London - Salsa Congress - Fri 30th April to Mon 3rd May

[Pacion]

Anyone thinking of coming to London or will be in London end of April? There is going to be a Salsa Congress in London, Fri 30th April to Mon 3rd May, 2004. The details are:


http://www.mambocity.co.uk/congress/images/5_star_banner.jpg

Over the May Day Bank Holiday Weekend, MamboCity's 5 Star Salsa Congress will give you 2 days of
dance workshops and 3 nights of parties, catering for all levels from the absolute Beginners to Advance
in various dance styles:

Cuban Casino, La Rueda, Rumba and Cha Cha Cha, Cross Body Style Salsa "On1", New York Style
Mambo "On2", Ladies Styling, Street Dance, Soca Aerobics and more, plus 3 nights of dancing in up to
3 rooms of music, catering for all taste, Salsa - Mambo - Merengue - Zouk - Soca - Soul and more.....

The teachers/performers:
US/Puerto Rico: The "Mambo King" Eddie Torres, with his wife Maria Torres and six of their
dancers, Frankie Martinez & Lori Perez, Felipe Polanco, Nancy Ortiz, Joshua Gomez, Angel Ortiz,
Mr Rueda "Rene Gueits" & the Salsa Lovers Dance Co Cuba: Rafael & Janet, Osbanis, Homero Gonzalez, Guillermo DavisEurope: Daniela & Graziano (Italy), Jazzy & Benedicte (Norway)UK: Susana Montero, Robert Charlemagne, Andrea Stewart, Dean Maynard, Marchant Birch,
Laith & Candice, Hakeem Onibudo, Belly Lorna, Lee Hunter, Lanre Ajani, Jason & Amanda,
Duende Dance Co., Manhattan Mambo Dancers, Anuar & LarisaDJs: Julian "The Duke", Jim "Salsa Caribe", Mikey "El Clave", Carey Lyseight, Lubi "Leeds",
Sylvester, Mauricio, Lorenzo, Jano, E.M.S, DJ Cruz Hosts & MC: Hosts: Robert & Jean White, of MamboCity (http://www.mambocity.co.uk) and the MC will be Rohan Brown aka "Mr Pontins" and
co-founder of www.salsafever.co.uk (http://www.salsafever.co.uk)Accomodation/Venue:
The 5* Radisson Edwardian Hotel, London Heathrow (http://www.mambocity.co.uk/congress/hotel_location.htm) In 2003, this Hotel won such prestigious awards as "Best Airport Hotel in the World" and
"Leading Conference Hotel in Europe". As a guest at this hotel you can experience all that
a "5 Star" Weekend entails, in taking advantage of the facilities available to you, such as
a Health Spa, which offers: Sauna, Steam Room, Plunge pool, Massages and Beauty treatments
and a fully equipped Gymnasium.Prices: Packages start from £100. Please see website for full details and the booking form:
www.londoncongress.com (http://www.londoncongress.com) www.mambocity.co.uk (http://www.mambocity.co.uk) Telephone: +44 (0)70174 72572 or +44 (0)7050-696-480

[MacMoto]

A friend of mine's going, and I wish I could too -- it does sound good, and it's actually one of the easier congresses in England to go to in terms of transport. Unfortunately, my NDSHH (non-dancing, salsa-hating hubby) says over his dead body... :(
He doesn't seem to realise his life is now in danger. :twisted:

I'm thinking about the Salsa-UK Congress later in the year (Bultins, Bognor Regis, 24-27 September) though, since there's more time to work on my NDSHH. Do you know what the last one was like?

[pygmalion]

LOL. Don't kill the guy (i.e. NDSHH), if you can avoid it. Just keep dancing. He may come around. You never know. :)

[Pacion]

Unfortunately, my NDSHH (non-dancing, salsa-hating hubby) says over his dead body... :(

Have you told him about the facilities at the hotel? Maybe you could convince him to take up airplane photography :wink: and that you would be waiting for him back at the hotel, full of energy :wink: You could even perhaps give him YOUR credit card, with a predetermined limit and send him shopping in Central London :lol: Knowing how much men hate shopping, he will probably come back without having bought a thing! :lol: Oh, and as it is a Bank Holiday on the Monday, you could perhaps visit Windsor if you don't have to rush back to Scotland.

I think this weekender will be a lovely one for a number of reasons - the venue, the organisers and it does not cater for the thousands, therefore, it is more personal. What was also great to see is that because of the venue, or maybe it was just after Christmas, quite a few people dressed elegantly and you only had to find room on your person to house your room key and some money to buy drinkings in the evening. If you needed anything (change of shoes, foot *******er or foot massage :wink: ) your room was just a few minutes away. :D

[Pacion]

Two weeks to go! :banana:

Singing:

Baby, come to me. Let me put my arms around you, it was meant to be :lol:

or should it be

I could have danced all night :!: I could have danced all night and still have begged for more :!: :!:

or will it be :lol:

Fly me to the moon, and let me sing for ever more. You are all I long for, that I worship and adore. In other words, hold my hand. In other words, daarrrling, kiss me. Fill my heart with song and let me sing forever more, la da da da da da, la da da da da da da :banana:

:lol:

[Genesius Redux]

Two weeks to go! :banana:

Singing:

Baby, come to me. Let me put my arms around you, it was meant to be :lol:

or should it be

I could have danced all night :!: I could have danced all night and still have begged for more :!: :!:

or will it be :lol:

Fly me to the moon, and let me sing for ever more. You are all I long for, that I worship and adore. In other words, hold my hand. In other words, daarrrling, kiss me. Fill my heart with song and let me sing forever more, la da da da da da, la da da da da da da :banana:

:lol:

Is the banana dancing salsa to all of these tunes? :shock: :lol:

[Pacion]

Well, all those tunes are 4/4 no :wink:

[Pacion]

:shock: Today is Tuesday :!: :lol: Just over 3.5 days (and if you give me a moment, I will tell you precisely how many hours, seconds and milliseconds :lol: ) before the opening party at the London Congress :banana: Singing: You're the one that I want, oh oh oh, You're the one that I want, you know what I mean, oh yes in deed! :lol:

I also have a three day week :bouncy: :banana: :bouncy:

[MacMoto]

Yay for you, Pacion! I'm sure you'll have a fabulous weekend. :banana: :banana: :banana:

Saw a message on the Salsa-UK forum about discounted places on the SalsaMED Festival holiday in Spain. Workshops with Edie, Susana Montero and SuperMario... Very tempting. I've been having a terrible time at home and need something to be cheerful about. :( Salsa under the Mediterranean sun should do the trick. (Salsa in Heathrow would also do the trick, but I think booking is closed now.)

[Pacion]

Hi MacMoto. Sorry to hear that you are having difficulties.

I don't know anything about the bookings being closed. :shock: If there is a slight chance/remote chance that you could still make it, it would be worth contacting the organisers (MamboCity) directly.

I am sending you a PM.

[pygmalion]

Yay for you, Pacion! I'm sure you'll have a fabulous weekend. :banana: :banana: :banana:

Saw a message on the Salsa-UK forum about discounted places on the SalsaMED Festival holiday in Spain. Workshops with Edie, Susana Montero and SuperMario... Very tempting. I've been having a terrible time at home and need something to be cheerful about. :( Salsa under the Mediterranean sun should do the trick. (Salsa in Heathrow would also do the trick, but I think booking is closed now.)

Just keep dancing, MacMoto. Hugs. :)

[MacMoto]

Thanks, Pacion and Pygmalion.
Turns out places are still available at the London congress. But, being so close now, it would cost me just as much as going to the SalsaMed Festival... :(
This coming weekend looks very quiet salsa-wise up here though (in contrast with the packed programme last weekend -- I wish they would spread events around more evenly :(), which makes the idea of flying down to London really attractive... :?
I've got to decide soon. Very soon.

[pygmalion]

Could you take a train to keep the cost down? Eurailpasses used to be a pretty good bargain (for foreigners, anyway) :?

[Pacion]

Not sure the Eurorail applies for Scotland? Or does it? I have yet to get to Scotland :oops: so I am on unfamiliar territory here

[pygmalion]

I thought it was all of the UK plus Western Europe. I used mine throughout Holland and Belgium. I'm fairly sure France and Luxembourg were also included. I just didn't get that far.

[MacMoto]

As I understand it, the Eurail passes are available to travellers from outside Europe only -- you can't buy it if you live in Europe. The same applies to the Britrail and Scotrail passes. And it would take at least 7-8 hours to get to Heathrow from where I am... :(

I'm still thinking though... it's now Thursday morning. Oops. No time to think! :shock:

[pygmalion]

Oh. Bummer about the Eurailpasses. They're an excellent value, and easy to use.

[youngsta]

Man I wish I could hit the UK for this! That Med trip sounds awesome too.

[MacMoto]

I've decided not to go to London. :(
Still thinking about the Med... wanna join me, Youngsta? :wink:

http://www.salsa-uk.com/SalsaMed.htm

[pygmalion]

I hope you make it to Med, MacMoto. :)

[Pacion]

Sorry you couldn't make it MacMoto. Perhaps next time.

I shook the hand of BOTH Frankie Martinez and Eddie Torres tonight :shock: I am never going to wash my hand again :banana: :wink: :lol:

[pygmalion]

Shaking hands, fine. But did you DANCE? :wink: How did it go? :D

[Pacion]

:lol: I drooled so much, the floor was too slippery :lol:

[youngsta]

I've decided not to go to London. :(
Still thinking about the Med... wanna join me, Youngsta? :wink:

http://www.salsa-uk.com/SalsaMed.htm
It's May of this year right? If it wasn't I'd be there in a HOT minute!

[Pacion]

"I could have danced all night, I could have danced all night" :banana:

"Oh what a night! Great [April] back in 2004" :lol:

The Congress was great! Meet some wonderful, beautiful (personality) people. Will do a more indepth report later :D but I must that in addition to the "usual suspects" like Eddie Torres, his daughter Nadia and the ET dancers, Frankie Martinez and Felipe Polanco, the highlights for me were the Norwegian couple Jazzy and Benedicte and the italian couple, Daniela & Graziano.

I danced with Graziano :shock: oh man, oh man, oh man! He did some intricate hand patterns and I just about kept up :lol: and he made me feel like a billion dollars! Although he and Daniela's english were limited, they were gorgeous (no attitude from what I could tell).

Jazzy and Benedicte, same again in terms of their personality and dancing. Danced with Jazzy also :banana:

Just one compliant :evil: I could have done with another 3 nights of dancing with them all :cry:

The ET dancers were gorgeous also and there is a young guy there called Eric - almost young enough to be my son :shock: :lol: oh how I wish I could have "put him in my handbag and taken him home with me" :lol: Such a sweetie! :lol:

Okay, back to work :!: More later :D

[MacMoto]

Great to hear you had a wonderful time, Pacion! :D

I've booked my SalsaMed holiday -- it will be my first salsa weekender! :banana:
Hope my experience will be as positive as yours. I've heard nothing but praise about last year's SalsaMed, so I'm hopeful.

[pygmalion]

I'm so glad you decided to go, MacMoto. I hope you'll come back and give us your glowing review. 8) :D

[Pacion]

Great for you MacMoto. I just need to book my holiday to "Scotland" now :wink: :lol:

There is a festival/congress in August I think. Do you know anything about it? Or any other "major" events that I can plan around?

[MacMoto]

I just need to book my holiday to "Scotland" now :wink: :lol:

There is a festival/congress in August I think. Do you know anything about it? Or any other "major" events that I can plan around?
It's just been announced that Rohan and Dr Salsa, the guys behind the Scottish Congress project, have decided to postpone the event until next year... :( This was one of the reasons I decided to go to the Med.

The highlight of this summer will be the Summer Salsa Ball in Edinburgh on 24th July. Not much info on this at the moment, but keep your eye on the Salsa Ball section of the Salsaholics Anonymous website.
http://www.salsaholics.co.uk/

[Pacion]

Oh, hadn't heard about the postponing of the Scottish Congress. Regretfully, I am kind of happy, as there is so much I want to do, including sightsee in Scotland, that if I came up on a big salsa weekend, I won't see anything :(