Dancing shoes

9th Annual Vegas Salsa Congress

Honestly, I don't know if words can describe how awesome Salsa Congress was..... but I will try.....
Both Friday and Saturday I attended workshops all day.  I was definitely "star-struck" by some of the instructors, ahem....Fernando Sosa, ahhhhhmaaazing.............but tried to contain myself and not act like a wacko stalker.  Every workshop was great, my favorites were the Advanced ON1 & Salsaton with Fernando Sosa.   I really liked Alma Latina, MX, they taught a musicality class that was very  cool and I feel like I learned some good ladies styling from them.  I took a Salsa Divas women's workshop on Saturday but pooped out by the end of that because I was SO tired from two days of workshops and a night of dancing.......that didn't hold me back Saturday night though, a quick nap Saturday afternoon and I was ready for more Saturday night.  The nightly performances are always great but my favs are Tropical Gem & Yamulee, no surprise because they are the best in the world ON1 & ON2 respectively.  Shout out to our Las Vegas teams who did great also.
I love social dancing at congress because you have no clue who you are dancing with, how well they dance/or not, and its just fun to go out there and enjoy the music and meet people from all over.  EVERYONE, including the world famous, are so down to earth and friendly.  It just makes for a great learning atmosphere during the day and a fun time at night.  My toes on the other hand, were not able to keep up with the fun.  By Friday night I had bad blisters, so much so, I walked to the Valet in my bare feet all the way through the Tropicana casino.  It was a cheap price for the fun and memories!
I wrapped 'em up and danced anyway on Saturday.  The salsa scene just makes me happy.  I love the music.   I love dancing.  I love meeting new people and trying to keep up with them.   Ok....... I might not have loved this one poor guy that asked me to dance and was literally all over the place dancing like he was having a seizure, nothing resembled salsa but I think HE had a good time.  And that's what its all about......having a good time and that I did over and over last week.  Now I am starting to save my pennies & band aids for next year!

Did I mention I love how this guy dances?

Fernando Sosa (Italy) & Mi

  Amazing, Amazing Joe Figueroa from Philly
and my new friend Luana from Texas

 Friday night - Moms night out :)

Tash, Honeylyn, Me & Albena

 

Saturday Night with Alice & Wendy

Sam came with me but didn't want a picture :(

Ouch.....this is how my feet looked on Monday...two days later!
 Notice the popped blisters on my big toes.....grosssssss!

Here's a clip from the ON1 workshop with Fernando Sosa & Tatiana - LOVE. IT.

SR Boys Dance/Zumba Class

Me and Ms Woo...the Dance Teacher!

I've been teaching Zumba at Shadow Ridge for two years now and I really LOVE it! The kids responded to the relaxed format of the class and let loose once they got over their shyness. I've worked with the P.E. classes for two teachers, the cheer team, the swim team (dry land days) and 7 Dance classes including the dance team. Its so much fun!  This year they added a mostly boys class that was my favorite. I loved all the others so not to take away from that, BUT these kids just had awesome energy and willingness to do something out of their comfort zone (most of them are Hip Hop/BBoys). Sometimes after class they would just start free styling and I wanted to hang out to watch them because they're really good, then I had to remind myself that I am no longer high school age and would never actually want to go back to all that drama anyway......hee hee. This video I took today doesn't show all their talent or their tricks but its still pretty cool so I thought I'd share!

Las Vegas Salsa/Bachata Festival

Heres info (as promised in class) for the Salsa/Bachata Festival this weekend.  Unfortunately I can't be there but it will be a great opportunity to learn some new steps (Saturday) or just go in the evenings to see AMAZING performances and social dance.
It's this Friday 9th, Saturday 10th at the Riviera Hotel and Casino.  You can click the links below for more info.  Idea on ticket pricing....Friday $25 for performances & dancing.  Sat $30. Workshops or full passes are more.  Check site below.

Las Vegas Salsa/Bachata Festival Official Website to information & tickets

The obsession begins....

After having my fourth baby, I joined the gym to loose my baby weight.  Kami was just over a year old when I started.  For two years straight I worked out religiously.....almost two hours everyday except Sunday.  I love the elliptical, stationary bike, the ski type machine and I would also walk the track. 
One day I happened on a SALSA class.  My college roommates and I used to joke about taking our hubbys dancing salsa but never got around to it, or I should say never enticed them enough,  so when I saw the class at the gym, I thought "why not?"
Well it was love at first listen!!!  The music just grabbed me and took me in.  A few weeks later the class was cancelled and a Zumba class took its place.  The teacher was OLGA who has become a good friend of mine.  OMGOSH.....did I love it.  High energy, great music, people uninhibited by the movements and lots and lots of sweating going on - whooohoooo!  The addiction began.......
Of all the dance formats offered in the class, Salsa was my favorite.  I didn't know what I was doing, I just liked it.  I decided I would look for a salsa class and happened to find one at the W. Sahara location of my gym.  I started dancing with Fabiola, a beautiful Brazilian who I attribute with teaching me the foundation of salsa dance.  Ive had classes with the Rico brothers at Broadway Hall and dance weekly with my good friend & partner Daniel,  who has taught me so much.
I always loved music and dancing, did a little Irish dancing as a kid in Ireland and drill team in the little town of Alamo, NV when we immigrated but I never knew I could have so much fun working out and dancing until these last couple of years so I say dance on my friends, lets sweat it off together!