Bachata meets Rueda SalsaVancouver.net talks with Jorge Elizondo about salsa, bachata and Bachata Rueda - a fusion of dance styles sweeping the dance world.

First of all Jorge we want to thank you for granting us this interview. We’re sure the Vancouver salsa dance scene will appreciate it. How did you get into dancing?
It all started in 2003 when I was out clubbing with my friends. I was overweight and I had a difficult time getting women to dance with me. One night I saw a guy, without a word, just reach out his hand to a beautiful girl and take her on the dance floor for a dance. I thought: how easy was that? No words just action! I asked the guy what he was dancing and he said Salsa. He gave me his business card and told me about his dance classes. I started to attend his salsa classes every week. I also started to lose weight really quickly. I loved the fact that losing weight could be fun. Dancing helped me lose over 200lbs and helped build my confidence.

Wow that’s an amazing story. Your first instructor had a big impact in your life, what is the most important lesson you learned from him?
He inspired me to learn how to dance Salsa. He stressed the importance of basics. He has been the only instructor I have met who made me do nothing but basics for two whole hours. I did basics for three months and this led me to have a solid foundation with my footwork which led the way for more complicated patterns and footwork.

How long have you been an instructor? Is teaching dance your full time job?
One of my many professions in my life has been teaching. I have a degree in Music Education and I have taught in the public school system for 6 years, teaching Band, Latin Dance, Keyboarding, and Computers. Since I have been in middle school I have always felt that the best way to learn a new skill is by teaching the skill to someone else. So naturally, I would teach my friends everything I would learn in salsa class. I realized I grew faster as a dancer and I learned how to lead things better. I have been teaching people how to dance Salsa and Casino Rueda from the moment I started dancing. I turned my hobby into a professional full time job in June 2006 when I started my World Bachata Boot Camp Tour, taking it to over 100 cities worldwide as well as teaching in some of the major congress in the United States and Western Europe.

Tell us a little about your achievements since you started dancing.
The most important achievement I have achieved by dancing is the total transformation of my body and health. By losing 200lbs I have become more healthy, more confident and a more social person. Second has to be my World Bachata Boot Camp Tour and the opportunity to travel all over the United States and around the world. Within the nine months since I started (June 2006), I have spent two months in Europe teaching and traveling in Sweden, Spain, Belgium, Holland, France, England, and Italy. In total I have visited over 100 cities world wide, including over 80 major US cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Miami, New York, Washington D.C, and events such as the Hawaii Salsa Festival, Chicago Salsa Congress and Houston Salsa Congress. I started my World Boot Camp Tour as a way to promote my seven Learn to Dance instructional DVD series and I am pleased to say that they have sold in over 30 countries worldwide.

In salsa, people often say it’s not what you do but how you do it that makes all the difference - or how you look while doing it. In your view, what does it take to be a good salsa dancer? What are some of the things you need to attend to while social dancing?
To be a good salsa dancer one has to learn to adjust to the partner you are dancing with. The leader needs to dance to the follower’s level of dancing and the follow has to learn to give resistance and eye contact. And most importantly, you have to protect each other while dancing. Always be aware of other dancers and keep to your slot.

What is social dancing really all about? Is it about how you look on the dance floor, about interpreting the music, or about connecting with your partner?
The most important thing for me about social dancing is connecting. I like to make my partner feel as if they are the most important person in my life during that dance. I look after them by making sure they don’t get stepped on or hit by other dancers. I also make sure I dance at their level and that I lead them successfully into everything I do. Sometimes less is more and a girl will always remember a smooth dance more favourably than a very complicated, sloppy dance.

You’re known for mixing up dance styles – for instance we’ve heard you mix LA style with Casino Rueda “Miami Style” salsa. Tell us about your style of salsa.
My first passion when starting to dance salsa was Casino. I learned my Casino from the Salsa Lovers video tapes and at the same time I was taking On1 classes. I came to realize that by mixing both styles I could have numerous combinations of patterns. I learned how to integrate On1 with Casino. When I dance, I make it fun for my partner with directional changes between circular dancing and linear slot dancing. I have noticed that Miami dancers have started to integrate many of the On1 patterns into their new complicated rueda calls. I was surprised to see this with the Salsa Lovers Advanced Volume 7 DVD. It’s good that Casino is starting to evolve. I think salsa dancing is about having fun and I love mixing my patterns.

You’re coming to Vancouver for the Cuba Baila event on April 21 & 22 and you’re going to be teaching a Bachata Rueda workshop. It sounds like an interesting concept - what is Bachata Rueda?
Bachata Rueda is a new, fun and exciting way to dance bachata with your friends. Bachata Rueda was created by Seemore and Christina from Hips on Fire, a dance group from Boston. It’s very similar to Casino Rueda but with its own unique flavor. Bachata Rueda has calls like Casino Rueda, but needs a stronger caller to lead the group. I have created a syllabus with over 80 calls and Hips on Fires have an additional 100 calls. It’s a very new dance and is quickly evolving around the world. It’s very fun and it also helps students learn how to dance one-on-one Bachata with a partner.

I’m really excited to offer this class at Cuba Baila. Students will be amazed how great they’re going to look dancing Bachata Rueda after just one hour of instruction. I will teach at least 18 different calls and by the end of the class, I will call out a Rueda and it will look as if we have been dancing together for months. That’s what I love most about Bachata Rueda – it’s fun, sexy and easy to learn. Anyone can do it within a one hour class.

That sounds great! Are the calls and steps similar to Rueda de Casino, or quite different?
The idea behind Casino Rueda had a major factor in the development of Bachata Rueda. But the 'dames' are very different than in Casino. The basic for Bachata Rueda causes the circle to grow in and out then forward which gives the Rueda a lot of shape. Bachata Rueda is an experience that has to be done by everyone! There are many similarities to Casino Rueda but it’s also very different at the same time. Plus it’s not as hard to learn as Casino!

We recently visited the Dominican Republic and a lot of the Bachata dancing we saw in the dance halls there was less flashy than how it’s danced here in Vancouver and elsewhere. What’s your experience of how Bachata is danced in different parts of the world?
Bachata just like any other dance is starting to change and evolve into a more complicated dance. I am happy to say that I have created many unique footwork and turn patterns for bachata. My style is very unique and very different to Dominican style Bachata. I love very complicated patterns but at same time I love being very connected and sensual with my partner. I mix the best of both worlds. Dominicans have more of a footwork-based dance involving footwork shines and playing with the music rather than combinations.

I recently visited Madrid and they have something called Bachata Tango. They integrate very complicated Tango footwork into their Bachata and I have to say it looks amazing! I am really excited to see so many different styles emerging and seeing the dance evolve in such a short period of time. I believe Bachata will grow and one day be considered as important as Salsa.

Yes we can see how Bachata is evolving in a similar way to how mambo and salsa did a few decades ago - into a more complex dance with elaborate turn patterns. What’s your take on this?
I am thrilled with this idea and happy to be part of this process. I love coming up with new ways to play and express myself with the music. I also realized that bringing ideas from other dances into Bachata is good thing. I have developed a cross body lead for Bachata as well a move called the Angel just like in Salsa. I love incorporating double and triple turns in my Bachata when the music calls for it. Bachata has a huge range of musical nuances – from fast to slow to very articulated. I love developing new patterns that help express the music with turn patterns and body movements and this is what I teach in my workshops, my bootcamps and in my instructional DVDs.

Tell us about you instructional DVDs. How can people buy them?
I am very proud of my ‘Learning to Dance Bachata’ instructional DVD series. I have seven volumes: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Bachata Rueda, Adding Sensuality, Advanced and Dips and Tricks. The first thing everyone needs to know is that my Beginner level DVD covers more than the basic steps. I teach you the foundations to my Bachata style. Once you master all the basic elements which are around eight key movements, then it’s easy to progress to combinations and more advance Bachata concepts. To learn more about my DVDs and to see sample clips visit my website at bachatarueda.com

Find out more about the Cuba Baila event and the 4th Annual International Rueda de Casino competition at dancerueda.com

For information on Jorge, visit his website: bachatarueda.com

Jorge can be contacted at: Salsero78501@aol.com