By Edie, The Salsa FREAK!!I just got done dancing up a storm with one of my favorite dance partners (I have about 2 dozen or so favorites…). I danced so hard, I decided to sit out a song and entertain myself watching the amazing social dancers of Los Angeles. It had been a while since I’d been in town, and wanted to catch some new cool moves.I looked over to my right and saw a couple dancing like there was no tomorrow. The woman was excellent. Her style was incredible. Her arms were very stylish, her head tossed in all the right directions, at all the right times, her hips were all in sync and full of action. My eyes became fixed on this woman. how she moved her shoulders, chest, and fingers.
Then, her partner let go of her for a shine (solo) session. He started some slides, Susie Q’s, Flairs, and Pachangas. She mimicked him perfectly, shadowing his own unique style as well. Pretty soon she started her own shines, with her head now suddenly down for a brief second, getting down with the music. She started jerking and convulsing her left leg. It was a strange and beautiful shine. She did it again, this time with fire and fury, keeping perfect time with the music. It was awesome watching her. I looked on, trying to learn and pick up as much as I could.
She continued this unique shine with her right foot stable, and left leg constantly moving, toe pointing in, then out, then around, hitting the floor to the rhythm. Her syncopations were perfect – hitting the on, then off-beat with her left leg. Unbelievable.
I was entranced.
She looked up, then down, arms in beautiful motion, synchronized perfectly with the music. A serious look was now on her face – no more smile.
“Man, she is REALLY into it now!” I thought to myself. My jaw was now open.
Still dancing, she crept over toward the carpet, and started doing shines with her left leg right on the carpet!! this time rubbing her toe in the carpet itself, still in fantastic rhythm to the music. She had a serious look on her face like she was about ready to attack.
WOW!! She’s using the carpet as part of her little show here!”
I thought to myself, again.
I had never seen anything like it before. Shining with only one foot! Her one-legged shines were some of the most amazing I had ever seen – in fact, I had NEVER seen anything like this before, not even in New York! Eddie Torres would have been proud of this woman, and could even learn something from her!
Then it happened.
She stopped, grabbed a napkin off the table, bent over, and pulled a long, gooey piece of white chewing gum off the sole of her left shoe.
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Author: Edie, The Salsa FREAK!! is one of the most recognized and respected Salsa Writers/Instructor/Performers in the world. In the past twenty years, she has traveled to 63 countries teaching the world to dance, and has been the first American to teach in 18 of those countries.
She now lives in the high mountains of beautiful Colorado with her wonderful husband, Nick. You may contact her at Edie The Salsa FREAK!! Website
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