…sorry for posting this so late… I am still recovering from the critical lack of sleep this weekend..
First of all, thank you La?mane (Lams21), Estelle (LoveThisCity), Renate (Rena), Kamilla (Kama), Michel (Artigo), Gonzo, Gregory (Keleko), Virginia, and Andreanne (who after this weekend has joined GOL) and Kenny for coming! The logistics were not always so easy (who could have thought parking in Zurich could be such a headache??), but the weekend was GREAT! (and I think I am not the only one who thinks this way) :-)
…so, Friday night: the 6 of us made it to Zurich (despite the terrible directions the GPS woman was giving us).. next stop – Kongresshaus in Zurich for the first night of salsa. I swear, it was a fashion parade, with men being long ahead of the ladies where hair cuts and clothes were concerned! Some of the fashion observations of the evening will follow. And the Italians!!! Wow, even on the dance floor – with their sunglasses, cool hats, sexy open blouses, chains and designer hair cuts. :-) The next morning both Andreanne and I found bruises in exactly the same place after dancing with one of the Italian hotties - was it the way for our new friend Vito to leave his signature on the girls he dances with? :-)
That first night we stayed for the party and the afterparty…wooow… the way these people dance and move – no comments, just drooling! An amazing thing was that without knowing us at all, people would just come up and ask us to dance.. even if they were the biggest stars in the salsa world! And the next thing we know, they are asking us if we are coming to Hamburg, Rome, Puerto Rico or UK salsa festivals, giving their phone numbers and insisting on us keeping in touch!
Oh well, 4 short hours of sleep later we were up and running for the workshops… 6 hours of those! Somehow I always got Italians as partners for the workshops – so more bruises were unavoidable. :-)
Seemed like Andreanne and Lam?nne had the same luck, while the two boys of the group – Kenny and Michel – were simple overwhelmed by what they saw… They have both suffered from a “first congress syndrome”, when after a local salsa club you see a thousand professional dancers doing wild things on the dance floor.. first you are discouraged (oh my, I’ll NEVER dance like them) and then you get inspired (I want to be out there with them, dancing with them and I know I can!).. At my first salsa festival in Puerto Rico 5 years ago my reaction was exactly the same.. 5 years ago I have decided to stop dancing all together after seeing the handsome Tito Ortos on the dance floor.. and this weekend I was dancing WITH HIM, following him with no problem at all and getting his compliments on my dancing (sorry, had to share this, I’m still recovering from this dream coming true). :-)
Anyway, While Lam?ane, Andreanne, Michel, Kenny and I were busy sweating and twirling, the rest of the group took it easy and joined a walk so wonderfully organized by Phil. Thank you dear for not being afraid of the snow and cold and taking the courage to talk culture when everyone else seemed to think “hot chocolate” and “fireplace”! :-) From what I’ve heard, the walk was quite an adventure!
We all got together at a restaurant “Movie” picked by Gonzo.. where all the dishes were named after movies and movie previews were run throughout the night…
…. Part II of the story will follow (I hope my fellow participants will help me fill it in).. .
but this was an AMAZING weekend for me, really great, very inspiring and very motivating… and I was so happy to have spent it with fellow GOLers!!
Global Forums > Reviews of Member Activities > Sleepless nights and lots of salsa in Zurich
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Sleepless nights and lots of salsa in Zurich
Feb 28, 2006 @ 19:05
The text you are quoting:
…sorry for posting this so late… I am still recovering from the critical lack of sleep this weekend..
First of all, thank you La?mane (Lams21), Estelle (LoveThisCity), Renate (Rena), Kamilla (Kama), Michel (Artigo), Gonzo, Gregory (Keleko), Virginia, and Andreanne (who after this weekend has joined GOL) and Kenny for coming! The logistics were not always so easy (who could have thought parking in Zurich could be such a headache??), but the weekend was GREAT! (and I think I am not the only one who thinks this way) :-)
…so, Friday night: the 6 of us made it to Zurich (despite the terrible directions the GPS woman was giving us).. next stop – Kongresshaus in Zurich for the first night of salsa. I swear, it was a fashion parade, with men being long ahead of the ladies where hair cuts and clothes were concerned! Some of the fashion observations of the evening will follow. And the Italians!!! Wow, even on the dance floor – with their sunglasses, cool hats, sexy open blouses, chains and designer hair cuts. :-) The next morning both Andreanne and I found bruises in exactly the same place after dancing with one of the Italian hotties - was it the way for our new friend Vito to leave his signature on the girls he dances with? :-)
That first night we stayed for the party and the afterparty…wooow… the way these people dance and move – no comments, just drooling! An amazing thing was that without knowing us at all, people would just come up and ask us to dance.. even if they were the biggest stars in the salsa world! And the next thing we know, they are asking us if we are coming to Hamburg, Rome, Puerto Rico or UK salsa festivals, giving their phone numbers and insisting on us keeping in touch!
Oh well, 4 short hours of sleep later we were up and running for the workshops… 6 hours of those! Somehow I always got Italians as partners for the workshops – so more bruises were unavoidable. :-)
Seemed like Andreanne and Lam?nne had the same luck, while the two boys of the group – Kenny and Michel – were simple overwhelmed by what they saw… They have both suffered from a “first congress syndrome”, when after a local salsa club you see a thousand professional dancers doing wild things on the dance floor.. first you are discouraged (oh my, I’ll NEVER dance like them) and then you get inspired (I want to be out there with them, dancing with them and I know I can!).. At my first salsa festival in Puerto Rico 5 years ago my reaction was exactly the same.. 5 years ago I have decided to stop dancing all together after seeing the handsome Tito Ortos on the dance floor.. and this weekend I was dancing WITH HIM, following him with no problem at all and getting his compliments on my dancing (sorry, had to share this, I’m still recovering from this dream coming true). :-)
Anyway, While Lam?ane, Andreanne, Michel, Kenny and I were busy sweating and twirling, the rest of the group took it easy and joined a walk so wonderfully organized by Phil. Thank you dear for not being afraid of the snow and cold and taking the courage to talk culture when everyone else seemed to think “hot chocolate” and “fireplace”! :-) From what I’ve heard, the walk was quite an adventure!
We all got together at a restaurant “Movie” picked by Gonzo.. where all the dishes were named after movies and movie previews were run throughout the night…
…. Part II of the story will follow (I hope my fellow participants will help me fill it in).. .
but this was an AMAZING weekend for me, really great, very inspiring and very motivating… and I was so happy to have spent it with fellow GOLers!!
lovely_katyaFeb 28, 2006 @ 19:05
First of all, thank you La?mane (Lams21), Estelle (LoveThisCity), Renate (Rena), Kamilla (Kama), Michel (Artigo), Gonzo, Gregory (Keleko), Virginia, and Andreanne (who after this weekend has joined GOL) and Kenny for coming! The logistics were not always so easy (who could have thought parking in Zurich could be such a headache??), but the weekend was GREAT! (and I think I am not the only one who thinks this way) :-)
…so, Friday night: the 6 of us made it to Zurich (despite the terrible directions the GPS woman was giving us).. next stop – Kongresshaus in Zurich for the first night of salsa. I swear, it was a fashion parade, with men being long ahead of the ladies where hair cuts and clothes were concerned! Some of the fashion observations of the evening will follow. And the Italians!!! Wow, even on the dance floor – with their sunglasses, cool hats, sexy open blouses, chains and designer hair cuts. :-) The next morning both Andreanne and I found bruises in exactly the same place after dancing with one of the Italian hotties - was it the way for our new friend Vito to leave his signature on the girls he dances with? :-)
That first night we stayed for the party and the afterparty…wooow… the way these people dance and move – no comments, just drooling! An amazing thing was that without knowing us at all, people would just come up and ask us to dance.. even if they were the biggest stars in the salsa world! And the next thing we know, they are asking us if we are coming to Hamburg, Rome, Puerto Rico or UK salsa festivals, giving their phone numbers and insisting on us keeping in touch!
Oh well, 4 short hours of sleep later we were up and running for the workshops… 6 hours of those! Somehow I always got Italians as partners for the workshops – so more bruises were unavoidable. :-)
Seemed like Andreanne and Lam?nne had the same luck, while the two boys of the group – Kenny and Michel – were simple overwhelmed by what they saw… They have both suffered from a “first congress syndrome”, when after a local salsa club you see a thousand professional dancers doing wild things on the dance floor.. first you are discouraged (oh my, I’ll NEVER dance like them) and then you get inspired (I want to be out there with them, dancing with them and I know I can!).. At my first salsa festival in Puerto Rico 5 years ago my reaction was exactly the same.. 5 years ago I have decided to stop dancing all together after seeing the handsome Tito Ortos on the dance floor.. and this weekend I was dancing WITH HIM, following him with no problem at all and getting his compliments on my dancing (sorry, had to share this, I’m still recovering from this dream coming true). :-)
Anyway, While Lam?ane, Andreanne, Michel, Kenny and I were busy sweating and twirling, the rest of the group took it easy and joined a walk so wonderfully organized by Phil. Thank you dear for not being afraid of the snow and cold and taking the courage to talk culture when everyone else seemed to think “hot chocolate” and “fireplace”! :-) From what I’ve heard, the walk was quite an adventure!
We all got together at a restaurant “Movie” picked by Gonzo.. where all the dishes were named after movies and movie previews were run throughout the night…
…. Part II of the story will follow (I hope my fellow participants will help me fill it in).. .
but this was an AMAZING weekend for me, really great, very inspiring and very motivating… and I was so happy to have spent it with fellow GOLers!!
lovely_katyaFeb 28, 2006 @ 19:05
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Re: Sleepless nights and lots of salsa in Zurich
Post 1
Feb 28, 2006 @ 19:49
you guys pulled off a great event...despite the challenges...(-:
terrific and big congrats!
terrific and big congrats!
The text you are quoting:
you guys pulled off a great event...despite the challenges...(-:
terrific and big congrats!
Nir Ofek, Feb 28, 2006 @ 19:49
terrific and big congrats!
Nir Ofek, Feb 28, 2006 @ 19:49
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Re: Sleepless nights and lots of salsa in Zurich
Post 2
Mar 1, 2006 @ 01:21
First of all i'd like to thank you Katya for having organised that Wonderful we! it was so great!!!! i've never danced so many hours a day (10 or 12 hours per day!) yes i did it ;-) i can't feel my legs but i really had fun!
I met a lot of really nice people at the workshops, and i danced with them at the parties (i was too shy to invite men i don't know at all! and very very good dancers) The atmosphere was so great, professionnal dancers (who made shows) dancing just next to us, improvising a show on the dancefloor! A dream!!!
It was very nice to meet all of you and share such a great moments, lot of fun (i still have some jokes on my mind about the italians, lost in zurich, or turning around at 4 o'clock in the morning ;)
I'll tell you more later...
cheers
lams
I met a lot of really nice people at the workshops, and i danced with them at the parties (i was too shy to invite men i don't know at all! and very very good dancers) The atmosphere was so great, professionnal dancers (who made shows) dancing just next to us, improvising a show on the dancefloor! A dream!!!
It was very nice to meet all of you and share such a great moments, lot of fun (i still have some jokes on my mind about the italians, lost in zurich, or turning around at 4 o'clock in the morning ;)
I'll tell you more later...
cheers
lams
The text you are quoting:
First of all i'd like to thank you Katya for having organised that Wonderful we! it was so great!!!! i've never danced so many hours a day (10 or 12 hours per day!) yes i did it ;-) i can't feel my legs but i really had fun!
I met a lot of really nice people at the workshops, and i danced with them at the parties (i was too shy to invite men i don't know at all! and very very good dancers) The atmosphere was so great, professionnal dancers (who made shows) dancing just next to us, improvising a show on the dancefloor! A dream!!!
It was very nice to meet all of you and share such a great moments, lot of fun (i still have some jokes on my mind about the italians, lost in zurich, or turning around at 4 o'clock in the morning ;)
I'll tell you more later...
cheers
lams
lams21, Mar 1, 2006 @ 01:21
I met a lot of really nice people at the workshops, and i danced with them at the parties (i was too shy to invite men i don't know at all! and very very good dancers) The atmosphere was so great, professionnal dancers (who made shows) dancing just next to us, improvising a show on the dancefloor! A dream!!!
It was very nice to meet all of you and share such a great moments, lot of fun (i still have some jokes on my mind about the italians, lost in zurich, or turning around at 4 o'clock in the morning ;)
I'll tell you more later...
cheers
lams
lams21, Mar 1, 2006 @ 01:21
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Re: Sleepless nights and lots of salsa in Zurich
Post 3
Mar 1, 2006 @ 01:32
..yes, Lams, don't forget about all those wonderful young men that were keeping you company throughout the dance parties! I hope you will accept their invitation and join their events! :-)
By the way, Gonzito has posted some pics on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/gonzoworld/sets/72057594071642469/).
It was great getting lost in Zurich, joking about the Italians, getting all ready to party in under 20 minutes, copying Jazzy's moves (which he was doing at 200 km an hour), improvising on the dance floor, seeing Neeraj do an amazing show on Sat and cheering for him from the back row on the top of our lungs... really great memories...
...I miss the rooster haircuts of he Italians already!! :-)
By the way, Gonzito has posted some pics on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/gonzoworld/sets/72057594071642469/).
It was great getting lost in Zurich, joking about the Italians, getting all ready to party in under 20 minutes, copying Jazzy's moves (which he was doing at 200 km an hour), improvising on the dance floor, seeing Neeraj do an amazing show on Sat and cheering for him from the back row on the top of our lungs... really great memories...
...I miss the rooster haircuts of he Italians already!! :-)
The text you are quoting:
..yes, Lams, don't forget about all those wonderful young men that were keeping you company throughout the dance parties! I hope you will accept their invitation and join their events! :-)
By the way, Gonzito has posted some pics on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/gonzoworld/sets/72057594071642469/).
It was great getting lost in Zurich, joking about the Italians, getting all ready to party in under 20 minutes, copying Jazzy's moves (which he was doing at 200 km an hour), improvising on the dance floor, seeing Neeraj do an amazing show on Sat and cheering for him from the back row on the top of our lungs... really great memories...
...I miss the rooster haircuts of he Italians already!! :-)
lovely_katya, Mar 1, 2006 @ 01:32
By the way, Gonzito has posted some pics on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/gonzoworld/sets/72057594071642469/).
It was great getting lost in Zurich, joking about the Italians, getting all ready to party in under 20 minutes, copying Jazzy's moves (which he was doing at 200 km an hour), improvising on the dance floor, seeing Neeraj do an amazing show on Sat and cheering for him from the back row on the top of our lungs... really great memories...
...I miss the rooster haircuts of he Italians already!! :-)
lovely_katya, Mar 1, 2006 @ 01:32
Your Reply:
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Re: Sleepless nights and lots of salsa in Zurich
Post 4
Mar 1, 2006 @ 01:46
Apparently, these salsa festivals are true fashion events, on par with the catwalks in Milano. :-) Not surprisingly, it is the Italians who were the main fashion setters.. Soo, some observations I've made:
1. Apparently, you can just wear a bra and khaki pants to go on the dance floor and look sexy. Underwear shorties worn on top of fishnet stockings are even cooler (of course, it is only the best dancers who can pull it off)
2. How to recognize a reallly good dancer before seeing him dance: He'll have a towel in his back jeans pocket (it's always jeans and ALWAYS a white towel). Very gentlemanly of them - they wipe the sweat off after each dance, allowing the next girl to make him sweat like it were the first time all over again. :-)
3. Sunglasses are cool even if you are on the dance floor at midnight and there are like a total of 3 lights... but hey, sunglasses have to be worn if you want to be considered one of the stars. :-)
4. Rooster haircuts are in! I lost track of how many guys had it. :-) Basically, the idea is to leave a longer line on the middle of the head (it has eo be hughlighted and heavily gelled) - making the guy look like a rooster. And the essential thing is to leave the hair just on the neck line longer. if it curls, you win the jackpot of fashion statements!
5. the shirts have to be open, the chest - epilated, the cologne - top quality and a bandana under a stylish hat to finish off the picture..
I can go on and on... it was too much fun watching people there and thinking if we could ever pull anything like that off in Geneva...
1. Apparently, you can just wear a bra and khaki pants to go on the dance floor and look sexy. Underwear shorties worn on top of fishnet stockings are even cooler (of course, it is only the best dancers who can pull it off)
2. How to recognize a reallly good dancer before seeing him dance: He'll have a towel in his back jeans pocket (it's always jeans and ALWAYS a white towel). Very gentlemanly of them - they wipe the sweat off after each dance, allowing the next girl to make him sweat like it were the first time all over again. :-)
3. Sunglasses are cool even if you are on the dance floor at midnight and there are like a total of 3 lights... but hey, sunglasses have to be worn if you want to be considered one of the stars. :-)
4. Rooster haircuts are in! I lost track of how many guys had it. :-) Basically, the idea is to leave a longer line on the middle of the head (it has eo be hughlighted and heavily gelled) - making the guy look like a rooster. And the essential thing is to leave the hair just on the neck line longer. if it curls, you win the jackpot of fashion statements!
5. the shirts have to be open, the chest - epilated, the cologne - top quality and a bandana under a stylish hat to finish off the picture..
I can go on and on... it was too much fun watching people there and thinking if we could ever pull anything like that off in Geneva...
The text you are quoting:
Apparently, these salsa festivals are true fashion events, on par with the catwalks in Milano. :-) Not surprisingly, it is the Italians who were the main fashion setters.. Soo, some observations I've made:
1. Apparently, you can just wear a bra and khaki pants to go on the dance floor and look sexy. Underwear shorties worn on top of fishnet stockings are even cooler (of course, it is only the best dancers who can pull it off)
2. How to recognize a reallly good dancer before seeing him dance: He'll have a towel in his back jeans pocket (it's always jeans and ALWAYS a white towel). Very gentlemanly of them - they wipe the sweat off after each dance, allowing the next girl to make him sweat like it were the first time all over again. :-)
3. Sunglasses are cool even if you are on the dance floor at midnight and there are like a total of 3 lights... but hey, sunglasses have to be worn if you want to be considered one of the stars. :-)
4. Rooster haircuts are in! I lost track of how many guys had it. :-) Basically, the idea is to leave a longer line on the middle of the head (it has eo be hughlighted and heavily gelled) - making the guy look like a rooster. And the essential thing is to leave the hair just on the neck line longer. if it curls, you win the jackpot of fashion statements!
5. the shirts have to be open, the chest - epilated, the cologne - top quality and a bandana under a stylish hat to finish off the picture..
I can go on and on... it was too much fun watching people there and thinking if we could ever pull anything like that off in Geneva...
lovely_katya, Mar 1, 2006 @ 01:46
1. Apparently, you can just wear a bra and khaki pants to go on the dance floor and look sexy. Underwear shorties worn on top of fishnet stockings are even cooler (of course, it is only the best dancers who can pull it off)
2. How to recognize a reallly good dancer before seeing him dance: He'll have a towel in his back jeans pocket (it's always jeans and ALWAYS a white towel). Very gentlemanly of them - they wipe the sweat off after each dance, allowing the next girl to make him sweat like it were the first time all over again. :-)
3. Sunglasses are cool even if you are on the dance floor at midnight and there are like a total of 3 lights... but hey, sunglasses have to be worn if you want to be considered one of the stars. :-)
4. Rooster haircuts are in! I lost track of how many guys had it. :-) Basically, the idea is to leave a longer line on the middle of the head (it has eo be hughlighted and heavily gelled) - making the guy look like a rooster. And the essential thing is to leave the hair just on the neck line longer. if it curls, you win the jackpot of fashion statements!
5. the shirts have to be open, the chest - epilated, the cologne - top quality and a bandana under a stylish hat to finish off the picture..
I can go on and on... it was too much fun watching people there and thinking if we could ever pull anything like that off in Geneva...
lovely_katya, Mar 1, 2006 @ 01:46
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