Talk about a cultural induction. There's nothing like being thrown into the middle of a crowded dance floor; music blaring, people staring, with everyone around you, young and old, "salsa-ing" their hearts out, to make you find your Latin groove.
Last friday we were invited by Nathan's tutor to attend a concert at the Hotel San Jose. Her father, Ramiro Guzman is a professional musician and plays bass guitar in his own band, Gaviota. They play the most amazing romantic, latin rhythm dance music and love ballads. They have several male vocalists that are so talented, with smooth voices and classic harmonies...look out Enrique!
Usually at these sort of events it takes several songs, if not the whole evening, for people to begin to brave the dance floor. Not so...they started out with several slow songs and the floor was instantly filled with couples of all ages. After a while they livened things up with some salsa music, and the night took off! You have to realize, here they teach their babies to salsa before they can walk...ok maybe after they're potty trained...but seriously, they don't even have to think about it, they just know how to dance.
We sat at a reserved booth for the Guzman family with several of our teachers from language school and some of their spouses. Once we expressed an interest in learning some dances, we never sat down again. They had us on the dance floor learning salsa, meringue, cumbia... you'd think we were training for Dancing with the Stars!
Needless to say we had a great time and learned a lot about social dancing, such an integrated part of Latino culture. We hope to go again soon!
Click here to visit Gaviota's website!
Here's our pics with some sounds bites from that night...
1 comment:
Well, it's a good thing it wasn't Elisa and I learning to Latin dance for the first time, or there'd be real reason for sympathy (perhaps more like comic relief)! You guys are trained dancers, so all I can think is that everybody was very likely impressed at your gringo first efforts...
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