caribbean dancesport classic

alemana

alemana

New Member
this weekend is the Caribbean Dancesport Classic in San Juan, Puerto Rico. to my despair, i am not going (wish i had picked this comp instead of USDSC to blow my wad on!) but am curious if anyone else is.

there is, in addition to the regular pro events, an "open to the world" salsa professional championship at this comp... will be watching that one closely. it'll be judged by the same dancesport judges as always, i guess, so i wonder what different criteria, if any, they will have in mind for this event.
 
My teacher is taking 3 students and an am/am couple to this competition. They are leaving tomorrow morning for Puerto Rico.

Unfortunatley, I'm not going. I suppose there's always the next one.
 
I hadn't heard anything about this, and I'm in San Juan... This is the first Ballroom/Dancesport I've heard of here.

Well at least now I know. :-)

I saw info on the Website about the Pro and Amateur Salsa competition judging. I saw "No lifts" in the rules...
 
itorres said:
I hadn't heard anything about this, and I'm in San Juan... This is the first Ballroom/Dancesport I've heard of here.

Well at least now I know. :-)

I saw info on the Website about the Pro and Amateur Salsa competition judging. I saw "No lifts" in the rules...
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How is the ballroom dance population in P.R? I'm planning to go there for my vacation and wanted to know if there are many studios? do they have floor space where i could practice? any info would be greatly appreciate it....
 
the site says this comp has been around for about a decade.

itorres, are you thinking about going?
 
chica latina said:
How is the ballroom dance population in P.R? I'm planning to go there for my vacation and wanted to know if there are many studios? do they have floor space where i could practice? any info would be greatly appreciate it....
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I have been interested in salsa dancing/lessons only for a few years, so I am not familiar with all the dance forms and enthusiasts here.

Now, I just checked for "escuela baile" in the Yellow Pages web site. www.SuperPagesPR.com Around 80+ came up. Most popular are Salsa, Merengue, Ballet, Jazz, Tango, Hip Hop, etc.

I wouldn't be surprised if the only Ballroom curriculum might be provided by the Arthur Murray studio. The owner of that studio is also the only local teacher I saw mentioned as a judge in this competition.

I'm sure there would be practice places available but don't know details. One thing I notice is that most schools open in the evening only...

Are you interested in Salsa? Or just particular Ballroom dances?

I think you should find out about taking some Salsa lessons from local teachers. You should be careful to ask around and choose teachers wisely. I have seen many people giving lessons because they are good dancers, but they are lacking classical dance training and vocabulary, music theory or teaching methods. ie: not as disciplined as Ballroom dancers. I would go for Tito Ortos, Stacey Lopez or Angel Martinez. There could be a couple more but I have had no direct experience with them.

Contact me if you need more help.
 
alemana said:
the site says this comp has been around for about a decade.

itorres, are you thinking about going?
Click to expand...

This the first I've heard of it. Their site mentions it was held in PR on 2003 and 2004 at the Westin Rio Mar. Don't know how far back they go. The Rio Mar is a resort like 45 min from the major tourist areas. That is far in PR terms, like 70 degrees is cold. :-)

So, whoever went there would stay there most of the time, would go on sight-seeing tours, but probably wouldn't come to San Juan/Isla Verde in the evening to dance Salsa, Merengue and Reggaeton (they're Ballroom dancers). Maybe that's why I've never been aware of the competition.

I don't see myself going, or actually, paying to go. :-) I got into the last couple of Salsa Congresses through courtesy passes. The Salsa finals are Sat, but they are $65, drinks including tips would be around $10 each (I'm not the water-only dancer type :-) ), there's also parking... Maybe I can find some connection there to get in, since I'll probably go out to the Hotel that night.

Are you thinking "Are you kidding? You're going to be at the Hotel and not go in?" :-0

Alemana, have you been to the Congress here?
 
chica latina said:
How is the ballroom dance population in P.R? I'm planning to go there for my vacation and wanted to know if there are many studios? do they have floor space where i could practice? any info would be greatly appreciate it....
Click to expand...

A few years back the IDSF had a provisional chapter in PR. I met the dude who was heading this effort. I forget his name right now but I remember that the name of the organization was PRDSF. Anyways, I think he gave up on the idea or failed to get any support because the IDSF no longer lists the PRDSF in their membership list.
 
itorres - no, i didn't come to the congress this year, although i know a bunch of folks from new york who did go.
 
tonight: rising stars.
tomorrow (saturday) night: open professional events and the open-to-the-world salsa championship we've been talking about. i was talking to a pro who'll be attending last night, and he said he expected there *would* be some locals throwing their hats in the ring for the salsa title - made me doubly sorry i'll miss it.
 
alemana said:
tonight: rising stars.
tomorrow (saturday) night: open professional events and the open-to-the-world salsa championship we've been talking about. i was talking to a pro who'll be attending last night, and he said he expected there *would* be some locals throwing their hats in the ring for the salsa title - made me doubly sorry i'll miss it.
Click to expand...
I wonder how the judging will be for the Salsa competition. I ran into someone I thought would be competing (World Class Competition Winner) but he wasn't. His opinion was that the competition would not be "Salsa", that the judges would be looking for something "totally different". I asked if he meant like Ballroom Mambo and he said yes.
We'll see...
 
i'm sure it was totally different. dancesport is dancesport, even if they try to cash in a little on the salsa craze.

does anyone have any results from the open pro events or the salsa championship?
 
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