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1. NEWS FLASH
DC Salsa Congress
The DC Salsa Congress was a buzz at the Crystal City Hilton in Arlington, VA. Yeah Yeah Yeah, I know, why is it named the DC Salsa Congress when its in VA? I don't know! Ask Shaka not me! Anyway, the congress was a success and many people really enjoyed themselves. Of course, there are always going to be complainers, but the main complaint was that people couldn't see the instructors and that almost all of the instructors (except Michelle Reyes and Myself) didn't rotate during class so many were left partnerless. Several of my students were so frustrated they told me "I'm outta here" and they left. To those that were unsatisfied I would like to say that its the instructors responsibility to make the class run well, but helpful if the student raises their hand and just requests, "Can we rotate?" instead of being annoyed, frustrated and upset. Many times instructors are so focused on what people are doing technically that we forget to rotate. This happens to ALL INSTRUCTORS. Next time please raise your hand and request rotating, and if they don't, then you can say "I'm outta here!". I look forward to next years event and hope you can all join and support the DC Salsa Congress. Great Job Shaka and Clavekazi! Great Job Performers and Vendors!
PA Salsa Congress
The PA Salsa Congress was a tragedy sabotaged by several people that wanted to make certain it was a flop. Texts and emails were sent out by people saying it was canceled. Then texts were sent out that there was a shoot out at the Felton where the socials were being held. These were all LIES. I arrived on Friday as a vendor and was there the entire weekend. Many of the instructors didn't show to teach their lessons either because they heard it was a flop or they "couldn't make it". Regardless of it being a flop I believe its important for instructors to keep their word and support the congress at all costs. One rumor stated that the congress was in such a dangerous ghetto location that no one should go. This upset me a bit since salsa was born in the ghettos of NY, Cuba, & Puerto Rico so why couldn't PA support it regardless? In this economy not all promoters can afford to do congresses in expensive hotels that run upwards of $20,000-60,000 to hold an event.
On Friday I taught several workshops to replace those that didn't show to teach their lessons. We were blessed to see Leslie Ferriera from LA arrive and teach, Dancing With Grace, Barbara Bernstein from Dance In Time, Wanda Holdren from Reading PA, Hector from Puerto Rico, Lee From Dance Like Magic, Raul Santiago, Christy Kam & Henry Velandias of Hot Salsa Hot, Ismael Otero and Shani Talmor, and the Mayan World Champions Eli Torres & Yen Dorado. Although there werent many students the performances were fantastic. Groups came from all over to perform and they did a great job. Although most of the salsa community turned their back on The Philadelphia Salsa Congress this year, the volunteers, instructors and performers who came showed themselves to be a great support. I have to say that whether or not you like or agree with the Promoter, supporting an event like this just helps salsa grow and I hope that everyone can turn out for the Salsafest in October in Philadelphia where the line up is just amazing! Check their website out at www.philadelphiasalsafest.com. Lets help salsa grow!
Monthly Workshops
Grace will be teaching monthly workshops with new material in Baltimore and VA in July & August, see below for more information.
2. Going Down Memory Lane
3. Tuesdays at the Promenade by Salsa-Now
All Classes at the Promenade are $10 Each Unless Otherwise Stated
Salsa Lessons with SalsaNow!
7:00pm Salsa Lessons - Beginner I-III
8:00pm Salsa Lessons - Intermediate/Advanced
Meet the SalsaNow Team
 SalsaNow was formed by friends who share a common passion for Salsa and an equal passion for sharing Salsa with others. Alexandra, Niss, Georganne and Mike are very active in the Baltimore Salsa community as organizers, instructors and ambassadors of dance.
“We are committed to supporting our community through professional salsa instruction, fellowship and camaraderie. We hope to see you at one of our classes or out on the town.”
For more details, please got to www.Salsa-Now.net
4. Summer Saturday Schedules at the Promenade
** Saturday Salsa Lessons With Grace**
Grace has room for private lessons on the days that she is in town from July 9-12th and August 14-16th Contact her at grace@dancingwithgrace.com or call 410-903-0648 |
SPECIAL SATURDAY SUMMER SALSA LESSONS W/GRACE
July 11th Salsa Group Lessons by Grace at The Promenade $10 each
1 - 2pm Salsa Beginners-Beginner III Footwork & Styling
2 - 3pm Salsa Intermediate Technique Spinning
3 - 4pm Salsa Intermediate Combinations w/spins
August 15th Salsa Group Lessons by Grace at The Promenade $10 each
1 - 2pm Salsa Body Movement, All Levels
2 - 3pm Salsa Intermediate Technique Footwork
3 - 4pm Salsa Intermediate Combinations |
Dress Code:
Casual, comfortable sweats or yoga pants, (preferably) salsa practice
shoes (for turns and spins on a wooden dance floor). If you don't have
salsa shoes, you can wear your evening dance shoes. Tennis shoes will
inhibit your spins and may ruin your knees over time. You can go to the DWG Store to see if you find something you like or go online and check out shoes
like Supadance or International. They can get pricey but make a world of
difference when you dance.
Check out Grace's Shoe Clues Chapter in her Salsa With
Grace Instructional Video so she can explain why you need good dance
shoes, which pair you should buy first and how to take care of them!
Purchase our Salsa Videos.
Directions:
Promenade Dance Sport Facility is located at 2605 Lord Baltimore Drive. For directions and more information click here.
5. DWG Accomplishments in Baltimore
2009 DWG Clients/Accomplishments
- Nominated for Women of Salsa Award 2009, by Eileen Torres, Salsa Historian of www.salsacentro.com
- Philadelphia Salsa Congress Instructor and Vendor
- Bachata Salsa Congress Instructor and Vendor
- Belly Dance Nationals Judge, Instructor, & Vendor
- DC Salsa Congress Vendor
- Salsafest (Philadelphia, Vendor and Backup Instructor)
- Made the Cover of Fiesta Magazine
- Columnist Writer for The Scene Magazine
- The opening of The Ark, 18,000 sq foot Salsa Night Club
- The release of our Spanish Instructional DVDs.
- Vending & Teaching at Congresses all over the east coast.
- Dance for the Cure Chair, Towson Cultural Arts Center
- Salsa For A Reason V to benefit Hands Across the Americas
- The Park School
- The Girl Scouts
- The Salsa Room
- The Promenade Dance Sport Facility
- Instructor For The Baltimore Salsa Meet Up
- Instructor For The DC Meet Up
- Instructor For The South Central PA Meet Up
- Instructor For the VA Salsa Meet Up
- Instructor For the Bachata Meet Up
- Prince Georges County Public School
- Writer for The Latin Opinion Newspaper
- Writer for www.dancingwithgrace.com
2008 DWG Clients/Accomplishments
- Art Scape 2008
- Dance For the Cure at Towson University
- Judge for World Salsa Championship Preliminaries, Philadelphia Salsa Congress
- The National Blacks In Wax Museum Release of Patty Labelle Statue (Latin Dance Opening Tribute Number )
- DC Salsa Congress & Philadelphia Salsa Congress Vendor
- Release of DWG T-Shirt Line
- The creation of Dancing w/Grace Non Profit Organization to fund orphanages & save children from being sold into sexual slavery!
- Dancing w/Grace Fun & Fitness Cruise to Puerto Rico November 1-9th, 2008.
- Salsa For A Reason Fundraiser I, II, III raising $ for the poor, needy and sick.
- Johns Hopkins University Dance Lessons
- University of Maryland Festival
- National Aquarium International Festival
- Multicultural Festival
- Salsapolkalooza Bilingual Festival
- Belly Dance Spinning Technique Workshops
- PA Salsa Meet Up Workshops
- Spinning Workshop, Salsabor Studio in Pennsylvania
- Andrews Air force Base Diversity Day
- Bolling Air force Base Diversity Day
- Columbia Senior Center Dance Sessions
- Bachata Workshops
- St. Vincent De Paul Dance Event
- YWCA Homeless Shelter Dance Christmas Party, Puppet Show & Lessons for Families at the shelter w/our students!
- Orphanage in Puerto Rico (Provided Christmas Tree, Gifts, Supplies for 1 year).
- Maryvale Preparatory School Choreography
- Baltimore Talent Development High School
- Diversity Day, Medicare/Medicaid
- Social Security Administration
- Chair for the Hispanic Youth Symposium 2008
- Countless Repeat Dance Clients from 2007/Private Dance Events.
- Writer for Expresión Magazine
- Writer for Latin Opinion Newspaper
- Writer for www.salsasabios.com, www.dancingwithgrace.com, www.salsawithgrace.com, & www.senbaltimore.com
Other DWG Accomplishments Throughout the Years
- January 9 Night Salsa/Dance Fitness Cruise to the Caribbean.
- Hosted the famous Orchestra Ocho y Mas at Gardels Supper Club.
- Spanish Salsa w/Grace Beginner & Intermediate Instructional Dance DVD Release December 2007.
- Chinquapin Middle School Recital (Underprivileged middle school students)
- WBAL-TV 11 Story on the Children of Chinquapin Middle School Dancing Salsa and Bachata (Two 3 MINUTE SEGMENTS)
- FOX 45 News Story on Dancing Salsa in Baltimore.
- OVER 1500 HOURS OF PRIVATE LESSONS
- OVER 1500 HOURS OF WEEKLY GROUP LESSONS AT THE PROMENADE DANCE SPORT FACILTY, GARDELS SUPPER CLUB, THE JETTY DOCKBAR, & WHISPERS & OTHER LOCATIONS
- Creative Alliance Festival
- Salsapolkalooza Event/Festival Bilingual Lessons
- Catonsville Community College Hispanic Heritage Event
- The National Aquarium Hispanic Heritage Celebration
- October 2007 Dance Cruise to Bermuda w/our students!Release of the Salsa With Grace English DVD Instructional Video
- Countless charitable dance services; fundraisers, helping feed orphans & the poor.
- Classes for underprivileged children who went from D’s & F’s to getting A’s after Dancing With Grace!
- Choreography Coaching for Champion Dancers.
- Mentoring of students to become performers & dance instructors.
- The blessing of teaching all of our students and filling their lives w/joy.
6. Workshop Listings/Sessions
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July
12
Sunday
Spinning Technique & Ladies Cross Body Lead Workshop, July 12th, Workshop
Location: 2605 Lord Baltimore Drive, Baltimore County, MD 21244
Date: Sunday, July 12th
Time: 1pm - 4pm
Workshop #1: Spinning Technique (1:00 - 2:00pm)
Workshop #2: Cross Body Lead Workshop, Review & Drills (2:30- 4:00 pm)
Click here for more details
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7. Is Dancing A Sin?
Have you ever wondered if dance is a sin? Many of us have been taught about God (the creator of Heaven & Earth). What does He say about Dance? To read Grace's article, "Is Dancing A Sin" click here:
Grace would love to know your opinion. Email her at grace@dancingwithgrace.com
Check out the last email I received about this article:
Hi Grace-
I loved your article on dancing. I grew up being told it was a sin…so I was prohibited from dancing. So guess what I wanted to do most of my life? Yep!
BTW…Is there a sinful form of dancing?…of course. And there is a sinful form of eating, driving cars, watching TV, recreating, etc.
I loved your take on the issue. Thanks for sharing what you’ve learned and experienced.
As a Baptist Minister, and Christian radio Talk show host I now enjoy dancing with my wife…and I DON’T CARE anymore what the legalists say.
Neil
PS I’m not much of a dancer…but it’s fun, and I hate the fact that the enemy tried to steal it from God’s people. Well, I am committed to taking it back! |
