From Brussels to …

Well sometimes it just takes a while. Finally there are some photos from Brussels available.. just a few posing pictures
-> New: Jeremie from France put a broader gallery on-line. Thanks!

As for this weekend. Well,.. c ya at Salsa Flower Power. Think spring, flowers, colors, crazy dancing and fun (just in case u were wondering what to wear)

The one and only - Tony Stone!!!

OK, this is just one of those must-read interviews. I loved Tony Stone’s classes in Slovenia (he was here twice already), but learning how such a great performer and choreographer started off is even more inspiring. Please meet one of the most exciting, top world hiphop, street, jazz etc. choreographers (and music producers) Tony Stone. I recommend reading till the end, cause we saved the best for last :)

A little bird told me you only started teaching when you were 35? How did that happen
Actually my sisters were already taking classes as a hobby to keep in shape. They had such a wonderful time at it they talked me into coming in and trying it out knowing that I loved dancing and did it as a solo competitor from time to time. I was able to catch onto and pick up choreography very well, I was noticed and then asked to start performances professionally. That happened when I was 35.

Do you still have fun on each convention you give?
I do. Of course, with the heavy touring schedule I have there are times when I’m very tired at a particular event or convention but that certainly doesn’t take away from my enjoyment. I have always promised myself that if I stopped having fun, it would to time to wrap it up and walk away. I don’t see that happening anytime in the near future.

Brussels Summer salsa Congress

WOW! That’s the first thing I can say about it. The longer version would be: FUN, HOT & SLEEPLESS. Fun, cause that’s all we had there, hot, cause despite the fact Brussels lies up in north, temperatures rose up to 30 degrees and cause dance halls were not air-conditioned (there was a HUGE ventilator, but he couldn’t handle that crowd) and sleepless, cause in sum we had just about 10 hours of sleep in 4 days.
Irena, Maša and Maša went to Brussels last weekend. Yes, 2 Mašas, which seemed hilarious to certain instructors (apparently there’s a lot of Maša’s in Slovene salsa scene, … imagine that). Our mission was to promote Slovene Salsa Power Festival (which I think was done farley good) and to have some fun along the way.
The 5th International Summer Salsa Congress rose to our expectations. The classes were on appropriate difficulty level, the instructors put a lot of energy in them and talked to students about it, the parties were packed and full of good dancers. I must really complement dancers there, I don’t remember a single one of them dancing poor or without a feeling. Not that I am any kind of dancing master, but I have a feeling when people really are good and when they just think they are good. One of the best things for me was to see everybody dance on2. There was not even so much asking of what style you want to dance, the on2 is their first choice, but if you should insist on dancing on1, they would probably consider it. I can’t wait for the same thing happen in Slovenia, cause for me, personally, dancing on2 feels a lot better!

What stood out the most:
1. Me and Maša on that Brussels’s stage, promoting our festival (me saying stupid things and Maša running away?)… But we still got our 5 minutes of fame
2. Various taxi routes from Talal’s place to the Stadium (the start and finish were always the same,… the in between however varied for up to 10€)
3. Johnny Vasquez show - yeah it reeeaaaally impressed me!
4. Spending time with our friends: Talal, Neeraj, Gosia, Christiaan, Dirk, … Thanks guys … and the lady!
5. My favorite classes (totally personal view): Neeraj and his bodymovement, Juan Matos with footwork, Johnny’s energetic partnerwork routine, Nelson Flores and Brian&Mechteld etc.
6. The 24/7 sunny weather.
7. Talal’s new pool on the terrace (with less water you can squeeze bigger pool on a smaller terrace.

My compliments to the organizers, they certainly did well. This seems like a must-attend congress for the next year.

Photos are coming up soon!!!!! :)

Married with salsa and each other

Dado & Conny are a fun couple, which we had a pleasure to see in Slovenia before. They always bring special energy to their classes, make people laugh, their shows are getting better and better and we will see them again on 24^th of May on Salsa Flower Power event. “Gold rush is coming to Ljubljana,” says Dado, who is answering the questions in the name of both (hm,… I wonder why) ;)
Up in Gradz the couple owns the “Conny & Dado” dance school, so they belong in the category of people, who managed to join business and pleasure - in salsa.

 

Irena: Hey guys! I must say I’m really excited about you two returning to Slovenia. How do you feel about that?

Dado: Well, we are always glad to come back to Slovenia, ‘cause especially I feel almost like home there. I can teach on my mother language and nobody understands anything! Just great

Just kidding! I can release my Bosnian jokes, and people seem to like them… so I never stop to fool around :) Poor Conny

 

 

Irena: I saw your new show in Zagreb and must say it’s really spectacular! As I see you try to work most with musicality? Why do you think musicality is so important in salsa?

Dado: Without music, there would be no dance probably. That says everything. The fact is, that the two of us can’t do it any other way but to the music, ‘cause the music tells you how you should move to it. You “just” need to listen…

Summer Salsa in Brussels

Did you think Brussels is an extremely business oriented city as well? I did. But what do you know - that’s not true at all. There are a lot of parties going on, a lot of salsa parties and salsa festivals. This weekend will be big in Brussels, since 5th Brussels International Summer Salsa Congress takes place. With a really good instructors selection, 3-hour show program and a bunch of international DJs,… well it should be fun. Hamid Mashadi, probably the busiest guy in Brussels at the moment (since he organizes the event) promises great fun. We’ll see