Our friend Wilson from the great Canadian salsa band called Cache has a free salsa radio station. Here is the info from Wilson for all you salsa lovers:

Jazz Meets Salsa is a 24 hour (7 days a week) Salsa Radio, Rumba Buena Estereo, currently streaming via www.jazzmeetssalsa.com. This is a 100% Canadian run station where you will have the enjoyment of listening to great salsa music in the comfort of your home and with no need to worry about changing CD’s.

Our vision is to bring Salsa Music to our listeners without the need of having to login to a foreign site. In this site their is also a section where visitors will have access to listen to the bands offered, Cache amongst others.

We are only a year new, and have already accomplished one of our visions, to bring forth the first ever Latin stage to Toronto’s own Beaches International Jazz Festival in 2010 where we showcased Latin Bands, percussion workshops as well as dance lesson on a wood platform, ideal for the dancers. This new area is called, Latin Square, and our main stage is JAZZMEETSSALSA. All this conveniently located right by the boardwalk. Who said you needed to travel down south to have the Latin flavours and rhythms. We worked hard to bring it to the people in Toronto.

Feel free to take a look at some pictures of last years event at www.beachesjazz.com

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We are also interviewing Wilson about Cache’s new album which has just been released and we will be bring you this interview soon. Until then, check out jazzmeetssalsa.com and enjoy!

It is so great to be back in action teaching classes. After a month off, seeing all my students and TDS friends last weekend at the first outing and social as well as meeting new students in class felt really great.

Hopefully you all had a great holiday and are ready to get back into the swing of things. If you haven’t registered for a TDS class yet here are some great classes for our winter 2011 semester:

Salsa Nightclub Level 1 to Level 6
Argentine Tango Level 1 and 2
Zumba for Fitness
Cabaret Salsa Performance Class – Sold out
Helper Only Performance Class
Ladies Styling
Latin Belly Dance Fusion
Reggaeton Funk – Sold out
Bachata
Belly Dance Bootcamp

Please note due to the popularity of Belly Dancing we just opened an all new class with Christina on Saturdays at 4pm at Empress called Latin Belly Fusion which takes the fun hip shaking steps of Latin Dancing with the sensual moves of belly dancing and fuses them together in fun mini choreographies.

If you are looking to get out and practice we have our regular Sunday Social every Sunday from 6-9pm at Empress Studio. As long as you have had your first salsa class you are welcome to attend and practice your moves in a comfortable, friendly setting.

We also have another outing to Acrobat Lounge scheduled for Saturday January 29th at 8:45pm. Beginner and intermediate salsa lessons will be taught from 9-10pm. Come out and meet new people.

Hope to see you salsa dancing this semester!

Many students are concerned with taking off a month or even more in December between semesters and have been asking what they can do to retain what they have learned in the fall semester.  Here are some tips for you to stay fresh and continue to develop over the holidays so that you can bring your salsa game on in the new year!

1) Outings and Socials – we still have a few events in the next week for you to go and practice your moves and learn some new moves.  Our big TDS Holiday Party takes place this Saturday Dec 18th at 8:45pm at Acrobat Lounge.  A beginner and intermediate lessons are available from 9-10pm where you will learn fun new combinations and meet new people. There will be performances by the TDS Pro Team, the TDS Student Team and the TDS Reggaeton Student Team to get you motivated and inspire you.  We also have our last social of the year on Sunday Dec 19th at Empress from 6-9pm.  We will then be off for 2 weeks and resume socials on Jan 9th.

2) Salsa clubs and practices – there is a salsa club open every night of the week.  Some of them even offer free lessons at around 9pm before the crowds get there so take advantage.  My favourite clubs are Babaluus in Yorkville, Lula Lounge for live music, Acrobat and Alley Katz.  There is also a Toronto Salsa Practice every Saturday at a downtown church so take advantage of these great events and dance, dance, dance.

3) Record yourself – before you forget all the moves you learn take a camera and record yourself doing these moves.  That way you can play it back and remember how to execute the moves.

4) Watch youtube videos – youtube salsa videos are super inspiring and, while it is difficult to learn from a small clip, it will still get you listening to music, watching dance moves and thinking about salsa

5) Practice on your own or with a friend/partner – practice at home if you are not yet comfortable going out.  You can practice your basics, turns, cross body leads, shines, body movement, styling and musicality.  You can also purchase our beginner DVD and work on your moves with the DVD.

Hope you keep dancing during the holidays!

Well it’s been so long since I posted on my blog but Saturday definitely inspired a blog post.   I had so much fun at Acrobat Lounge.  Plenty of times I get caught up in answering questions and photo taking and teaching classes that I don’t get to actually dance much.  However this past Saturday at Acrobat I danced, danced, danced and it was so much fun!

Thanks to over 200 people who came out to enjoy the evening.  Olivier and Elise taught the beginner salsa class and Evan and I taught the intermediate salsa lesson.  Ladies, we needed you!  There were at least 5 men who could have used a partner so ladies, come early to the outings so you can enjoy the workshop and get to meet some great dance partners.

There were tons of new faces and dancers of all levels.  As well, it was great to see some old friends and those who have been out of the salsa scene for a while.   Thanks to all my great dances including Rob, Teddy, Bryan and of course Evan and all the new dance partners I met.

Our next outing is the last one of 2010 and it is our TDS Christmas Party at Acrobat on Dec 18th, 2010 at 8:45pm.  There will be performances by the TDS Pro Team, the TDS Students Team and the TDS Reggaeton Team.  Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

We are always seeing new students and friends at our Sunday social at Empress so I wanted to give some advice to new attendees.

I know we have benches at Empress but if you are looking to dance, a word of warning: don’t sit on the benches! When you sit on the benches it tells other dancers that you want to rest and you don’t want to dance so you won’t get approached as often. So if you are looking to dance, be up and about, make eye contact with dancers you would like to dance with, and most of all, ask yourself! Both women and men can ask each other to dance. Once you have asked someone to dance, they will be a lot more likely to reciprocate in the future.

There are some helpers at the social wearing name tags. Feel free to ask them to dance – they will be more than happy to do so.

If you continue to come to the socials, very soon you will be making friends and the first feelings of awkwardness will disappear, leaving you very comfortable and excited to see the gang.

Hopefully this helps you go out dancing. Say hi and introduce yourselves to me at the socials – I am usually at the door until 7:30pm!
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Sharon

If you need a little salsa excitement this August, check out our Summer Workshop Series with Tracie and Daniel on Sundays from 4-6pm at Empress.  Here are the details:

Workshops ($35 each, 2 for $65 or all 3 for $90):

1) A Taste of Tango Workshop
This workshop is a intended to be a fun and easy introduction to the sensual world of Argentine Tango. This workshop will focus more on the attitude and styling of Argentine Tango – learn some basic Argentine Tango figures and how to add some smoulder to your dancing. Suitable for all levels including those with absolutely no Tango experience! Sunday August 15th from 4pm – 6pm at Empress with Tracie and Daniel.

2) Dips & Tricks III Workshop
Back by popular demand, Tracie & Daniel bring you Dips & Tricks III: Introduction to The Lift. This workshop is meant for salsa dancers serious about developing their performance and possibly competition skills. Learn how to execute a new set of dips, tricks and easy lifts to enhance your salsa routines! This workshop will also focus on technique, styling and clean execution and, of course, safety. For dancers who have completed TDS Level 3 and up or by assessment. Sunday August 22nd from 4pm – 6pm at Empress.

3) Musicality and Shines Workshop
Yearning to work on your salsa footwork and musicality skills? Learn new ways to get your feet moving to the salsa beat as well as how to use your body to interpret the music. Musicality and Shines are an integral part of salsa dancing – it is what bridges the gap from being a student to a dancer. This workshop will open your mind and body to these essential elements of salsa dancing which you might have not yet been able to develop yet. Learn a fun and challenging shine routine (suitable for both men and women) and work on your Shines and Styling improvisational skills. For dancers who have completed TDS Level 2 and up or by assessment. Sunday August 29th from 4pm – 6pm at Empress with Tracie and Daniel

I am so pleased that my amazing instructors keep coming up with new and exciting classes to offer our students! Check out these new classes we just posted for Fall 2010 and don’t forget to let me know if you have new class ideas.

Thanks to Maria and the Reggaeton class gang for their great idea of having a Reggaeton Performance Class – this class is just for you guys!

To see a description of these classes or to register for a class, please click on our Fall Dance Schedule.

S.T.U.D. (Salsero Training for Unique Development) for Men
Sundays 9:15-10:15pm starting Sep 12th at Empress

Afro Cuban Movement and Styling
Sunday 12-1pm starting Oct 17th at Empress

Zumba Latin Cardio – 6 weeks $84
Tuesday 6-7pm starting Sep 14th at Empress
Wednesday 6-7pm starting Sep 15th at Empress
Thursday 6-7pm starting Sep 16th at Empress

Argentine Tango
Friday 8-9pm starting Oct 15th at Empress – Level 1
Friday 9-10pm starting Oct 15th at Empress – Level 2
Friday 10-11pm Tango Practice Session (Milonga) Empress $5 drop in

Belly Dance – Combos and Musicality for all Levels
Monday 6-7pm starting Sept 13th at Empress

Student Performance Class – Partnerwork
Saturdays 12:30 – 2pm starting Sep 18th at Empress
Reggaeton Performance Class
Sunday 11:00 – 12:00pm starting Oct 17th at Empress
Ladies Salsa Technique Bootcamp – $84 for 4 wks x 1.5hrs
Wednesday 6:30 – 8:00pm starting Aug 18th at Empress

Brazilian Samba – Variations
Friday 6:00 – 7:00pm starting Oct 15th at Empress

Salsa Styling & Choreography Building – Condensed 4wks x 2hrs
Saturday 2:00 – 4:00pm starting Sept 11th at Empress

Salsa Technique Building – Condensed 4wks x 2hrs
Saturday 4:30 – 6:30pm starting Sept 11th at Empress

Attention Toronto Salsa Competitors:

If you are interested in competing on a larger scale you may be interested in the US Salsa Open Championships taking place July 22-25 in Oakland, CA. Don’t worry if you are still at an amateur level as they have 4 divisions just for the amateur category and lots of other categories for all types of competitors.

Ricardo, one of the organizers, has also been kind enough to provide our two final winners of the 2010 TDS Amateur Competition two full passes to the Championships.

For more info, please visit their website at: http://ussalsaopen.com/

Attention Toronto Salseros!

The Detroit Salsa Congress is having their 10 Year Reunion Celebration and they are inviting Torontonians to come to Detroit and salsa dance!

On the weekend of May 7,8,9 Michigan will open it’s doors to us. Elaine, who is the organizer, has promised Toronto Dance Salsa students and friends the $150 rate in Canadian Dollars anytime.

Elaine has been very generous and is providing TDS with 10 full passes for the 10 finalists of the TDS Amateur Salsa Competition as well as 2 full passes and hotel stay for the winners of the competition for next year’s congress.

For more info on the Detroit Salsa Congress email Elaine at: elainemarrero@iwon.com or elainmarrero@ymail.com or visit the website at: http://www.troydancestudio.com/

Thanks Elaine and good luck with the congress!

Thank you for all the interest in our competition. We now have 11 confirmed couples, more than ever! I will be closing the entrance to the competition now so I can focus on collecting awesome prizes. In addition to all our usual sponsors, the Detroit Salsa Congress will be sponsoring us this year with lots of full congress passes and much much more.

If you know of a company that can donate prizes, big or small, let me know. It is always an overwhelming task to get prizes.

Please save April 25th as the Preliminary date to come out and support our competitors and watch some great performances from schools such as Go Dance Mambo, Latin Energy and, of course, the TDS Helper Team and the TDS Pro Team with their sexy new Cha Cha Routine.

Can’t wait for the big night