January 2009
Upcoming Events

Jan 1: Closed. Happy New Year!

Jan 2: Guest Party, 8pm

Jan 10: Swing, Hustle, & Country Dance, 8pm

Jan 23: Fundamentals of Rumba & Cha Cha w/Diana McDonald, 7pm

Jan 24: Fundamentals of Bolero w/Diana McDonald, 3pm Fundamentals of Samba w/Diana McDonald, 3:45pm

Jan 25: Advanced Rhythm w/Diana McDonald, 11am Advanced Smooth w/Diana McDonald, 11:45am



Click here for complete calendar and new & exciting classes and events!!  

 
  Former US Champion Diana McDonald Comes to LDC!


Gary and Diana McDonald
   Excitement abounds as LDC will host former 10-Dance U.S. Champion Diana McDonald for 3 days, January 23 thru January 25th. Diana will be holding a series of workshops over the course of her stay in addition to being available for private lessons. Workshops being offered include: Fundamentals of Bolero, Fundamentals of Rumba & Cha-Cha, and Fundamentals of Samba. Also included are 2 advanced workshops: Advanced Rhythm and Advanced Smooth. Beginning their competitive partnership in 1991, Gary and Diana are the 10 time undefeated U.S. 10-Dance Champions. Additionally, they are the former U.S. Latin Champions, 2 time U.S. South American Showdance Champions, and the former World 10-Dance Champions. They have had the honor of representing the United States in 24 World Championship events.Gary and Diana are accomplished instructors and adjudicators in all styles o dance. Workshops are filling up fast! Sign up sheets are available at the front desk. Please call the studio at 216.464.5325, or visit our website at www.letsdancecleveland.com for schedule and more information. Workshop prices are $30 each for one or two classes and $25 for three or more. Please see your instructor or private instruction pricing.


         

  LDC Welcomes It’s Newest Partner, Minas Katsantouris!

  Please join us in welcoming our new partner Minas Katsantouris. Minas, a native of Greece, has been dancing since the age of 16. He is a former U.S. Latin Finalist and the 2000 Tri-State Latin Dance Champion. Also he ranks among the top 24 in the USA Open to the World Latin Championships.
Minas was also a regular performer at the world famous Copacabana in New York City and a principle member of the renowned Eddie Torres Salsa Company. Minas has performed throughout the U.S. and Europe including Greece, Turkey, Puerto Rico, Los Angeles and Miami.		  

Ph: 216.464.5325 Web: www.letsdancecleveland.com
   

 

  

 A Brief History of the Salsa

  

We Want to Hear From
You!
Salsa evolved as a distillation of many Latin and Afro-Caribbean dances. While it is definitely more than just Cuban, a large part of the dance originated on the island. The French who fled from Haiti brought the Dazón or the country dance of England/France to Cuba. This dance began to mix with the African rumbas such as Guaguanco, Colombia, and Yambu. Added to this was a Cuban dance called Són, which is a mixture of the Spanish troubadour (sonero) and African drumbeats.  This type of syncretism occurred in other places like the Dominican Republic, Colombia, and Puerto Rico, albeit not in the same manner as in Cuba.

Before and around the time of World War II, the music traveled to Mexico City and New York.  It was in New York where the term “Salsa” was created. In fact, the use of the word “salsa” for danceable Latin Music was 		  coined in 1933 when Cuban song composer Ignacio Piñerio wrote the song “Èchale Salsita.”  According to the late Alfredo Valdes Sr., the idea occurred to Piñerio after eating food that lacked Cuban spices. The word served as a type of protest against bland food! It then flourished as a popular nickname for a variety of Hispanic influenced dances. The term “salsa” did not really take off until the 1960s when one of the early salsa albums by the Cal Tjader Quintet featured on its album cover a plate of red beans and chili along side an open bottle of Tabasco sauce!  

 

Have ideas on what you would like to see in our monthly newsletter? We’d love to hear from you. We welcome your comments and suggestions.

If you have ideas on articles/features you would like to see incorporated, or if you have articles/photos you would like to submit for publication, please give us a call at 216.464.5325 or email info@letsdancecleveland.com.

 

 
   
 
 Prepare Now For Your Wedding Dance!
Often put off until the last minute is the all important “first dance.” It’s easy to overlook when overwhelmed with so many details from choosing the right table linen to deciding between a live band or a DJ. But like all other aspects of you big day, preparing for your wedding dance early will be the key to its success! Our expert instructors at Let’s Dance! Cleveland can get you sailing across the dance floor whether you choose a traditional waltz or a funky west coast swing, or anything in between. Why not give us a call today at 216.464.5325 or visit us on the web at www.letsdancecleveland.com  

 

Events to Note

New Classes in Jan:
Viennese Waltz Basics for Intermediate and Advanced Students, Tues, 7-7:45pm, taught by Esther;
Bolero techniques & Variations for Intermed. to Adv. Dancers, Tues 7:45-8:30 pm, taught by Esther;
Technique and Styling for Couples (must have a partner to attend and must pre-register) Friday 7pm - taught by Minas, Tim, and Esther; designed to make your leading and following easier, and to make your dancing look and feel better.
Open House Sun., Jan. 18, 1:30-5pm - free beginner classes in rumba, swing, foxtrot, waltz, tango & salsa - come try different dances and bring your friends to see what our studio and dance classes are all about.
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