A Weekend of Rest and World Class Salsa in Vancouver
by Chad A. Wright
posted June 8, 2005

For years I've heard about beautiful Vancouver: the mountains, the ocean, the peaceful weather, the stunning rainbow of races and ethnicities, and - of course with my new addiction - THE SALSA! Finally I got my chance to see it, and it was all that I had heard about it.

With my good friend Vino living there, who many of you remember as a former Indy salsero, I had a tour guide to the beauty of Vancouver and a facet of its world class propensity, namely in the genre of salsa.

The trip was a health conscious salsero's dream vacation (minus feminine companionship off the dance floor - ha, ha - though healthier, not as dreamlike). First of all, the only responsibility I had there was to do exactly what I felt like doing, a task I took very seriously. Each late morning started with a short drive to the Bikram's Yoga studio, which involved an hour and a half of stretching, strengthening, and balancing in about 115 degrees Fahrenheit. Next was a shower, breakfast at IHOP, and then home for a nap. Several lazy hours later (i.e. eating, shopping, people watching, tv watching, and/or nothingness as much as necessary) we'd go to salsa class(es), and then to the salsa club of the night. The following two paragraphs describe the clubs and classes I experienced in Vancouver:

The classes: I took salsa, merengue, and bachata classes from Diego Sanchez. He seems to be the most renowned instructor in Vancouver. This Columbian-born instructor extraordinaire has a unique way of teaching cumbia and salsa together to make his trademark style. Not only does Diego teach salsa in Vancouver, but he also teaches and performs at salsa congresses with his dance company, Grupo America. Plus his Reuda team has come both first and second in the world championships. So needless to say, Diego is an incredible teacher who knows salsa inside and out. In fact, he even teaches ladies styling, seemingly knowing how to follow as well as how to lead.

The clubs: Friday night was The Polish Hall, Vancouver's version of The Jazz Kitchen. It seemed to have a lot of beginners with a few middle level, and even fewer professional level dancers. Saturday night was The Hot Jazz Club. There Diego Sanchez taught a beginner and an intermediate salsa class before the dancing began. The dancers ranged from beginner to professional. Most of the dancers there were at least intermediate level. Sunday night was The Rowing Club. The male partner of the winners of the World Salsa Championships in Miami taught a beginner salsa class. Then Diego taught a beginner rueda class. And before the dancing began, there were several professional dance performances, one of which was Grupo America. I apparently missed what most Vancouver salsa dancers considered the best club, Atlantis, which is on Tuesday nights. Vino likened it to "Vancouver's Blue Cactus".

So if any of you who have wondered about the salsa scene in Vancouver, wonder no more. There are classes and clubs for dancers of all levels. From my experience there, I offer you some advice. Don't let the level of dancers there intimidate you. Rather, let it elevate you. Even though we are not to the level of Vancouver yet in Indy, the ladies there had no trouble following my lead, though they said they could tell that I didn't learn salsa there. (Kind of cool that Indy is beginning to have its own style). And just remember to have fun and not take it or yourself too serious. When I was able to do that there, I started doing moves and styling that I wasn't sure where they came from.

I give my thanks to my great friend Vino for hosting me Indian style. According to Vino, guests to Indians are to be treated like gods, and he lived up to that standard. I'll be back for the Vancouver Salsa Congress in September!