party at the Athletic Club in Almada,
'Beira Mar Atlético Clube', a monthly Salsa Party -- one of the biggest
monthly Lisbon region parties.
This
scene is tight. Everybody
pretty much knows everybody.
Joao
identified me in the club because I was the only girl there that he
didn’t know. Nobody
approached me to dance until after he said hello.
And bless his heart, thereafter, I must have had about 15
different dance partners.
The
L.A. style leads are excellent.
Or
Joao only sent me the goods.
Even
so, I’d say over 15 good leads in one place is an excellent
average. The leads aren’t
highly technical but smooth and effortless. Attached is a crazy picture of my favourite lead that night.
I realize it looks like he’s grabbing
her ass, but you must believe me, he was a pleasure to dance salsa with
.. and he didn't grab MY ass.
I
was impressed by the variations in style in many of the dancers.
I
didn't find the turn patterns redundant. As an intermediate
salsa dancer from Toronto, I do find this can be the case in Toronto
intermediate styles and patterns. I'm guessing that a lot of the individual
moves, in Toronto, are taught in choreographed turn
patterns. So, as for Lisbon/Almada, I
wondered where these dancers started out. They either
had the same teachers and had been dancing long enough to find their own
comfort or they all had different teachers.
One day, I would like to hear this story about how L.A. style salsa
came to Portugal.
Joao
was able to explain that some dance influences to their salsa scene came
from their Brazilian and African communities.
An extra treat that evening was being introduced to
Kizomba. “A very sensual
rhythm from Angola and Cape-Green (very, very similar to Zouk)” Joao
explained. (“What’s
Zouk?” I should have asked).
Unfortunately,
I’ve completely forgotten the dance.
I only remember that it was timed in sets of three steps,
alternating. Very close
frame. The music sounds like a
cross between Merengue and Reggae.
I
attached, unabridged, a sample of the flood of dance knowledge readily available from Joao:
“Yeah, Kizomba is great!
Kizomba evolved from an Angola Rhythm called 'Semba'
that some consider to be in the origin of Samba (Brazil), or at least
some say that the name Samba comes from Semba (I read an academic
article saying that). But
the way that Kizomba is danced doesn't resemble Samba at all. Kizomba is
a slow couple dance, danced close together and has a clear influence of
Tango in some Steps. In one
of Lisbon’s more well known weekly Milongas (Tango Party) Kizomba is
danced a lot. In Cape-Green you have Kizomba, too, but there it’s
called 'Passada'. It's
danced the same way, the rhythm is the same but you can tell by the
sound when it's a Kizomba from Angola or a Kizomba from Cape-Green.”
“The
best places in Lisbon to dance Kizomba (as other African couple dances
like: 'Coladera', 'Funana', 'Morna'): B.Leza, Mussulo,
Enclave and Comvento.”
“Some
of these discos have really good African restaurants where you can have
late dinners or early breakfasts.
Coladera
is a Cape-Green music style that is danced in a couple, very similar to
Cuban Son. Funana is an electrifying Cape-Green music style (again) that
is danced very much like Merengue but with a different dynamics (more
aggressive when hitting the floor with the left foot) and less figures
with the arms.”
According
to Joao, the best places to dance Salsa in Portugal are:
Barrio
Latino
- in the Lisbon area known as 'Expo' in the east side. The area has a
lot of bars with a nice view to the river.
Friday nights are hosted by a large Lisbon salsa school.
Saturday
salsas. Sunday salsa matinees.
Salsa
Latina
- (in 'Docas') they have a Cuban
live band on Saturdays, but you will not find so many people to
dance as in 'El Barrio', because Salsa Latina is more the commercial
kind of place (Merengues, pop-salsa, etc..) except on the first and last
Thursday of each month when you have the 'Salsero night' with top
Portuguese salsa DJ's.
Their
salsa nights run between 12:30 – 6:00 a.m.,
“After that you can go to an African Disco to dance more,”
Joao said. (“Who wants to
dance more after 6 a.m.?” I didn’t ask).
