|
Originally posted on Salsaweb NY on 7/98 San
Francisco Touched by Just recently San Francisco's Mambo/Salsa scene was graced with a breath of fresh air that the lovely Addie Diaz so kindly delivered on May 30th 1998 via a NY Styling Workshop held at Cafe Cocomo. Not only did her sweet nature bring smiles to our faces but so did her awesome array of shines. She was quite prepared to convey how much fun it really is to put the syncopated combinations together. She came prepared and was very professional..... I am so grateful for the opportunity to meet such talented professionals in our Latin Dance Scene, again this allows me to have pride in what I do for the masses that appreciate beautiful music and dance. It also has opened so many doors for my career as a dancer, choreographer, instructor, and spokesperson in our San Francisco Salsa Scene......Thanks to all of you who are making this happen.... Addie's trip started out with a little delay, yah right......try 5 hours or so....I lost track, But as we finally made contact and I picked Addie up from the SFO airport ....we embraced with affectionate greetings.....I was holding back all the excitement awaiting us .....I really wanted her trip to be special. Our plans were rearranged because of the flight delay but still got a little dancing in as soon as we got her bags into her Hotel room.....boy I tell you, we didn't even let her relax......what a trooper. Manny, as usual had us rolling with all his stories and jokes to tell.....he also made a lasting impression on everyone here.....what a doll! We finally had to get a bite to eat.... otherwise we would have still been there in the room talking and dancing till dawn......once we get started....I tell you....the fun never ended. We called it a night or day whatever....at around 3am ish or so......Just so we can start the next day out fresh. The next day, the sun even came out to play, what a treat. I tell you she brought sunshine into our whole Bay area....the gang came over to my place to grove a little bit on our new dance floor in the garage.....which is where the Mambo Elite Kids Saturday class is held.....we are making good use of it now. Addie briefed us on what she would be covering for the workshop so the Mambo Elite Instructors could be totally prepared to teach the students after her departure. What a workout.....we kept it short, as usual. Toni had a private lesson she had to teach....and everyone else was going to get ready for Yvonne's Junior High 1998 Talent show that she would be performing for us. Little miss thing is what we call Yvonne...the girl can boogie! Yvonne was so pumped up that Addie and Manny were in the house....she even made an appoint to tell all the dancers in her group to really be tight and perform with all they got.....she said that New York was in the house and wanted to show a taste of West Coast flavor to them....She was pleased with their results....as Addie and Manny also gave them thumbs up on their performance.....See what a little touch of New York can do for our scene....It makes us all want to put more soul into our dancing..... A little more Soul in our dancing is what has become of us these days......Everywhere I go now...people ask to be taught how to do shines.....What a change......We visited Albertos night club on the Friday of Addie's visit .....there was held an Ametuer dance contest by some of the Bay areas known instructors, Ava Apple, Gary and Isabelle and Gabriel and Alicia, students. Who all did very well....what I enjoyed most was the energy..... After the contest.... the floor was open to everyone.....Addie and Manny just were out there having so much fun ...in fact we all got to dance with Manny and Frank, Fred and Juan got to dance with Addie. They received compliments all night....even by Gabriel who teaches there at Albertos on Thursday..... That was nice to see the instuctors being hospitable to our guest.....that was the start of a beautiful opening for our scene to be united......I will touch more on this goodness later..... We got to do some more advertising for the workshop following that Saturday....so off we went to end our evening dining and talking some more.... Saturday was exciting.....Addie worked it with lots of Addie-tude.....which now is our saying in class on referencing execution of shines with style....with Addie-tude...... I personally am working on my Addie-tude.....and am becoming quite the expressive one in our group since then ......how much fun I am having..... yeah! The students are back by the bunches......more more more ....they ask for more.....what a break through. Since then I have had to start a Wednesday Advanced class.....since our Monday class has filled to over 30 students now .....we had to accommodate the dedicated ones that are ready for a challenge.... Saturday at Cafe Cocomo has become quite an intermediate class......so off we go....dancing into the golden sunset....finally breaking free from the El Nino Stormy days .....those stormy days of the 1 dancers versus the 2 dancers .....no more......we are uniting....... That whole day was sunny and warm ....we even got to take a nice drive to the Fisherman's Warf to have a nice lunch . Then off we went to get ready for a night on the town...... We went to Mr. E's in Berkeley......I was very happy to have one of our best Bands playing , Advance. This made for a perfect evening....The Touch of Class that Mr. E's brings and great music.....what more could you ask for....we danced our feet off....Addie even got to meet Carl Perazo, a professional congero who plays for Santana, and of course Pops himself, Pete Escevedo owner of Mr. E's....I was pleased to have hosted a grand evening .....and yet again we topped it off with dining out and talking till dawn..Manny and his stories ....they are never ending......but all so enjoyable...... Sunday comes.....and we are all sad to see Addie and Manny go.....but we are encouraged to keep up the good work...to prepare even more great things to take place here in San Francisco..... The students all loved Addie and want her back very very soon. Success stories made to last a life time. What can we say......... I will be sharing on how San Francisco is becoming quite to passionate place all over again ....See all we needed was a little love and some guidence.....and now we are back on track. New York will be very pleased to have an extened family of friends here in the San Francisco area.....we reach out to our Sister City Los Angeles and support their efforts as well ....We see big things happening very soon to everyone that loves to Salsa.... Addie we love you and welcome you back anytime ...Manny if you ever want to start teaching and want to do a workshop, ever, well you definately got what it takes.....we will always have you work for us. For now, I must sign off, With lots of Love from San Francisco. - Audrianna |
