TLC Reviews of Salsa and Tango events in Southampton, Hampshire

The Ball marked the fifth anniversary of my teaching Salsa and the first anniversary of teaching Tango in Southampton. Staging a successful Salsa and Tango Ball meant so much to me, it would be a milestone for the Southampton scene and also an opportunity for students to dress up and enjoy both dances.

Firstly, to find the right venue was not an easy task! A requirement for two ballrooms with good quality floors at a venue befitting the occasion of "dress to impress" precluded social clubs and village halls.

Eventually, on the advice of Steve Collins, one of my students and a real Sir Lancelot, I visited Winchester Guildhall set in the heart of historic Winchester.

Eureka - it was perfect - within the imposing architecture and special atmosphere I could imagine the Tangueros in the King Alfred Hall, framed by the stained glass windows and oak panelling and the pazzazz of the Salseros under the chandeliers of the King Charles Hall. After three months of searching I had arrived - this was it!! With just one missing ingredient - I had sixteen weeks to fill the venue with dancers.

The pre-Ball promotion started with a vengeance and by the time I had finished, the World and his wife knew about the Ball.

The evening arrived and I couldn't have asked my fairy godmother for a better fairy tale ending - even the rain wasn't going to spoil the night (after all this is England). Guests flocked to Winchester from as far as Birmingham to Brighton and Norfolk to Exeter. Everyone had come to the Ball in their finery and the scene could have been from the films "An Officer and A Gentlemen" or perhaps "An Age of Innocence".

Inspired by the faultless and passionate Tango/Latin performance of Sebastian and Mariana, the dancing continued with twists, twirls, smiles and sweat, to some fantastic live music from Teddy, his wife Gillian and Steve Morrall. They danced with passion and the hint of indiscretion ever hanging in the air.

Under the rhythm and beat of some of Osvaldo's inspiring Tango tunes, the dancing continued into the early hours and there wasn't a pumpkin in sight - nor any glass slippers come to think of it!

If a couple of ugly sisters stopped YOU from going to this Ball, take a leaf out of Cinderella's book; ask your Fairy Godmother for a pass out for the next one (see Events Page)

MOST NOTABLE MOMENTOS FROM THE BALL

Best Moment
Being an observer on the balcony and watching everyone else enjoy their dancing while making such an effort to look so good.

Worst Moment
After spending over an hour erecting only a third of the directional signs around Winchester first thing in the morning, it began to rain and I hoped the arrows would remain in tact as they still had 10 hours to last (and yes they did).

Funniest Moment
As the floor was a little more sticky in the Summer than in the Spring when I had originally tested it, I asked my dear friend Sarah-Jane to sprinkle some talc over the Salsa floor. When she returned, I was a little concerned at her statement "I've had great fun!" The hysterics started when I discovered a Winter Wonderland instead of a Ballroom. So the troops came out armed with brooms, water sprayers and cloths and the ballroom was returned to it's original glory just before the guests arrived. If only they knew the lengths that were taken to create such a "great dance floor" as many had commented!

While dancing a great Tango with a complete stranger (as you do!) my heel caught the bottom of my dress and I began to dance a one-legged Tango with a not-so-stylish hop to keep up with my partner. Taking a few seconds to put words into my mouth instead of a rush of air, the first thing I could say was "Hold me, hold me !!" … and he did !!

The end came all too soon and when everyone had gone, I gave Rohan a lift back to Southampton, but suddenly remembered that my directional signs needed to be taken down from the streets of Winchester. I wish I had footage of the scene that ensued!

Rohan gallantly offered to do the job, as he had very kindly helped me to erect some of them. Little did he know that he had only helped with 20% of them! It took us nearly 40 minutes with a full Basil Faulty sketch for each sign;
Sybil: "Oh there's one"
Basil: "Oh God" … and dashes out of the car, races over, cuts down the sign and jumps back into the curb-crawling car.

Unfortunately, after dancing all night on his feet, Rohan began to tire by the 8th sign, and Basil changed into Manuel's role:
Sybil: "Oh there's ANOTHER one"
Basil: "Oh *@$^ !!!" … and staggers from the car, whining with every step, until the final (15th) sign when he collapses back to the car (and I collapse with laughter).

(Thank you Sarah-Jane and Rohan for all your help and the entertainment!)

TV Drama & Uniforms	@ Salsa Caliente , Southampton	May 2003
See photos The doors opened and in walked Elvis, George Clooney and Superman! Who would you choose to dance with? Where was this I hear you ask? Is it at Madam Tussauds? Is it in the US, no … it’s in SOUTHAMPTON! Yes it was at Salsa Caliente, in Southampton last Friday evening (2nd May 2003) where the dress code was any character within a TV drama wearing uniform. There were many actors from the Bill in police uniform, gangs of saucy school girls and head masters from Grange Hill and of course the army came in their squadrons. I heard a few comments from the female students after the classes and the majority of girls said it was hard to concentrate on their moves as Superman Marcus was teaching with a pair of socks down his pants! The Advanced lesson was taught by none other than Rohan Brown in full High Ranking Naval Officer’s outfit. The females were visibly drooling and they had trouble keeping their accessories in tact as they tried to stay focussed! The Southampton Angels provided the cabaret and boy, were they equipped … with pistols, bazookas, daggers, pompoms, whips, feather dusters and mops! The eight-girl troupe comprised of 3 salsa policegirls Ruth, Michelle and Maxine, squadron leaders Olga and Jo, cheer leader Julia, Wonder Woman Tracie and Peggy Ollerenshaw from Pontins ... oops - sorry Campers, I mean Maplins - aka Sarah-Jane. Their routine was accessorised with all forms of weapons that delighted the crowd. Not one to avoid the attention, Brian Porter from Portsmouth was celebrating his 40th birthday on the same night. He had a very sexy and active birthday dance with all the girls, in which Rohan tried to infiltrate the bevy of beauties. Luckily Brian managed to spot him in time by the stubble on his chin - that was not a close shave! Rohan judged the ‘best dressed’ competition and the atmosphere was tense with anticipation. The winners (see photos) were: Best His & Hers: Isobel in PVC maid outfit and Doug as Bin Laden (Rohan obviously knows something about Bin Laden’s non-religious secrets) Best individual: Thelma as One Muskateer (having left the other two at home) Most Innovative: Sarah-Jane as Peggy from Maplins Holiday Camp who just had to utter those famous words ..."Hi de Hi!" ... naturally the crowd responded with - of course - "Ho de Ho!" The night proceeded with hot and sweaty dancing, where one could see couples playing … ooops … dancing doctors with nurses, Upstairs with Downstairs, teachers with school girls, police with army and Superman with Wonder Woman. At the stroke of midnight we had to end the fantastic evening, but all was not lost. We could discuss and gossip over a lovely brew served in the lounge. Brian’s cake fed the many and we all went home happy … just waiting for the next Caliente in two weeks time! Our next themed nights are listed on the Events Page Back to top / Back to Home ©tlc
Treading the Boards by Sarah-Jane Leader	Dance Extravaganza Nuffield Theatre, Southampton	September 2002
Little did I think that when my friend started a salsa dancing school in Southampton and asked me to go along, that a few years later I'd be treading the boards on stage! I've been dancing for 6 years now at Tracie's Latin Club. Apart from keeping fit, I enjoy a great social scene with frequent dance weekenders, (yes, I can still stay up to 6am!) being taught by top dance teachers from London, New York and Cuba, have met great friends, enjoyed sailing and cycling holidays with them and met my partner on the dance floor ... all through salsa! In April this year I was invited to join a salsa dance troupe called The Angels - as in Charlie's (see photo). We worked hard over the months with some gruelling practices and leading up to a performance we put in approx. 5 hours per week. We have performed at local events, including the Queen's Jubilee celebrations in Southampton, the Bacardi Annual Dinner Dance at the new "Saints" Football Stadium (never thought I'd be anybody's cabaret!) and recently at a "Dance Extravaganza" at the Nuffield Theatre in Southampton for charity. In the week running up to the Extravaganza, we practised almost every night. It was to be a Dance Extravaganza - never seen in Southampton before (and probably never again!) comprising all kinds of dance, from ballet, belly, flamenco, Irish, salsa, swing (Lindy hop), street jazz, tango and more. On the Friday night we tried out the stage at the theatre. Well, the floor was so slippery, I must have slipped at least twice in each practice - this was not the sort of stuff that would impress a 230+ audience! Luckily, it emerged that the stage was to be painted in time for the show, providing that vital friction to enable us to remain upright! On the Saturday afternoon, all 70 dancers were required to go through a technical run-through, which lasted nearly 5 hours. Talk about "Lights, cameras and action"! There was walkie-talkie control between the "wings" and technical men up in the "Gods", who were setting the lights, colour schemes, backdrops, spotlights, music, video cameramen, with all the finishing touches being made to the running order etc, etc. And so we were transformed to the world of stage and screen for a day (yes it's all going to be on video - that's the screen bit!). We were all shown to our huge dressing room, complete with a sign saying "Female Stars" on the door and with light bulbs running down the mirrors - just like the movies! At 7pm the House was open to the public, all performers nervously waiting backstage for curtain-up at 7.30pm and running orders still being written up. While the Angels were preparing for our big moment, listening to the music being piped through speakers backstage, (even in the toilets) so that we could keep abreast of our running order, there was a request from the female tango star, "Does anybody mind if I bring in my hairdresser?" (a male of course). "No, that's fine, almost everybody replied" ... as we're all sat there in our underwear! (Holy wot-not I wanna be a hairdresser! DDE) And so, the show began ... The Master of Ceremonies came on from stage right in darkness and where did the spotlight appear - stage left!! Was this to set the tone for the evening? Our first routine was 6th in the running order for the first half and following the interval our second routine was the 8th act - enough time for costume changes and make-up re-adjustments! OK, the cue runner called us and we're whispering nervously backstage to each other "Help! - what's that bit after the da-da, da,-da, bit?", "Which foot starts off the paradiddle?"; "Am I on the right foot when ...?". We're off on the seemingly long journey to the stage and our choreographer shouts after us "I don't care if you mess up, just SMILE, GIRLS ... SMILE!" So, off we go, ready and waiting in the wings, three of us facing each other across the stage. Crikey! What a lot of people out there!! .... And what happens?! .... WRONG MUSIC!!! Sounds like two tracks playing at once!!! Arrrrrrgh! We're pulling faces and motioning CUT!, CUT!!, then the music cuts in to recognisable melodies and six girls scramble across the stage to catch up with the music!, being cheated of our dramatic entrance, which we'd practised to perfection ... oh well, that's show business!! The rest of the performance went off without a hitch and sounds of "We did it! Did you hear them clapping?" were ringing through the corridors on the way back to the 'Female Stars' dressing room. The audience loved our second routine, a funky number, which we finished to cheers and applause - so I'm told. As I'm holding this seemingly endless pose at the end, I was almost oblivious to what was happening beyond the edge of the stage and could only think "For God's sake just hurry up with "lights out", so my quads can relax!" Then the FINALE .... (which was practised for the first time at 6pm with 30 or more dancers on stage). It was so simple, yet we were still refining it in the dressing room before going on. Yours truly was showing the others what to do backstage and who went the wrong way for the real thing? ME!! Bumping into others with style! A mate(?!) clocked me at distance, came up to me at the After-Show Party laughingly saying "You cracked me up in the Finale!" I wonder what he'll remember me for that night?! It was over and we were a hit! - to ourselves at least!! ... and remained on a high for the rest of the evening. I awoke the next morning, laughing aloud - sadly, with my boyfriend away in Sardinia on business, unable to be there for my big moment, I only had myself to giggle with! It certainly was an evening to remember and treasure. The alarming thought is that it is all caught on video! Back to top / Back to Home ©tlc
Summer Salsa, Swing &	Tango Ball, Winchester ,	August 2002
The lightning struck and the heavens opened in true British Summer style. Luckily for us it was the day BEFORE the Summer Salsa, Swing and Tango Ball at Winchester Guildhall held on the 10th August. Overwhelming demand (again) made this event an absolute sell out again with over 450 dancers from Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Norfolk, Nottingham and of course the South Coast who came to this fantastic venue. With three ballrooms to choose from, the dancers were spoilt for choice. I heard on the grapevine that someone had brought three changes of clothes with them for each type of dance …. now that's dedication! The audience had a rare treat with two shows (see photos): Amir and Kate of DanceFusion performed a fantastic routine to 'Hey Big Spender' followed by Leroy and Jill Barrett - Jill had only just flown in that day from the US - and they impressed the crowd with their Tango show and technique. After the shows, the audience had the choice of dancing in three prestigious ballrooms until 2am: l In the King Alfred Hall, Steve Morrall delighted the Tangueros when he played his selection of music as well as playing live on his Bandoneon; l In the King Charles Hall the Salseros could not sit still when Julian "The Duke" played his hot tunes or when 'Palenke' gave a superb high energy live performance and the room rocked with a vibrant party atmosphere; l In the Wintonian Room Lindy Hoppers strutted their stuff to Andy Kale's swinging big band tunes, while one and all were swooned by the slower Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra songs - reminiscent of the King and Queen of dance, Fred and Ginger! The mixture of great music, dancing and efforts to dress elegantly for the occasion, helped to make this an unforgettable night. All photos courtesy of Gary Lam - and I thank him for all his assistance Best Quote from the evening: While watching the Swing dancers in full flow, Richard Pierre asked Marcus "Do you Swing?" and Marcus quickly replied "No I'm normally a one woman guy" ! Story from behind the scenes: Some people may not know this, but Andy Kale (the Swing DJ) called me a couple of weeks before the event and told me the bad news that he had broken his foot. However, although concerned for his health, I was relieved when he expressed the good news that he could still DJ for me on the big day! So while everyone was dressing up and jumping into their cars to travel down/up/along to the big event, Andy was hobbling on crutches and Debi Garrod ushered not only him, but also all his equipment in to the venue. So if you were dancing to Andy's beautiful Swing music in the Wintonian Suite and wondered why he never moved from his seat, you now know why. (See the photo with his leg resting on a stool). I wish to thank Andy for his professionalism and making such a great effort to be there - we all loved your music. Back to top / Back to Home ©tlc
Winter Salsa & Tango Ball	Winchester Guildhall	February 2002
Hail stones and snow could not keep back the most dedicated and well-dressed dancers from the TLC Salsa and Tango Ball at Winchester Guildhall on Saturday, 23rd February. Overwhelming demand made this event an absolute sell out and both Salsa and Tango dancers braved the weather from Norfolk, Brighton, Oxford and Cardiff. Once inside this prestigious venue, the dancers quickly warmed up by choosing between Osvaldo's tantalising Tango or Christian's dynamic Salsa. The most travelled dancer must have been Peter Atkinson who was very excited at the prospect of having a Salsa AND Tango event in his hometown of Winchester. However, when he realised the Pontins Salsa event clashed on the same weekend, he was unsure in which direction to go. Not wanting to miss out on either, he drove to Brean Sands (near Bristol) on Friday night, back for the Ball on Saturday night and then returned to Pontins on Sunday for the remainder of the workshops and club night! With over a 400-mile round trip, that was some achievement Peter and thank you for your support! See the photos page on this site to view the sensational pictures taken during the evening by Gary Lam, including the 'Swing' demonstration from Simon Selmon and Moe, of the Sugarfoot Stompers. Behind the scenes: Tracie became agitated when the Salsa band, Grupo X, rang at 10pm to say they were still in Pizza Hut, awaiting their order to arrive and would be back as soon as they could!! However, DJ Christian kept all the salseros happy with his fantastic tunes until the band returned in time to wow the audience with their musical excellence and superb rhythms. Back to top / Back to Home ©tlc
Summer Salsa & Tango Ball	Winchester Guildhall	August 2001
The Ball marked the fifth anniversary of my teaching Salsa and the first anniversary of teaching Tango in Southampton. Staging a successful Salsa and Tango Ball meant so much to me, it would be a milestone for the Southampton scene and also an opportunity for students to dress up and enjoy both dances. Firstly, to find the right venue was not an easy task! A requirement for two ballrooms with good quality floors at a venue befitting the occasion of "dress to impress" precluded social clubs and village halls. Eventually, on the advice of Steve Collins, one of my students and a real Sir Lancelot, I visited Winchester Guildhall set in the heart of historic Winchester. Eureka - it was perfect - within the imposing architecture and special atmosphere I could imagine the Tangueros in the King Alfred Hall, framed by the stained glass windows and oak panelling and the pazzazz of the Salseros under the chandeliers of the King Charles Hall. After three months of searching I had arrived - this was it!! With just one missing ingredient - I had sixteen weeks to fill the venue with dancers. The pre-Ball promotion started with a vengeance and by the time I had finished, the World and his wife knew about the Ball. The evening arrived and I couldn't have asked my fairy godmother for a better fairy tale ending - even the rain wasn't going to spoil the night (after all this is England). Guests flocked to Winchester from as far as Birmingham to Brighton and Norfolk to Exeter. Everyone had come to the Ball in their finery and the scene could have been from the films "An Officer and A Gentlemen" or perhaps "An Age of Innocence". Inspired by the faultless and passionate Tango/Latin performance of Sebastian and Mariana, the dancing continued with twists, twirls, smiles and sweat, to some fantastic live music from Teddy, his wife Gillian and Steve Morrall. They danced with passion and the hint of indiscretion ever hanging in the air. Under the rhythm and beat of some of Osvaldo's inspiring Tango tunes, the dancing continued into the early hours and there wasn't a pumpkin in sight - nor any glass slippers come to think of it! If a couple of ugly sisters stopped YOU from going to this Ball, take a leaf out of Cinderella's book; ask your Fairy Godmother for a pass out for the next one (see Events Page) MOST NOTABLE MOMENTOS FROM THE BALL Best Moment Being an observer on the balcony and watching everyone else enjoy their dancing while making such an effort to look so good. Worst Moment After spending over an hour erecting only a third of the directional signs around Winchester first thing in the morning, it began to rain and I hoped the arrows would remain in tact as they still had 10 hours to last (and yes they did). Funniest Moment As the floor was a little more sticky in the Summer than in the Spring when I had originally tested it, I asked my dear friend Sarah-Jane to sprinkle some talc over the Salsa floor. When she returned, I was a little concerned at her statement "I've had great fun!" The hysterics started when I discovered a Winter Wonderland instead of a Ballroom. So the troops came out armed with brooms, water sprayers and cloths and the ballroom was returned to it's original glory just before the guests arrived. If only they knew the lengths that were taken to create such a "great dance floor" as many had commented! While dancing a great Tango with a complete stranger (as you do!) my heel caught the bottom of my dress and I began to dance a one-legged Tango with a not-so-stylish hop to keep up with my partner. Taking a few seconds to put words into my mouth instead of a rush of air, the first thing I could say was "Hold me, hold me !!" … and he did !! The end came all too soon and when everyone had gone, I gave Rohan a lift back to Southampton, but suddenly remembered that my directional signs needed to be taken down from the streets of Winchester. I wish I had footage of the scene that ensued! Rohan gallantly offered to do the job, as he had very kindly helped me to erect some of them. Little did he know that he had only helped with 20% of them! It took us nearly 40 minutes with a full Basil Faulty sketch for each sign; Sybil: "Oh there's one" Basil: "Oh God" … and dashes out of the car, races over, cuts down the sign and jumps back into the curb-crawling car. Unfortunately, after dancing all night on his feet, Rohan began to tire by the 8th sign, and Basil changed into Manuel's role: Sybil: "Oh there's ANOTHER one" Basil: "Oh @$^ !!!" … and staggers from the car, whining with every step, until the final (15th) sign when he collapses back to the car (and I collapse with laughter). (Thank you Sarah-Jane and Rohan for all your help and the entertainment!) Back to top / Back to Home ©tlc*

The doors opened and in walked Elvis, George Clooney and Superman! Who would you choose to dance with?

Hail stones and snow could not keep back the most dedicated and well-dressed dancers from the TLC Salsa and Tango Ball at Winchester Guildhall on Saturday, 23rd February.