How, why and when did you get into salsa?
I started salsa dancing over 3 yrs ago with Latin Motion in Solihull, Birmingham. I have always wanted to do some type of dance so I thought I would give it a go.
Who first taught you to dance salsa?
Latin Motion - Wednesday night @ The Barley Mow, Solihull. Forgot his name but he has now emigrated to Australia.
Did you have any dance training prior to salsa?
Just a little bit of Irish Dancing when I was younger.
Tell me a little about Suzi Q Salsa Wear. When, why and how was it set up?
From attending my classes once a week for a couple of months I decided to market the Idea of supplying salsa dancers @ my class with clothes as no one else around Birmingham was doing this. After 9 months of marketing the idea I launched the company an the website www.suziquk.com @ “The Brit Salsa Fest” Jan 2006.
From there the company is consistently growing with a distributor now in Holland. I also launched “Suzi Q Salsa Wear Cyprus” in March 2007.
Future launches - Paul Young will be launching his own Suzi Q Brand on the Salsa-UK website COMING SOON…. He wants to work together with me to promote Suzi Q as a Clothing Brand in the Salsa World in the U.K., Europe and the World.
I am in talks at the moment with a distributor in Australia to take the Suzi Q Brand to Aussie Land. So watch this space.
I am now looking for U.K. distributors, so if there is anyone out there who would like to earn a 2nd income please email me @
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and become part of a small dynamic company.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
Talking with like minded people who have a vision, goal or mission to fulfil in their life. From different working industries I have been in i.e. Sales, Promotions, Entertainment, Modelling, Marketing, and Management. I have gained great experience from all these industries/businesses which I am now putting into Suzi Q.
Who do you admire?
Mainly successful women, for example:-
Gloria Estefan: I first saw Gloria in concert on the 30th Nov 1996 - I still have my ticket. I was so inspired by her live performance and dancing (which was lots of Salsa Moves). I really wanted to pursue my singing career, which I did when I lived in Cyprus - now I can Salsa dance my next goal is to put a live singing show together with Gloria Estefan songs.
Other people I admire are Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Claudia Shieffer, and Edie The Salsa Freak.
What’s your favourite track at the moment?
‘Player No More’ - forgot artist’s name.
What are your all time favourite tracks?
“Oye Me Canto’ Gloria Estefan
“Yesterday Once More’ Karen Carpenter
“The Greatest Love’ Whitney Houston
What are your favourite albums?
“Top of The Pops 70’s’ as I used to sing along to all the tracks on it
“Thriller” Michael Jackson
What was the last CD you bought?
Haven’t bought one for a long time…
What music is in your car/cd player/tape player at the moment?
Gloria Estefan’s salsa tracks as I am selecting the ones I want to perform live in my show.
Who are your favourite artists?
Gloria Estefan, Tina Turner, Madonna, Jimi Hendrix, Gary Moore.
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?
Probably stuck in a dead end job working for someone and not liking it. I can honestly say I am in my Dream Job, loving the fashion side, presenting my Dress to Salsa Fashion Shows, and working with Top Salsa Promoters. What more could I ask for.
Tell me something most people wouldn’t know about you?
I am from a big Irish Family, I have 4 sisters and 3 brothers.
What’s your all time favourite salsa club/event that you have played/taught/danced?
When I first brought my shop to a Latin Motion Salsa Brava Weekend in Birmingham, as this was the 1st goal I set myself when I launched Suzi Q.
What has been your most memorable moment?
So far it is having a write up on Edie the Salsa Freak’s salsa web newsletter.
Have you had any embarrassing/nightmare-ish moments in salsa?
NOT YET!!!!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
My ultimate dream/goal for Suzi Q is to see it as a well known name/brand in the dancing world. As I have just found out over the last couple of months that Suzi Q is not just a dance step in the salsa world but in other types of dance. So my doors are open to all.
My vision is to be recognised as a Fashion Dance Wear Company, not just supplying clothes for dance, but for clothes that can be worn outside of dance, i.e. everyday clothes like jeans, combats etc. etc. as these are the clothes that women and men wear for their salsa classes.
I would like to thank the following people, who have really helped and welcomed Suzi Q into the Salsa World:-
Mauricio Reyes - it’s his fault that Suzi Q is here…. I keep blaming him, as I was so inspired and touched by the salsa spirit from my first class @ the Barley Mow!!
Yolande & Terry from Salsa Chillout
Kathleen Farrelly from Salsa Ireland
Jean and Robert White from Mambo City
Rohan Brown from Salsa Fever
Paul Young from Salsa-UK
Joe Davids from The Latin Collective
The Latin Dance Team in Cyprus
Edie The Salsa Freak
Eddie Torres and Family from the USA for inspiration to fulfil a dream
Mel C of course for her encouragement
Alex Wilson and his great band
www.suziquk.com
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