DATE: 25 Jul 2007, 2:00 am / MOOD: Full of life

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I have recently returned from Detroit (Big "UP" Energetic Soul), and within another week I will be traveling to Palm Springs for the West Coast Rudea Congress, from there I plan on being in Miami in Novemeber, and hopefully with the governments permission Cuba in Jan.

I have never did this much traveling before in my life and all because I LOVE Casino...... ( I am not referrng to the gambling establishement). This very moment I am listening to "Eso te pone la cabeza mala"as I am typing this blog. There is no explanation for this blog but to say THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING:

Julian (salsatlanta), Energetic Soul, Rumbanana, Chen, Henry, Mark (mi primo) and soon to be Rudeainthepark(when I visit next week). All of you have been a BIG influence in my life.

Oh yeah I cannot forget about the ladies.......There are so many I cannot name all of you. I probably would misspell your names anyway. Make sure when you see me ladies give me a kiss.........

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DATE: 20 Dec 2006, 12:04 am / MOOD: Happy

Que Bolada....

Julian posed a question to us (his students) on sunday. The question was... What do we dance on? My cat like reflections reacted and I yelled out "on 1." At the time, I assumed I was correct based upon the footwork of the leaders with the counts of 1,2,3..5,6,7. After his bewildered look at me for sometime, Julian informed me that I was wrong.....I could not believe it, for nearly three years of dancing Casino under Julian I have been lied too. Wait, wait, wait, Julian never stated that we danced on 1, matter of fact if I think for a minute.................no one has ever stated that Casineros dances on 1. Going forward, who is to blame for this misconception,that has me pondering to the very essence of each letter I type on my keyboard.... oh wait, thats me. There is no one to blame but myself

I recall duane at the workshop on Saturday stating that he dances on the three count. I stood there thinking, how could someone who dances Casino like myself dance on a different count than myself. After pondering this at work, (I do my best thinking at work) I realized something that Julian has been trying to drill in my head for three years, WE DANCE TO THE MUSIC!! I have even heard of Casineros who dance on five. It does not matter what beat we dance on, even better who cares what beat you dance on, as long as you are dancing to the music you are always going to be on the beat.

With this new concept in my brain, I can fully understand why dancers do what they do on the dance floor, and not feel concerned on what foot to move or what number of steps were taken. I feel as though I am a beginner all over again. Some people dance just to dance, they are not attempting to listen or feel the music, their goals include:

Seeing how many moves they can attempt during one song.

How many people they can impress while doing these moves.

And last but certainly not least....will this get them the phone number of their partner they are dancing with or anyone who is watching them.

We all have seen this type of behavior in our favorite salsa places i.e. the guy who constantly dances off beat no matter who is partner, but what really stands out is that he consistenly keeps doing moves while being off beat, or he is the guy who is dancing fast to a slow romantic song or vice versa ( I use the masculine "he" because the guys are the leaders during the dance)

To bring this to a close, it does not matter what beat we dance on, as long as we are dancing to the music we will always be on the same chord.

Lluvia


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DATE: 31 Oct 2006, 8:50 pm / MOOD: Happy

Casino in the A-town is the minority amongst the other styles of salsa. We (casino) need to do a better job of being on the "scene" at different functions around Atlanta, that way casino can spread to those who have not witnessed it. 

I believe the time is now for Casino to be displayed to the hundreds of salseros in Atlanta.  

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