74 | December 2011 | woman this month Showcase Let’s Do the Salsa! PARS INTERNATIONAL There is one place that has been catering for your Latin and Hispanic needs for several years now — Latin Quarter. Step up as they introduce you to the mysticism of Cuban Salsa. It all started seven years ago when he took his first salsa lesson, where he discovered a new world full of joy, fun and friendly people. What began as a hobby has now got Ali Madan recognised as an icon in Bahrain’s Latin dance scene. “Out of all the different styles I’ve tried, I discovered an unquenchable passion for Cuban salsa,” he says. “After hours of intensive research, attending several international salsa congresses and meeting professional dancers from around the world, I’ve developed a detailed understanding of the dance style, its origin and Latin culture itself.” Unravelling the mystery Cuban music boasts Latin and African influences. The dance style itself takes elements from various sources such as the rumba. Most people don’t know that this is the first and original form of salsa. Also known as Casino salsa, this form is danced in a large circle of couples. This is called rueda which means “wheel” in Spanish. In this style, everyone makes the same move together with a caller telling them what comes next. While the ladies face anti-clockwise, the men face clockwise and move on to the next partner as a part of the routine. “This style isn’t too difficult to master. If you’ve got the right technique, it is actually easier than many other dance forms. To start with, your basic footwork is a fairly simple walking motion, where you pause for every fourth beat,” Madan explains. Ali Madan’s tips for perfection 1. Be cool. To dance the Cuban salsa well, you mustn’t rush your steps. You need to be relaxed and smooth in the way that you move. Make your movements precise and deliberate. 2. Be confident in your lead. Guys should have slight tension in the arms constantly. The hands should guide the partner around on the dance floor. This does not mean that you should clamp your partner’s hands. 3. Be smart when following. Ladies should match the tension of their partner to follow well. Don’t let go of the guy unless he lets go of you. 4. Walk with attitude. Continual movement around in a circular motion is the key. Couples need to “walk” around each other, with an imaginary axis between them to make turns look smooth and effortless. This is essential to complete arm-twisting moves and seemingly impossible turns. 5. Spin with flair. The key to all those spectacular spins is not to lose your balance or get dizzy. 6. Stylise your movement. One of the secrets of making your moves look spectacular is good arm work for the guys. This combined with slick footwork cuts it. 7. Move with grace. Ladies have plenty of room for self-styling. Make use of your body. Be sensual, playful and creative. “Really, there is no greater secret other than hard work, dedication and a pure passion for dancing. It’s all about practice, practice and more practice,” Madan states. Getting the right technique does not demand an expensive trip to Cuba. You can learn authentic Cuban salsa right here. Walk in to Pars International in Juffair on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 7-9pm to see what it’s all about. Call 17 814-777.
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