Yep, knew they were Cuban as soon as I saw them So glad you had someone like that to teach you. We also had a national dance company teach us - severe and relentless drilling daily! Ballet Folklorico Cutumba. I was based in Santiago on the other end of the island though.

This is the man who taught me - he was/is fabulous. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThC7yVfsUDw

Thumbs up! And out and fingers spread and waggling.

I spent some time in Santiago too. There was a lovely little place we went to where dancing was in a sort of courtyard affair, open to the skies. The building was colonial style (probably because it was colonial built!) and had sort of minstrel gallery balconies around it - very Romeo and Juliet.

I am afraid not Diamond. But t be honest it doesn't mean much that I don't. I would be hard pushed to name any choreographers. Although I did note on Saturdays Pointless Celebs that only 3% of the population knew who Bob Fosse was. So maybe I know more than most.

Glad you made it there. I loved it too. It has such a deeply entrenched music scene and everyone worth hearing played there. I think I know that courtyard. They have live music. We used to go out on the town with all the dancers every night so they took us to all the interesting non-tourist places in return for which we paid for the food and the rum! On New Years Eve we went to the famous Tropicana out in the countryside. The Tropicana dancers and ours all knew each other so our lot ended up on stage. It was a wild and wonderful party. We got there and back in a convoy of old 40s and 50s cars. One of those nights you never forget.

It was so great to go out with brilliant dancers and not have to suffer dancing with stray tourists!

It appears Kele is responsible for all SCD AT! http://www.kelebaker.com/choreograph...ery/index.html

Yes, I have. I won't elaborate.

Not true at all. Most prolific maybe.

Interesting! Can you suggest a routine that wasn't Kele's? Purely for intellectual comparison.

I can spot the difference between a Jenny Thomas and a Bill Deamer SCD Charleston a mile off, wondering if I can learn the same for a dance I don't know well!

PS, Saturday's Salsa free Salsa was choreo'd by a champion Line Dancer, assisted by a Swing Dancer. A-hem.

Oh God you and I could trade some stories. But I fear we would bore everyone.

I too had a New Years Eve to remember but in Havana - dancing in the street to records with believe it or not members of Van Van. Long story but to do with the wheels within wheels culture of Cuba back then 10 years ago. (maybe now too)

Is Tropicana a domed place with the ceiling decked out in blue with tiny lights like stars and an entrance through a sort of covered walk way? I went to a club that fits that description but my memory is placing it near Havana. My memory could very well be wrong.

LOL Have a word will you Betty? . Ask them to stay on topic, on genre and on patch.

Not so easy in AT but often the SCD pairs ability to pick it up has much to do with the expertise of their AT experts.

Simon and Kristina's AT was choreographed by Myriam Mina Ojeda-Patino. She knows AT No sign of Kele.

I think you just did. Your eloquence was deafening over here.

Again, interesting. That routine had good feedback from the forum posters I most admire

Of course, even the best choreographer is limited by what the dancers can manage, across all genres (but heightened when lead/follow is a big part of the dance? That's why I don't want SCD going back to Lindy, anyway!)

Alas, the jobbing dancer is unlikely to say no to cash but for pities sake producers, employ people with knowledge and experience!

Los Van Van - oh wow! Jealous!

No, the Tropicana goes way back to the glory days of Cuba - it is mostly outdoors and has a very long history going right back to 1939! Here is a snippet from Wiki and a link to the rest. It is amazing club set in a tropical garden on the grounds of an old estate.

The spectacular showplace that became The Tropicana evolved out of a Depression-era bohemian nightclub called Edén Concert, operated by Cuban impresario Victor de Correa. One day, two casino operators approached de Correa about opening a combination casino and cabaret on property on the outskirts of Havana rented from Guillermina Pérez Chaumont, known as Mina. The operators felt that the tropical gardens of her Villa Mina, would provide a lush natural setting for an outdoor cabaret. They cut a deal, and in December 1939, de Correa moved his company of singers, dancers and musicians into a converted mansion located on the estate. De Correa provided the food and entertainment, while Rafael Mascaro and Luis Bular operated the casino located in the chandeliered dining room of the estate's mansion. Originally known as El Beau Site, de Correa decided to rename the club Tropicana, because of its tropical atmosphere and "na" after the last syllable of the original owner, Mina. With a fanfare from the Alfredo Brito Orchestra, the Club Tropicana, opened on December 30, 1939. Its popularity with tourists grew steadily until the outbreak of World War II, which sharply curtailed tourism to Cuba.[3]


Wiki link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropicana_Club

So which one in the video is you?

Some of the comments say the dancing in the video is "Casino". Do they mean "Rueda de Casino" which is a rotating group dance or is there something else called "Casino"?

EDIT

found it on Wiki

Cuban-style salsa, also known as Casino

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salsa_d...Cuban_style%29

Rueda de Casino

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rueda_de_Casino

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yS58jwxQPFg

I don't like doing Rueda as I avoid getting involved in group dances or others' choreography. I prefer to express music my own way on an impromptu basis.

Love Rueda, but you need to know what you're doing to dance it. It takes some skill and speed to keep up. Any laggards in the circle will just mess it up!

Funnily enough your video of it actually being danced is shot in Santiago where I learnt salsa and son. I even know that street.

Yes yes that is the place. I don't know where I remember the starry ceiling from - maybe an entrance area or a bar. Or maybe I am morphing two venues together. I wonder if you ever went to matinee dances at Casa de la Musica (the old one in the suburbs) or danced in the small hours at Café Cantante.

(apologies everyone please just step over us!)

Does Swing have a spiritual home Betty? Like AT - Buenos Aries and Salsa - Cuba I am guessing Charleston is from hum Charleston?

*falls off sofa laughing*

Seems to be quite a generalist. I don't recognise her and haven't noticed her at London milongas.

http://www.kelebaker.com/files/stacks_image_56.jpg


The rhinestones joke may explain a lot.

Hang on, yes! If you don't go through the mansion but take a left around the side to get the main area you DO go through a little walkway

Yes, I went to Case de la Musica - and every tiny club and trova we could get to. I was there for 15 days so we had time to explore. It was truly wonderful.

The Savoy Ballroom, Harlem

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Mqsc0dhoED0

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UmnsWcxdhEQ