This Intense L.A. Thing…
(Title compliments of Chicago Salsera, Ms. Kimberly Stathis).
Dancing Salsa in Los Angeles By Edie, The Salsa FREAK

Los Angeles has taken Salsa to a new level. Tricks, dips, and jazzy dramatic moves have taken the entire world by storm. The worldwide demand for new moves, and videos from L.A. Salseros is at an all time high. L.A. Salseros are in the limelight, adding everything into their dance… much like the sauce, a little bit of this, a little bit of that… throw in some Tango, add in some Swing, spice it up with Flamenco, and you’ve got the makings of authentic "L.A. Salsa, Hollywood Style".

"I rarely sweat during any other dance, but when I dance Salsa, LA style, I’m soaked."
- Professional Ballroom Coach, Los Angeles, CA

I was at the Tosca Dancewear fashion show in Los Angeles earlier this month, talking with Kimberly Stathis from Chicago. Kimberly and June Rivas flew down for the show, and as usual, could not stop talking about how intense the Salsa scene is in Los Angeles.

There are many who have mixed emotions about it. Some say it’s no longer authentic "Salsa", but then again, what is? Some say Salsa is an ever-evolving dance with no rules, others say it’s just a fad, and then there are those who could care less and are riding this Salsa storm to its fullest, expanding the dance into several dimensions, and having a blast living their lives for a change.

With LA instructors coming from ballroom, jazz, hip-hop and ballet, students are taught a myriad of styles and are encouraged to apply it to their Salsa.

Here are a few comments made to me these past several months from both men and women at various nightclubs, parties, and events. They are just typical reactions from people who have either visited LA, or are a part of the incredible Salsa scene there.

"I’ve never had so many bruises in my entire life. And all of them happened in one night. But come to think of it, I had an ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE time! I can’t wait to go back!"
- Salsera from LA

"I kept getting stepped on. The clubs are getting so crowded. They’re just not big enough to hold the Salsa dancers anymore. There’s so many. The scene has just exploded."
- Salsero from LA

"Didn’t this used to be a Swing club? Needs to be bigger."

"Why do these clubs have such small dance floors? I mean, 5,000 square feet is not enough anymore! Don’t these promoters have a clue?"
- Salsero from LA

"How many dancers do you think are here tonight? Well over 1500… and they’re all DANCING SALSA."
- Salsera visiting LA

"Didn’t this used to be a three-story theatre? It’s not big enough to hold all these dancers."

"I didn’t have to use the bathroom at all, but sitting in the stall was my only refuge. All I wanted to do was rest and dry off. I hate saying no to guys, but they just kept asking me! I had sweat dripping all over my back, down my butt, and down my legs. When it got to inside my shoe soles, I said "Enough", and finally escaped to the bathroom. I just couldn’t any more."
- Salsera

"I’m not missing New York right now… almost everyone here in LA can dance on the two! I’ve been here for almost three months, and have RARELY had to dance on the One."
- Salsero from New York

"Wow, the DJ put a Merengue on and no one is dancing. That’s a first."
- Salsero

"Street Salsa dancers of Los Angeles are now in major motion pictures, television, featured as stars on the Internet, radio talk shows, newspapers, and virtually every form of media known to man."
- Television Talk Show Host

On Rodeo drive in Beverly Hills, two very well-dressed, sophisticated rich women were talking while shopping … "Oh yes, the party last weekend was spectacular… everyone who’s anyone was there… Madonna, Spike Lee, Harrison Ford… oh, and the host, I heard he made it big on Wallstreet….bought the entire block… great house… fourteen rooms, two pools, fifteen minutes from the Beverly Hotel… the caviar was a bit dry… and the entertainment, I’m telling you it was the best part of the entire evening. They had ‘Salsa Dancers’ and played Latin music the entire night. Never saw anything like it... they were incredible dancers. I have this feeling we’re really missing something."
- Two very well-dressed, sophisticated rich women

"I was having a great time dancing with my partner until this woman next to us accidentally BASHED me on the head during a turn. I started bleeding. It turned me off so much that I went home."
- Salsero

"I left the club got in my car, HIGH from dancing so much. I literally felt ditsy drunk from the energy! I felt like I was speeding on cocaine. The guys here just won’t stop asking you to dance, and they’re ALL great!"
– Salsera visiting LA

"Didn’t this used to be a Stadium? It’s STILL not big enough."