I LOVE SINGAPORE! *the singapore report...............

[smiling28]

I LOVE SINGAPORE AND ITS BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE!!!
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To best summarise how wonderful my trip was, I have already started planning my return trip hopefully in October!!! * The Singapore Salsa festival is on 19th October to 21st October. I recommend everyone attend as there will be some of the best dancing on the planet!

PM Jayzen for details...

Some of the best dancing imaginable, the GREATEST AND NICEST people in the world, Amazing food, walking around everywhere and seeing most of the sights of Singapore, meeting a random 69 year old toothless cool local who showed me around, ‘dumpling day’, finding a bunch of cool kids freestyle dancing together at 4pm Friday in a public underground underpass, dancing to 3am then getting late night/morning eats with an awesome new crew of friends. Yeah, that was just day 1!


The Dance Scene In Singapore
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SINGPORE HAS SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND NICEST GIRLS ON THE PLANET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! * The guys were awesome too, just not in that way…:) :) :)

Dancing was incredible. In short, the standard in Singapore is incredibly high. Most of the couples were fantastic and mesmerising to watch. It appears that musicality, technicality, connection, lead/follow and shines are REALLY emphasised in Singapore which makes a feast for the senses whether dining in on the dance floor or taking away by watching off the dance floor :) I will relive many moments enjoyed there!

Jayzen kindly introduced me to some nice girls to dance with. I even asked a couple myself. Everyone is so nice. Really good to dance with too! Superb follows made evident by the fact that the girls had only done LA Style salsa which I do not know yet they followed the majority of my moves perfectly whilst adding some cool style!

A MASSIVE MASSIVE THANKS to Jayzen!!! My goodness, one of the coolest guys on the planet. Meeting him MADE my trip. Very helpful and friendly. Brilliant dancer too. Very technical and musical. Watching he and his wife dance was mesmerising!!!


Did I mention that SINGPORE HAS SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND NICEST GIRLS ON THE PLANET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not enough :)

Random Sidenote: Bachata (very close sensual dance) is Massive in Singapore. Tremendous dancers and some of the girls were SO INCREDIBLE that they have inspired me to learn!!!

I MUST LEARN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Shaka and Suzanne Workshops!
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Classes were AWESOME! Shaka and Suzanne taught a fantastic body movement and isolation workshop. I also did the shines workshop. REALLY helpful and lots to work on at home. I recommend their workshops to EVERYONE!

The second workshop was on Saturday after dancing all night Friday. I entered the dance studio to find Shaka and Suzanne asleep on the floor. I LOVE THAT! IT SHOWED how much energy they put into their dancing and workshops. Both Shaka and Suzanne deserve massive commendations for the effort shown in Singapore. Shaka was the last person to leave the dance floor Friday night and danced with everyone. Suzanne danced with everyone too and especially thank her for kindly gracing me with a delightful dance!!!!!!!!

Really cool lessons. Learnt a lot and will practice so that the movements become another way for my body to automatically respond to the music and allow my soul to express itself!


Technical Aspects
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Especially noticed the type of space I used up. At first I was using all points of the compass N, E, S, W and bumping into people but then realised cross body style (slot) linear type of space is all that I could have to fit in with others so altered my moves and only did linear moves where possible i.e North to South


Differences between how I danced and LA Style or so I thought
********************

No closed hold?
Man walks forward on 1,2,3 in open hold instead of back on 1,2,3 for guapea
Hold both hands not just 1 for open hold
Linear, cross body use of space
No vasilia and moves that flow on from that.
Lots of styling and BEAUTIFUL shines (footwork) emphasised in LA STYLE.
Music seems to have more instrumental solos (in LA STYLE)
LA STYLE very technical and structured. Cuban: Looser, more variety in style/expression



OVERALL
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My body SERIOUSLY craves and misses the great people at Singapore. I will return soon and hopefully bring a crew to introduce them to the lovely Singaporeans!!!



* Thanks for everyone who helped me plan my trip and responded to my threads about dancing which helped me be able to dance as well as possible when I was there!

* Bangkok report coming soon… *massive thanks to DJ Damian

[sweavo]

Good to see you're doing well, smiling! Hurry back with your next report!

[TheBear_CanDanceToo]

Brilliant report, Smiling28. :D
I was wondering where you've been and now I know. SF isn't the same without your constant bombardment of positive vibes. :D :D :D
And what a report - you should be SF's first employee - Roving Reporter! 8) (Obviously you'll HAVE to learn all styles so you can do your roving justice).

Forget Bangkok - come and do Yorkshire next! :D

[Swannie]

Wonderful to have you back Smiling28.

Sounds like you had a good time, and the best thing about it was the people that you met. It's sad when you have to leave new friends and return home.

Makes me think I want to add Singapore to my list of "Far East" locations to visit. Sounds like Jayzen is awesome.

Just reading your post has fueled me to want to get better at dancing faster so I can go and enjoy other places with even more enjoyment!

There is no doubt in my mind that you will be teaching salsa in the next couple of years, and not just in Aus. Enthusiasm, and a talent to express it, which you certainly have, needs to be shared with as many people as possible :D

[narcosis]

I'm glad you loved your Singapore experience Smiling.. :D And again in October I'll be missing out on meeting you because I'll be back in the UK by then :(

Keep doing your thang dude, and I'm definitely sure you'll become even more amazing than you are already are! :D

And yep, Jayzen is one great guy absolutely, and so is his wife! :)

[AndrewD]

Welcome back - glad you had fun.

I want to dance with you and I can't follow!

[sweavo]

Brilliant report, Smiling28. :D
I was wondering where you've been and now I know. SF isn't the same without your constant bombardment of positive vibes. :D :D :D
And what a report - you should be SF's first employee - Roving Reporter! 8) (Obviously you'll HAVE to learn all styles so you can do your roving justice).

Forget Bangkok - come and do Yorkshire next! :D

Heh. Maybe smiling's avatar should be
http://www.fragglerocker.com/pics/characters_matt.jpg

[irishgirl]

bizarre i was just thinking about you smiling and wondering if you'd been to Singapore yet!
Glad you enjoyed it so much - dancing is fab there !

[dosvueltas]

You were in Singapore? Did you announce it here? Damn I must have missed that post!

I wish I'd gotten a chance to meet you. I would have especially wanted you to join in my Rueda group and have a feel for how some of us do it here. I think you'll find it a sharper, snappier style as opposed to a more traditionalist Cuban style. I think we've managed to create a Rueda that has the sharpness of LA style but still keeping the beauty of the Rueda. Would have wanted to discuss all the differences between what you've experienced and how I do it.

Glad that you picked up the slot dancing style too. It's a bit of unspoken etiquette here that when it gets crowded, people should be considerate and vary their space accordingly. When everyone insists on showing off people get bumped, tempers get hot, and ladies get hurt. I hope that you found that with practice, it's really not that difficult, and personally I find it a fun challenge to see what moves I can safely squeeze into that little slot :P

PM me when you get down here in October!

[tj]

:cheers:

What a great report!

[chrisk]

Thanks smiling for a great report! :D It sounds like you really enjoyed you had the time of your life there. So I guess I've to put singapore on my list of salsa place to visit. :)

[fallenangel]

Smiling: Good to hear u had a great time in Sg. Don't forget Malaysia we're just Sg friendly neighbors. Some of us do go down to Sg for salsa once a month. I was there with some friends during Ismael Otero & Yesenia workshop and had a "blast" too ;)

At the same time some Singaporeans will come up to Malaysia to salsa as well. We are having Salsa 101 Malaysia today! Great event, they have workshops, performances, competition, tied up with Channel [V]. A lot of ppl are attending the event. Quite a number of S'poren are coming as well. Massive new blood to dance :twisted:
Salsa 102 will be in Sg, Salsa 103 Aussie, 104 Hk check it out at www.salsaprojects.com

Whenever your in the area don't forget to try out KL (Malaysia) scene as well. Malaysia salsa festival is coming up soon. Check it out www.malaysiasalsafestival.com/2007/

Btw.. Jayzen is a great guy & a good dancer too 8)

[jayzen]

great to hear you had a great time! :)

quick one here, if anybody's interested in attending the Singapore Festival in October, please PM me for details/passes as I'm working with the organisers in selling the passes (and accommodation) for it.

also, if you are headed down to SG at any other time, drop a post in this forum so that the singaporeans here (or PM me) can meet you. for maximum fun, you should be willing to:

1. dance all night long (up to 3am on Sat and Fri)
2. stay up abit longer after all the dancing for food and yakking
3. eat and drink anything thrown at you (ask Rodney for details - frogs legs)


hope to see all of u hear or back in SG soon!

jayzen :)

[timbafreak]

Sounds good, I might be coming to Singapore soon, will you show me your salsa scene too?

[jayzen]

definitely! :)

especially if u r nice to the ladies :)

and bringing a bottle of vodka always helps! hahaha

but seriously, let me know when and, if I'm in town (my work involves some traveling....), I'll definitely bring you out and throw you to the tender mercies of the ladies of the scene :p



jayzen

[smiling28]

I have a dance diary that I make notes in from time to time. Notes after being in Singapore and watching people dance:

Jayzen:
----------
BRILLIANT! Great guy and really shows through in his dancing! Well loved by everyone on the scene and can LITERALLY walk up to a girl, hold his hand out without saying a word and the girls face just LIGHTS UP as she almost runs to join Jayzen on the dancefloor! Super cool on the dance floor too. REALLY treats his partner well and is a superb smooth leader and dances with his partner not just making his partner dance.

Watching Jayzen and his wife tear up the dancefloor at one point was one of my highlights from the trip! They swapped lead/follow roles at one point which was SOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD!!! It was one of those moment where I look at a stranger, point out Jayzen and his wife and say with a massive proud smile 'I know them'


Gary (an instructor in Singapore)
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THIS GUY CAN GROOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Excellent body control/movement coupled with brilliant musicality. Very graceful yet powerful and explosive. Awesome to watch!!!

Shaka Brown
---------------

James Bond on a holiday sums on Shaka for me. SUPER COOL and SMOOTH but also a freedom of expression and originality that James Bond would use his license to kill for (pardon the pun)

Very playful and fun. Very sharp body movements and a very playful lead. The girls ATE IT UP! I think 5 or so females at least had to be taken to the hospital whilst watching Shaka groove........


The last off the dance floor. AN ABSOLUTE LEGEND!!!


Suzanne Swadner
------------
The perfect compliment to Shaka. Actually, the perfect partner for anyone actually as Suzanne could make anyone happy and look good! Really PASSIONATE about dancing and life which is very obvious. Very expressive through the music. Tireless as she danced with everyone and was one of the last off the dance floor.

After the first workshop, Suzanne kindly said to me 'save me a dance'. Made me feel soooooooooooooooo good.

Later, Suzanne kindly danced with me even though there was a line of leaders out the door and down the steps waiting to dance with her. I explained that I did not know her style and had just done a little bit of Cuban so hoped it would be ok. HER PERFECT REPLY ' I just love to dance' followed by a MASSIVE smile. Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww, one of the nicest moments! Made me feel super special!

The girls of Singapore
-------------------------

ALL SO BEAUTIFUL! So nice and friendly. Really loved dancing and brilliant follows! Very technical and classy!!!

* special mention (special girl in Singapore) whose style I LOVED. She REALLY surrendered herself and gave herself to the music which is the best compliment that I could give ANY dancer! *super sweet and nice too!

[sac]

jayzen, ur a superstar man :lol:
both jayzen and gary are amazing dancers to watch.....wish we had dancers like them in KL;)

[smiling28]

Brilliant report, Smiling28. :D
I was wondering where you've been and now I know. SF isn't the same without your constant bombardment of positive vibes. :D :D :D
And what a report - you should be SF's first employee - Roving Reporter! 8) (Obviously you'll HAVE to learn all styles so you can do your roving justice).

Forget Bangkok - come and do Yorkshire next! :D

Thanks everyone as always for such great warm support! Had such a great feeling returning to Salsaforums to update everyone. I do hope to travel around everywhere!!!

I now have a salsa passport :) :) :)

[smiling28]

Wonderful to have you back Smiling28.

Sounds like you had a good time, and the best thing about it was the people that you met. It's sad when you have to leave new friends and return home.

Makes me think I want to add Singapore to my list of "Far East" locations to visit. Sounds like Jayzen is awesome.

Just reading your post has fueled me to want to get better at dancing faster so I can go and enjoy other places with even more enjoyment!

There is no doubt in my mind that you will be teaching salsa in the next couple of years, and not just in Aus. Enthusiasm, and a talent to express it, which you certainly have, needs to be shared with as many people as possible :D

All you guys are so great and supportive - thanks!

THANK YOU for such STRONG words of support and belief in me. MUCH APPRECIATED and respected!

[smiling28]

You were in Singapore? Did you announce it here? Damn I must have missed that post!

I wish I'd gotten a chance to meet you. I would have especially wanted you to join in my Rueda group and have a feel for how some of us do it here. I think you'll find it a sharper, snappier style as opposed to a more traditionalist Cuban style. I think we've managed to create a Rueda that has the sharpness of LA style but still keeping the beauty of the Rueda. Would have wanted to discuss all the differences between what you've experienced and how I do it.

Glad that you picked up the slot dancing style too. It's a bit of unspoken etiquette here that when it gets crowded, people should be considerate and vary their space accordingly. When everyone insists on showing off people get bumped, tempers get hot, and ladies get hurt. I hope that you found that with practice, it's really not that difficult, and personally I find it a fun challenge to see what moves I can safely squeeze into that little slot :P

PM me when you get down here in October!

Sorry to have missed you!!! Next time for sure! I BET I SAW YOU THOUGH IF YOU WERE AT UNION MY EYES WERE STARVING AND EVERYONE'S dancing was my banquet. I watched everyone.

I watched some 'instant ruedas - just add smiles' spring up around the dancefloor. It made me smile a lot. The group seemed to have SUCH a great time!!! Like you said though, sharper more technical movements. I must admit, different moves then what I know. Except for dame dos most of the moves had subtle variations.

LOVED watching you guys though, thanks!!!

[smiling28]

Smiling: Good to hear u had a great time in Sg. Don't forget Malaysia we're just Sg friendly neighbors. Some of us do go down to Sg for salsa once a month. I was there with some friends during Ismael Otero & Yesenia workshop and had a "blast" too ;)

At the same time some Singaporeans will come up to Malaysia to salsa as well. We are having Salsa 101 Malaysia today! Great event, they have workshops, performances, competition, tied up with Channel [V]. A lot of ppl are attending the event. Quite a number of S'poren are coming as well. Massive new blood to dance :twisted:
Salsa 102 will be in Sg, Salsa 103 Aussie, 104 Hk check it out at {broken link removed}

Whenever your in the area don't forget to try out KL (Malaysia) scene as well. Malaysia salsa festival is coming up soon. Check it out {broken link removed}

Btw.. Jayzen is a great guy & a good dancer too 8)

Brilliant!!! Definitely sounds awesome. I really wanted to check out the 101 thing. Got a brochure there. Looked great. See you soon :) :) :)