How, why and when did you get into salsa?
I was asked to come along to a new Salsa night because they didn’t have enough men. After a few drinks, I gave it a try. That was 5 years ago and I haven’t looked back since.
Who first taught you to dance salsa?
I first learned Salsa from local teachers in Derry and Belfast, but I have been travelling regularly to England to learn under Mel C in Birmingham and Joe Davids in London.
Did you have any dance training prior to salsa?
None at all. My parents used to dance so I guess it must run in the family.
Tell me a little about Nu Salsa. When, why and how was it set up?
Nu Salsa was formed when a friend, Linsey Blair, asked me to help her teach some new classes. That was in October 2004. Our first class was a great success and Nu Salsa has gone from strength to strength since then. Nu Salsa is now the main promoter in Northern Ireland, regularly bringing teachers from overseas to promote Latin dance and increase the level of dancing for our students.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
Every time I travel to an event outside of Belfast, I come back buzzing. I think it annoys other people, but I am constantly coming up with new ideas that we can try at our classes and events. Salsa is so new in Ireland that we are always striving to make it better and we are forever asking advice from teachers in the UK and further afield.
Who do you admire?
I know that people normally say someone really famous for this question but I admire those salsa dancers and teachers who have made a name for themselves without any dance background or formal training. They have simply worked hard to get where they are today. I was once told at the end of a private lesson “work hard, and be humble” and that has stuck with me for a long time.
What’s your favourite track at the moment?
La Toalla – Tito Rodriguez
(It was used in a class recently and I’ve been listening to it since)
What are your all time favourite tracks?
Mark Anthony – Valio La Pena (reminds me of a very good friend)
Mi Gente – Hector Lavoe (I just love it)
Te Quiero – Oliver (my girlfriend’s favourite bachata, so it’s mine too)
What was the last CD you bought?
Hector Lavoe – El Cantante
What music is in your car/cd player/tape player at the moment?
My girlfriend doesn’t let me play salsa in the car !!!
Who are your favourite artists?
I’m really getting into all the original salsa tracks right now, so I’ll be predictable with Hector Lavoe, Willie Colon and Tito Rodriguez. But I also love the newer music which is being produced today by Marc Anthony and Alex Wilson.
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?
I run my own company developing web-based software programs. It’s about as far removed from salsa as you can get but it allows me the freedom to travel to salsa events and not worry about taking the odd long weekend.
Tell me something most people wouldn’t know about you?
I’m very shy. Honestly, I might come across as confident when I’m teaching, but stick me in a room of random strangers with no salsa music, and I’ll be hiding in the corner.
What’s your all time favourite salsa club/event that you have played/taught/danced?
The best event that I have DJ’d at has got to be the London LatinFest run by Joe Davids this year. He asked me to do a DJ spot and I was so nervous. I was worried in case I played the wrong type of music or they didn’t like my stuff. In the end, it was great fun. I had Big Les on hand just in case.
The best event I have attended as a dancer is the Hamburg Congress in Germany. I have been for the past 2 years and I’ll be going again next year. It’s huge, with all of my favourite teachers. It’s just a great weekend and I danced non-stop.
What has been your most memorable moment?
I keep having memorable moments. Every time I go somewhere, something good happens. We meet new people, I get to dance with more famous teachers and we learn more each and every time. I have to say though that dancing with Edie the Salsa Freak will not be easy to forget. I managed to grab her for a song that I knew really well and it just clicked, it made me realise how good salsa can be.
Have you had any embarrassing/nightmare-ish moments in salsa?
Apart from not dancing on time because you can’t hear the beat, or dancing with a famous instructor and not realising who they are, or having more body contact than you meant to have with your partner. No, none at all !!!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I would just like to say thanks to everyone who has helped me improve my own dancing and given me a better understanding of what salsa is all about. There are loads of people who have helped in their own way, and I feel I have come a long way since those early days when I didn’t know the difference between a Merengue track and a Salsa track.
If you want to see for yourself what Salsa in Northern Ireland is like, then join us in January 2008 for the Belfast Dance Asylum. We haven’t had a big salsa event in the North of Ireland yet, so we want this to be unforgettable. Hope to see you there.
www.nusalsa.com
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