How long have you been dancing?

Since about the age of seven.

Where did you learn Mambo "on two"?

I took classes with Eddie Torres a while ago. I had the pleasure of taking a workshop with Eddie in London. He's a great teacher. He's a master… a gentleman in his profession. He really knows his Mambo!

When did you actually start teaching? I started assisting my jazz teacher when I was in Los Angeles. I grew up in Highland Park, and most of the people there danced Salsa. When I was learning Jazz, everything was based on the Afro Cuban movement. My teacher would use music syncopated with the clave. That was probably one of my first professional experiences outside of Salsa dancing with Latin Music. In the evenings, we would go to parties in the park, where they played Salsa. We would put down blankets, guitars, drums and drums.... everybody would dance, it was a wonderful way to spend a warm summer night. Now I don't think they do that, which is a shame.

Later on, I took classes with Albert Torres, Laura Canellius, Ron Arciago... he introduced a lot of people in LA to Salsa. His studio used to be full of people.

In August 1998, I went back to Los Angeles for a small visit. I’d been looking at Salsaweb for a while, and I found out about all the clubs; Rudolpho's, Santa Monica's 5th Ave., St Mark's in Venice, and the Conga Room. I met Francisco, and Joby and Luis Vazquez. I found out about all of them on Salsaweb.

What style of Salsa do you teach?

I teach my base style out here. Some people say it's Puerto Rican. I teach on two and one, depending on the music. With a lot of modern Salsa, I personally hear the "one". I teach the students about measures... music, the downbeats. I also teach the Son, which is where you break on three.

I let them know there are other possibilities. My philosophy is that if they can find the "one", then they can find the other beats... the two, the three, the four...

I find that the music is changing quite a bit. Take the Cuban group, Charanga Habanara for example. It’s almost fusion... almost funk. I bought the last record that Isaac Delgado did, and he has a few funk-based Salsa in his rhythms. I think that all these influences come together to make an interesting sauce. I believe that as long as things change, and they are allowed to change "la mode"...

The music is too good. Once you dance it, you don't want to dance anything else. It's also one of the last types of music where you have the last types of music being played. sometimes it's fast, and slow. It shows me there's a human playing the sounds... and we're not all perfect.

What Style of Salsa is danced in Paris?

There is a great Cuban and Colombian influence here.

What do you think of LA style Salsa?

LA style is very flashy and very bold. The woman is strongly featured, and I think this is very lovely. It’s very sexy. The guys take care of their partners. I love dancing with Albert Torres, Joe Casinni, yes, another master. A Legend.

What do you think about Cuban Style?

With Cuban style, the man is displayed... Years ago, a lot of the solo bits were originally danced by the lady... now it's the man...

Why do you think there is no Cuban influence in LA?

On the contrary, there is. There is quite a Cuban influence in the dancing. I saw more of it this year, than I have in other years. In Paris, the big influence is probably the Cuban style, depending on where you go, and which clubs you visit. Now the Cuban influence is growing stronger... but there are differing opinions on this.

Where do you like to teach? I prefer to teach in a dance studio. I like to teach at nightclubs, but people don't take it as seriously as in a dance studio. I teach a different way in the nightclubs. Why do you think Salsa is exploded recently. The music is being played more now. It is being played for wider audience. The Latin Music Awards has placed it in the spotlight. I think your website, Salsaweb has also played a major role in its expansion throughout the world. The information on the Salsaweb is incredible.

The fact is, that it has gone a bit mainstream. It's not a fad. I don't believe it's a fad. It will be here forever. It has always been here. It's here to stay. It's been going on for years and years, and years. Salsa was always popular in LA. There were always people dancing. People hear the music, they love it, and they want to learn how to dance to it. They really want to learn how to dance it.

Do you think Salsa has brought the world closer? Changed people’s lives?

I think there's less human contact and touch in the nineties more than ever. Many things are done by mail order, parents see their children less and visa versa, they're with their friends. TV can take up to 6-7 hrs of an adult's day. It's not a sharing or touching experience. It's a terrible isolation. I think that people are suffering from a lack of "touch". Dance brings you back to yourself.

How have the Parisians embraced Salsa?

I think [dance] is especially important for the French, because they can be so logical. They are so cerebral. This is my challenge. My challenge is to find a way of teaching them to get past all this. So I have to find a way of teaching them in a very logical manner. But it's just a ploy. The thing that is most difficult is the women. "But Susan, what do I do during this measure?" I tell them to simply "Follow.". They don't like that - in the beginning.

In the beginning, the women pick up on things easier than the men. The men feel intimidated. They are faced with the problem of not only interpreting the music, and feeling the steps, but also leading at the same time!

What plans do you have for the future?

Stay up on the latest music, latest steps, and continue taking classes from people all over the place. Homero Gonzalez from Cuba, who now resides in London is quite good. He used to have a dance company. I saw one of their performances, and they’re good. I also learn from videos. Eddie's videos are quite good. I think videos are great for a teaching aide, but it's not as good as learning from a teacher.

I want to hopefully continue what I'm doing. I want to give the best of myself to my students. I want to teach them a form of expression for themselves… something that they can use. I think it's important to do this. I have some students, that if you look at them physically, you would think they could never dance. But after a few hours with them, they learn how to lead, walk, and dance great.

I hope to be doing this for a very, very long time. This is what I love, and what I live for.

How can people get in contact with you?

They can email me at e.kuligowski@lemel.fr   or look me up on Salsaweb Magazine at http://www.salsafreak.com/susan_sparks.htm