From champions to CHAMPIONS
Carmelita Chao, Billy Fajardo, Katie Marlow, John Navarez & Liz Rojas, Isidro Corona, Ariel Lehaitre, and
Hal Lim (Rodney Graham & Mayuko Ueda not in the photo).
"Soar to New Heights"
Fundraising event for Children with Special Needs
Milpitas Community Center
February 26, 2011
Toast to Billy's birthday
Billy F. and Katie M., World Champions and well sought-after performers;
Isidro C. and Ariel L., US Salsa-on-1 Open Champions;
John & Liz, SalsaMania, World Salsa formation team champions;
Car and Hal, Pro Rising-Star Hustle Champions.
(Photo credit: Larry S.)
Introducing A Dance
Salsa
The metamorphosis of Salsa to what is heard and danced in clubs today has been a long, slow, and varied process. Not one person or place can be attributed as the founder of Salsa. Instead, the dance and music has evolved over time through an elaborate syncretism of different sounds, cultures, and meanings.
This nonetheless, it is popularly attributed to Cuba, but actually Salsa's roots belong to a mix of Latin American and Afro-Caribbean dances and musical styles that can be traced back to the Caribbean of colonial times.
History
As is true with many types of Latin dances, it can be difficult to discuss Salsa dance history without first talking about the history of Salsa music. One of the most direct antecedents of the music is the Cuban Son. Son was being played as early as the 16th century, but it truly gained popularity in the late 1800s. It is a mix of Spanish music and African rhythms and instruments indicative of the New World - the traditions of the Spanish colonists mixed with the culture of the African slaves brought to work on their plantations.
The part of the dance and music that evolved on Cuba occurred when the French, who fled from Haiti in the late 1700s following a slave uprising, brought with them the Danzon, a country dance from France. This dance was mixed with the African rhumbas that the Cuban slaves brought with them from Africa, such as the Guaguanco, Cumbia and Yambu. It was later added to a mix of African drumbeats with Spanish love poetry. This musical amalgamation was not exclusive to Cuba; it was concurrently happening in the Dominican Republic, Colombia and Puerto Rico.
Origin of Name
The word means "sauce" in Spanish; it brings to mind the spiciness of the dances.
Just before the onset of World War II Salsa music and dance made its way to Mexico City and New York. The term "Salsa" was used for the first time in New York in 1933. It occurred following a song written by composer Ignacio Pinero called "Echale Salsita." Following this the term "Salsa" was then used to classify a broad range of different Latin American musical styles including the rhumba, Son Montuno, Guaracha, Mambo, Cha cha and Merengue.
It was not until the 1960s that the term gained widespread acknowledgment as a form of dance and music. The album Cal Tjader Soul Sauce by Cal Tjader Quintet plus 5 is generally believed to be the album that did this. It sold 150,000 copies in 1964, and fans in San Francisco started to refer to the music on the album as Salsa. The term quickly spread to other cities such as Los Angeles and the East Coast.
By the 1970s Latin music was being heard across the U.S. on different radio stations. In 1974 Fania Records released the album Salsa by Larry Harlow, which was to prove to be a popular album. After popularizing the word "Salsa," all other music with Afro-Cuban beats was classified under the term of "Salsa." This was followed two years later in 1976 by a 24-page supplement in Billboard Magazine that was called "Salsa Explosion."
Because the name was created with marketing in mind, it has been the cause of debate. Even though the dance has developed its own personality in the U.S., some artists of Latin descent do not recognize the term. Indeed, they do not appreciate this lumping together of such diverse music and dances. Others feel that the term is an attempt to whitewash the dances' Cuban roots, given the general political sentiment in regards to Cuba since the rise of Castro. Yet in the end, the name does not really matter for most Latin dance afficionados.
Included Dances
Just like its namesake music grew from the Cuban Son, the first dances called Salsa came from distinctly Cuban dances like the Mambo, Rumba and Cha cha. The Mambo has its roots in the Spanish contradanzas of the 1700s. The Cuban people added their own flavor to this staid European social dance. The Cha cha is a more recently developed dance. It grew from modifications to the Mambo style in the early 1950s. The Rumba is another dance based on African beats.
Even though Salsa began as a catchall term for a diverse group of dances, it also took on a personality all its own. New York musicians were known for adding elements of Jazz to the sound, and dancers sometimes borrowed moves and a tendency to improvise from Swing dance.
Different Forms
Salsa varies from place to place and from one song to the next. The diversity and complexity of the music is what keeps its listeners enticed, as well as delightfully surprised, and its dancers on their toes. This is the beauty of the Salsa.
Dominant forms of the Salsa dance include New York Salsa, LA Salsa, and Cuban Salsa.
Basic Steps
There are a few basic steps of Salsa; the most common is the three weight changes (or steps) in each four-beat measure. The beat on which one does not step might contain a tap or kick, or weight transfer may simply continue with the actual step not occurring until the next beat. The option chosen depends upon individual choice and upon the specific style being danced. One of the steps is a "break step", which involves a change in direction. Different styles of Salsa are often differentiated by the timing of the break step (On Beat "Downbreak on 1" (LA Salsa) or Off Beat "Up beat on 2" (New York Salsa)). After 6 weight changes in 8 beats, the basic step cycle is complete.
In many styles of Salsa dancing, as a Salsa dancer changes weight by stepping, the upper body remains level and nearly unaffected by the weight changes. Caught in the middle are the hips which end up moving quite a bit - which is famously known as the "Cuban hip movement."
Car and Hal Performing at the NCCCAF Dinner and Exhibition Show
CARnHAL
Dance Studios
So You Think You Can't Dance?
At CARnHAL
dance studios, we believe everyone has the potential to be a dancer.
We espouse the philosophy that:
o Learning to dance can be fun.
o By doing a hobby well, one enjoys the hobby much better.
Dancing is no exception.
o Dancing adds new dimensions to one’s life, and it is a lifetime skill
that will provide much joy, many healthful benefits, and many
productive years ahead.
o Dancing provides a great opportunity for people to meet, whether
in youthful, mature, or golden years.
To this end,
CARnHAL
has classes and workshops, and private instructions conducted by professionals in the dance of their expertise
o to introduce newcomers to dancing,
o to help competent dancers hone their skills and techniques, and
o to guide advanced dancers to challenge and transform themselves
into highly stylized dancers.
and
o to take the fun factor up a notch with super hot moves that will have everyone wanting more!
In addition, at
CARnHAL dance studios, we have:
o regular weekend dance parties and tea parties for dancers to mingle,
socialize, and network;
o regular weekday "Happy Karaoke and Social Dance" for singers and
dancers alike to unwind during the week.
o special events to mark holidays.
Car and Hal performing at the Moon Festival Charity Event, Sept 17, 2010.
Dance Terminologies
Turns and Turn Techniques
It can be frustrating trying to understand written descriptions of turns and turn techniques. Below we briefly describe different turns:
Chaine Turns - The chaine turn is also a progressive turn that effects a full rotation for every two steps taken. The turn begins with a forward step taken to extended third dance position. Next, bring the back foot forward while turning one-quarter of a turn, landing in first dance position (feet closed). Without stepping, change weight as you rotate another three-quarters of a turn to complete the full 360-degree rotation. Step forward to extended third dance position with the original foot. Thus the turn is one-quarter, then three-quarters.
Fan spin – It is a stationary turn on one foot with the other foot in un-weighted second position.
Paddle turn - Also called jazz pivots. The paddle turn is a stationary turn that rotates around one predominantly weighted and centralized foot using the second foot to push off or paddle around the stationary foot.
Pirouette turn - A pirouette is at least one full turn on one foot with the other foot in a raised position.
Pivot turns - The pivot turn is a progressive turn that effects half of a rotation with each step. These can be chained together to produce a series of half turns. In the pivot turn, the feet stay oriented in extended third dance position. While turning in this fashion, the thighs should stay close together in a scissors-like fashion. It is important to avoid spreading your legs to a wide second position during the turns.
Spin turn - Also called platform turn or pencil turn. It is a stationary turn on one foot with the other foot in un-weighted first position.
Twist turn - This should probably be called "untwist turn". One leg is hooked behind the other or crossed in front of the other, resulting in the feet being in a locked position. The turn is made so as to untwist. Spiral turn -
A spiral turn is a popular and
a necessary basic action in Latin dancing. There are two ways to perform the spiral - from a forward walk position and from a delayed walk, or CBMP (counter-body movement position). Although the delayed walk is more technically correct, it is also the more difficult of the two to achieve. Although the forward walk will have you effectively turning on a flat foot, it is easier and good to practice before attempting it from a delayed position.
Below are instructions on performing a spiral turn from a forward walk position:
- Align both feet on the floor so that each has their own separate "track" of baseboards. With feet together, your tracks should be parallel and adjacent.
- Begin by stepping forward with your right foot. Place it on the same track as your left, so that you are effectively on one line. Your weight should be fully over your right foot.
- Keep your upper body facing forward. There should be a moderate amount of torque in your body due to the position. Allow the release of this torque to power your turn to the left.
- Turn to the left. Make sure you keep your left foot in contact with the floor. It should remain pointed and in the same spot throughout your turn.
- End with weight still on your right leg and your left leg bent and crossed over your right. You may repeat this spiral turn to your right by collecting your feet and beginning with left foot forward.
Hal with LoriAnn Greenhouse and Kevin Roche. LoriAnn and Kevin are 9-time world Hustle champion couple. (Hal Archive 2011).
Carmelita, Shay Dixon and Anjeza. Shay is 2009 World Hustle
champion. (Hal Archive 2011).
Hal and Daniel McGee. Danny is 2011 World Hustle
champion. (Hal Archive 2011).
Carmelita and Irene Griffith and Raye Avery of Hustle and Salsa
Houston. (Hal Archive 2011).
Hal and Carmelita with students: James C., Noemi C, and Jane H.
at the IHSC2011. Katie Marlow (in the middle) is one of the co-hosts of IHSC2011. (Hal Archive 2011).
