Hi, guys! I'm a little late on this, but I've dug this thread back up to report a bit on my experience of the Warsaw congress.
Short version: It was a
blast!
We arrived on Friday evening. Got showered and changed, and took a cab to the venue. We arrived to discover a line about thirty people deep, which seemed like a good omen as far as attendance was concerned. Luckily, the staff proved to be both friendly and competent so that we got inside fairly quickly. The venue was great; the entrance was on the second level, which was a gallery surrounding the dance floor, with stairs at each end leading to the main area. The only complaint I could possibly make concerning the venue would be about the available selection of potables, which is something I always find to be comparatively lacking at salsa events.
Anyway, the place was LIVE! So many genuinely enthusiastic dancers, friendly folks, and good energy! I have seldom danced so much at a congress, and with so many good leads-- regardless of relative "level". Met some familiar faces from other congresses (which is always a treat), and danced with a plethora of unknown and thoroughly enjoyable leads. We were among the last to leave, sometime around 5:00, I think.
Saturday we did some sightseeing, ate some very tasty food, then headed out to the site of the workshops, which was a bit of a journey from the center of town. We watched about an half-hour of a lady's styling workshop from one of the Salsa Dance Squad ladies (Liduina?). There were an estimated sixty/seventy women in attendance-- which amazed me --but the space accomodated them comfortably.
The party on Saturday evening was packed. When we arrived (shortly after ten), Marek (one of the organisers) told me that the event had sold out, which was unfortunate for the many people still trying to buy tickets. The venue was also pretty ideal for this type of event (good floors, lounges to hang in, two dance floors). After the obligatory shows, a percussion group set up in the main hall, and some of the dancers gave an impromptu rhumba performance-- the hotness, man! I didn't dance much on the Saturday (I hardly ever do at congresses), but I did have the opportunity to chat with several very interesting folks (an AT/salsa dancer and his twin brother, for example) and people-watch to my heart's content. I also finally met and danced with Slawek (
). I have no clue when we headed back to the hotel (among the last, once again!), just that it was reeeaally late-- or early, I suppose.
The party Sunday evening was a little slower to take off. There weren't nearly as many people as on the preceding evenings, although there was still a decent turnout. Things warmed up perceptibly after the teachers and performers gave a show in which they satirised/imitated eachother's performances of the previous nights-- much hilarity did, indeed, ensue! Then, of course, more dancing 'til I literally had to go sit down to give my tootsies a rest.
To sum up this (yee-owtch!) very long post: I'm certainly going back in 2006, and would recommend the next Warsaw congress to all who have the ways and means to attend. Yowsa! :banana:
