Introducing the Salsa FREAK
herself, Ms. Edie
This month the Writers Forum has the pleasure of getting to know Salsaweb's Co-Founder, Editor-In-Chief and world renown "Salsafreak", the one and only Edie. Our first part of the Cyber-Interview will focus on Edie, the Salsa Dancer. Next month we'll get to find out more about Edie, one of the driving forces behind Salsaweb's popularity, growth and the this year's SALSAWEB'S INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION.
- How long have you been dancing mambo and what got you into it?
I’ve been dancing "Salsa" on one for about five years, and an occasional "Mambo", on two, (true New York Style Mambo), since September of 1997. I feel like I never get to practice my Mambo on the Eddie Torres style "two" enough!!! When I’m in New York, is really the only chance I get. And I’m RARELY in New York!
- Where did you originally learn how to dance Salsa and who was (were) your mentors?
I learned Salsa in Los Angeles, CA. Luis and Joby Vazquez were my instructors, mentors, and best of friends through all my personal "trials and tribulations". Josie Neglia was also very key in straightening out my turns, and Janette Valenzuela helped me with my posture. I’ve taken many private classes from different instructors all over the place.
- How long have you been teaching Salsa and what made you decide to teach Salsa?
I started out assisting Joby and Luis with their classes in Orange County back in 1996. They soon started asking me to teach at times without them, which forced me to learn very quickly.
- What do you like most about teaching?
The satisfaction of helping people get "through the tough times", and also learning from my students as well.
- Why do you think people come to learn from you?
Either they’ve seen me dance, or have read my articles on Salsaweb.
- Are most of your students men or women? and why is that?
I have an equal mix of male and female students in my classes and workshops. However, I do get more men than women who enjoy taking private lessons from me. I think it’s because I’m very intense, thorough. I really want them to "get it", and leave feeling like they can immediately apply what they’ve learned.
- What is the hardest thing you find about teaching?
Sometimes if I teach more than 3-4 hours per day, I don’t feel like going out dancing that evening. I already feel "danced out", but don’t get the same "fix" feeling like I do at clubs. So I danced all day, without my "fix", and am too pooped to go get it that night at a club. It’s very frustrating sometimes.
- Do you still like to go to clubs and dance socially?
Oh yes. Every chance I get. My favorite place to dance is the Copa in New York on a Sunday or Tuesday. I still love Los Angeles as my "home base". I’ve been everywhere Salsa is popular now, and I still love LA the best.
- How about performing? Do you still perform and who have you performed for or with?
I performed on numerous occasions with several partners. I think the most rewarding experience was performing with the world famous Salsa Brava Dance Company out of Los Angeles. Joby and Luis’ leadership of that team is absolutely incredible. The fun-loving, laughs and joking around, combined with discipline and very hard work created a beautifully cohesive family-atmosphere. Everyone gets along so well.
- Name your favorite on-stage performance?
My favorite performance was at the Mayan competition in 1996, when my partner Angel Galvan and I took first place at the Amateur level. I also loved performing with Team Salsaweb all over Europe. That was an experience of a lifetime, that I’ll NEVER forget!
- What got you into performing and when was your first time on stage?
Well, if you consider a competition a performance, then my first one was at Vasillio’s nightclub in Downey. Again, it was with my partner Angel Galvan. We took third place that night.
- What did you feel when you first performed live on stage?
Scared shitless. I kept having to go to the bathroom. I was shaking, sweating, not smiling, and looked like a shivering wet cat.
- Have you traveled to teach workshops and seminars? If so where have you gone?
I traveled with the Team Salsaweb dance team to ten different countries all over Europe. I then, performed with the Salsa Brava dance company in the United States in New York, Boston, Washington DC, California, and Puerto Rico. I taught workshops in Denver, Atlanta, Miami, and now Pittsburgh, and Phoenix. I recently got back from Israel and Amman, Jordan in the Middle East, where I was the first person in the world invited to teach a workshop in an Arab country.
- What is it that you like about traveling to teach?
I love to globe-trot, and to see how other people live and dance.
- Which has been your favorite place to teach a workshop?
I really enjoyed Sweden and Denmark, but I had the most fun teaching the Salsa-Holics in Israel. They wanted to learn so badly… they just "ate up" every new move I "dished out". They are a beautiful group of people.
- Which gives you the best joy? Teaching, performing or putting together choreography?
I think teaching and performing run a close tie in my book. I love it when my students understand and "get it". Because I’m such a ham, I really love to perform on stage as well.
- How is it that you prepare yourself for a workshop? and for a performance?
To prepare for a workshop, It depends on "where in the world" we are, and whether or not we're teaching a Styling workshops or partnering classes. We usually go visit the clubs first, look at the caliber of the city, then at the workshops. We'll sometimes ask the couples to give us a small demo dance prior to the workshop, so we can get a good calibration for the level(s) we need to teach. It worked wonders in Israel where I taught over 100 students in one partnering and female styling workshop, by myself! I also have notes with moves that I’ve jotted down, again, depending on the caliber of the class at large. -
What advice would you give those just getting into Salsa? How can they work at getting better at dancing?
PRACTICE, and lots of it!! Oh, and ladies, don’t be afraid of FALLING on the dance floor in front of a crowd of dancer onlookers. I consider this incident to be "extremely good luck" for budding Salseros. Most who have fallen have picked themselves right back up again, and went on to become excellent dancers. In my book, accidentally falling in the middle of a trick move or dip, is truly an inauguration to becoming a GREAT dancer. The second night I went dancing with my partner, we did a very difficult move, and fell flat on our butts in front of the crowd. It was an AWESOME fall, (you would have been proud of me Manny). my partner lost his balance holding me. I tumbled, fell, and rolled on the ground, skirt, stockings, high heels and all. my partner fell right on top of me. It was absolutely hilarious. We just got up, brushed ourselves off, in front of a terrified crowd of wide-eyed onlookers. We both instinctively bowed, and did the exact same move again, this time completing it successfully! We got a huge round of applause after that move!
- How best could you describe your way of dancing? of teaching? and of performing?
I’m by no means the best dancer in the world, but my style is typical "LA Street Style", which is a combination of ballroom techniques, with swing, and funky jazz. Many have told me they enjoy my privates because of my high level of intensity. I really want my students to "get it". I make them sweat, and really work them hard. When I give privates at my house, I usually provide them a large glass of water or Gatorade, and a sweat towel. We both have a great workout! When I perform, I love to put my heart into it. I’m still a bit rough around the edges, and because I’m not a "trained" dancer with extensive years of ballroom, ballet, or jazz, it sometimes shows. It’s also difficult at times for me to just "pick up" a move … this is something I need to constantly work on.
- How is New York Mambo Dancing different from mambo dancing in other parts of the country?
Ok, this is my opinion only, because believe me, there are many opinions out there. From a Salsa-FREAK, street dancing standpoint:
The Hard-Core New Yorker Mambo community loves to dance on the "New York Mambo on Two", which is entirely different from the "Ballroom Mambo on Two". Although my first love is LA style on the "one", I also enjoy the New York style (Eddie Torres 5,6,7, "two"). It has a beautiful feeling to it that is quite indescribable.
Back in LA, 99% of us learned, and continue to dance on the "one" and the "three". It’s no big deal, just a different timing. One thing I like in particular about the New York "two" is that they hold the "four" and the "eight" counts. The style allows for an "elastic" type of pause in the dance, and hold of the beat… something that is not done in LA. This "elasticity" makes New York style so unique from the regular ballroom style "two", which is danced on the 2,3,4, holding the "one" and the "seven". See http://www.salsafreak.com/steps.htm for a more clear explanation. The added "hustle" style gives the entire feeling even MORE of an elastic feeling between the "four" and the "eight" counts. It's quite extraordinary.
- Do you think that dancers get treated with respect? If not why?
Sometimes. I don’t think they realize they are getting treated badly until it’s too late. When I say "badly", I mean by promoters, event coordinators and some famous musicians, and in some cases, by other dancers or instructors. It takes a lot of time and patience to be a good dancer - sometimes you wonder if it’s all worth it or not. The hours and hours of practice, the late nights, the expensive classes, coaching, outfits, and travel… you really have to love it, because the recognition you get is few and far between. It’s for this reason Salsaweb decided to give the Lifetime Achievement Award to Eddie Torres at the 1999 International Salsaweb Convention http://www.salsaweb.com/convention He’s helped many many people, and has changed many many lives for the better. I truly think people don’t realize, nor appreciate this, unless you get to know the professional dancers.
- What would you like to see happen to mambo within the next few years?, next decade? Within your lifetime?
I’d like to see EVERYONE get over their hang-ups with "what beat" you dance on, and "what timing" is better (The "one" or the "two"). Oh brother. It doesn’t really matter people! As long as you’re having a BLAST dancing out there, WHO REALLY CARES? In fact, I love dancing on the FOUR for crying out loud. It’s so cool to be able to dance TO ALL BEATS of the music… the "one", the "two", the "three", the "four", the "five", the "six", the "seven", the "eight"… and trust me, I have tried ALL of them. Salsa dancing becomes so much more multi-dimensional, so much more interesting, so much more FUN when you can dance to ANYTHING!!!
WOW!!! I’m getting CHILLS just thinking about it!!! Bring ‘em on baby!!! Put me into ‘whateva you want bro!!! I’m YOURS.. ! - What is the best way for someone interested in learning Salsa can get in contact with you?
You can reach me at edie@salsaweb.com
Now that we got the Dancer side of Edie, Click here for
part 2 of her interview which focuses on the
her web site......Salsaweb
Edie, "The Salsa FREAK" is Editor-in-Chief and co-founder of Salsaweb Magazine, Inc. Together with her partner Benjamin Rapoport, and an amazing team of dedicated volunteers, they have developed the largest Salsa dance website in the world. Over 8,000 printed pages of fabulous advice, humor, and information, both educates and entertains dance enthusiasts in every country where Salsa music is enjoyed. |
