Altough I've only watched videos of Lee(&Shelly) dancing and read about him on the forum, it's a real sad loss for the salsa community and especially the one in the UK. So my condolence go out to his family, his dance partner and his friends and I wish them all the strength to deal with this tragic situation. RIP Lee!
A very sad day and a huge loss.
- Thread starter Jambo
- Start date
S
spotcat
Guest
I met him a few times through the years and always found him to be a really lovely guy. He was over-flowing with enthusiasm for what he did, which everyone around him couldn't help but be caught up in.
There is a facebook site in remembrance to him.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=43962595814
There is a facebook site in remembrance to him.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=43962595814
You just beat me to posting the facebook link Spotcat!
I wanted you all to have a chance to glimpse how much he was loved by all those he has touched cos beyond being a talented dancer he was also simply a gorgeous person. I will very much miss his cheerful face and energy and my weeks will not be the same.
I wanted you all to have a chance to glimpse how much he was loved by all those he has touched cos beyond being a talented dancer he was also simply a gorgeous person. I will very much miss his cheerful face and energy and my weeks will not be the same.
A life lost is a huge loss. More so when it is a young life full of promise. Doubly so when it is so sudden and unexpected. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and loved ones in their moment of immense grief.
Though I never knew him, I feel some sort of kinship and connection given that he was a part our community. That makes this tragedy and his absence a little bit personal for me just as for the rest of us on here. I remember reading his posts and I feel helpless about how fragile the life can be.
May be we can commemorate his memory by naming a section/part of the forums after him. Just a suggestion. I am not sure I am thinking straight and others can suggest a better way to keep his memory alive.
Though I never knew him, I feel some sort of kinship and connection given that he was a part our community. That makes this tragedy and his absence a little bit personal for me just as for the rest of us on here. I remember reading his posts and I feel helpless about how fragile the life can be.
May be we can commemorate his memory by naming a section/part of the forums after him. Just a suggestion. I am not sure I am thinking straight and others can suggest a better way to keep his memory alive.
dosvueltas2
Changui
I was really devastated to hear of the news. Lee has been my inspiration for learning how to follow and spin. Indeed, it was because of him that I decided to take it seriously and take lessons this year. Every time I felt reluctant to do so I'd just think of him dancing with Supermario and force myself to do it.
I had intended to go to the UK next year to take some privates with him. It's just horrid how you never know what's going to happen, but hopefully a lesson that we should always make every moment count, and live Life each day in a positive, loving way.
Offbeat, I think everyone who knew or was inspired by Lee will find some personal way to remember him. My personal way will be to remember him by taking my following and spinning seriously. One year from now, I want to be able to say that I put my best effort into learning this part of the dance, and gave it my best shot. I won't ever follow as well as Lee, but his ability will ever inspire my continued efforts in this area.
I had intended to go to the UK next year to take some privates with him. It's just horrid how you never know what's going to happen, but hopefully a lesson that we should always make every moment count, and live Life each day in a positive, loving way.
Offbeat, I think everyone who knew or was inspired by Lee will find some personal way to remember him. My personal way will be to remember him by taking my following and spinning seriously. One year from now, I want to be able to say that I put my best effort into learning this part of the dance, and gave it my best shot. I won't ever follow as well as Lee, but his ability will ever inspire my continued efforts in this area.
This is really shocking news. I didn't know him personally, but have taken classes that he and Shelley have taught (and some that he and Supermario have taught). He came across as a wonderful person and a wonderful dancer. I was only saying to someone the other day how inspirational he was.
What a huge loss for the UK salsa community, and utterly devastating for his friends and family.
What a huge loss for the UK salsa community, and utterly devastating for his friends and family.
I don't know Lee. It was through my BF and status updates from friends on facebook, I knew that he was killed in a car accident. From all the postings here and in facebook,I could tell Lee was well loved by many of you out there. Everyone knows how it felt to lose a loved one. My condolences to his family and friends. May him rest in peace.
I didn't know Lee personally but he was an inspiration. You could see that he was full of beans, always smiling, playful, friendly. A shining light! It's saddening to write this knowing that he's gone but at the same you can't help but feel like he has touched your life somehow. I wish I could have shaken his hand and given him a hugg. It's true, you don't realise how great someone is until they've gone.
Rest in peace sir.
Rest in peace sir.
TrulyMadlyAmanda
Changui
For those who don't have access to Facebook, the latest news is that Shelley is now in Spain visiting Mat and Lee's friend Pablo, who was also in the car when the accident happened.
Lee's brother and cousin are flying out tomorrow to start the arrangements required to bring Lee home. I can't even begin to imagine what they are all going though.
Lee's brother and cousin are flying out tomorrow to start the arrangements required to bring Lee home. I can't even begin to imagine what they are all going though.
PielCanela
Changui
Is with great sadness that I hear this news, the first time I heard about him was when I saw the video of him dancing with Super Mario. he was such a inspirational individual, seeing him spin and follow was a message that there is so much left to accomplish in our dance.
may he rest in peace, and my condolences and regards for his family
may he rest in peace, and my condolences and regards for his family
evilquesadilla
Changui
I'm very sorry to hear this. My condolences.
SalsaManiac
Changui
My condolences to his friends and family
Sad just doesn't sum it up.....
I was heartbroken to get a call about this yesterday morning - Lee and Shelley have both been friends of mine for years... and the thought that Lee was no longer with us just broke my heart. I was so looking forward to seeing them in just a couple of weeks.
My thoughts and prayers are with Shelley, Mat and Lee's family. I may have lost a dear friend, a true star and an amazingly beautiful person through and through however I count myself very lucky that I have many many great memories of him that will live on forever - and each and every one of them make me smile.
RIP - go and dance with the angels darling
I was heartbroken to get a call about this yesterday morning - Lee and Shelley have both been friends of mine for years... and the thought that Lee was no longer with us just broke my heart. I was so looking forward to seeing them in just a couple of weeks.
My thoughts and prayers are with Shelley, Mat and Lee's family. I may have lost a dear friend, a true star and an amazingly beautiful person through and through however I count myself very lucky that I have many many great memories of him that will live on forever - and each and every one of them make me smile.
RIP - go and dance with the angels darling
theamoebaman
Changui
We have quite a few UK salsero's here in Sydney and most of them knew Lee personally. Also I was surprised that even in this corner of the world there were so many other people who knew Lee or knew of him. There were quite a few tears shed when we held a minute's silence in remembrance last night at the salsa club.
El Caobo
Son Montuno
As per MacMoto's request, we are playing Jimmy Bosch's Otra oportunidad during this Wednesday's radio show, in loving memory of Lee. http://www.salsaforums.com/showthread.php?t=8934
We will also read several of the posts from this thread just before playing the song.
Rest in Peace, Lee Wright
******************************************
From http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/wor...or-crash-Spain-celebrating-24th-birthday.html
A 24-year-old salsa dance champion has died in a three-car pile up in Spain.
Lee Wright had been celebrating his birthday in the holiday resort of Malaga when he died early on Sunday.
His was being given a lift back to his hotel when another vehicle hit the back of the car he was travelling in, sending them crashing into the one in front.
Mr Wright, of Canary Wharf, east London, had been sitting in the back seat and was killed instantly while the other British man was seriously injured.
The driver of the other vehicle escaped with minor injuries but a female passenger, believed to be his wife, was killed.
Two other people were also injured in the crash.
His friends and family continue to post their condolences on the social networking site Facebook in remembrance of the 'talented and great dancer who was loved by so many'.
The young dancer had taught salsa at the Crobar in Croydon before it closed earlier this year.
The instructor and his dance partner Shelly Cook were named UK National Professional Champions the past two years running.
They also picked up a silver medal at the European Salsa Masters Championships in 2006.
Cousin Darren Reeve said he and Mr Wright's brother Charles are due to head to Malaga to lay family flowers at the scene of the crash and arrange for his body to be sent home.
A tribute from friend, Robert Saunders, on Facebook said: 'Such a happy, genuine, lovely person, such a loss.
'I can still picture him when he was just getting into salsa, happy, enthusiastic and full of fun.
'It was obvious he was going to become a good dancer, but more than that it was immediately clear what a great person he was.'
Salsa Champion: Lee Wright, pictured right, died in Spain while he was celebrating his 24th birthday
We will also read several of the posts from this thread just before playing the song.
Rest in Peace, Lee Wright
******************************************
From http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/wor...or-crash-Spain-celebrating-24th-birthday.html
A 24-year-old salsa dance champion has died in a three-car pile up in Spain.
Lee Wright had been celebrating his birthday in the holiday resort of Malaga when he died early on Sunday.
His was being given a lift back to his hotel when another vehicle hit the back of the car he was travelling in, sending them crashing into the one in front.
Mr Wright, of Canary Wharf, east London, had been sitting in the back seat and was killed instantly while the other British man was seriously injured.
The driver of the other vehicle escaped with minor injuries but a female passenger, believed to be his wife, was killed.
Two other people were also injured in the crash.
His friends and family continue to post their condolences on the social networking site Facebook in remembrance of the 'talented and great dancer who was loved by so many'.
The young dancer had taught salsa at the Crobar in Croydon before it closed earlier this year.
The instructor and his dance partner Shelly Cook were named UK National Professional Champions the past two years running.
They also picked up a silver medal at the European Salsa Masters Championships in 2006.
Cousin Darren Reeve said he and Mr Wright's brother Charles are due to head to Malaga to lay family flowers at the scene of the crash and arrange for his body to be sent home.
A tribute from friend, Robert Saunders, on Facebook said: 'Such a happy, genuine, lovely person, such a loss.
'I can still picture him when he was just getting into salsa, happy, enthusiastic and full of fun.
'It was obvious he was going to become a good dancer, but more than that it was immediately clear what a great person he was.'
Salsa Champion: Lee Wright, pictured right, died in Spain while he was celebrating his 24th birthday