The Top 21 tracks on my playlist right now

Posted on September 6, 2012 by Chilly

If you know me or follow my blog, you will know that my alter ego – DJ Chilli loves Music. So this week he decided to share with you the top 21 songs on his  playlist right now. Enjoy!

My current No.1 favorite track at the moment is Hermano by DJ El Timba. This track is Smokin hot (then again, so are all the other tracks on my playlist 😉 )

The remaining 20 songs are (- in no particular order) –

Salsa

  • Tun Tun Suena El Tambo – Spanish Harlem Orchestra
  • La Noche – Manolito Simonet y Su Trabuco (*Hottest Cuban track for me right now)
  • Sabor Classico – Don Sonero
  • Sun Sun babae – Tito Rodriguez
  • Mujer Erotica – Tito Rodriguez
  • Conciencia – Bloque 53
  • Humildad – Tromboranga
  • Tranquilamente Tranquilo – Oscar D’ Leon
  • No Vale La Pena – Johnny Rivera & Ray Sepulveda
  • Fiesta – Isaac Delgado
  • Ella lo que quiere es salsa – Victor Manuelle Ft. Jowell & Randy
  • Breakaway – Lex Easy & the Mambo Club
  • Como Volver a ser feliz – Luis Enrique
  • De Amor Ya No Se Muere – Charlie Cardona
  • Gostas de Lluvia – Groupo Niche
  • Y hubo Alguien – Marc Anthony

Bachata & Kizomba

  • Eres Tu – Prince Royce
  • No se como me enamore – Grupo Extra
  • Le da – Os Originais
  • Criola – Mika Mendes

Live, Love, Laugh, Share  & Salsa!

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The Cloudy Dancer from the Dancing Irish Man

Posted on August 30, 2012 by Chilly

Hey Salsa Lovers,

My fellow blogger ( The Dancing Irish Man ) recently wrote a blog called The Cloudy Dancer. In his words – “A dance with a “Cloudy Dancer” is nothing short of magical!…. It’s the type of dance that fulfills your whole night, the type of dance you can retire on.”

I remember my first such experience with a Cloudy Dancer – It was close to 3 years ago with a wonderful Salsera called Leigh. From then on I have gone on to have a number of experiences with a few lovely Cloudy Dancers from all over the world. Thank you ladies for being the amazing Dancers that you are and sharing with me in amazing dancing experiences that I can definitely retire on. Till the next one of-course 😉

Now go check out my friends blog post: The Cloudy Dancer

Till next week people, you know the drill… Live, Love & Salsa!

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The Best Salsa Dancers in the World

Posted on August 23, 2012 by Chilly

So a couple of months ago I started doing some research into who are the Top 10 Salsa Dancers in the world today (that’s right, I am actually broaching this topic):

Now while I was putting together the list of names, I came across a you-tube video on just this same topic which I found quite interesting (make sure you check out the comments). Now how accurate do you think this person is? Without a doubt, everyone on his list is an amazing dancer – Question is, are they in your Top 10?

To anyone who is passionate about Salsa, this particular topic will be a controversial one (almost as heated as the On1 Vs. On2 debate). However, everything having been said and all things being equal, the fact of the matter is that every answer is totally subjective depending on a particular individuals frame of reference and personal taste. The truth is there can never be a non-biased & totally objective answer to this particular question, more so when you consider the number of amazing dancers out there who never perform or travel.

Now, back to the topic at hand; After much debate, I finally narrowed down my Top 10 list. Now, as this list is constantly changing and evolving as I change and grow, I have decided only list my Top 2 salsa dancers on the scene right now.

They are – (Drum Roll Please)

Adolfo & Magna

Adolfo Indacochea & Magna Gopal…. Yeah I said it!!!

However, before you totally loose your head, read on as I list the people who were considered to be on my list based on just how much I enjoy watching them dance:
Eddie Torres, Oliver Pineda, Mykel Fonts, Rasove Ramirez, Jose Diaz, Nerry Garcia, Jhesus Aponte, Frankie Martinez, Melissa Rosado, Griselle ponce, Karel Flores, Ania Chagowska, Juan Matos, Shaka Brown, Luda Kroitor, Alien Ramirez, Johnny Vasquez, Salomon, Adrian y Anita, John and Yudi, Nina Kollburner, Terry and Cecile, Jorge ‘Ataca’ and Tanja ‘La Alemana’, Sean B, Super Mario, Marchant Birch, Milton Cobo, Junior and Emily Alabi and the list goes on.
( & to watch a social video that contains 4 of my current top 10 dancers in the world – click here)

Now the question is, are you brave enough to tell me who is on your list?

Till next week people… you know what to do!

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Salsa Etiquette – Revisited

Posted on August 16, 2012 by Chilly

So this past week while at a salsa social; a good friend of mine was stepped on ( an accident that could have been totally avoided). As a result of this incident I have decided to revisit the concept of Salsa Etiquette.

What is ettiquete? It can defined as the customary code of polite behavior in society or among members of a particular group. It is very dependent on culture as what is good etiquette in one society may shock another.

Now we got that out of the way, what is Salsa etiquette?:
A. Personal hygiene – Always smell good and have clean breath.
B. ASK the lady to dance. Now while a bit of persitance is cool and maybe even charming, being forceful is a No-No.
C. Once a lady agrees to dance with you, remember she is more than just saying yes to the dance; For that 4 minutes she is Trusting you! Remember, you lead and she has to choose to follow. As the lead – Keep that trust / take care of her / make sure she is having fun and is comfortable /  yet challenge her on occasion – Basically, treat her like the only Woman in the world that matters.

Now making her feel good and comfortable etc involves a lot of aspects, one of which is floor craft  – being aware of whats going on around you and dancing accordingly.

A year ago I wrote an article which I now recommend you go and check out: Floor Craft – Salsa Etiquette 101

Till next Thursday peeps,
Live, Laugh, Love & Salsa!

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My Dance Movie

Posted on August 9, 2012 by Chilly

I am writing a script for a dance movie and decided to share the storyline with you!

SCRIPT:
FADE IN DANCING (Dancing in this case = hardcore insane body movement that mere mortals cannot even begin to comprehend)

  • Introduce Main male character who is a good looking Bad Boy Rebel with a sweet side who can dance (yeah right). Lets call him Nate!
  • Intorduce Nates main competitor who is also a good looking yet ‘arogant’ bad boy rebel. Lets call him Zane.
  • Nate and Zane battle and Zane whoops Nates Ass because Zane is the best.
  • Nate vows he will enter an upcoming dance battle which Zane always wins.
  • Nate actually has to win this battle for some reason or another
  • MORE DANCING
  • Introduce Main Female character (Rinoa) who is a down to earth – Hot Babe (notice the contradiction) with some sort of Family issue
  • Boy Meets girl and they dance off – Girl outshines Boy
  • Boy asks Girl to join his dance crew to enter the upcoming battle
  • Girl acts like she is not interested (but we both know she is)
  • Girl joins Boy’s dance crew and eventually falls for boy
  • Girl and Boy dance to something romantic / cut away to Love scene
  • Boy is actually a bad boy and so he does something silly to Girl and Girl walks away
  • Boy quits competion and walks out on his dance crew
  • Boy realises error of his ways and runs back to Girl & girl says no
  • Boy decides he has to do competition now that he has wisened up & learnt the error of his ways
  • Boy runs back to his dance crew & after giving him some slack, they go to the dance battle
  • SHIT LOADS OF DANCING
  • Final battle between Nate and Zane
  • Zane is kicking Nates ass just like at the beginning of the movie
  • Girl shows up last minute and together her and Nate throw down the routine they have been practicing
  • Boy wins competition
  • Boy tells Girl he still wants to be with her and Girl tells boy she forgives him
  • MORE DANCING

THE END

Is that innovative or what? I think I should write a blog about this. Wait, I just did!

Till next week Danceaholics!
P.s. I am gonna go see Step Up 4 in next week and I wonder what that story line will be about! Damn it, I hope they dont steal my idea.

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What is Kizomba?

Posted on August 2, 2012 by Chilly

Kizomba which is also known as the African tango was created in Angola. It is both a genre of music and dance style that is very sensual with deep African roots derived from / similar to semba, zouk, konpa and pasada

Albair Rojas – Kizombero

I first danced Kizomba a couple of years ago at an Angolan friends party. The first thing I noticed was how close the partners danced together and at the end of the song simply walked away and then went ahead and danced with someone else just as close. It was a whole new experience for me. Now, I have always been a free-styler and so i managed to make it through a couple of dances by just pretending to know what I was doing. Only recently did I learn the actual steps and structure of Kizomba and it has has quickly become one of my favorite partner dances.

Should you decide to embark on this journey to learn this beautiful dance, you will come across the question, “What is the difference between Zouk & Kizomba? ?” While the answers out there differ, in my opinion they are pretty much the same. If I had to differentiate though, I would say:

  • Kizomba is sung in Portuguese and is danced with a certain backward ass motion
  • Zouk is sung in french and has a more figure 8 hip movement

I must say though, this is an over-simplification of the 2 and I can already imagine the comments that will be posted contradicting my description, so just to clarify – This is just MY opinion and I am not claiming its the gospel truth.

Now that we got that disclaimer out of the way, how do you actually dance Kizomba?

Well, go and do a class. When you do, make sure your upper body maintains a solid frame while your lower body has a large degree of flexibility, especially in the knees as a result of the frequent stepping motion.

I would then advise that you learn 3 things like the back of your hand:
1. Primero Basico – This is a basic step using every beat 1-8 and there is also the 1/2 beat which uses every 2nd beat.
2. Secondo basico – also known as the basic 3 in which the guy an girl does a touch step (similar to cha cha) on the 3rd basic.
3. Saida – which is the main travel step.

Once you have learnt these 3 steps, you are well on your way to dancing Kizomba. Also, make sure you add a lot of free-style into it, this makes it that much more fun.

If you want to watch some videos, Albair Rojas is one of the best Kizomba instructors I have come across and Nelson Freitas & Mika Mendes are two of my personal favorite Kizomba Musicans at the moment. So You-tube these guys and have fun learning about the African Tango.

Till next Thursday – you know what to do!

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The 1000 Dance Challenge Update

Posted on July 26, 2012 by Chilly

I have 5 words for you – “Much easier said than done“.

5 days to the end of the month and not one of The South African Salseros  has hit 1,000 dances over 2 months. We got close and I have seriously danced my ass off these past 2 months –  (going to 2 Congresses & a number of other socials) yet I am still short of that elusive 1,000.

That being said, there were still a number of insights that resulted from this challenge:
A. You will have some of the most interesting and amazing dances on your way to 1000. The more people you ask to dance, the more dancers you enjoy dancing with. Its quite awesome and the ultimate win-win situation.
B. You can comfortably average a total of 10 dances an hour. This includes taking a short break, having a quick drink & a light conversation with someone here and there.
C. The most obvious one – the more you social dance, the better your lead becomes and the more you start to improvise and let loose and just have fun on the dance floor.

I would advise everyone out there who loves to dance to take up this or their own dance challenge in the month ahead and make sure you push your limits to see what you can achieve. You may just surprise yourself….

Alright, enough rambling, its time to break down the numbers:

No. 1 – The leader is Tsheps ‘Happy feet’ Mogee sitting with exactly 800 dances.

I am in 2nd place with 704 dances – The smooth Salsero aka Chilly ‘Alisar’ Chanda….

Me with the Salseras I danced my 500th and 501st social dance

3rd is Aaron ‘The Salsa Dura luva’  rocking it out with 521 dances

In 4th place is Teddy Bear Salsa with 442 dances.

Teddy on 442

So till next Thursday (or the next random salsa thing we decide to do), remember to Live…Laugh… Love & Salsa!

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The South African Salseros Rock Hamburg

Posted on July 19, 2012 by Chilly

The date is 15th of July 2012, time – 10pm. Eddie Torres aka The Mambo King is getting ready to do a Solo act, Carla Voconi is in the process of learning a Choreography to perform later on that evening, Yamulee are getting ready as is Adolfo and his Latin Soul dancers. Moauze is busy warming up, Albert Torres is in the room cracking the funniest jokes, Jazzy & Chiquito are busy putting together an improv piece to perform and the list of Salsa celebs just goes on…. In this same room sit 4 South African Salseros who on that night will be performing on the same stage as all these Salsa Legends.

This picture sets the scene for my most memorable Salsa event to date: The day the South African Salseros performed in Hamburg.


Click our logo to view the performance!!!

If you had asked me 4 months ago, if I ever thought this day would actually happen – I may have said, ‘Yeah, in like 3 or 4 YEARS’. Yet it happened in only 4 Months. Words cannot express how much that night meant to me, so allow me to thank a few key people who without them, none of this would have ever happened:

Andrea N. for being the unofficial 5th member of the Group and her un-relenting and constant support.

Albert Torres for his encouragement & support and Imad for giving us the opportunity to grace his stage with all the pro’s in Hamburg.

John Morrison & Regan Tumbao Christmas for the parts they played in developing our passion for Salsa and Salsa in South Africa as a whole.

Daniela Semencic, Bachatero Marko and the Los Mamberos & Salsa Adria team for picking us to take part in the Stargate challenge at their amazing congress in Croatia.

Delphine ‘the T’ Lobelle for the inspiration to make this happen now rather than later.

Leigh S for her unwavering support & keen eye for detail.

Joerg M for helping us edit the song so smoothly.

Last but not least, Super Mario, Mark Anthony, TEAM SA 2012 and all the other cool people that we have met along the way who cheered their lungs out and supported us.

You have all let me & my 3 other fellow Salseros live out a dream and WE THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH!

Peace, Love, Happiness & Salsa!

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Team SA 2012 Invades the Hamburg Salsa Festival

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Chilly

On the 9th of Feb this year, I wrote a post called Team SA to make History at the Hamburg Salsa Congress in 2012.

Well the time has come, Team SA 2012 (consisting of 20 SA Salsa dancers) has officially landed in Hamburg and we are ready to rock the scene. The group is comprised of intermediate to advanced dancers, congress sluts and congress virgins and there are even some people travelling internationally for the first time.

The scene is set – tonnes of dances, lots of workshops and all round raucesness. After having travelled 12 thousand kilometers to get here, we have 1 moto: Go big or Go Home! We will rock every party & hit every workshop. We will be one of the first ones on the dance floor and then one of the last ones to leave. We are laying down the challenge – try and keep up with us if you dare!

How will you identify us? Well on the Friday party we will be rocking our official tees’ so we will be hard to miss:

TEAM SA 2012 Official T-Shirt!

The Hamburg salsa festival starts tonight with stars like Eddie Torres, Adolfo, Super Mario and a host of others making an appearance. I am personally looking forward to dance with Griselle Ponce and Tania (Adolfo’s partner) and the Special Unexpected (Every festival introduces me to a host of AMAZING dancers that I can never predict).

So many things to look forward to at this congress, yet the highlight for me is the Sunday… Why Sunday you may ask? Well, keep an eye out for next weeks blog that will tell you all about it. 😉

Till then….. Live, Love & Salsa!

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The 3 Coolest Salsa things I have come across recently!

Posted on July 5, 2012 by Chilly

On my constant search for Salsa knowledge and all things cool, I come across really amazing people, resources and other things that I occasionally just have to share with you. This blog post is dedicated to 3 such instances:

1: Jazz Biancci – Thanks to Amanda from Charisma, I found this user on YouTube who has a number of interviews done by by Jazz Biancci from MamboNYC. Their user-name is Secretlaw2007.

Jazz has done a number of interviews with various cool salsa people. Below is a link of an interview done with Magna Gopal (My salsa crush) and its quite interesting the stuff she advocates. It’s a 9 part series, so click the pic below as a link to part 1:

If you have time, you should definitely check out the other 8 parts of the series. Magna’s advice is always contrary to the main stream, so definitely check it out!

2. The Dancing Irish Man:
Richard is just your average life loving, globe trotting, karate fighting, language learning, wave surfing, Japanese translating, salsa dancing Irishman. Oh, and he has a beard too!

His blog is his way of sharing all he has learned over the years about his passions (dance, nutrition, exercise and a whole load more).

He has some really cool articles about Salsa and other stuff. I have read most of his stuff and would advise you to do the same @ TheDancingIrishMan

3: A cool Salsa Performance
While at the Croatia Salsa Summer Festival, I danced with a certain Salsera a number of times & she made her way to my top 5 favorite dancers in the World! (No easy task I assure you.) She is such an amazing follower & dancer.

I recently found out that she did a performance and once I saw it, I knew that I just had to share it with the world. You can check it out by clicking the link below:
1st Zagreb Valentines salsa festival – Hrvoje & Dora show nastup

That’s all I have to share with you this week.

Till next week,
Live – Love & Salsa!

P.S. If you don’t want to miss any of my Amazing Weekly posts, make sure to follow my blog by putting your email address on the right hand side! Peace…..

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