku -

you all know who you are).

Couldn't do without the local guys and girls, it is wonderful

to have you around to share the salsathoughts and future plans.

Talking to someone that actually knows what you are talking about, matters. Sticking together we'll make this thing last. Sometimes it is so frustrating to go out and not to be able to dance (Katrin,Jana,Piia,Sveta and other salseras know what I am talking about) but that is nothing compared to the

joy and energy that comes from stepping on that floor, entering that rhythm and taking the first steps.

Just keep on going.

Like little Duracell Bunnies :)

And remember:

When the going gets tough, the tough go salsadancing in Tallinn :P

-Triinu "Trinidad"

Hija de la musica Cubana

10/04/02

Tallinn, Estonia