Night opens with a fairly empty dance floor, dj spinning some random latin tune, and the band setting up. First number - "Lluvia"...just like the live version by Santiago Eddie I've come to love as my number one song. I get a big grin on my face and my salsa partner pokes me and ask whats up. Simple wink and lead to the dance floor for the next song was all that was needed.
Clave is all thats heard..."two, three...five, and, eight". We shine the intro until the rest of the band kicks in and then the moves fly. Song after song we ignore the (much flashier) partners and eyes around the floor and dance in our own world. Though the moves were limited, every 8 bar phrase was a new dance to discover. Every 2/3 to 3/2 switch was styled in our steps. Every break in music was met with a deep stare and tension building anticipation to hitting the 1 and flying into another XBL.
The violin solo forced smooth hookturns and never before executed double arm veils that brought us inches apart to flow seamlessly into a Cucaracha side step. We finish our best dance of the night - electric - and glance at the time...12:02. Dancing for over two hours I can only smile and thank my partner for salsa'ing me into my 20's.
At the end of the night we walk out exhausted from the nights dancing as the last song is finishing - "Un Monton de Estrellas" by Polo Montanez.
I honostly can't think of a better way to hit the big 2-0.....7am - bedtime.
Clave is all thats heard..."two, three...five, and, eight". We shine the intro until the rest of the band kicks in and then the moves fly. Song after song we ignore the (much flashier) partners and eyes around the floor and dance in our own world. Though the moves were limited, every 8 bar phrase was a new dance to discover. Every 2/3 to 3/2 switch was styled in our steps. Every break in music was met with a deep stare and tension building anticipation to hitting the 1 and flying into another XBL.
The violin solo forced smooth hookturns and never before executed double arm veils that brought us inches apart to flow seamlessly into a Cucaracha side step. We finish our best dance of the night - electric - and glance at the time...12:02. Dancing for over two hours I can only smile and thank my partner for salsa'ing me into my 20's.
At the end of the night we walk out exhausted from the nights dancing as the last song is finishing - "Un Monton de Estrellas" by Polo Montanez.
I honostly can't think of a better way to hit the big 2-0.....7am - bedtime.
