What is it like dating a dancer? Ray Ray and Annabel were curious about other dancer's experiences so they put out a ten question survey to find out. In this episode they discuss the results.
Annabel suggests that for dating to be successful, both dancers have to be extremely confident and secure, not be prone to jealousy, have clearly established expectations and boundaries which are similar enough to each others' so that conflict and hurt are avoided. Ray Ray adds that when feelings are hurt, communicating it in a mature and rational way is also necessary.
The original survey is here: https://forms.gle/7LpnD73tAkgftmL76 It's open again for more responses.
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Timestamps:
0:00:05 Intro
0:01:04 Survey Question 1
0:02:59 Why Ray started learning Salsa
0:05:01 Do ppl learn dance to meet attractive people?
0:08:28 Dance pulled Ray out of depression
0:09:31 Reasons why ppl begin dancing
0:11:11 Brutus makes an appearance
0:13:20 Partner dancing is physically intimate
0:14:50 Reasons why ppl don’t date other dancers
0:16:59 What Ray’s friends thought about him dancing
0:18:28 Survey Question 6
0:12:10 Survey Question 7
0:20:20 Boundaries while dating
0:27:54 Message from Annabel
0:28:38 Ray and Annabel’s expectations
0:33:28 Why it’s difficult dating other dancers
0:38:00 Double standard yes or no?
0:46:48 Stories from dancers
0:55:17 What’s necessary for success
1:01:56 Call for Apprentices
1:02:38 Dating as a teacher
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*Ray Ray Salsa teaches Salsa at International Dance Studio in Oklahoma City https://www.idancestudio.com/
*Ray Ray Salsa teaches Salsa using the Black Belt Salsa curriculum.
Find out more about Black Belt Salsa at https://www.blackbeltsalsa.com and https://www.blackbeltdanceonline.com/
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Get in touch:
Send us your questions or podcast topic suggestions!
Ray Ray Salsa
405-320-9333
rayray@rayraysalsa.com
www.rayraysalsa.com
Annabel Valencia
405-985-6805
inquiry@annabelvalencia.com
www.annabelvalencia.com
Find Ray Ray Salsa on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram
Here are some of the challenges and thrills of teaching Salsa to children at a summer Art Camp. You'll hear the highs and lows of our experience and our biggest take-aways. -------------------------------------------------- Timestamps: 00:00 Wedding ceremony highlights 07:05 Kids at Crossroad Family Services Indiana 09:28 Teaching Salsa Shines 10:44 Challenges of teaching 13:49 Staff participation 14:33 Call for Salsa apprentices 15:18 Unify Ballroom Fort Wayne 16:23 Travel difficulties 17:32 Staying on campus 18:35 Annabel’s son on the trip 20:00 Time with Ray’s sister 21:23 Teaching charitably 22:20 Annabel’s biggest shocker 24:54 Ray’s biggest takeaway 26:25 Looking ahead to next camp -------------------------------------------------- *Ray Ray Salsa teaches Salsa at International Dance Studio in Oklahoma City https://www.idancestudio.com/ *Ray Ray Salsa teaches Salsa using the Black Belt Salsa curriculum. Find out more about Black Belt Salsa at https://www.blackbeltsalsa.com and https://www.blackbeltdanceonline.com/ -------------------------------------------------- Get in touch: Send us your questions or podcast topic suggestions! Ray Ray Salsa 405-320-9333 rayray@rayraysalsa.com www.rayraysalsa.com Annabel Valencia 405-985-6805 inquiry@annabelvalencia.com www.annabelvalencia.com Find Ray Ray Salsa on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram
Never stop being a student. This has been Bryant Ayala's philosophy as he continues his dance journey from childhood to champion level dancer. Bryant Ayala grew up in a dance family and now teaches, performs, directs and judges. His specialty Salsa style is Mambo On2. He will be in Oklahoma City for the OKC Salsa Bachata Weekender July 21-22 2023. Find out more about it here: www.salsabachataworkshop.com
Follow Bryant Ayala: Instagram: @bryant.ayala Facebook: "Bryant Ayala"
Dancers mentioned in this podcast:
Marco Ferrigno
Eddie Torres
Adolfo Indacochea
Edie, The Salsa Freak!!
Lawrence Garcia
Musicians mentioned in this podcast:
Cuban musician Perez Prado
Latin Jazz musician Machito ____________________________ Timestamps:
00:24 Wedding ceremony
01:30 OKC Weekender July 21
02:05 Introductions
04:01 growing up in a dance family
05:41 areas of dance
09:26 Never stop being a student
11:12 Training in Italy with Marco Ferrigno
12:26 Mambo On2 style
12:54 Learning On2 with Adolfo IndacocheaForget the numbers
16:34 What is Mambo?
18:05 OKC workshop focus
19:41 Sponsor Annabel Valencia Photography
20:25 Advice for young dancers
22:34 Directing 80 dancer performance
24:07 Challenge of creating
25:54 Being a good choreographer
28:15 Lines Dance Academy teams
30:15 Being a humble dancer
33:52 OKC Salsa Bachata Weekender details
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*Ray Ray Salsa teaches Salsa at International Dance Studio in Oklahoma City https://www.idancestudio.com/ *Ray Ray Salsa teaches Salsa using the Black Belt Salsa curriculum. Find out more about Black Belt Salsa at https://www.blackbeltsalsa.com and https://www.blackbeltdanceonline.com/ Get in touch: Send us your questions, comments or podcast suggestions! Ray Ray Salsa 405-320-9333 rayray@rayraysalsa.com Annabel Valencia 405-985-6805 inquiry@annabelvalencia.com Find Ray Ray Salsa on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram ____________________________
Let's geek out with Neuropsychologist Dr. Mark Wexler, also known as Salsa Moshe about the qualities of a healthy dance community and how to avoid creating a toxic dance community.
Follow Salsa Moshe:
Instagram: @medancer21
Facebook: "Salsa Moshe Mark Wexler"
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Timestamps:
00:00:00 Intro to guest Salsa Moshe PART 1
00:03:46 TEN CHARACTERISTICS OF A HEALTHY DANCE COMMUNITY
00:04:45 #1 it’s growing, welcoming and challenging
00:06:35 #2 it encourages (affordable) lessons
00:08:03 # 3 it gives positive encouragement
00:08:34 #4 it has several instructors or schools
00:11:50 instructors with toxic fear & scarcity mindset
00:13:28 when students start their own school
00:15:20 #6 there is respect for school “territories”
00:20:44 #7 not talking bad about other dancers/instructors
00:23:23 ATMOSPHERE & ATTITUDES AT A SALSA SOCIAL
00:31:30 look for *these* women
00:34:38 advantages of Salsa
00:36:00 dealing with unhealthy motives
00:39:31 why Annabel & Ray didn’t meet earlier
00:43:29 sponsor Annabel Valencia Photography
00:44:12 #8 it has amateur performance groups
00:46:48 #9 there is community within the community
00:54:00 students are not “owned”
00:55:47 advice for studio owners
00:58:57 WHEN TO SEEK PROFESSIONAL THERAPY
01:08:37 your dance instructor is not your therapist
01:10:26 #10 there are healthy boundaries
01:13:11 Outro
*Ray Ray Salsa teaches Salsa at International Dance Studio in Oklahoma City https://www.idancestudio.com/ *Ray Ray Salsa teaches Salsa using the Black Belt Salsa curriculum. Find out more about Black Belt Salsa at https://www.blackbeltsalsa.com and https://www.blackbeltdanceonline.com/
____________________________
Get in touch:
Send us your questions, comments or podcast suggestions!
Ray Ray Salsa
405-320-9333
rayray@rayraysalsa.com
Annabel Valencia
405-985-6805
inquiry@annabelvalencia.com
Find Ray Ray Salsa on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram
Bonus juicy tid bits from Edie, The Salsa Freak!! Edie talks about how her Black Belt Salsa curriculum is designed to enhance the alpha masculinity and alpha femininity inside you as a dance partner and how it has the surprising side effect of helping you attract better partners. What are your thoughts? Let us know.
Edie will be in Oklahoma City on Memorial Day weekend 2023 for the Black Belt Dance World Summit. Details at the bottom...
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Timestamps:
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The Black Belt Dance World Summit 2023 OKC
Attend one or both days!
Join us for 2 full days of intensive training with world renowned Salsa legend Edie, The Salsa Freak!! She is the creator of the Black Belt Salsa system which trains world-class dancers.
Day 1 of the Summit will be Salsa dance training for dancers with any partner dance experience.
Day 2 will be Studio management and Best Practices for how to run a successful studio, covering real world topics, such as how to deal with difficult situations.
- Find out more about Edie, The Salsa Freak!! at www.salsafreak.com/bio
- Get tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-belt-dance-world-summit-tickets-519931307537 Early Bird pricing ends March 31, 2023
This event is hosted by International Dance Studio and Ray Ray Salsa www.idancestudio.com
- Contact Ray Ray Salsa at 405-320-9333 or idancestudio.rayraysalsa@gmail.com
Ray Ray Salsa and Annabel Valencia interview Edie, The Salsa Freak!!, a legend in the Salsa world. Edie talks about how she created a successful apprentice program for her dance studio, which runs and grows her classes even if she's not there. What are your thoughts? Let us know.
Edie will be in Oklahoma City on Memorial Day weekend 2023 for the Black Belt Dance World Summit. Details at the bottom...
____________________________
Timestamps:
____________________________
The Black Belt Dance World Summit 2023 OKC
Join us for 2 full days of intensive training with world renowned Salsa legend Edie, The Salsa Freak!! She is the creator of the Black Belt Salsa system which trains world-class dancers.
Day 1 of the Summit will be Salsa dance training for dancers with any partner dance experience.
Day 2 will be Studio management and Best Practices for how to run a successful studio, covering real world topics, such as how to deal with difficult situations.
- Find out more about Edie, The Salsa Freak!! at www.salsafreak.com/bio
- Get tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-belt-dance-world-summit-tickets-519931307537 Early Bird pricing ends March 31, 2023
This event is hosted by International Dance Studio and Ray Ray Salsa www.idancestudio.com
- Contact Ray Ray Salsa at 405-320-9333 or idancestudio.rayraysalsa@gmail.com
Ray Ray Salsa and Annabel Valencia interview Edie, The Salsa Freak!!, a legend in the Salsa world. Here she talks about her Black Belt Salsa system and her thoughts on dancing Salsa On1 versus Salsa On2. What are your thoughts? Let us know.
Edie will be in Oklahoma City on Memorial Day weekend 2023 for the Black Belt Dance World Summit. Details at the bottom...
____________________________
Timestamps:
Intro to guest Edie, The Salsa Freak!!
Join us for 2 full days of intensive training with world renowned Salsa legend Edie, The Salsa Freak!! She is the creator of the Black Belt Salsa system which trains world-class dancers. Day 1 of the Summit will be Salsa dance training for dancers with any partner dance experience. Day 2 will be Studio management and Best Practices for how to run a successful studio, covering real world topics, such as how to deal with difficult people. - Find out more about Edie, The Salsa Freak!! at www.salsafreak.com/bio - Get tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-be... - Find out more about Black Belt Salsa at www.blackbeltsalsa.com and www.blackbeltdanceonline.com This event is hosted by International Dance Studio and Ray Ray Salsa www.idancestudio.com - Contact Ray Ray Salsa at 405-320-9333 or idancestudio.rayraysalsa@gmail.com
How do we create a good connection with our dance partner(s)? Cindy Velez addresses this topic, from the angle of her background in Urban Kizomba. You can watch the YouTube video of this conversation here https://youtu.be/ikb24sHqQFM
Timestamps:
Opening: Intros, Info on KUA Weekender, How Cindy & Ray Ray first met
08:15 What makes a good connection? Is it skill level or is it something else?
09:12 Our mindset going into a dance
11:15 Being present in the dance and getting out of our own way
12:34 Having the attitude of "Et alors", meaning "So what"
13:40 Having grace and forgiveness with ourselves and our dance partners
14:56 Technical skills needed for a good connection - a good Body Frame
16:30 How to identify the skill and comfort level of your dance partner
19:00 The connection in Urban Kiz
20:30 Background of Kizomba and how Cindy first saw it danced
22:41 Contact points and focusing on your partner
24:00 Dancing "dumb" and the "dance high"
30:43 Connecting before you get on the dance floor
31:43 The challenge of truly following and staying focused
36:43 Details on KUA Weekender in OKC March 31 - April 2
For those interested in attending the KUA Weekender in Oklahoma City Hosted by Cindy, see the link below.
KUA Weekender in OKC Tickets, Fri, Mar 31, 2023 at 8:00 PM | Eventbrite
Contact Ray Ray Salsa:
Email: idancestudio.rayraysalsa@gmail.com
Find "Ray Ray Salsa" on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram and send us a message
Ray and Annabel are back with a review of what happened in 2022 and preview of what to expect in 2023
2022 was full of ups and downs
- in January Ray's mom passed away
- in March was the memorial service for Ray's mom in Ohio
- in September Annabel moved from Lawton to Oklahoma City
- Hazel Lopez named Ray co-director of International Dance Studio
- in October Ray proposed marriage to Annabel (hear the story in the episode)
- in November Annabel opened her photography studio inside International Dance Studio
- we launched the Black Belt Dance apprentice program
Jesus, Dolce, and Ray discuss with Jesus Hernandez the benefits of training to be an omni dancer. An omni dancer is a dancer who learned the lead and follow of a dance.
Ray Ray interviews new dancer Annabel Valencia (www.annabelvalencia.com), a student who has been in the Oklahoma City dance community for less than a year. Ray discovers her perspective of the community and her secrets to consistent improvement. Find out how Annabel got started taking Salsa lessons and why she became addicted.
Join Dolce and Ray as they interview the young and brilliant Ivis Torres Turley, OKC's newest dance studio owner and instructor. Ivis was born in the Dominican Republic, started dancing at the age of three and even choreographed dances as a young child for her cousins' birthday parties! She moved to the United States at the age of seventeen. She's studied under some big names in the Latin Social Dance scene and danced all over the world.
I am happy to announce group dance lessons have returned to OKC. See the links below for the different Schools and what they offer.
Reach Dance Studio - www.reachdancestudio.com
International Dance Studio - www.idancestudio.com
Adelante Dance Studio - www.adelantedancestudio.com
Clips and Hips - 4822 N Macarthur Blvd, Warr Acres, OK 73122 · (405) 209-4823
Salsa Maritza at 3Sixty Entertainment Powerhouse -www.salsaokc.com
Part 2 - Let's discuss Social Dance Etiquette some more. Find out what the differences are between Social dancing and dancing in clubs. They aren't the same! Dolce and Ray Ray talk about some subjects that aren't often talked about in dance classes or on the dance floor. Think of this episode as a list of unwritten social dance behavioral norms.
Send your Dance Stories, questions and podcast suggestions to idancestudio.rayraysalsa@gmail.com.
Let's discuss Social Dance Etiquette. Find out what the differences are between Social dancing and dancing in clubs. They aren't the same! Dolce and Ray Ray talk about some subjects that aren't often talked about in dance classes or on the dance floor. Think of this episode as a list of unwritten social dance behavioral norms.
Send your Dance Stories, questions and podcast suggestions to idancestudio.rayraysalsa@gmail.com.
Dolce and Ray Ray's emotional interview Marti Rickman. Marti was born in Palmira, Colombia. She was the 11th child in a family of 13 children. Her deep desire to live her dream is what brought her to the United States. Listen to her captivating journey of how she got to where she is today, a founder of the Oklahoma City Latin dance scene.
Marti is the owner of Clips and Hips and organizer of the Oklahoma City Hispanic heritage Fiesta.