Guelph Is Loving Latin Dance

DANCE TALES
Throwback Thursdays (on Friday, lol)

Yesterday, I shared a dance experience we shared in 2016 as we celebrated the debut of Son De La Guayra, Guelph’s amazing Salsa Band, and 15 years of hosting Latin Festa at the E-bar, the area’s 1st Latin Dance Joint.

This was all inspired by an article by Andreea Burlacu, the arts and culture editor from the University of Guelph’s Newspaper, The Ontarion. She interviewed me in December 2023, and she wrote a nice article about Amanda, a long-time friend who has become an amazing dance instructor in the community (read more below).

But before then, here is a link I missed from the 2 newsletters (2 weeks) ago:

Embracing the Rhythm
• Building Stronger Relationships on and off the Floor

DANCE-VENTURES
Where Can I Dance Tonight?

• Tonight, Friday, January 26th: Friday Night Salsa Fix (FNSF) in Guelph
• Tonight, Friday, January 26th: Arthur Murray Open House in Waterloo
• Saturday, January 26th: Salsa Klandestina in Guelph
• Sunday, January 28th: The Sunday Mid-Day Fix in Waterloo
• ‘Will You Be Mine’ theme party: Friday, February 16th in Guelph

FROM CHA CHA TO BACHATA, GUELPH IS LOVING LATIN DANCE
Original article by Andreea Burlacu | The Ontarion, page 4

Imagine having an entire conversation with someone without saying a word. Loud music that you can't help but sway your hips to, a dance floor that's calling your name. You find a partner and follow their lead, swirling into turns and twists, learning their dance style as you go.

With Latin dance, you can connect and communicate with strangers just by following their body language. You can also reduce stress, have fun, and show off your dance moves all at the same time.

"Latin dance" refers to the energetic, fast-paced partner dances that originated from Latin America. These include ballroom dances, like Cha-Cha-Cha and Rumba, and social "street" dances, such as Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, and Kizomba. With social dance, each partner you dance with incorporates their own unique style. There's not just one way to move everyone brings their own flair to the dance floor.

Dancer Amanda Winter tried Salsa Dancing at Guelph's E-Bar (now closed) and quickly caught the "Salsa bug." However, learning salsa was very different from her previous dance experience. Since joining ballet lessons at 5 years old, she has been strongly focused on developing the perfect technique.

"When you go up on a toe shoe, if you do not have proper technique, you will end your dance career very quickly with an injury," Amanda said.

With Latin dance, you learn the steps first and sort out the technique later. It's not a perfectionistic dance anyone can give it a try. You become better as you try different steps with different partners. Everyone is there to help you learn.

"The scene itself is what drew me in, the camaraderie," Ms Winter said. She later added, "It's just this wonderfully diverse, open, comfortable atmosphere."

Soon after first trying salsa, Amanda enrolled at Flying Dance Community (FDComm). She was "obsessed" with Salsa she bought a VIP package and went to classes five days a week. Five years later, she studied under dance school leader Teddy Olaso from United Salseros, who refined her technique and broke down every movement. She mastered the dance's complex turns, rapid steps, and solo patterns called "shines."

Around 2009, Nico Kaburia, founder of Flying Dance Community, offered Winter a role teaching salsa.

"He saw in me my love of dance," she said. "So, he approached me about coming in and maybe learning to be an instructor."

Since then, Amanda has taught at the FDComm, Hillside Festival, and at the University of Guelph, where she's held "Sultry Salsa" classes since 2012. Amanda has also tried other Latin dance styles, such as Bachata, Brazilian Zouk, and Kizomba. These styles are similar to Salsa, but are danced to different music and have some unique characteristics. Bachata, which originated from the Dominican Republic, is marked by hip movements and side-to-side steps. The Brazilian Zouk incorporates head rolls and fluid motions, and Kizomba is slow and sensual.

Amanda described that recently, Kizomba has boomed with the release of the hit song Calm Down by Selena Gomez and Rema, which features a kizomba beat. Amanda loves that Latin dance is consistently evolving. Even within salsa, there's a variety of styles to try.

"In salsa, you have Cumbia, Salsa, Colombia salsa, Cuban salsa...
there are so many different types, even within one genre,”

“It's all an evolution... I really, really love that. It just makes it exciting
fun." Ms Winter said.

Latin dance also lets you meet new people without the awkward small talk. By dancing, you can read someone's body language to learn more about them. Going to events and classes is a great way to form new friendships.

"The people that I met when I was learning salsa are my friends today," "I developed really strong, beautiful friendships and connections with
people within the community.” Ms Winter said.

Salsa is spreading around Guelph. Several of Ms Winter's students at U of G have also caught the "Salsa bug," such as Victoria, who took salsa all through university. Now, Amanda describes that Victoria is a "staple" at Underdog Dance in Waterloo.

"She loves dance," Ms Winter described. "She was an introvert, and through dance, she's blossomed." She added that dance can give introverts a safe space to express themselves.”

Amanda mentioned that there are many local events where you can give Latin dance a try.

"There is a huge Salsa community within this area,” she said. “You could almost go dancing every night of the week if you really wanted to."

If you want to check out a class, Nico recommends Friday Night Salsa Fix, a weekly Latin dance scene where you try a drop-in class before an evening social.

"You get three or four hours of social dance, interaction with new people, experiencing something new, and a new culture in an environment that's geared towards bringing people together," he said. "That's the easiest way to get into it."

If you, too, catch the "Salsa bug," the Flying Dance Community also offers a complete Salsa and Bachata Dance program with group classes, workshops, and social dances to help polish up the basic dance steps to mastering advanced moves.

Ms Winter considers Salsa dancing to be an escape, "like therapy."

"If I'm feeling a certain way, I can express that when I'm out on the dance floor," she said. "No judgment or anything."

Similarly, Nico thinks of Latin dance as a mood booster.

"No matter how down you are, you just listen to that music and very soon, you want to go and dance," he said. "When you're dancing...you are in the moment because you have to pay attention to your balance and your partner's balance."

Guelph's Sultry Salsa class on Wednesday evenings with Amanda Winter herself. No partner is needed for these classes.

It might seem scary to try out a new dance style, but Amanda creates a class space where dancers feel safe and comfortable.

"The biggest hurdle is walking through that studio door," she said. "For a lot of people, it can be intimidating. And that's why we really work hard to make it accessible, friendly, and just as good of a time as possible."