Remarkable Shows at the Sydney Salsa Congress 09
February 3rd 2009 01:16
Johnny Vasquez Workshop at the SSC 09
Jaime Jesus was responsible for choosing the teams, couples, international and national artists for the congress since the start and every year he does better. On top of that, this congress was so special that it attracted the incredible to happen.
I remember last year when Jaime received a call from Johnny Vasquez saying he was going to be in Australia during the time of the congress and how excited we all got when he agreed to come. Till this day “Baila Rumbero” is my favourite salsa song because I first heard it sang live at the SSC stage by him.
One of the things that make this event so special is the Australian Crowd. Every international artists comment on that. They love the public, the cheering, the energy, they love the students at the workshops, the national artists, the booth holders and the technical people. Johnny was thanking the security guards and bartenders on Sunday night. Another thing is the organization. Everyone says it is great, the people that have gone to congresses around the world are particular about this.
The stage is beautiful, the lights and sound of excellent quality.
All this make the artists free to enjoy themselves and have ideas, you will know about them when I talk about Improvisations & Special Appearances at SSC 2009.
Jordan and me at The Sydney Salsa Congress
“Tania, you have to see this!” Jaime told me one day at LDA, he showed me a youtube from Jordan & Tatiana – West Coast Swing dancers that I immediately classified as my favourite video of dance ever, from all types of dance, from all over the world. The thing that was so amazing about them was the passion of the dance, the fluidity and technique, the smoothness, the perfect transitions from one step to the other. She is so beautiful dancing you want to stop breathing so it doesn’t interfere with your watching them. When Jaime told me that they were coming to the congress I wanted to throw myself on the floor and hug his feet he was suddenly elevated to a reverence point.
Watching Jordan and Tatiana dance, live, so close to me, was one of the highlights in my life. On Friday they did a free style show and my eyes got all wet, it was simply so beautiful. How can you describe these emotions that flow into you to see the perfect leads, the way they look like they are not touching the floor. Maybe they are from another planet and they are hoovering a millimetre from the stage and we just can’t see it… To that effect I tried to take a photo of them teaching their workshop and got a “ghost picture”. The show on Saturday, to close the night, was one they have been world champions for the 12th time with. When they finished I couldn’t clap, I couldn’t move, I couldn’t breath, I couldn’t scream. I was in a state of grace.
Ghost Picture of Jordan & Tatiana Workshop at the Sydney Salsa Congress 09
It is proven that dance is something divine, you see how it is part of so many cultures and has close relation to several religious rituals. Dance can truly make you elated.
Actually, this congress got me thinking the human race is amazing… The other show that was remarkable in that sense was the one Jaime whispered in my year on Saturday: “Watch this, it’s incredible although it’s not salsa…”
So I watched and made sure I was paying attention. David and Zoe from the USA are into tricks, when they enter on scene you think: he is so big! She is so small!
We got to call her the “fishie”. She is so fluid she moves like a fish in water, she swims, and melt and flies... What they do is acrobatics with poetry, something “Cirque du Soleil” style. If they were there they would be without a doubt one of the main acts of it.
He lifted her like she was a leaf, like a Genie and his muse. She walked all over him, was upside down and up in so many ways, going from the floor to the top of his head as if it was effortless. More extraordinary than that was that she, twice, lifted him off the floor! That was a demonstration of technique so no guy ever can say to a girl she is too heavy to be lifted. It’s not about strength. So this show was absolutely astonishing… the music was beautiful and they moved in such a coordinated way you got yourself drooling by the end of it.
I met them after their second show… they are short! The stage has such an effect over people, I knew she was thin but I didn’t realise how petite until I went to take a picture with her.
The salsa counterpart of that is Alex and Kim…
A bit of a funny note here even if some salsa dancers are going to hate me for this…
Dave & Zoe with me after their show on Sunday at SSC 09
In my first year with LDA they gave me an entrance to watch the Congress Saturday Night shows. I was working one of the nights. I remember that there was a performance with Al Liquid Silver and Eddie the Salsa Freak, at that time they were dancing together. This was the first congress in 2005. Just before them Alex was performing. Alex is considered one of the best in the world and his tricks are very famous but in terms of salsa technique Al is supposed to be a king among kings, Eddie is a queen among queens, the two together was something the salsa scene is never going to forget.
Anyway there I was, a dancer for sure (ballet, jazz, contemporary, etc) but one that had never done one salsa class or any other latin style in life. I was what Johnny Vasquez calls an “Alien”, someone that is watching a salsa show but has actually no idea…
When I told someone that I liked more Alex’s show than Al’s this listener wanted to excommunicate me, throw me out of the Salsa world, or seat me down and teach me. I don’t know, all I remember is Alex’s energy on stage, the way he shone over the public, his smile, his strong movements. Sorry, I liked it better.
Alex & Kim and me again at the SSC 09
It was a pleasure for me seeing him in most of the congresses here, if not all. He still dances as if it was the best thing to do in the world and he surprised everyone with a body paint of the Australian flag this year. He still does tricks that make the crowd go WOW and leaves we all hanging for the next move. It was my privilege to be watching the shows on Sunday and see something remarkable… Alex & Kim, Dave & Zoe got together to do a show… I will tell you about that in my next post.
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