How, why and when did you get into salsa?
In South Africa, we have a similar dance called Cape Jazz, the same as salsa but danced to jazz music and the dance is more circular, no cross-body involved in it.
I won the championship in that style in Cape Town in 1999 and the prize money paid for my trip to England. A flight stewardess on my flight to England knew me and said they have a similar dance in England and they call it salsa. On my first night in England she took me to a salsa club (bar Cuba, high street Kensington, London).
Who first taught you to dance salsa?
On my first night in London in April 2000 I met Nick who was the teacher at Bar Cuba, I learned all the cross body stuff from him.
Did you have any dance training prior to salsa?
I have 12 years of ballroom training and danced Boogie dancing (street funk) in Cape Town.
Tell me a little about Alchemy Dance Company. When, why and how did you set it up?
I set up Alchemy because there was a need for it at the time. Davina had potential to be a very good performer but didn't have a partner. So I gave her a few songs and said pick one and I will get more people in to perform it with us. Simone always wanted to work with me and I always liked her as a dancer and person. I know Steven from a previous project, loved him as a dancer and person as well so I called them in for this project.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
From hip-hop to ice skating to poetry and spirituality.........
Who do you admire?
In salsa: Eddie Torres, Juan Matos, Hacha Y Machete, Frankie Martinez.
What’s your favourite track at the moment?
They Say by Common featuring John Legend and Kayne West.
What are your all time favourite tracks?
Still Here by Jill Scott, Natural Mystic by Bob Marley, Black Butterfly by Sounds of Blackness, Nature Boy by various artists, In the Stone by Earth Wind and Fire , Love Will Bring us Back Together Roy Ayers, Heart My Mind My Soul by El Debarge, Heavy-Mental by Killah Priest, What’s On Ya Mind by Rakim, Bring the Noise by Public Enemy, OHM by KRS-One and Saul Williams, Peter Piper by Run DMC, Moody's Mood by Quincy Jones, Understand Where I'm Coming From by Prophets of Da City, Water No Got Enemy by Fela Kuti.
I could go on and on.......like a band playing at a salsa congress.
What are your favourite albums?
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold us Back by Public Enemy and Age of Truth by Prophets of Da City. Both these albums inspired me when we were fighting for our rights under the apartheid regime in South Africa.
On a lighter note, I like Jukes Joint by Quincy Jones, any Earth Wind and Fire Album (they’re my favourite band of all time), Brown Sugar by D'Angelo, Urban Hang Suite by Maxwell, Welcome to Jamrock by Damien Marley.
What was the last CD you bought?
A pack of 10 blank ones.
What music is in your car/cd player/tape player at the moment?
My ipod with some thousands of songs.
Who are your favourite artists?
Music:
Earth Wind and Fire, Immortal Technique, Abdullah Ibrahim, Rakim, Hieroglyphics, Bob Marley, Tito Puente, Buju Banton, KRS-ONE, Saul Williams, John Legend, Common, D'Angelo, Jill Scott, Sounds of Blackness, Fela Kuti, George Benson, Sibongele Khumalo, Prophets of Da City, Mos Def & Taliep Kweli, Wu Tang Clan, Gangstar.
Film:
Quentin Tarentino, Al Pachino, Jet Lee, Bruce Lee, Mel Brooks, Monty Python, Michelle Yeo, Salma Hayek (ok I fancy her especially in Desperado & Dusk till Dawn).
Stand-Up Comedy: Chris Rock.
Ice Skating: Stephan Lambiel.
Ballroom: William Pino.
Books and Discourses: OSHO
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?
Long distance driver on the Isle of White? I really don't know what my alternate-self would be doing now.
Tell me something most people wouldn’t know about you?
I was a hip-hop producer and MC in South Africa.
What’s your all time favourite salsa club/event that you have played/taught/danced?
I love the 5 Star London Congress and Salsa-Splash in Hayling Island by Mambo City.
What has been your most memorable moment?
Seeing a ceremony called Ratiep practiced by Sufi's in Cape Town, they went into meditation and African drums were being played while the Sufi's were putting swords and knives into their bodies and when they pulled it out there was no blood at all!!!
You have to see it to believe it.
Have you had any embarrassing/nightmare-ish moments in salsa?
Too many to mention (how convenient).
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I would like to give a shout out to my brother from another mother Colin, my best friend D (u feel me), all the people that have been coming to my classes, and people clapping when we perform, even if they don’t mean it, kiss kiss kiss. I'm out!!!
Marchant Birch
www.alchemydance.co.uk
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