Salsa...Lets Spin .... Bar 1

(1)

6th March'2008


"Hello All,

We have organized a SALSA DANCE DEMONSTRATION event on 7th & 8th March. Further details are given hereunder: 

Date/Time: 7th March - 11pm (Friday) & 8th March 12 noon (Saturday)
Place : 9th floor , GNFC Infotower.
Duration 30 minutes.


Please inform your team members about the same..


Regards,

HR Manager"

"Arey this is a good initiative taken by our HR team. Shall we go there?" I asked, on reading the mailer. 

"Haan haan, sure kyu nahi. We'll go. Aur vaise bhi tujhe yea sab to pasand hai hi.", said Partho.

"Time bhi suitable hai. Chal sakte hai."

We reached there by 12:10PM in the cafeteria where the setup was made and two instructors were getting along with the counts. Although we were late, there were very few participants. Only 5 of us were in the ring, while others were watching us. 

I just joined them and started following the instructor.

Hi my name is Mayur," said one of the instructor. There was another female along with him but couldn't catch her name. After all who was interested in knowing names. All I thought was to groove and groove as much as I can.

The instructor said we'll be going ahead with Latin American Moves which gradually converts in to SALSA dance form. The steps were quite basic with step forward, step to the side, step backwards. Initially it looked easy. It got a bit stiff when the instructor asked to include the hip movement along with the steps. Graceful, it looked. They divided the entire dance steps in to 8 counts so that a proper co-ordination can be established. 

"It seems that we are quite good at these LATIN AMERICAN moves. All of us are doing good so shall we move ahead?", asked Mayur.

"YESSSSSSS", came the roar from rest of us. This time the viewers also added to the sound.

"We have seen the basic steps of SALSA, and now we would learn the basics of HIP HOP. I am sure u all know what HIP HOP is. It has got more of bouncy movements and steps are full of energy.," Mayur added.

I was all set to continue. Whether it was SALSA or HIP HOP or anything else. All I thought was "Lets do it". And we started with HIP HOP.

The modus operandi was same for the steps in HIP HOP as well. 8 counts for every bar. "BAR" that's what they called the set of 8 counts.

I had seen dance shows and videos where various dance forms were presented. And here although not at an international level, I was performing, on the 9th Floor. It felt great. Not only because the steps were good, bouncy and energetic, but also because of the music that was played. Few of the sound tracks, I could recognize,  and rest although not familiar were irresistible. We moved along with the steps till the 4th BAR. 

"So now we'll revise the LATIN AMERICAN MOVES & HIP HOP from the top", said Mayur. I knew we were nearing the end of the session. The time flew very quickly. But yes, we did revise the steps and in between I got compliments too from MAYUR. Although not professional performance by us, I got quite good at it. 

We finished with both set of dance steps. We were sweating like a cotton drenched in water, but who cared we wanted to do it more. However, the time did not permit the extension. 

I liked it, the entire experience was good. Excellent. I performed good. Yes I did. Mayur started distributing the visiting cards to those who would want to join their dance academy.

(2) 

13th Jan'2010


We were downstairs for a cup of tea when a topic of fitness and regime came up. Few of us standing there suggested that gymnasium provides a better option of keeping fit while other were of the opinion that dancing too can help in shaping up. 


Suddenly we recalled the demonstration that was held in our office two years back. I thought of the participation we had at that time. Further I could realize that the dacne academy from where the tutors came was near by.


"Yaar ek baar to join karne jaisa hai kyu?" I said


"Woh to pichli baar bhi sochha tha. Join to kiya nahi." Partho re-iterated.


"Haan par phir to mein Jaipur chala gaya tha na sir. Chalo abhi inquiry karke aate hai."


"Tu Jaa, mujhe koi dance wance nahi karna. Haan par kuch exercise ka schedule ho to dekh sakhte hai. Something more substantial you know!"


"Par uske liye vaha jaana padega na. Chalo to sahi. Zyada time bhi nahi lagega"


So then, Me and Partho went along the place nearby. The name of the institute read Shashi Kunj.

"But I thought iska naam SPIN ACADEMY tha. "

"Anyways under jaake pata karte hai."

We sat there while going through some enquiries and tables where we discovered SHASHI KUNJ was the place for cultural activites. Many picutures and posts were on the wall with various renowned artists performing.

While inquiring about the batch for SALSA we came to know that the batch has already started. I felt a bit disheartened. Because by that time I was all set to join the upcoming batch, which I thought was starting in next 2 days. However, my face brightened up as the person there said I can join the ongoing batch. Only 2 sessions had passed by. I thought of joining the same immediately. The person there asked me to try the classes once and then maybe I can pay the fees and continue.

Sounded like a good deal to me. After all who in this world wants their product to be tested and then purchased and that too on an individual basis.

(3)

14th Jan2010

I was thinking of joining the session. I thought to give it a try. But the price for the session, surprised me. It was 1950 for 16 hrs, every Friday and Saturday, and I had already missed 2 sessions. Gujjus, have a tendency to calculate ROI on almost everything. But it would surprise anyone intending to join such lessons for the first time. Moreover, there were no testimonials with me regarding their proficiency.

I was driving back home, when I suddenly recalled one of my acquaintance had done a batch with SPIN. I gave a call to her. 

"Hey, Nidhi,

"Hi, kya haal hai?, came the voice from the other side of the phone.

"Arey yaar tune pehle SALSA ke classes kiye hai na?", I straightaway jumped to the topic. 

"Haan Spin se kiya hai!"

"SPIN? Great. Infact I was planning to join and thought to get a second opinion. How good are they?."

"See, If you are planning for SALSA, you'll need a partner, however that should not bother you if you like dancing. Moreover, they'll also teach other dance forms such as HIP HOP, JIVE etc.. cause it does happen at times that females are less in the sessions."

"Oh. But then how good are they? Is it worth joining SPIN?" I threw couple of questions.

"Yes, Yes. No problem. They are good besides they have their regular show batches and they have been doing this for quite a few years now."

And then she narrated her experience during her batch. The feedback was positive and I made up my mind to forge ahead. Getting a second opinion helped me take decision for which I was quite skeptical. 

Contd....