Comments on The Unlikely Salsero - Don Baarns: My Favorite Tunes: Part 1 of 367

Hahah! I read your Listening to Music: 100 Times o...

2007-09-26T11:56:00.000-07:00

Hahah! I read your Listening to Music: 100 Times or More article and I wondered what music would I listen to 100 times? THIS was the song I first thought of!!! I LOVE this song! And yes, it is an ESSENTIAL for every salsa instructor.

I appreciate your comments!

I still don't ...

2007-06-27T12:07:00.000-07:00

I appreciate your comments!

I still don't know Nancy's last name so please let me know so I can properly credit her.

I don't remember anybody "condemning the second lead". He was clearly invited into the dance, so it's not like he just cut in to show off.

I've danced with Edie immediately after a world class lead and it wasn't pretty. It's easy for me to be a critic from my computer! (Although I never do it anonymously. I'm directly accountable for my statements.)

Since you brought it up here is my quick take: He takes a totally different approach to the music and Nancy compared with Frankie. He dances big, he is rougher, and he appears to be more into his own footwork than showing off her.

It may have been the heat of the moment, it may be the way he dances. Seeing one clip is almost unfair to all but the world-class dancers who are filmed regularly, dance in cirles all the time and have performance experience.

I respect the second guys guts for going into the circle. I don't know if I would have done that so I immediately admire him.

As always, being a critic of others is easy, my respect always goes to those in the arena, even if I don't like every aspect of what they do.

I'll write an article to drill down. Your comments and feedback are always appreciated.

That clip is from the party for nancy's website la...

2007-06-27T11:09:00.000-07:00

That clip is from the party for nancy's website launch.... it was held at soho dance.

Before you condemn the second lead, notice that (a) nancy was calling for him to come break in and (b) how much more animated she is dancing with him versus frankie.

I just published a quick and dirty article that re...

2007-06-22T11:20:00.000-07:00

I just published a quick and dirty article that references the clip. A great tune and a great couple dancing!

First, I love input from others!

Ah... I fo...

2007-06-22T09:31:00.000-07:00

First, I love input from others!

Ah... I forgot about that clip. I saw it a few months ago. I'm writing a quick and dirty article so everybody sees what you are talking about!

GREAT SUGGESTION on your part! Please keep the feedback coming.

I LOVE THAT SONG!!!! I've probably already listen...

2007-06-21T22:38:00.000-07:00

I LOVE THAT SONG!!!! I've probably already listened to it 100 times and would enthusiastically second it for the list (not that you need your commenters' endorsements ...).

There's a YouTube clip of the sublime Frankie Martinez and Nancy Ortiz dancing to it floating around out on the Interwebs. I'm guessing it was at some Congress. Now that's some social dancing. I know they've both been dancing since they were 2 but that's how I hope to dance with a partner some day. Despite some criticisms (formed in part by a little envy, JMHO) of both of them having done too many solo shines in their careers -- especially Frankie, with his isolations -- they are so in tune with one another. It's hot.

There's a guy who comes in to dance with Nancy at the end ... well ... (in view of the viewpoints so eloquently expressed in your posts about partnership and gentleness, I'll let you make your own evaluations).