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The Miami Salsa Congress 2007

One of America’s Most Pristine Events
-          By Edie, The Salsa FREAK

In 1998, I paid a visit to Miami, Florida while visiting a friend of mine who lived there.  I was just getting back from my first trip to Israel and the Island of CuraÇao.  Since I was in Miami anyway, my friend suggested I teach an “LA Style” workshop to expose Miami Salseros to a different style of Salsa other than what most of them already knew – which was Casino from Cuba, and and Rueda de Casino. 

We contacted Rene Gueits, owner of one of the largest Salsa dance schools in the world, The Salsa Lovers Dance Studios in Miami, Florida    At the time, he had over 60,000 students pass through his doors.  It was hard to imagine.  Once I stepped into his classes, and saw how he operated, I was stunned and amazed.   I couldn’t believe the numbers of students in his classes.  We didn’t have ANYTHING like this in Los Angeles.  Literally  hundreds of people packed enormous halls with circles within circles of people dancing Rueda de Casino together, switching off with each other like square dancing, but to Salsa music!  I had seen glimpses of Rueda circles here and there sprinkled at various events throughout the world, but nothing of this magnitude or level of expertise.  It was incredible.  They even had hand-signal calls – no one had EVER done that ANYWHERE else that I knew of.    

Rene introduced me to his Advanced Rueda team.  I will NEVER forget what he told them… “ok everyone… listen up.  This is Edie Lewis, The uh… Salsa… freak (he quickly whispered the word “freak” so no one would notice) and she is here from LA, and will be teaching an “LA Style” workshop here this Saturday.  So uh…  if you want to show up, don’t forget to wear your pink tights and too - toos…”  

I just smiled. 

By that time, I had been to almost 15 countries teaching LA Style Salsa; introducing this new “Style” (the only style I knew at the time) concept to mainly Cuban and NY-style Salsa dancers.  Some of them did not like it – some of them even walked out of my classes.  But one thing I did notice that bothered me more than anything else was that whenever there was a Rueda circle formed, only those people from that particular country or school would be able to join in, because each had a different call in their own language.   The Swiss called “Dame Uno” something else.  The Germans called it something else, the French calls were completely different – and very French… it was  something else all together.  New York even had different names for [what is now] the “standard” calls.  I think they also used number calls, like “Number One!   Number Nine!”  There was even a dance school in Los Angeles, (The Dance Family) that used calls from the DVD Eric Freeman and I created called “Sixty moves in Sixty Minutes”.  They made up call names based on the numbering sequence of moves and turn patterns Eric Freeman and I created and demonstrated.  It was pretty cool!!  BUT, I still felt Rene needed to set an international standard. 

I told my friend that we needed to encourage Rene, to “set the standard” for Rueda calls throughout the world by creating a video series setting forth basic beginner and intermediate calls so that the entire world would be able to dance together – instead of isolating themselves to their own countries and schools. 

At first, Rene was against it.  But after I recounted the story of what I saw, and the disturbing trend of what was happening all over the world, he could actually become Legendary with what he had already taught thousands of students.  He could influence the entire WORLD this time and “set the Rueda call standard”.  Dancers and instructors from all over the world would base their entire Rueda curriculum on what he taught and learned from the Cubans coming to Miami in droves. 

He was convinced. 

We then set out to create the world’s first Rueda de Casino Instructional DVD series.  I used my set of clave sticks and my camcorder to tape record the entire thing.  Rene used his existing instructors to demonstrate the calls, and even showed the calls using hand signals – very important in a crowded, noisy, LOUD nightclub.  His DVD series immediately took off like wildfire both nationally and internationally.  Since then, the Salsa Lovers Rueda Calls system has become “The” International Standard and Rene Gueitz has not only become Legendary, but has been invited all over the world to teach his high-impact and exciting Rueda classes. 

Now with a big sigh, the ENTIRE Salsa world understands and agrees that “Dame Uno, and Dame Dos”…

…means just that.

It was amazing.

The entire video series took about a day to film – a day to change the world.

In the year 2000, and 2001, I invited Rene to perform at our Salsaweb Convention in Washington DC and Toronto, Canada.  There, both he and his dancers were exposed to entirely new styles of dancing, and even took it upon themselves to expand and grow their skills.  Now Salsa Lovers dance team performs ALL KINDS of styles – even Tango!  They’ve set the standard in Casino Miami Style, and have embraced other styles of dance as well. 

Every year now Rene hosts the annual Miami Salsa Congress.  In the past few years, the Miami Salsa Congress has risen to become one of the most revered and respected annual congresses to attend.  His instructors are nothing but top-notch, world-class.  At the Miami Congress, ALL Styles of Salsa are shown – from Cali style (Colombia), to LA Style, to NY Style, to Miami Casino Style, to pure Cuban style. 

The Miami Salsa Congress every year just keeps getting bigger and better.  It attracts dancers and performers from all over the world.  There were dancers and performers  there from Italy, Australia, Germany, Korea, and even New Zealand! 

The Miami Congress this year was held at the beautiful Miami Beach Resort Hotel in the heart of Miami Beach.  Every day the sun was out and pool was filled with Salseros and Salsa music.  Workshops filled each and every hour.  I even conducted a 4-hour Mini-Bootcamp for the Beginners (our most important group of Salseros) where they were treated to a VIP champagne and hors ‘deorve pre-show party, accompanied by front-row VIP seating for the Saturday night shows.   The beginners were FABULOUS.  I noticed most mustered up enough confidence to actually ask each other to dance “Beginner Style” that night!  It was awesome watching them grow. 

The list of performers are too long to mention, but I can definitely say that each and every one of them was fantastic – some of them “world class”.  The social dancing was even BETTER.  We danced till the wee hours of the morning EVERY NIGHT.   Every style imaginable was there.  I particularly loved dancing with all the Casineros of Florida doing Rueda – it is so much fun!  Rueda brings people together in-touch with MANY different dance partners during a single song.  Every dance studio in the world needs to hold Rueda classes.  It attracts many students to your studio, develops lasting friendships, and keeps students coming back for more.  This is one of the secrets to a successful Salsa business – something I taught at my Instructor Training Bootcamp at The Salsa Lovers Studios in Miami just days before. 

Overall, I believe the Miami Salsa congress will only get better.  I see it grow every year, and this year had to have been one of the best I’ve been to.  Truly.  A huge “CONGRATULATIONS” again to Rene, his wife, and his entire elite staff of volunteers for putting on one of the finest Congresses in the world. 

For more information on the Miami Salsa Congress, please visit www.MiamiSalsaCongress.com

Salsa Lovers Studios:   www.SalsaLovers.com