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How, why and when did you get into salsa?
Bex: I started Salsa when I was 18. My Mum went with my Dad a couple of times but he decided it wasn’t for him, so I went a long to keep her company and haven’t looked back since. So thank you Mum!
Dan: I got into Salsa in late 2006. A friend of mine literally dragged me to a local class. The first week I watched, the second week I joined in but ONLY danced with her and the third week – when it came to move around – she just smiled and left me to it. I was hooked from that day on.
Who first taught you to dance salsa?
Bex: I went to a small local club in my home town in Dorset. The teacher was Australian but doesn’t teach anymore and I think he moved back to Oz.
Dan: My first class was in my home town in Devon. My first teachers were Tim Heasman & Vanessa Withers but I also have to give thanks to Martin Tey and Alan Scott as within a few days I was attending their classes too.
Did you have any dance training prior to salsa?
Bex: I took Ballet, Tap and Modern as a child but nothing again until I started Salsa. Although I have always loved Street dance and was constantly trying to ‘shake my booty’ in front of the mirror!
Dan: Simply... No!
Tell me a little about your company. When, why and how was it set up?
Dan & Bex: We met for the first time at a dance event in Bournemouth in November 2007 and got together as a couple in March 2008, we then became dance partners in May 2008 and began to teach locally in the South West and after our trip to the Dominican Republic we had our first major teaching gig at Pontins in Southport for Club Cubana.
We have a website (GBSalsa.com) which Dan has built and works on himself. It’s basically an information site where people can find all the events and classes in the UK & Ireland, contact us if they need to and find out a little more about us. Very useful!
Where do you get your inspiration from?
Bex: Everywhere! Teachers and freestyle dancers, although probably mainly in the music. It’s always fun to play and use the musicality when you dance.
Dan: Same as Bex really, the music is the biggest inspiration although it can be difficult getting hold of translations of certain tracks. My “I’m gonna learn Spanish” hasn’t got very far yet! With performing it’s very hard to just pick a track with lyrics unless you can really understand what they’re singing about so plenty of research needed.
Who do you admire?
Bex: Anyone who has the confidence to dance and have fun with it and not take themselves too seriously.
Dan: Yeah, you’re right there. I can still remember my first ever social dance and how TOTALLY scared I was to dance with anyone I didn’t know. So I guess it has to be anyone brave enough to take that next step in their dancing. Two people I’d especially like to mention who I admire are Tony Lara and our good friend Raynor Stock-Lynch, both for always being straight talking and genuinely nice people.
What’s your favourite track at the moment?
Bex: There are so many to choose from! My favourite Salsa at the moment is Via by Al Delory and Bachata is No Es Una Novela by Monchi y Alexandra.
Dan: One I keep playing over and over is Jasmin by Grupo Rush. It’s a fairly new Bachata track but very catchy.
What are your all time favourite tracks?
Bex: Te Quedas Te Vas by Mojito Project, Pobre Corazon by Divino & Marcy Place, Jazz Machine by Black Machine, Everything I Can’t Have by Robin Thicke, Esta Vida by Yoskar Sarante, to name but a few.
Dan: There are sooooo many. OK, Bachata: Te Extrano – Xtreme, Salsa: Dime – N’Klabe and Somos Calle Real – Calle Real, Reggaeton: Suave – Calle 13. But like I said, there are SO many more.
What are your favourite albums?
Bex: Dan has done a number of Bachata, Reggaeton and Salsa compilation discs which I love!
Dan: Yeah they’re not too bad. Even if I do say so myself!
What was the last CD you bought?
Bex: Ummmm.........I think it was Sandi Thom, Smile It Confuses People.
Dan: Parece Mentira by Raulin Rodriguez.
What music is in your car/cd player/tape player at the moment?
Bex: Bachata of course! Also Nelly Furtado.
Dan: I think it’s actually Reggaeton, Don Omar maybe.
Who are your favourite artists?
Dan: Aventura, Xtreme, Toby Love, Toque d’Keda, Don Omar. Seriously, we could be here all day!
Bex: Pretty much the same as Dan but when I need a break from Salsa and Bachata, Eva Cassidy is a firm favourite.
If you were not a successful Promoter/Teacher/DJ, what would you be doing instead? Or if you also have a full-time job, what do you do?
Bex: I work as a Dispensing Technician in a Pharmacy.
Dan: I used to have my own successful kitchen fitting business but after becoming a single parent it was hard to keep up and I sold it. But I do miss it. Now I spend my time between my boys, the website and also my photography.
Tell me something most people wouldn’t know about you?
Bex: I’m a Pisces and I have a Spaniel called Muffin, oh and I cook a mean homemade Lasagne!
Dan: I’m mad – oh wait, you all already know that! Ummm......I love bacon and blackcurrant jam sandwiches.
What’s your all time favourite salsa club/event that you have played/taught/danced?
Bex: Mine would be a tie between Pontins, Brean Sands and the El Groove International weekender in Street. Everyone was very friendly, our classes were full and we were made to feel very welcome.
Dan: That’s a tricky one. As with Bex, all the weekenders we’ve been to have been great. Clubs? Well my 2 favourites so far would have to Absolute Salsa’s Roller World, Derby and even though we’ve not played or taught there YET I’d have to say Salsa Explosion’s Bar So, Bournemouth just for pure atmosphere!
What has been your most memorable moment?
Bex: Being asked to teach and perform at the Swedish Bachata festival. We had just come back from the Dominican Republic (which I thoroughly recommend!) and teaching at the Southport Salsa y Bachata weekend and had an email waiting for us. It was a very surreal moment!
Dan: Coming runner up in the European Open Bachata Championships at the UK Congress 2007. My most memorable and yet the scariest too! Not to forget my dance with Tony Lara in the cabaret at Brean the same year. It was a totally ad-lib spoof show on the Sunday night. ‘Playa Fo Sho’ will never be the same again. It’s on You Tube for all to see so if you fancy a giggle…..
Have you had any embarrassing/nightmare-ish moments in salsa?
Bex: Oh yes! But everyone has right?! Forgetting a small part of our show in front of over 500 people at Brean wasn’t great! I think it was only a few seconds but it felt like minutes!
Dan: No, not yet. But I’m sure there will be.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Bex: I’d just like to say thank you to all the promoters and organisers who have had the faith and hired us, although we are still relatively unknown. We really appreciate it and love what we do, so thank you. :o)
www.gbsalsa.com
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