Tonight we went to watch the fire twirling again on the beach at 475 The Esplanade in Hervey Bay.

As it is two days before Christmas this fire twirling display (pictured right) looked like a love heart, in tune with the reason for the season!

Even being the middle of summer there was a beautiful cool breeze as I enjoyed my take away Chinese dinner.

The lights of Hervey Bay looked gorgeous at night extending right around to Point Vernon.

To be notified of upcoming Friday Fire Twirling and Drumming please contact Jamie on 0407 280 754 to receive a text message confirming dates.

 Photo’s courtesy of Eric Skowron

For more information please contact:

Jose & Carol Orduna: 4128 3623 or jcorduna@dodo.com.au

Members and guests of the Australian Grupo Latino  celebrated their last social for the year with live music provided by Bob Campbell (drums) and Jackie MacDonald ( guitar & vocals ) and they kept  the dancers busy on the dancing floor all night, with an array of Cha Cha’s, Sambas, Merengues, Rumbas, Tangos & of course Rock & Roll’s.

With an impromptus performance of The Three Amigos (or were  there four?)  It doesn’t matter three or four, they where magnificos….

The hall was smartly decorated with a Mexican Navidad (Christmas) theme, it really made you feel you were in Mexico

With the majority of the patrons dressing up for the night, never seen so many Mexicans together in one place in Australia, you all looked so smart so Mexicans, and you all danced so well. Que lindos

You’ll have to agree with me that, the highlight of the night was the the visit of Santa, what a joyful Santa, and as there was no naughty girls or boys, he distributed gifts to everyone.  

We had a wonderful time can’t wait for the next one in 2009

Regards Carol & Jose Orduna

Grupo Latino

Vivaz have Lessons beginning at 7.30pm on Friday and Saturday nights. No partner is required. (Maybe phone ahead to check on classes as they may vary due to seasonal factors)

I danced with a very friendly man named Clinton who turned out to be a dance instructor in Sydney and practised the Salsa & Merengue. Eric and I just couldn’t seem to remember one of our turns so Clinton was kind enough to talk us through it plus also ran me through the basic of Bachata.

It’s always fun to dance to a live band.

Vivaz is definitely the spot to be in Sydney for high energy Latin dancing in a fun and friendly atmosphere. You’re guaranteed a good time, every time!  

by Jeanette Maynes
www.jeanettemaynes.com.au

At 7pm on Saturday we headed over to Rio Rhythmics Latin Dance Academy Studio One at 126 Boundary Rd West End, Brisbane. The night started with a lesson that went for roughly an hour and a half. We learnt four different basic steps that we could do with a partner.

Tarcisio our instructor on the night was very amusing and has a fun and professional teaching style. His passion captivates the students and makes you feel comfortable you are in the right place to learn.

The philosophy for the night was Steps, Style, how to Dance and how to Party. We mastered 3 of these but the Style will take a lot more fine tuning with practice. Once again we rotated and practiced with several partners which is always interesting to dance with different people.

Tarcisio touched on how dancing is about the music first and connecting in time with whoever your partner is every single dance. You must focus on the dance, music and express two as one with movement. If one person is showing off they are dancing as one with two which is not what the dance is about. Conversation is for after your dance not during it.

He also mentioned to us ladies that if you are social environment dance at a distance that is comfortable for you. If your partner tries to draw you in closer and he is not a huggable sort of person don’t be afraid to stop the dance and move elsewhere.

It was amazing to watch Tarcisio lead and turn a lady and himself in any direction effortlessly with just one finger!!!

At the end of the lesson we watched a performance by two of his students that were celebrating their 5^th wedding anniversary that day. They were fantastic dancers! After this we went into a social dance to practice what we had learnt and what we already know.

Joao on the door was kind enough to obtain permission for me to take a couple of photographs. There looked like well over 120 dancers. Joao also mentioned he has a 5 piece Brazillian band and is the lead singer; I would definitely like to hear them play. I’m hoping their performance times will be available on the Rio Rhythmics website?

by Jeanette Maynes
www.jeanettemaynes.com.au

This weekend it was off to Brisbane for some more Salsa and we took some friends who were keen to see what all the hype was about!!! 

Friday night we arrived at the Salsa dancing at the end of Queen St Mall about 8.30pm. Apparently if we were there at 8pm there is a free warm up dance class that attracts up to 200 people focusing on Salsa, Merengue and Cha cha cha so that’s a definite to remember for next trip.

It was the 1^st Birthday for the Salsa in Brisbane as the event has now been running very successfully for a year. The brains behind the event are Glen who runs Oxford St Salsa Dance Studio and Raphael a very talented DJ.

Glen told me that the pair originally started the event at South Bank six years ago and after a year off moved the event to the current location. They are the only place that does an open air Salsa event in Australia, that’s all free plus they also have 100% support from Brisbane council.

Raphael made a short speech and presentation on stage to Glen in thanks as part of the celebrations. The conga and bongo drummer on stage really enhanced the atmosphere with his lively drumming!

There was a captivating performance by ‘Danny & Miriam’ (I think this was their names) who definitely had the moves and I must say a pretty foxy costume! There must have been at least 500 people in the crowd watching this pair go off!

I’d personally like to thank Glen and Raphael for the fun time we have when in Brisbane. It’s nice to know there is somewhere you can go and are assured a great time, every time!!! Oh and thanks heaps for the lesson on doing dips Glen!

Our night of dancing finished up at 2.30am at the Treasury Casino once again!

Please click on images to view larger size.  

Once again the Deck Restaurant was packed for another huge night of Salsa dancing!! Dance enthusiasts came from everywhere; Sunshine Coast, Bundaberg, Maryborough, Gold Coast and of course Hervey Bay!

We started the night of with some drinks and our buffet dinner then the dancing began with a performance by Lupita and Wendy from the Latin and Alternative Dance Studio in Maryborough. The ladies went off and their timing was spot on, I was exhausted just watching by the end of the performance. This coming Saturday the 1^st of November the group is having their end of year performance if anyone is keen to see more high energy dancing!

The performance was followed by the lucky door prizes. First prize being a 3 month membership to Otto’s Fitness World was won by Ruth a member of the Fraser Coast Latino Group. Second prize of a $50 Seafood Meal voucher at the Deck Restaurant was won by Jennifer.

The dance class then began with the dance floor over flowing as we ran through the basic salsa moves in a very high energy lesson with Lupita. There was much laughter especially as we tried to step from side to side and shake our shoulders at the same time, many of us stating we must look pretty uncoordinated trying to do this saucy move!

Later on in the night we had a surprise announcement for Jose, President of the Fraser Coast Latino Group who was having his birthday. His members brought along a cake and Ruth led everyone as we sang ‘Happy Birthday’. It was lovely to celebrate Jose’s birthday with him.

Bob Campbell from the Latino Group brought along his conga and bongo drums and was absolutely sensational! He really set the mood and I was amazed at his skill with all the different beats. Even Dom and Di couldn’t resist banging out some tunes!

The dancing went till late and it was fantastic to be able to watch the experienced dancers from the Sunshine Coast and Bundaberg with their professional Salsa and Merengue moves on the dance floor plus Lupita and Anna with their husbands from Maryborough. The Fraser Coast Latino Group also took over the dance floor with Jose at one stage leading a congo line through the restaurant and it finishing with everyone doing limbo under a broom!!!

Thank you to the Deck for letting us have so much unrestricted FUN!
I can’t wait to see everyone again at the next Salsa Party!

Please feel free to email me with any positive or negative feedback from the night or for the next party… info@salsagroup.com.au

To see more images please click here or go to the gallery.

www.jeanettemaynes.com.au

Last night I went with my friends Naomi and Eric to check out the Fire Twirling at the Full Moon Party on the beach at 475 The Esplanade in Hervey Bay. Eric took the most amazing photo’s I’ve come across in a long time!

I had my first ever try at fire twirling and managed to get a double ring in my photo, not due to my sensational fire twirling skills but more Eric’s delayed camera shutter speed. I was more concentrating on the strong breeze and not setting my hair alight!

The beach looked amazing under the moonlight with the sound of the waves as the tide came in and the cool breeze it was a fantastic opportunity to get a take-away dinner and the blanket out, very relaxing.

Three Police Officers kindly stopped to pay us a visit to make sure we were having FUN!

Jamie Young and his team who practice on most Fridays and demonstrate their skills are sensational and very captivating to watch. It really is a fun night out. Just sitting on the beach at night really makes you appreciated what a beautiful area we live in!

To be notified of upcoming Friday Fire Twirling and Drumming please contact Jamie on 0407 280 754 to receive a text message confirming dates.

Photo’s courtesy of Eric Skowron, Please click on images to view larger size. 

Instructor | Latin & Alternative Dance Studio

0423 505 434

As Christmas is getting closer, we are putting together a little fundraiser for the Children’s Refuge that my husband’s parents run in Mexico. Pam and Alan Skuse care for over 40 children on a daily basis to improve the quality of life they live. Most of these children are victims of abuse, extreme poverty and in some cases orphans.

We are selling Christmas Cards to help the Mission Mexico Refuge.

A pack of 10 cards is $10. All cards were designed by the children. 
If you would like to support this fundraiser, please email me; talaricol@hotmail.com with the quantity you would like. Please let all your friends know.

Deadline for orders is the 25th of October 2008.

For more information on Mission Mexico Refuge, please visit: www.lovelifehope.com

Proudly supported by the Salsa Group

Last Sunday afternoon some members of the Australian Grupo Latino got together at the Hervey Bay RSL to listen to the music of  ” Mexicano ” Jackie MacDonald (guitar) and Bob Campbell (drums) and enjoy a drink and the company.

The music was great of course, a shame we couldn’t get up and dance as the area didn’t have a dance floor and the space restricted with tables and chairs. The temptation was so great, that some or our members had to get up and dance on a carpeted floor. Wouldn’t it be great if the venue catered for dancers?

Hasta la vista