Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Attended my first jazz band performance at Dewan Philharmonic with Scott. I took a trip down to KLCC via the LRT and it was very crowded when I got to the Mall surprisingly, with the H1N1 outburst and yet people are wearing mask and still spending alot of time in the crowd. Was a little confused with the location to pick up the tickets as I thought we were in the Conventional Center instead of the Philharmonic Hall. What a blur case I was at... *knock knock head*

Had dinner at Chinoz and enjoyed our fountain view a fair bit since the performance only starts at 8.30pm. They had stopped serving/making my favorite main course; pasta serve with duck-meat & olive oil. So, had to rethink of what is tempting with a reasonable price too...

We had a great evening as the performance was very entertaining, lively & jazzy. Since there is no camera allowed in the Hall, I had an opportunity to take pictures of them & even a short video when they continue to parade out from the hall to the already-arranged tables for their autographing section.

A Short Video of Preservation Hall Jazz Band outside the Hall : Video One
A Short Video of Scott in Action : Video Two (only for the intended viewer)

Salsa - Module 1

Attended my first salsa lesson tonight. I was rushing back home to grab a quick dinner before I head out to the dance studio at Jalan Kasuarina. Phew... was I exhausted with the driving and also the rushing. But, I was the earliest to arrive and had an ice-breaker section with Jason; the instructor and Fai; his assistant. After 20minutes chit-chatting and getting to know a little about the instructor and his background in the salsa industry. Turns out, his instructor was Sam from Havana EStudio.

Started the first lesson after 9+pm knowing that I was not in a hurrying and none of the other 8 students are turning-up (which out of them, 3 have fever), Jason & Fai taught me as 1 and only student. I had to say, its a privilege and it's like a private-class and I get lots of attention!! Hehehe...

With no dancing background & experience, I think it's only right to tell out front about this when I'm seriously going to take up salsa. Jason teaches "on-1" lessons.

First, I learned this... occasionally, I skipped a step or I didn't leave up my foot to make a step... Hhhmm... honestly, I don't think it's as easy as it seems... coming from me that is quite a tomboy... this sexy-dance may not be that easy to pick up especially, I had to have a good posture with my hands and the way I leave them up at my waist and not down on my side. Also, since the steps are done slowly, I even had the intention to jerk up my shoulder every single steps I take... Thinking back on the replay Jason showed me on how I did my steps, I had to laughed and make sure I remember not to do that.


Second, I learned to step right with my right foot and left foot to the right. Then, left with my left foot and right foot to the left. This is very simple but still I tend to missed a step.

Third, I learned to make a turn after the 5th step. I had Fai to be my partner to also learn how to be lead to turn with an arm raised and how a partner can raise his arm and still do not require to turn. Jason requested Fai to trick me a few times to make sure I'm alert and I never failed to be tricked. Hahaha!! During the turn, it is also important to make sure that I don't show my armpit but keep my elbow at the shape of an L-shape from my shoulder when I turn. This is to ensure I don't hit my partner with my elbow when I turn and also to make a graceful turn. And I'm not supposed to leave my left foot up-high into a L-shape when I turn either.

Before Jason let me leave, he make sure I learned how to listen to the music and know the timing on-1. So, I was given a short quiz to test me if I know how to count along with the music.

I left the dance studio by 10.30pm without even had to pay my RM200 fee yet; which is an advantage despite that this is not normal but I guessed, some people do it for passion and not for the business. I'm just glad I stumbled over this place in the website and I had to say, I had a GREAT first-day lesson with an instructor that I'm comfortable with too. But, I had to do some "homework" as well... I can feel a little sore... time to Zzzz...

Salsa Workshop @ Havana Estudio

I enjoyed myself very much at the Wednesday Salsa Social Nite at A li yaa where dance-partner first introduced me to the salsa environment. So today, dance partner brought me to attend a salsa workshop at his dance class; Havana Estudio.

To be frank, I was very nervous and paranoid as I'm not sure what am I to expect in this kind of workshop and social-gatherings. Sam; the instructor doesn't seems to realize the existence of me; that has no dancing experience whatsoever before. But, what can you expect when you just pay RM10 that comes with pizza & soft-drinks. The price came with learning a few basic steps for salsa and merengue.

Drew a circle in the picture to identify myself in the dance floor. This kick-start the salsa workshop whereby the basic steps are taught. The instructor in black & her dance-partner in white-top & yellow-skirt; Jen.

My head is always turning towards the instructor as I'm still figuring out the steps & making sure I did it correctly and I think I still couldn't differentiate the music tempo if my dance-partner don't count and lead me *chuckled*.

Merengue; a much slower & easier dance step compare to salsa. Personally, I prefer this one more due to the less complication and less spinning-speed. But, dance-partner felt this very boring as it's just plain-marching-alike kind of dance. He probably will doze-off while standing (or rather dancing)!!

After the brief introduction to the basic steps of salsa & merengue; the social night started with dimmer lights and bigger crowd. I can feel the heat coming with the packed-like-sardine dance room and this is the time where you start seeing lots of good dancers enjoying themselves. Meanwhile, we had a few rounds of salsa and trying to get myself into it from what I had learned. In this picture, dance-partner trying to learn the new technique he saw in UTube and somehow, one part got us tangled & we were figuring out how to untangled correctly with grace!

*Phew* I felt sweaty and that my bra is slipping lower underneath my dress. So, I had to excuse myself to the toilet to get that adjusted but I think after that, I was a little worry that it doesn't work that much as it continues to slip with the spinning-steps I constantly do *shy*. On & off, I had to keep pulling it up in public which I feel kind of embarrassed. I had to make sure the next time I attend another social night for salsa, I have to wear well-supported bra-stripped & a dress that don't show my bare-shoulder.

Other than having an impatience dance-partner who shows me black-face when I can't get one of the harder steps learned, I enjoyed myself for the night. Despite that I got kicked several times by the men behind me - that hurts at my heel & the skin-above my heel! Just hope I don't get the blues & bruises tomorrow.