Know Your Salseros

Name?   Luc Tshiboyi

Where are you originally from (ethnicity)?   From Belgium (but from Congolese descent)

How long have you been dancing?  a couple of years

Where did you learn?   Seville, Spain

Where do you go out to dance? Dance Pavilion, Dance Revolution, Cafe Habana (but I’ll come more often to the Detroit Area)

What do you think could be done to expand the salsa scene?  More love, more interaction among the different groups or studios

What do you do aside from dancing?  Banker, tutor

Your favorite song?  (at the moment) Johnny Colon – Merecumbe; Orquesta Dee Jay – Yemaya y Obatala; Wuelfo – Bueno y Pico

What advice would you give to someone who is new to salsa dancing?  You will only become better by dancing, not by watching others. Don’t be intimidated, get yourself out there and dance

Name?   “Mambo” Marci Iwrey

Where are you originally from (ethnicity)?  Eastern European heritage (but with a Latina heart!)

How long have you been dancing?  A lot of ballet in my younger years; salsa 10+ years.

Where did you learn?  Throughout the area; I’ve taken privates with various instructors; attend salsa congresses – Puerto Rico, Chicago, Miami and New York

Where do you go out to dance?  EVERYWHERE!

What do you think could be done to expand the salsa scene?  We do a lot with the YA Salsa organization – bring in out-of-town talent, teach classes and encourage all levels to attend the YA Salsa socials;  would love to hear suggestions from new and experienced dancers – please write to us here on the YA Salsa site!

What do you do aside from dancing?  I am currently working on various creative projects:  write, do voiceovers, host a tv show (Serenatas Latinas with Jimmy Barrios), perform, Co-Direct an Israeli/Eastern European dance group (The New Festival Dancers), teach salsa in West Bloomfield at the JCC and various other venues, volunteer on the YA Salsa team, and I’m a mom! Please see www.mambomarci.com for more info!

Your favorite song?  It changes constantly –  at this particular moment, it’s “Soledad”  by la-33  from Colombia. Also, I love their “Que Rico Boogaloo”. This group was the highlight of my recent interviews with the bands at the Sunfest World Music Festival in London, Ontario. (They also are known for their awesome salsa rendition of the Henry Mancini “Pink Panther” theme.)

What advice would you give to someone who is new to salsa dancing?  If you happen to feel intimidated – YOU ARE NOT ALONE! There will always be inspiring dancers who are at a higher level. Always feel the joy of the music and the dance, and don’t get discouraged. The joy of the music and the dance is what it’s about! ♥

Welcome to KNOW YOUR SALSEROS for August!  Presenting:   Gustavo Ares from Argentina, burning up the  dance floor! He's new, but he's caught the salsa bug big-time!  And the lovely Renee Orr, who has been dancing salsa here in the "D" for years. It's always a pleasure to see her smiling face at any venue around town!

Name?
Gustavo Ares

Where are you originally from (ethnicity)?
I’m from San Juan, a small town in Argentina. I’ve been living in the Detroit area since November of 2005.

How long have you been dancing?
I started this year (about 6 months).

Where did you learn?
Well. I have been in all of the free classes provided at the parties, socials, and besides that I learned a lot by asking friends “how you do this” or “show me how to do it”. I also meet good dancers that share a lot with me, so it’s a good opportunity to thank them for the good times and fun that we have when we are on the dance floor.

Where do you go out to dance?
I go to every possible place/party:  Sangria, Woody’s, YA Salsa social.

What do you think could be done to expand the salsa scene?
Since it’s easy to recognize new people at the social, I think that the more experienced dancers should spend some time with them, share and communicate, so at the end, they are going to see how nice this Latin style is. Something like in other environments there is a mentor that introduces you and makes your life easy (at least at the beginning, then go by yourself, lol). I think this warm behavior would make people come back for a second time and also bring new people to see and learn about this culture.

What do you do aside from dancing?
Right now, I’m working on my PhD at the Henry Ford Hospital in downtown Detroit.

Your favorite song?
“Adicto a tu piel”

What advice would you give to someone who is new to salsa dancing?
Be early to every social or party, usually there are free lessons with very good and well-known instructors. Besides learning new movements/patterns, you also are going to be able to talk, share experiences and more important, let them know you. A least it works for me!!  

Name?  Renee Orr

Where are you originally from (ethnicity)?
I am from Detroit, and my ethnicity is Black American- of African-Jamaican decent.

How long have you been dancing?
I have studied dance since I was a child- ballet, tap, modern, but I fell in love with Salsa dancing in 1998 at The Parabox Nightclub that was in downtown Detroit.

Where did you learn?
I began taking lessons at Troy Dance Studio in 2000, and have been a hardcore Salsera since then.

Where do you go out to dance?
Recently I go out dancing at Woody’s in Royal Oak, YA Socials, Motor City Salseros Socials, Vicente’s Cuban Restaurant in Detroit, 2010 Detroit Salsa Congress, and I have attended numerous Salsa Congresses in the US and Canada.  Like many Salsa lovers, I always find places to dance Salsa whenever I travel.

What do you think could be done to expand the salsa scene?
I am excited to see that there are several new and upcoming instructors in the Metro Detroit area to attract newcomers to Salsa. Great entertainment- bands, guest performers, and workshops (YA is doing a great job at this!) help to bring crowds out.  It always helps to have nice spacious venues with smooth wooden floors and great Salsa DJs (which we are lucky to have here in Detroit!).

What do you do aside from dancing?
I work in Healthcare Staffing and enjoy spending time with friends and family. I am also an Aunt to 10 little ones.

Your favorite song?
I can’t say that I have just one favorite song, but I do have some favorite artists- Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, Oscar DeLeon, Ray Barretto, Jimmy Sabater, and anything by the Fania all Stars.  I prefer Salsa Classica, smooth, mid-tempo danceable music, and Latin Jazz.

What advice would you give to someone who is new to salsa dancing?
It’s all about having fun!!! Relax, practice, and enjoy!

This month we feature Caryn Reed-Hendon, a relatively new salsera who you may have seen at all the YA Salsa Socials and all over town. She's definitely been bitten by the salsa bug! Ask her for a dance...

Also we have Samer Georges, who is one of the founding members of our wonderful YA team. You will see him working hard at all of the YA Salsa events, always with a smile on his face!

Thank you, Caryn and Samer for being our "stars" this month!

Name: Caryn Reed-Hendon

Where are you originally from (ethnicity)? I’m originally from Belleville, Illinois (a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri) but I’ve been living in the Detroit area since 1996.

How long have you been dancing? I’ve been dancing for a number of years but I finally started taking it seriously this past February.

Where did you learn? From a number of people over the years- Elaine Marrero of Troy Dance Studio was my first teacher. I later went back to learning after a long time way with Chuck Boone. Now I’m taking classes with Marc Brewer, YA Salsa Team and anybody who’s willing to work with me.

Where do you go out to dance? Mainly at the YA Salsa Socials, but I’ve been trying to get out there more as of late by going to other socials, trying to go to any place that is having a salsa night, etc.

What do you think could be done to expand the salsa scene? I think the salsa scene could be expanded by taking the dance to the streets, literally. Getting the community to support salsa functions are a great way to start. This time of year is perfect for having those big parking lot parties and having everyone from the community there. Also taking it into the schools! Our kids need to know that there is more to dancing than just pop, rock, and hip hop music. Exposing them to salsa could open their eyes up to other possibilities they didn’t know existed.

What do you do aside from dancing? In my day job, I’m the Assistant Director for Orientation Programs at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. I’m also a doctoral student at Oakland University.

Your favorite song? El Bribon Del Aguacero by Tito Puente

What advice would you give to someone who is new to salsa dancing? Keep on dancing and learning new things. You’ll be surprised by what you are able to do after a while!

Name? Samer Georges

Where are you originally from (ethnicity)? Baghdad Iraq. I moved to Michigan in 1995.

How long have you been dancing? 13 years

Where did you learn? Social dancing and travel dancing across the U.S. and in Europe. Also being a part of a dance production with Gordon Neil

Where do you go out to dance? Of course our favorite place YA Salsa, Sangria and Pi

What do you think could be done to expand the salsa scene? Being one of the original founders of YA Salsa I think offering lessons to kids, as they are the future of salsa.

What do you do aside from dancing? Wow! I do a lot of things aside from dancing. I spend time with my son and wife, I sell coffee, I play keyboard in my own music band--we play Arabic and Chaldean music and I play football (soccer).

Your favorite song? All cha-cha-chá songs

What advice would you give to someone who is new to salsa dancing?  Practice everywhere:  bathroom, living room, work, everywhere.

Have you seen this guy at all of the salsa events around town lately? You probably have! This nice-as-can-be, enthusiastic salsero is our featured salsero this month. Say "hola" next time you see him and have a dance!

Where do you go out to dance: 
Anywhere and everywhere! But usually you can catch me at Sangria’s, Woodies, YA Salsa Socials and Blue Dolphin in Kalamazoo. Aside from this, I’ve been seeing “busting a move” in the gym, elevators, workplace, car, and just about everywhere else when the salsa bug hits me! If you’ve danced for a while you know exactly what I mean! Haha! 

What do you think could be done to expand the salsa scene:
From what I have seen, the Detroit salsa scene is growing and expanding thanks to YA salsa and other websites. However, what I think can be done to expand the salsa scene would be to play more types of Latin music at salsa events. I feel this would bring diversity to not only the music selection but also it would offer other groups of people that enjoy different types of Latin music to participate in the fun. 

What do you do aside from dancing:
Currently, I am working at Irvine Neuro Rehabilitation Center as their Administrative Assistant. In addition, I am working on attaining my Bachelors in Nursing in hopes of working abroad in the very near future.

Your favorite song:
Salsa- Los Van Van- Abre que Voy
Bachata- Aventura- Cuando Volveras
I really enjoy songs that have lively rhythm, feeling, passion and meaning within the lyrics of the song.

What advice would you give to someone who is new to salsa dancing: 
BE CAREFUL! Be very careful! Salsa dancing is an addiction that does not just consume your body, but mind and soul alike. Salsa dancing is an experience that allows you to live a fuller, healthier and happier life. I have spoken with many who consider Salsa dancing to be the fountain of youth. Personally, salsa dancing has resulted in me living in Querétaro, Mexico for 6 months, and becoming bilingual in English and Spanish to say the least. Que Viva La Salsa!!! 

So often people will see many of the same faces at different salsa events in the Metro Detroit area and beyond. Now, while you may have seen these people and may have shared a dance or two with them how well do you really know them? Therefore, we present to you a new feature in which we will highlight two dancers (one male and one female).

We'll give you a little bit of insight into their lives and hopefully the next time you see them at a club or social you'll say hi or ask them for a dance. 

¡Hola, fellow salseros! Do you know anyone that would like to be featured in the next KNOW YOUR SALSEROS? 

Please nominate someone (it can be yourself or anyone else) and they may be chosen to be highlighted in our next issue.

Please contact Mambo Marci in the "contact" section of www.mambomarci.com -- your request will be anonymous!!!

Thanks and have a great weekend, everyone! ♪♪♫♪

--Mambo Marci