WanderingSalsero

Busan tonight!

Well, since I've opted 'out' of the Daegu Casino Rueda scene for the time being, I've got every other Saturday evening free now.  And I've decided it's finally time for me to do something I've been wanting to do for a long time.....check out the Busan (AKA: Pusan) salsa scene.

I can't say for sure yet but based on my very preliminary research, it looks like it's a healthy community.....salsa-wise, I mean.

I'll be leaving school here in just a few minutes, then going home to get my overnight bag, then heading to the nearest train station (Waegon) to catch the train south to Busan.  I think I'll not take the KTX this time since I've got plenty of time.

On a completely unrelated subject, I think I've discerned an important difference between Kizomba and Zouk:

 The people who seem to be really pushing Zouk now seem, based on the YouTube videos I've seen so far and just now, to be doing the same shit that so many salsa 'pro's' do......i.e. doing stuff that that 99% of social dancers are never going to be able to do and probably even want to do.

I'm referring specifically to that styling stuff where the girl bends her head back and lets her hair sweep around like an actor in a shampoo commercial.....only more extreme.  I think it looks stupid.

That kind of stuff is also totally unfair to the majority of dancers because it sets a goal for them that they're never going to be able to attain and serves only to insure the student's continuation of (paid) classes.

Yeah.......I know some people like it.  I know that.  I even heard that Zouk was all the rage on a salsa cruise a friend of mine went to.  But I'm firm in my opinion.  Hardly anybody but me, it seems, stands up for the simple 'social dancer' who just wants something they can to to 'get into' the music and meet some people.  A large segment of the 'teachers' won't just let dancers be happy and do simple stuff.

I don't think the issue has been decided yet as to which dance, Kizomba or Zouk, is going to be the most popular in the US market.  I'll put my money of Kizomba.  For the simple reason that it's easier to do right and still look pretty.

And I can tell you for a fact that all of the handful of dancers I've taught Kizomba to over these last few weeks have ALL told me how easy Kizomba was to learn and how un-strenuous it was.

Anyway......I'm off to Busan.

Ohhhh....so now the UK is having deficit problems?

We had Wednesday, Thursday, Friday off from school this week so 'm spending an extended weekend in Seoul.  I just saw on Drudge Report that the UK is experienceing a budget deficit even larger than Greece.  Isn't that interesting? 

Rule Britannia, eh?

I think I know a big part of the reason things like this are happening.  It's because we've gotten into the habit of letting people spend money who don't have any connection where it comes from or how it's made.  

It's kinda like the income tax situation in the US today.  If the average person had to pay their income taxes themselves, i.e. if they got their 'gross' pay rather than having their income taxes automatically deducted from their paychecks before they got the 'net', then you can bet your ass that those 'average' people would be more up in arms about the entire issue of the federal income tax (i.e. all the misunderstanding about it, all the misrepresentations about it from the government, and the fact it's downright illegal in the way it's commonly presented).

The fact that people don't actually 'see' their money being stolen from them, like it is, is a big part of the reason that the federal income tax scam survives.   More importantly however, the fact that the government can get away with literally stealing money like that is the reason they spend money like drunken sailors.

When people don't have to work for their money they never really learn how to budget it properly.  That's the situation that governments are in today.  They've been using mostly stolen money to buy votes all these years but now they've simply overspent the ability of their 'golden goose' to lay golden eggs.

Yeah, we the people could 'give' more......but only to the detriment of the lifestyle that we think we're entitled to.  This is the first generation in modern history where average people are actually worse off in many critical 'life issues' than the generation before them.

As you're seeing in Greece, people are getting thoroughly pissed off about it and they're laying the biggest part of the blame squarely where it lies.....with politicaina and 'big brother'. 

Mark my words.....push will come to shove about this.  At an increasing pace, people globally are realizing that big government is the problem and that the people need to reclaim their rights and their responsibilities to govern themselves and pursue their own success free from the insideious influence of 'big brother'. 

Big Brother has turn out to be a dumb asss and a big bully and people had enough.

P.S.  Portugal might well be 'next' too.

Very interesting info via my Kizombiera friend, Ana

Iris De Brito

wroteon February 15, 2009 at 1:42pm

Dance evolves, so it will naturally fuse with the world currents, migration, society and artistic fluidity. Probably, one of the few dances that has maintained it's basic chore the most is Ballet. But we’ll get back to that.

Click through to continue this excellent article.   The point of it that struck a chord with me was that dance form musical interpretations of it evolve.  And it's to be expected and OK.  I've been saying that for years.

This writer, Iris De Brito......I have no idea who she is.  But it's pretty obvious she knows her stuff on this subject.

Thanks to Ana....one of our kizomba experts over on www.kizombadancer.com .

Another grand event in San Francisco for Bachateros et.al.

Rodney Aquino and Jorge Elizando, those two tireless bachatero innovators who brought you the first ever Bachata Congress in Reno, Nevada last year are doing an encore in San Francisco.

Yeah, that's right!  This coming July Rodney and Jorge are putting on the 

1st BACHATA INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL SAN FRANCISCO

SUMMER OF JULY 16, 17, 18, 19, 2009

Reservations are already starting to come in at an increasing rate because everybody wants to be as close to the venue as possible.  Dancers as well as first class instructors are coming literally from the 4 corners of the world.

This event is for you if you're a:

beginners

intermediate or

advanced!

I guess that pretty much means you should come, right?

This event, the first ever "Bachata International" to be held in the beautiful city of San Francisco, California, is going to be totally awesome because you'll have over 70 dance workshops to choose from for the entire weekend!

Sure there'll be some salsa but.......once again Rodney and Jorge make sure that you'll get your 'bachata fix'.  Rodney and Jorge have made major advances in recent years in bringing bachata 'out of the closet'.  As a result of their efforts, bachata popularity has soared.  So you'll have a chance to learn not only from Jorge and Rodney but also several other of the best and most innovative bachata instructors in the world.

But wait!............That's not all!

Because bachata dancers are so so progressive, this event will also feature instructors teaching Dominican style Bachata, Bachata Moderna, Merengue, Boleero, Tango, Zouk, Zumba, Kizomba..... and more. 

A special added surprise treat, the details of which are a tightly guarded secret, will be a special class in "Lap Dancing For Bachateros and Bachateras".  Gee.....!!  I wonder what that'll be??

 There'll be over 50 internationally recognized dance artists and teachers!

And........you'll enjoy 

• LIVE International Dance Performances
• LIVE Latin Band
• "El Duque" a new bachata Movie screening presented by Award Winning Director Adam Taub
• Amateur and Professional Bachata Competition
• Top Latin DJs spinning the best of oldies and new music
• Workshops, Performances and "Dance-til-you-drop" all-night dance parties. 

The event is a super bargin at only $160.00 Full Pass.  Yeah, 4 full-of-fun days and nights in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.  You'll not only learn things that'll take your dancing into the stratosphere but also have a chance to network with other dancers from all over the world and make friends you'll probably know for the rest of your life.

Jorge and Rodney's previous event, in Reno, was a huge success.  This time they've had a chance to find out even more about what YOU really want and that's what they've provided.  You definately shouldn't miss this event.....especially if you're a real bachatero or bachatera.

Man.......!!!  I wish I could be there!!!

I'd highly advise you to begin to make your plans now.  And start by going to this site for more info:  http://www.sfbachatafestival.com

This one'll work too:  HTTP://WWW.SFBIF.COM

Don't delay....... because the price of tickets goes up a bit after 1 July 2009.  You snooze....you loose!  Reserve your ticket right now .......and be sure to take lots of pictures and send me some of your best.  I'll put'em up on WanderingSalsero.  Ticket Info: $160.00 Full Pass Expires July 1, 2009