Mary Ann's Story...

My father had a 12 piece Latin band and my mother sang and played the maracas in his band. I grew up with fantastic music - I was very lucky! I pretty much knew the basics of, Cumbia, Cha Cha Cha, Salsa, etc. However, I did not know any of the more difficult, great salsa moves, so learning Salsa has been quite fun. I've been studying for about 3 months and am having a ball and meeting the most fantastic people.
Everyone is just so great!

The reason I even started is because I was at a cousin's wedding up north last summer and my aunt asked me to Salsa with one of my cousins and I definitely accommodated. They put on some Salsa music and I could not follow him! I was devastated! How could I as a dancer not follow.
Had I been so immersed in Arabic, Greek and Persian music that somehow I could not count? I was totally angry with myself and confused. There was no one else to dance with as we were the only ones out there dancing. You cannot believe what I went through mentally! This made absolutely no sense to me.

I decided right then an there, that when I returned to So. Calif, I would learn Salsa. Well, when I took my lesson and I began to dance, I was on time and in rhythm. Now I was really confused. Well, in my class we had to rotate and dance with different partners. It was then that I realized I was not off rhythm and off time when I had danced with my cousin. It was him, not me! And this is what I have learned in Salsa that not everyone is on time to the music. Naturally, I thought it was me. Nevertheless, It was a very freeing experience and am glad that it was that incident that really got me involved in the dance. It takes me back to some of my culture that I have been away from for so long - too long! It's been a very positive experience and I'm loving every minute of it.

I have done many things in my life (actress, model, playwright) and I have been a belly dancer for 17 years (mostly in the Orange County restaurants). Some of my costumes are just gorgeous (hand beaded in Egypt) and are $1,000 each. I still perform if someone needs a substitute at a local restaurant. I also work, on occasion, for an entertainment company so I'm still kind of in the groove of belly dancing. I don't know if you knew it or not, but I gave Janette (Salsera con Shoes) a lesson in belly dancing so that she could put it in the first number that was shown at Club Rio this past Sunday. I was very impressed with her choreography and the dancing - it was great.
She was so elated that as soon as the show was over she came over and gave me a hug and thanked me. That number (Veila Magique) will be presented at the 2nd Annual World Salsa Congress in Puerto Rico.

Joby and Luis sure know how to put on a stupendous show (Club Rio) - it was just awesome! They are so talented as choreographers and dancers. I enjoyed all the performances, but the last number was electrifying! The costuming colors vibrant, the dancing extremely impressive, and the energy incredible! The performers loved what they were doing. That's
what I love most to see in a dancer - the love and the soul they feel for the dance. Everyone was truly immersed in the dance and enjoying themselves. To me that is a dancer and what the dance is all about. Every dancer was totally into it. Their smiles as they performed were infectious and I loved and enjoyed every minute of it. You all have my respect for such dedication! (I know what goes into being in a company as I was in three dance troupes myself!) I had such a wonderful time!

Hope to see you on the dance floor. Keep dancing, but most of all keep smiling.

Mary Ann