Unity Through Salsa (Debut Post!)
I nearly fell out of my chair when I opened the Bermuda Festivals’ 2013 brochure and saw that Poncho Sanchez was headlining opening night. If you’re a hardcore salsaholic like I am, just the opening few bars of “El Conguero” will make you salivate. Seriously. Of course, I quickly put about all of my closest fellow salsaholics on alert that we need to get tickets, show up decked out and dressed to the nines, and completely take over the dancefloor on January 18th. The many comments and emails that followed got me so hyped up about the event (just over 10 weeks away, but who’s counting?) I blasted “El Congeuro” at full volume at work.
An just like that, in a matter of minutes, the promise of an amazing night out with a world-reknown salsa band instantly brought together 20+ people from various socio-economic, ethnic, religious and cultural affiliations…all in the name of salsa. And that’s one of the things that never cease to amaze me; it’s perpetual and timeless ability to bridge gaps across barriers otherwise left unexplored. It becomes even more apparent in my travels around the world to different congresses, events and clubs, where there are literally hundreds of dancers claiming their spot on the dancefloor for four minutes of pure heaven.
A salsa dancer is everyone. They are brown people, yellow people, pale people. Rich, poor, students, accountants, pilots, janitors, and CEOs. They are people from every corner of the globe, and many are non-English speakers. They dance, style and shine together, interact and communicate with not more than a look or a gesture. So how does a dance…a music style… manage to bring so many different types of people together, without prejudice, judgement of each other…even for just a few minutes?
My few theories: Salsa (the dance) is a universal language “spoken” by many, through body movements, expressions…what the corporate world calls nonverbal communication; something that is hardwired into us from birth, regardless of culture (ie. New mothers are acutely tuned to their babies’ hunger cues, or need for attention by simple observation). But over time we lose our ability to interpret subtle cues from the people around us. Dancers have honed this skill to the point where communication between partners is smooth, relaxed and enjoyable. And this is what makes it the ideal universal language.
Salsa (the music) has percussive roots common to many cultures. Our innate tendency towards rhythms and drums wake up a deep and powerful part of our collective evolutionary psyche...just watch any salsero during a conga or timbale solo…or Bermudians hearing Gombey drums in the distance…virtually impossible to sit still!
Salseros and salseras are generally tolerant, patient, and passionate people. Salsa “culture” is usually very warm, accepting and open to any and all. It’s an art form that has no limit to how far it can spread. And as I have seen with my very own eyes how quickly and effectively it brings people together, there is no doubt that salsa is a unifying force; a force that cannot be contained or owned by any one individual, but shared among the masses.
So keep your eyeballs on this space for more random stuff from the vaults of my salsa experience...feel free to suscribe via email, Facebook or Twitter...and don't forget you can view my website and this blog on your mobile at www.salsagoddess.me.
See you on the dancefloor!
Teresa
An just like that, in a matter of minutes, the promise of an amazing night out with a world-reknown salsa band instantly brought together 20+ people from various socio-economic, ethnic, religious and cultural affiliations…all in the name of salsa. And that’s one of the things that never cease to amaze me; it’s perpetual and timeless ability to bridge gaps across barriers otherwise left unexplored. It becomes even more apparent in my travels around the world to different congresses, events and clubs, where there are literally hundreds of dancers claiming their spot on the dancefloor for four minutes of pure heaven.
A salsa dancer is everyone. They are brown people, yellow people, pale people. Rich, poor, students, accountants, pilots, janitors, and CEOs. They are people from every corner of the globe, and many are non-English speakers. They dance, style and shine together, interact and communicate with not more than a look or a gesture. So how does a dance…a music style… manage to bring so many different types of people together, without prejudice, judgement of each other…even for just a few minutes?
My few theories: Salsa (the dance) is a universal language “spoken” by many, through body movements, expressions…what the corporate world calls nonverbal communication; something that is hardwired into us from birth, regardless of culture (ie. New mothers are acutely tuned to their babies’ hunger cues, or need for attention by simple observation). But over time we lose our ability to interpret subtle cues from the people around us. Dancers have honed this skill to the point where communication between partners is smooth, relaxed and enjoyable. And this is what makes it the ideal universal language.
Salsa (the music) has percussive roots common to many cultures. Our innate tendency towards rhythms and drums wake up a deep and powerful part of our collective evolutionary psyche...just watch any salsero during a conga or timbale solo…or Bermudians hearing Gombey drums in the distance…virtually impossible to sit still!
Salseros and salseras are generally tolerant, patient, and passionate people. Salsa “culture” is usually very warm, accepting and open to any and all. It’s an art form that has no limit to how far it can spread. And as I have seen with my very own eyes how quickly and effectively it brings people together, there is no doubt that salsa is a unifying force; a force that cannot be contained or owned by any one individual, but shared among the masses.
So keep your eyeballs on this space for more random stuff from the vaults of my salsa experience...feel free to suscribe via email, Facebook or Twitter...and don't forget you can view my website and this blog on your mobile at www.salsagoddess.me.
See you on the dancefloor!
Teresa
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