I just learned of this Montreal comedian, Daniel Tirado ». One of the characters he created is Tony Mambotana – The Latin Salsation. In this clip, “The Latin Salsation picks a random girl from the crowd and teaches the audience how to be sleazy on the dancefloor.”:
If you’re interested in taking one of his drop-in classes, good news, Tony’s coming to Toronto! He’ll be here the second week of December at Absolute Comedy », just north of Yonge & Eglinton.
November 2, 2009
November 1, 2009
Two Girls, One West Coast Swingolo.
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Some more West Coast Swing. Here are 2 views of this improv by Arjay Centeno », Melissa Rutz » and Deborah Székely »:
Pretty Awesome. Watch both clips at the same time to quadruple your viewing pleasure. Let the 2nd clip run about 27 seconds, and then run the first clip.
November 1, 2009
One Girl, One West Coast Swingolo.
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Some more West Coast Swing. Here are 2 views of this improv by John Lindo » and Stephanie Batista »:
Fun and funny! Watch both clips at the same time to double your viewing pleasure. Let the 2nd clip run about 10.5 seconds, and then run the first clip.
November 1, 2009
Salsa version by Son By Four »:
November 1, 2009
I previously mused that a salsa gigolo goes to a salsa club to get his bachata fix », and less so his salsa fix. Lately though, I’ve been finding my fix more from salsa, than from bachata. Either way, I’m getting my salsera fix.
October 23, 2009
Version by Nana Mouskouri » and Harry Belafonte »:
Version by The Brothers Four »:
I look back fondly at my early days as a salsa gigolo. I would not change a thing. Sometimes I will chit chat with a salsa gigolo who is still in his early days, and I will yearn to pass on some wisdom. ‘Keep dancing’ seems too trite to say, so I keep it to myself. But if I’ve learned anything at all, it’s to keep dancing.
October 18, 2009
I am playing around with a new acronym: PLAY. Participation, Laughter, Acceptance, Yes. Acceptance and Yes are almost the same thing, but I’ll keep Yes for now until a better ‘Y’ word comes-up.
To allow play to happen, I am thinking that a salsa gigolo’s role is to allow flexibility in his lead, to take a salsera’s suggestion, and lead from it. To allow mistakes to happen safely, and run with it. I am also thinking that flexibility comes from a salsa gigolo’s awareness of a salsera’s centre of gravity, and an awareness of the shared centre of gravity of the couple. Also, an awareness of a salsera’s footwork, and on which foot she’s stepping.
When I think of play and dance, West Coast Swing immediately comes to mind. Where salsa music lends itself more to ’spicy’, the music in West Coast Swing seems to lend itself more to ‘play’. Or maybe there’s just a difference between spicy salsa play and G-rated West Coast Swing play. One thing to note is that apparently, in West Coast Swing, there is a difference between play and hijacking.
Here are a couple fun West Coast Swing clips:
West Coast Swing Jack & Jill improv by Myles Munroe » and Jennifer DeLuca »:
West Coast Swing Jack & Jill improv by Arjay Centeno » and Jennifer DeLuca »:
Again, I think salsa music lends itself to a naughtier, spicier kind of play, or maybe I’ve just never seen West Coast Swing done naughty. When a salsera asks me to play naughty, I always say Yes.
September 1, 2009
Take the Lead (2006) – 82/100 – Good movie with some memorable dance scenes.
Some of my favourite actors in this movie:
Antonio Banderas – tango gigolo!
Katya Virshilas – tanguera gigalera!
Favourite dance scene, the tango with Antonio and Katya:
Cinematography – 8/10
Story – 8/10
Pacing – 8/10
Action and Dialogue – 8/10
Impact – 8/10
Characters – 8/10
Originality – 8/10
Music – 8/10
Salsa/ Dance – 9/10
Makes you want to be a salsa gigolo – 9/10
Total – 82/100
August 31, 2009
Version by Tito Puente, Jr. » and The Big 3 Palladium Orchestra »:
Version by Tito Puente, Sr. » from the movie, Salsa »:
Interpreted by Becky and Fernando »:
August 9, 2009
Salsera to Salsa Gigolo Ratio
0 Salseras
1 Salsa Gigolo
Where’s the party?
1 Salsera
1 Salsa Gigolo
How you doin’?
2 Salseras
1 Salsa Gigolo
So far, so good.
3 Salseras
1 Salsa Gigolo
Smile.
4 Salseras
1 Salsa Gigolo
Cheshire cat.
5 Salseras
1 Salsa Gigolo
Who’s your daddy?
6 Salseras
1 Salsa Gigolo
Looks around.
7 Salseras
1 Salsa Gigolo
Slight concern.
8 Salseras
1 Salsa Gigolo
Fidget.
9 Salseras
1 Salsa Gigolo
Looks at the wall.
10 Salseras
1 Salsa Gigolo
Secretly wishes for more salsa gigolos to arrive.
10 Salseras
20 Salsa Gigolos
Agh!
