As always we would like to thank everyone for coming out to learn and dance salsa with us. About 300 people turned out for this one. The interesting thing is always the percentage of new faces that show up each month. Many times we on the YA team wonder: How all these first time visitors hear about this once a month event held in a unremarkable building that’s tucked away in a very quiet and non-descript suburb of metro Detroit?.

The answer is simple yet inspiring. It is you! As we have said before, YA Salsa is a completely volunteer effort. Each one of us has full time jobs and responsibilities that soak up 90% of our day. That does not leave a lot of time for us to get the word out as much as we would like to but thanks to you it seems to be happening and the proof is seen every month! Passing the word about the salsa not only keep the socials going strong, it also gives the YA team renewed strength to keep going.

It's true. The word got out and we continue to blow the doors off of the American Legion. The March social was a whopper with 325 dancers coming IN and then walking out (or hobbling in the case of a few unlucky feet) tired and happy. Yes it's crowded, but its a great crowd and one can't even begin to explain to the uninitiated, the energy and feel of these events. It's not only an opportunity to dance or meet up with people you haven't seen in a while, we also get the opportunity to acknowledge the people who by doing their thing make our lives better.

Thanks & Happy B-Day

This month it was a birthday shout out to Cisco whom with his Salsa Detroit crew have been pillars of the Detroit salsa scene for longer than I've been dancing and a he is a key member of YA Salsa too. Everyone knows, the dancers can be tough on the DJs and promoters but that's because we are so into the scene that we want it to be perfect all the time every night -- which is of course different for everyone. So Sunday Jamin made a special point of not only calling out "happy birthday", but also making Cisco step out from the DJ station and join the rest of us on the dance floor for the snowball with a great running commentary. Little does he know that he'll probably be dragged out there every month until he goes willingly.

As always we say thanks to you for coming out to dance with us on Sunday. Surprisingly 250+ people braved the sub zero temperatures just to dance salsa! It was bitter cold on the outside, but once inside it was blazin’. When you have 250 people dancing non-stop, not even the artic temperatures can keep a room cool! By the way, where did all the new faces come from??

Every time I try to describe the difference between a YA Social and a club, I get it wrong. Not that the description isn't accurate, but that the comparison is wrong. You can't compare it to clubs, congressos or studios. The YA social is like a big living room and a giant house party.

You take this kind of non-descript building on a non-descript street, invite a few thousand people from all walks of life -- almost 500 show up. You have a band -- one of the best in town. Have 10 or 15 salsa slaves running around to make it go smoothly and this is what you get. It's unique. Any of the individual elements on their own is good. A band like Grupo Salvaje playing is great, but with dancers -- each their own show, it's something else. 450 people dancing at a club is nothing new, but when you take salseros - young and old, new and hard-core, mix them up shake them around -- its completely different. You pay a few bucks to cover the cost and there's nothing more to buy. There's no security, no VIP, no dress code, no formality. Maybe the best comparison -- a street party.

More Pictures Online & Video coming soon!

Surprisingly, at least 150 people showed up for the December Social despite the city being buried in snow! Personally I was only expecting about 40 people to show up. I guess I should not underestimate the addictive power of salsa!

We would like to give a big shout out to all of the Dance Revolution students and Marygrove college dance students for performing for us. Another shout out to Raul for his salsa singing performance, and finally another shout out to DJ Isaac for always being there when we need him the most! You guys made a special day even more special!

Where does the time go? One day you're talking to some salsa addicted friends planning on a way to ramp up the dancing scene and the next thing you know you've spent 4 years putting on socials and working on community building. Like the old saying goes, times flies when you’re having fun!

December marks the 4th anniversary of YA Salsa and the YA Salsa Social, so now seems like a good time to look back and take a look how this all started, what we have accomplished and what remains to be done in light of our original goals.

Here are a few of my observations from the last social; things I didn't think would happen or haven't noticed before. Also since the photos are one of the biggest draws to this site, I'm going to highlight photos of a few of the people (not the only ones!) who take time to take the pics and upload them.

This is going to be the most boring review ever because I can really only say great things about the October YA Social. I simply had a great time all day. As I wrote earlier, the pre-social meal was a great time and it really started things off perfectly. Dinner took a little bit longer than originally anticipated, so when I got to the social at 7 PM, things were already well underway. I was pleased to walk into a crowded room with hardly any free room on the dance floor.

October 2007 Social Photo Gallery...