The Current Toronto Salsa Scene

by Rose Lau, Toronto

January 19, 2000

Over the last two and a half years I've been involved in the dance scene...

it's only in the last 6 months, that the level of dance and styling in

Toronto has escalated... partially due to the fact that a lot of dancers and

instructors are learning/training outside of Canada and bringing back that

wealth of knowledge. And if you were getting bored of doing the same steps

over and over (I definitely was) - you can't afford not to feed the

"fever/addiction" by either taking a new dance class, practice new moves

from videotapes with some dedicated danceaholics, and/or have the

opportunity to dance with a dancer who knows "moves" from anywhere except

the Toronto Cumbia-Style; and experience the high of being able to follow

whatever they lead. Fortunate/unfortunately for the leader, he has the

challenge of learning to lead these new moves as quickly as possible.

What's also changing in the club scene -- it's starting to become cool/fun

when a guy leads another guy for fun or a girl leads a girl, a guy dancing

with two to four girls at the same time and one day soon a girl leading with

two guys following...and if there isn't a great partner to dance with or

they're all taken in the clubs, why not? I've even done it and/or watched

it and it adds to the party atmosphere in the club... it's so much fun to

watch and even if they make mistakes, it's no big deal - even that seems to

add to the synergy, and everyone gets pumped to dance with greater

skill/enjoyment.

Tip for the dance chicks -- none of your regular "partners" have shown up at

the club for a dance or are taken - take a chance and ask someone you think

is a great dancer or an instructor... 9 times out of 10 - they'll say yes -

and guess what, you may just "click" and you'll sharpen your dancing skills

to a new level and maybe you've grabbed yourself a new, regular dance

partner for the clubs.

Tips for the guys - please remember to adjust your lead to the level of your

partner's dancing skills and don't be afraid to ask a really great female

dancer for a dance. You'd be amazed at how many will say yes - great

dancers become great because they should be able to adjust their "follow"

with any dancer and look just as good.

It also helps that the Salsaweb Convention will be held here in Toronto; and

if you want the challenge of being able to dance with anyone in the "world",

you need to learn not just Toronto-style, but Miami Casino-Style, Miami

One-on-One, LA-Style, New York/Mambo on 2, Shines on 1 and 2, and to sharpen

your skills in learning new dances and help your styling - add Ballroom (10

dances), Argentine Tango (take a class with an instructor from Buenos Aires,

especially Florencia Taccietta - who drills technique, technique,

technique), West Coast Swing, and the new rage to improve your danceability

- hip hop jazz (probably the only dance I haven't added to my repertoire or

shall I say, experience). Rumor has it that the LA-style of dance has

evolved from the latin ballroom influence to include hip-hop jazz styling -

a very showy dance compared to the smoother styles of Miami or New York.

For those of you who want to know the "in" places to dance each night...

here's the latest and greatest for the Winter season...

MONDAY - Embassy Café at Yonge & Eglinton

TUESDAY - Berlin's at Yonge & Eglinton (I like to go there now since a lot

of the good dancers have started to go back there, and right now, it's not

as crowded as the Summers - and you can always be sure of a cha cha set).

Also, I call the front entrance upstairs the "studio" - you can catch many

of the instructors/experienced dancers practicing/trying/showing new moves

during merengue/dance sets.

WEDNESDAY - Park Avenue (Hwy 7 and Jane) for the northerners (like me) -

although it's not as hopping with "regulars" as it was in the Summer, but DJ

Carlitos plays great music. For the downtown die-hards, Plush (downtown) is

the place to be... a lot of the dance regulars hang out there...

THURSDAY - definitely Babalu's in Yorkville - all the regulars, including

me, usually get there before 9 pm since there is a cover. And you can get

all your best salsa dancing before the crowd comes in at 11 or 12 midnight.

FRIDAY - since there's so many clubs open, the regulars are all scattered,

but usually El Rancho's (Bathurst & College) is a sure bet.

SATURDAY - a lot of the regulars hang out at Xango's (but it's small and the

music is so-so, but with the Atlantis opening - my prediction is it will be

the hot spot with hopefully lots of room to dance...

SUNDAY - definitely Babalu's - again before 9 pm...all the regulars hang out

there.