Artist, international superstar, dancer, entertainer, teacher, student, traveller, philosopher, Sol Da Corea is many things to many different people. We know him as a wicked, good humoured and incredibly passionate person who is knowledgeable, humble, inspirational and who keeps on giving and giving.
Read on to see what our good friend Sol Da Corea had to say when we chatted After Hours.......
Who is Sol Da Corea?
Dance guru who has an attitude as a teenager for life.
How did you discover Salsa and when was this?
It was in 1999 - one of my friends told me there was a club that played Latin music and I saw the people dancing merengue. After that I found an internet salsa community in Busan called "Caribe".
Tell us about your Salsa story from the early days…
Because there were no teachers back then, everyone had to try to learn moves and patterns from each other.
Everything about salsa was new, fresh and mysterious. After the salsa parties we would always go for dinner together and drink the famous Korean drink, Soju. Then Salsa quickly became an addiction.
What style did you do besides Salsa? Did it change/ influence you?
Before salsa, I danced contemporary ballet and jazz. These became a strong element of mine for dancing salsa. I also dance Afro Cuban, Afro Rhumba, Tango, Belly Dance, Hip Hop etc.
Tell us something about yourself that not many people might know.
I am very spontaneous and easy going guy who normally goes with the flow. I'm also very impulsive but still responsible of course ;-)
I love chatting with good people about dance, travel and life........... oh, and I can drink a lot, ha ha :-)
What does dance mean to you?
Dance is something which connects me and life. It is my language to communicate - it is my entertainment to play and it is my soul food to fill me up as myself. Without dance, there would be no Sol.
I spend a lot of time for travel. I've visited Cuba a few times. I feel a great connection there even though I look so different to them. It's simply that I love music and dance and it connects us deeply.
I love Afro Cuban because there is meaning in the movement and a completely different approach to other forms of dance. It's a union of body and soul, humanity and divinity.
How do you feel being an instructor? What do you enjoy most in teaching?
As an instructor I never feel that I am actually "teaching". I can only help people with my knowledge and experience. Because I feel it, I want you to feel it too. When it happens that is the greatest joy for me.
What do you do if you need inspiration in life?
I need inspiration every second of every day. Even from a street chef who can make something really tasty with often very little sources of food. Or a street vendor who has a great voice to promote his product. Sometimes from weird paintings or lots of great performances from YouTube. Taking some random class (sometimes you can find great teachers) so I keep myself new and always learning.
Do you wear dance shoes and if so what type?
OzDance of course!! :) Seriously though, for me, it's about comfort and style and depending on what kind of pants I'm wearing :) I normally wear dance shoes with Cuban heels. If the floor is too slippery I also don't mind wearing sneakers.
What do you enjoy most about Latin dance?
For me it's mostly music and dancing/connecting with my partner. It feels so good to appreciate your partner and feel it together. You will never feel lonely with salsa in your life.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
When I had my 39th birthday party, I couldn't make a wish because I am living the life I want to live. I feel every day is God's gift to me. So for me, life is amazing every day. I just want to be better than yesterday. Maybe I am a modern gypsy :)
Known across the globe as the owner of the highly revered school Ritmo Caliente, Liliana Sputore is not only gorgeous, talented and wonderful to dance with, she's also smart, funny, caring and has WA in the palm of her hand.
Read on to see what our good friend Liliana had to say when we chatted After Hours.......
Who is Liliana Sputore?
Liliana Sputore, Argentinian born of European parents...now living in OZ....
Trapped in a intellectual mind but living in an artistic body and soul expressed in dance!
Tell us something about yourself that not many people might know.
Mmm..... Although my roots are very Latin, I actually started to dance professionally in Australia.
Natalie Reis (now Zeller) was my inspiration in Australia for dancing On2 ...And of course Edie Torres and Seon stylist-Bristol in the US. I survive with very little sleep - as long as I have my dancing!
How did you discover Salsa and when was this?
Through a self development course at the time I was missing home (Argentina then) ...A great timely comibination
Tell us about your Salsa story from the early days…
Kind of funny, I thought that because I was Latina I knew how to dance by virtue of birth lol... I quickly realised that I had the rhythm and the feeling yet had a lot to learn! I did Tango before salsa but tango was doing my head in so I did chose salsa instead....Took me about 5 years to stop back-leading the guys OMG! Poor them! But now I no longer live in my head when I dance :-)...I am in my soul :-) Soon afterwards I started running my own dance school in Perth called Ritmo Caliente Dance Academy....
So when did your Australian story begin?
I moved to Australia over 20 years ago
What is your current favourite Salsa song?
"Amame - El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico"
Do you wear dance shoes and if so what type?
Yes and thanks to Ozdance, I have discovered style, class, comfort and the best dance shoes I ever had! What makes this so good is that they are very affordable and the help and service is incredible. Nothing is impossible really.... Love these shoes!
What do you enjoy most about Latin dance?
The expression of the feeling of body moment, the passion and connection with another person that one can also experience in the dance, the music, the friendships, the lot!!
He's known all over the world as 'Mambo G' but who is the real Graeme Haney? Let's find out as we chat to him in this edition of After Hours.
Who is Graeme Haney?
Son, brother, father, dancer, teacher, DJ, promoter, aerodynamic brother and all-round old-fashioned regular guy who thinks he's hilarious!!
Tell us about your Salsa story from the early days…
Well it all started back in England in the early 1990’s when my girlfriend at the time wanted to dance Salsa. I didn’t want to - she moved away. So I learned for her :)
This was.. OMG OVER 20 years ago as I’ve been teaching for 20 years lol…!
I learned back in the UK under Mauricio Rayes (Latin Motion UK). He was my first inspiration and mentor where I learned Cuban, Columbian and On 1. Also, Mauricio trained me as a teacher to work within his company which I did for ten years. He also taught me the ropes and the “do’s and don’ts” of being a Salsa DJ and gave me my first opportunity to DJ in the Salsa community.
Then I travelled regularly to London to learn On2 from (in my opinion) one of the best social dancers and teachers ever seen - “Special Tee” and his sister Roukey for over five years.
My time learning took me to all of the Congresses in the UK and Europe where I learned from some some of the finest exponents of Salsa and Mambo including Nelson Flores, Eddie Torres, Mario B, Frankie Martinez, the Cobo brothers and Masacote to name a few.
So when did your Australian story begin?
I would often take trips back to Australia to visit my mum who lived in Maroubra in Sydney and it only occurred to me after a few years teaching, to search for Salsa in Sydney - this was before Facebook, iPhones and the internet was still in its infancy – yes I’m very old!!
I stumbled across La Campana on Liverpool Street and went there one Saturday night. I asked ladies to dance for over an hour with no takers - (I had long hair then…!) My frustration poured over and I asked one the guys “what do you have to do here to get a dance???”.
He looked at me and said “Do you dance?”
I said “Yes”
He said “Where are you from?”
I said “UK”
He said “London??”
I said “Birmingham”
He said “LONDON!!” and ran off and told all of the girls he knew.
I never stopped dancing for the rest of the night.
What do you enjoy most about Latin dance?
All of it.... learning, the dance, the music, the history, the social, losing yourself in the song with your partner..:)
What is your current favourite Salsa song?
Current.. PHEW that's a biggie...I'd say I've been listening to a lot of Ray Perez recently.. so take a pick from his back catalogue..:)
Do you wear dance shoes and if so what type?
Throughout my life, I've never worn dance shoes as they're always daggy, or uncomfortable. Only started to wear them when I saw the OzDance Ballo range.. they look like regular sneakers and feel like jazz shoes, v-light easy to spin in too.. Now that's all I wear when I dance..:)
How important is it for you to be wearing dance shoes when you dance?
Before I used the Ballo shoes from OzDance, I wasn't that bothered.. but the difference is so huge that now I don't go anywhere without one of my pairs...
Tamsyn Landale started her salsa career many years ago in London. Having performed, competed and danced with many of the world's leading dancers, Tamsyn still has a passion for seeing her students learn and grow to burn up the dance floors themselves. But besides dance, what else is Tamsyn all about. Let's find out as we chat to her in this edition of After Hours.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Grow up? I have no intention of ever ‘growing up’!! That said, there is one person in particular who’s characteristic traits I do aspire to have and develop in my lifetime: A man who has an amazing ability to connect and communicate with people, to make them feel totally at ease regardless of their position in life. If I had just a fraction of the rare combination of his strength, wisdom and humility along with his uncanny sense of humour (and of course awesome dancing skills!)… I’d be doing well. Who do I want to be like when I grow up? My father.
Who is Tamsyn?
I am many different things to many different people (but that doesn’t mean I'm confused). I balance the roles of friend, sister, daughter, partner, lover, teacher, student, colleague, manager… the list goes on and I'm determined it will continue to expand and develop…. Watch this space!
How did you discover Salsa and when was this?
Classes were being held in my gym (Edinburgh sometime in the 90's) - I'd known for many years there was a form of dance I wanted to take up but didn't know what it was - until I saw salsa! Been addicted ever since....
What is your current favourite Salsa song?
Way too many to list here but included are: Blue Mambo (Charles Fox) / a Bryan Keys track - cant remember the name but it's 4.39 mins long!
Tell us something about yourself that not many people might know.
I don't have a gallbladder.
Do you wear different dance shoes for different occasions (workshops / classes / performance / social)?
Yes, jazz shoes for classes / workshops etc and heels for dress up occasions.
What do you look for most in a dance shoe?
There are many things.... comfort, quality, style etc but quality is probably top of the list.
How important is it for you to be wearing dance shoes when you dance?
VITAL!
What do you enjoy most about Latin dance?
Social dancing and that EVERY dance you dance is different
What recommendation would you make to anyone (learners to advanced) when buying dancewear of any kind?
Buy good quality & good fitting - don't skimp on price (especially on shoes - you only have one pair of feet and they have to carry you for the rest of your life!).
