GayleR
08-20-2007, 11:02 AM
I emailed Evan from SalsaWeb Las Vegas and he kindly replied to tell me the Gold Coast Casino showroom was the place to dance on Friday and Saturday nights. He also mentioned Southpoint on Tuesdays.
Here's my review for anyone heading to Vegas. I hope you find it helpful.
Off I headed to the Gold Coast Friday night. This off-the-strip hotel and casino is located on Flamingo Road 5 minutes off the strip. It's what I'd term a "C" level hotel/casino. The doors to the showroom opened at 10:30 and I was one of the few there at that hour. The band Latin Breezes came on at 11:00. It can be hard just showing up at a club you don't know in a city that's not yours when you're on your own. I was hanging out around the bar but quickly realized I needed to sit at a table, so I planted myself at the first table right at the edge of the large dancefloor. The room was great with a large, good quality floor, lots of room to dance and a big stage. The band (10 or 12 pieces I think) was very good, and played a mix of salsa, merengue, cumbia and one bachata. In between a DJ played mostly salsa. All the music was very good though I would have preferred more salsa and less of the other stuff which was frequent. Generally they'd play 2 salsa songs, then the other stuff, then back to 2 salsa songs.
The crowd was mixed in terms of age and skill set. There seemed to be a group who were regulars and knew each other which is to be expected. No really young kids. Mostly 30+ from what I could tell. Dance level was mostly intermediate with only two or three identifiable advanced males and females. Also there were several men who were out for an evening but had no idea what the steps were. It was very interesting to note how few women styled and also how little people did shines. Almost no one knew how to bachata. Merengue was very popular.
I was told on Saturday nights they get more people out and a more experienced crowd. But I had a good time anyway and danced with the same few people which was nice. I found people to be pretty friendly, the ones I danced with anyway. I did enjoy my first ever double dance with a fabulous female dancer and her husband's friend who was also a very nice dancer and it was lots of fun. And even though I generally hate merengue I danced two with a lovely, charming and elegant Puerto Rican man who was a fantastic lead, and I thoroughly enjoyed both dances.
Surprisingly (for Vegas) the dancing is only from 11-1:30 so it made for a short night.
When I left the casino at 2, the crowd looked pretty rough and I felt a bit uncomfortable. I had to wait outside for a cab for a good 15 minutes and wasn't too thrilled as it was pretty quiet and isolated outside.
So there you have it...the Gold Coast was a bit of a gamble with an OK payoff.
Next stops - San Fran and L.A. next month.
Here's my review for anyone heading to Vegas. I hope you find it helpful.
Off I headed to the Gold Coast Friday night. This off-the-strip hotel and casino is located on Flamingo Road 5 minutes off the strip. It's what I'd term a "C" level hotel/casino. The doors to the showroom opened at 10:30 and I was one of the few there at that hour. The band Latin Breezes came on at 11:00. It can be hard just showing up at a club you don't know in a city that's not yours when you're on your own. I was hanging out around the bar but quickly realized I needed to sit at a table, so I planted myself at the first table right at the edge of the large dancefloor. The room was great with a large, good quality floor, lots of room to dance and a big stage. The band (10 or 12 pieces I think) was very good, and played a mix of salsa, merengue, cumbia and one bachata. In between a DJ played mostly salsa. All the music was very good though I would have preferred more salsa and less of the other stuff which was frequent. Generally they'd play 2 salsa songs, then the other stuff, then back to 2 salsa songs.
The crowd was mixed in terms of age and skill set. There seemed to be a group who were regulars and knew each other which is to be expected. No really young kids. Mostly 30+ from what I could tell. Dance level was mostly intermediate with only two or three identifiable advanced males and females. Also there were several men who were out for an evening but had no idea what the steps were. It was very interesting to note how few women styled and also how little people did shines. Almost no one knew how to bachata. Merengue was very popular.
I was told on Saturday nights they get more people out and a more experienced crowd. But I had a good time anyway and danced with the same few people which was nice. I found people to be pretty friendly, the ones I danced with anyway. I did enjoy my first ever double dance with a fabulous female dancer and her husband's friend who was also a very nice dancer and it was lots of fun. And even though I generally hate merengue I danced two with a lovely, charming and elegant Puerto Rican man who was a fantastic lead, and I thoroughly enjoyed both dances.
Surprisingly (for Vegas) the dancing is only from 11-1:30 so it made for a short night.
When I left the casino at 2, the crowd looked pretty rough and I felt a bit uncomfortable. I had to wait outside for a cab for a good 15 minutes and wasn't too thrilled as it was pretty quiet and isolated outside.
So there you have it...the Gold Coast was a bit of a gamble with an OK payoff.
Next stops - San Fran and L.A. next month.