How, why and when did you get into salsa?
First of all, I’d like to thank Salsa-Central for allowing me this opportunity to share some of my life with their readers.
I started dancing at the end of 1999. I saw the movie 'Dance With Me' with Vanessa Williams and Chayenne and thought that the dance was the most amazing thing. I got a friend of mine to join me for some classes in our area and after the 3rd lesson I was helping the instructor teach his beginner classes. That was the end of the lessons.
Who first taught you to dance salsa?
There was an instructor in Toronto, Juan, who used to hold classes very close to my home. In retrospect, at that time, everyone, qualified or not, was teaching salsa. It was a bug in Toronto; I had just caught it. Other than the first few lessons, the rest of my dance developed through social dancing.
Did you have any dance training prior to salsa?
I have had no dance training prior to salsa. I enjoyed dancing to reggae and calypso but I definitely was not trained in any dance. I guess that’s the best thing about salsa; you don’t require training.
Tell me a little about your company. When, why and how was it set up?
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Where do you get your inspiration from?
I get my inspiration from the music and from my partner; that applies for both social dances and performances. Every song is different, and as such, I do my best to highlight those differences through my body. Of course, if my partner has a particular style, then I try to match him as well. I think the dance should be a beautiful meshing of two people’s styles with the music. That’s when a dance is most complete in my eyes.
Who do you admire?
I admire a number of people for a number of reasons but can’t, for the sake of brevity, list them all. I love Super Mario; he’s like a brother to me. Not only because he is Indian (lol) but also because is he is one of the friendliest people I have met. Another very good friend and inspiration is Sekou McMiller (Chicago). He has always been supportive of my growth and has offered me very sound advice with regards to everything from dancing, to friendships, and even to my very first Spins workshop. These two have probably been the most influential in my life as friends and dancers.
What’s your favourite track at the moment?
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What are your all time favourite tracks?
Some of my favourite tracks include:
Hustler by Willie Colon
Mambo de la Luz by Orquesta de la Luz
Hacha y Machete by Alfredo de la Fe
What are your favourite albums?
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What was the last CD you bought?
I can’t recall the last time I bought a CD. I’ve had an iPod for the past 3 years and I still haven’t listened to every song on there.
What music is in your car/cd player/tape player at the moment?
On my iPod while in the car I’m usually listening to Linkin Park, Sade, or JayZ. I rarely listen to salsa unless I’m out at a club.
Who are your favourite artists?
Some of my favourites include: Eddie Palmieri, Tito Puente, Willie Colon, Hector Lavoe, etc
If you were not a successful Teacher, what would you be doing instead?
I would probably find myself in politics or back in school to get my masters in International Affairs. Foreign affairs, as most people do not know, is actually my first passion, before salsa. J
Tell me something most people wouldn’t know about you?
I used to rap. Lol When I first got access to the internet I was into hip hop music. I found message boards on line that allowed people to post lyrics. So, I started writing rhymes and posting them. It was a lot of fun and I was probably as creative with my words then as I am with my body now.
What’s your all time favourite salsa club/event that you have played/taught/danced?
Wow, that’s a tough one. I enjoy all of the events I attend because I get the opportunity to dance. I’m not that difficult to please, really. I just need good music, a good floor, and decent dancers and almost every event I’ve attended possessed all of these necessities.
A few memorable events would include the Mediterranean Salsa Congress which included a tour of some parts in Israel and was filled with super friendly dancers. Another event was the India Salsa Festival because I was back in the country where I was born and the organizer/staff felt like family. I could almost list every event for some reason or another. Lol And I’m always travelling and going to new places so I might have more to add to that list in the future.
What has been your most memorable moment?
The most memorable moment in salsa would have to be June 10, 2006 at the Washington, DC Salsa Congress where my husband, Jareau Almeyda (iMambo.tv) proposed to me. I don’t think there’s anything else that can top that.
Have you had any embarrassing/nightmare-ish moments in salsa?
Hmmm…that’s another tough one. There are a lot of things I laugh off that others might think were embarrassing. As for nightmare-ish I had one dance a few years ago with a guy that tried to do the most complicated patterns while having either a firm grasp of my fingers or of my wrist. It was probably the most painful dance I’ve ever had.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I’d like to talk about the upcoming release of my new DVD, Body Movement by Magna, which should be released in a few weeks.
Similar to the Spins by Magna DVD which was released in December 2005, the Body Movement DVD is also structured for both men and women, is taught On1 and On2 and is all about technique.
It focuses not only on understanding your body and how it works but also includes a variety of sequences that differ in range of movement, speed of movement and rhythm. This allows a viewer to take any 8 count and use it as they see fit and as the music calls for it.
There is plenty of information on there for all levels of dancers and because my movement and styling isn't that common, I'm sure men will find plenty of moves to take away with them. The focus of the DVD is to impart knowledge on body movement technique with the goal not to become my clone but to understand and become comfortable with your own body so that you can create your own movements.
As much as we may like a dancer and say we want to dance like them, the reality is that we desire their level of confidence, comfort and creativity.
My goal is to help build the foundation that allows a dancer to build upon it whatever their heart desires.
Thank you for the opportunity for this interview and I look forward to hearing more good news about your site.
Find out more about Magna at magnagopal.com
Magna can be contacted at:
Phone: +1-914-434-7727 (USA)
Email:
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- Body Movement by Magna - June 2007 Release!
- Spins by Magna (DVD) is available.
Get it online at www.magnagopal.com
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