| The Dancer | |
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Back in 1999 I moved from Puerto Rico to New Jersey. Coming from a Spanish speaking island, you'd think that I could dance Salsa.... not the case. I was able to dance Merengue as well as all other types of pop and urban Latin and non Latin beats, but not Salsa. Late summer of 1999 I was introduced to the Eddie Torres School of Latin Dance... basically, he is the pioneer of street salsa, particularly, the On2 style of salsa. I began lessons in October of '99. They were fun - enough for me to sponsor my younger brother and my cousin to join me. The 3 of us took regular classes, 3 or 4 times a week for over a year. In dance class we met a great group of friends, many of which I still have today. We would visit salsa night clubs in NYC at least once a week, a salsa dance social at lease once a week as well, plus all the classes. Basically, I was dancing 5-7 days a week. Saturdays were particularly interesting: I would take all that I learned in class and teach it to my girlfriend. We'd go out that night to a local night club and dance a little bit, each time getting a tad bit better. After a year or so of this pattern, I began competing in dance competitions with my girlfriend. We prepared some costumes, we edited music, and choreographed a routine. We won 1st place in a few local competitions, which all had monetary prizes. Some as high as $1000. We decided to take our talent on the road and travel to Los Angeles where one of the major dance competitions is held. A couple of flights, a few nights in a hotel, a rental car, and a dance-eye-opening experience later, and we were back at home with a new found perspective on the dance scene. I've never been interested in teaching; though I tried it, a few times. I just can't get into it. So, I made a decision to focus on social dancing, and leave the dance teams, teaching and competing to other people. I've since dedicated my time to making women smile on the dance floor in various places around the world. Here is an in-comprehensive list of placed I've danced • USA ⁃ New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Ft. Lauderdale, Texas, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Atlanta, Virginia, Maryland, Puerto Rico • Canada ⁃ Toronto, Montreal • Mexico • Curaçao • Paris, France • Amsterdam • Japan • Turkey ⁃ Istanbul, Ankara • Bermuda • Italy ⁃ Lisonne, Gallarta, Milano, Pisa, Bologna • Jamaica • I'm sure there are others that escape me In these travels I've moonlighted as a videographer for my iMambo.tv business. Just about all of these location have been documented on my website http://www.iMambo.tv. |