An invitation for college fundraiser/dance show showed up in my FB feed. So I went.
There are several salsa places in OKC. Some are in bar/restaurant, where we casually drink and dance and have fun. Dance skills matter less in the places. Others are in dance studio that also offer salsa and other dance classes. There may be a few "more interesting" dancers there.
Marti's place at NW OKC ("Clips and Hips") is the latter. They offer regular salsa classes and monthly social Latin parties.
The same people at Clips and Hips also serve as a community dance center of sorts. They present Latin American dances (Columbian, Puerto Rican, Guatemalan, Mexican, etc; of Spanish-speaking countries), with those colorful costumes.
It was an interesting dance place and very welcoming. I used to go there, stopped going after my divorce (I gave up a few dance places around that time), but OKed myself after years and the Corona break.
So that's about the Marti's place. Marti has a kid nicknamed Goose. I heard the kid was growing up as a serious dancer with awards, attending dance camps for future professionals and all.
I knew her indirectly as Marti's kid. Recently I came across her a few times at salsa parties. Out of curiosity, I asked her to dance. She's a real dancer alright. Feels light and agile, can do multiple spins (like 12 spins) with ease.
On social dance floor, we don't (necessarily) use eye-catching or showy moves that need preparations. But quality of dancers show in quality of basic moves.
The college fundraiser/dance show this past Friday was for the kid and by the kid. In the dance show, she was dancing several numbers, along with other dancers (Latin group dances, ballroom Latin, stage salsa).
An interesting one was a ballet with OKC ballet soloist, young and up-and-coming artist Alejandro Gonzales. Physical abilities of ballet dancers are quite impressive in person. Google Cabriole, Penche, Pirouette and Grand Jete, if you are curious about what kind of moves I am talking about. Just thinking about doing the moves give me sore.
Sure, professionals need to show why they are professionals. They can do what amateurs and common people cannot do. Sometimes it's as simple as that.
The show was entertaining. Pulling off such an event requires great deal of community support, and I am happy to see they have that in the Spanish-speaking Latin dance community.
I don't even know which college the kid is going, but I'd like to add my well-wishes.
