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leave your email and get our latest post! coming soon: more on lessons for the next quarter, more reviews of salsa places in Chicago, a new series on tips and advice in social dancing, pics and videos of our performing groups and much more!

Volunteer in the Chicago Salsa Congress!

Maybe you didn't know, but in a month Chicago will host its 10th International Salsa Congress (Feb 17th-20th)! it's a weekend of workshops, performances and dancing!  BLDA's own SalsaChic will be performing on Friday the 18th, yay!


It is not a free event, but there are volunteering opportunities if you don't have the bucks! Below there is an email from the volunteer coordinator. If you are interested write to us or directly to Kellee (at salsakellee at gmail dot com).

If you have any questions send them our way and keep dancing!

****

Hi Everyone! The Salsa Congress is only 4 weeks away!! Volunteer positions are still available! Volunteer shifts are 4.5hrs each and there are 4 shifts a day. If you are able to work 2 shifts in a row on the same day, you can attend the rest of the day for free (this has to be on the same day).


Here's a list of the schedule. Let me know what works for you! Spread the word!!!


Thanks if you have already responded to my original email! If you haven't, what are you waiting for! ;-)

Kellee

Thursday, February 17th

2-6:30 registration

6p-10:30pm evening performance

10p-2am concert

Friday-Sunday, February  18-20th

8a-12:30pm workshops and registration

12p-4:30pm workshops and registration and afternoon performance

6p-10:30pm evening performance

10p-2am concert

-- 

Kellee Gooden

2011 Chicago International Salsa Congress

Volunteer Coordinator

Lessons' schedule for Spring, starts April 12!

Hello dancers!

Hope you had an excellent break and good start of the quarter! Dance lessons start next Monday, April 12th--Third Monday of Spring Quarter in Ida Noyes' Cloister Club.

The Salsa Schedule goes like this:
7 pm: Beginning I  with Erin and Sheila. No experience required!
8 pm: Continuing I with James Stauber and Mary. Required to have attended Beginner Salsa or equivalent.
9 pm: Open Salsa: Free for everyone, come and dance/practice your Salsa, Bachata & Chacha!
9:30 pm: Intermediate I  with James Martin and Joy. Continuing Salsa or equivalent required.

Keep on the look out for Ballroom Classes--these should also start Third Week (the week of April 12th) as well.

If you would like to participate in the SalsaChic Performance group, please email Felipe Marin at fmarinp at uchicago dot edu. There are a few slots available for performing in the Chicago Salsa Festival in June. Only advanced students can audition.

If you would like to participate in the Competitive Ballroom Team, please email Chloe Zhu at chloez at uchicago dot edu.

We look forward to seeing you at classes and parties this quarter!

SalsaChic Fundraising Party on March 6!

Bring your dancing shoes and come shake what your mamma gave you!

Join us for some Salsa dancing fun on March 6th in the Library of Ida Noyes from 7:30pm to 11:30.
All funds will be used to support SalsaChic, the University of Chicago’s performance Salsa group, for costumes and performance costs. Will have a free salsa lesson between 7:30pm-8:00pm, many surprises and lots of salsa, chacha, bachata and merengue!

Who: All of those who would enjoy some Salsa dancing fun!
What: Salsa Party
When: March 6th from 7:30 pm to 11:30pm
Where: Library at Ida Noyes
Why: To help support Salsa Chic! The University of Chicago’s Performance Group
How much:: only $4

Light snacks and beverages will be provided, you bring the fun!  We hope to see you there!

for info in our group and videos, go to
http://ballroom.uchicago.edu/Dance_Teams.html

SalsaChic Performance Group Auditions!

The SalsaChic Performance group will hold auditions for recruting new members for its second choreography of the year, to be performed during Spring and Summer 2010! The audition dates and times are:

- Monday, February 1st between 9:00-9:30pm (during Open Salsa)
- Thursday, February 4th between 10:00-10:30pm (after Rueda lesson)

You can choose between both dates (i.e. only need to come once), and no need to bring partners. The only requirement for auditioning is to have finished Intermediate II (or similar) level.

What you will do: In the audition, you will be evaluated in partner work, musicality and basic footwork. Please bring dancing shoes (or formal shoes), but not flipflops, sneakers, etc.

How the performance team works: We meet once a week, Mondays at 9:30PM (after Open Salsa), usually for 75-90 minutes, teaching and practicing a new choreography to be performed mainly in two events: the OLAS show (mid April) and the Chicago Salsa Festival (mid-June); we also perform in other places if needed. You need to have 90-100% attendance since we go really fast and cannot slow down for people that does not come to practices.

Benefits of being in SalsaChic: You will learn tons of new steps, and improve your leading/following, timing and musicality. You get subsidized access to Salsa Festival/Congresses and  BLDA Workshops, and it is a great way to get involved in the club, and can one day become an instructor!

More info at

http://ballroom.uchicago.edu/Dance_Teams.html

or

Felipe Marin is a fan of

BLDA UChicago Dance Teams

Create your Fan Badge

Please send your questions to salsa at uchicago dot edu

Looking forward to see you: Remember, come on Feb 1 at 9pm or Feb 4 at 10pm

Salsa Party on November 21!

BLDA Fall Schedule Part 1 announced!

Hey everyone,

Here's our schedule for the quarter for our Salsa, Ballroom, and Latin Dances. If you have any questions feel free to email me back any time. These are listed by type. However if you would like to see the calendar by day, please check our Lessons Page.

Salsa
Beginning Salsa I with James and Sheila
Monday 10/5, 10/12, 10/19 and 11/2
Cost: $16 with UCID, $20 all others ($5 to try the first lesson only)
No partner needed.
No dance experience required.
Location: Ida Noyes Cloister Club & Library (check date)

Continuing Salsa I with James and Tanya
Monday 10/5, 10/12, 10/19 and 11/2
Cost: $16 with UCID, $20 all others ($5 to try the first lesson only)
No partner needed.
Requires Completion of Beginning Salsa I & II
Location: Ida Noyes Cloister Club & Library (check date)

Open Salsa!
Monday 10/5, 10/12, 10/19, 11/2, 11/16, 11/23 and 11/30
FREE
Come practice your Salsa and Latin Dancing!
Location: Ida Noyes Cloister Club & Library (check date)

Intermediate Salsa I with Alex and Joy
Monday 10/5, 10/12, 10/19 and 11/2
Cost: $12 with UCID, $15 all others ($5 to try the first lesson only)
No partner needed.
Requires Completion of Intermediate Salsa I.
Location: Ida Noyes Cloister Club & Library (check date)

Performance Salsa:
Auditions on 10/15.
Cost: $25 with UCID, $35 all others.
Requirements: Completion of Intermediate I & II or instructor approval.
Please note practice will be on Thursdays (10/15, 10/22, 11/5, 11/19) and Sundays (11/1, 11/8, 11/15, 11/22, 11/29)
Location: Thursdays in Cloister Club, Sundays in West Lounge

Ballroom & Latin:
Sunday Nov 4:
7-8pm Free Cha Cha workshop with Sheng, HQ, and Lisa!
Location: Ida Noyes Theater

8-9pm Intermediate Competitive Team Try Outs!
Come get information about the Competitive Ballroom Team.
If you're interested in joining the intermediate team, make sure to come to try outs!
Location: Ida Noyes Theater

Beginning Ballroom Sequence
Come dance Waltz and Tango with Sasha, Sheng and Olga!
Cost: $12 with UCID, $15 all others ($5 to try the first class)
Thursday 10/15 & 10/22
Time: 7-8:30
Location: Ida Noyes Cloister Club

Social Ballroom with Sheng, HQ and Lisa
Sunday Nov 1, 8 15, 22, and 29
Cost: $40 with UCID, $50 all Others
Time: 6-8pm
Location: Ida Noyes Cloister Club

Beginning Latin with Sheng, HQ and Lisa
Sunday Nov 1, 8 15, and 22
Cost: $32 with UCID, $40 all others
Time: 6-8pm
Location: Ida Noyes Cloister Club

Jive Workshop!
Thursday Nov 19, Ida Noyes Cloister Club
Instructor TBD
Cost: $5 with UCID, $8 all others.

Google Calendar:
All the above information and more is available on the google calendar available at:
http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=n6afa3u6ce58ctuppi3qpidp4s%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=America/Chicago


Quarterly Membership:
Quarterly membership is available. It is $60 for with UCID, $70 all others. Membership can admit you to all classes, workshops, and parties. However, this does not mean you can skip sequences. Memberships may be revoked if membership rules are broken.

Memberships can only be purchased during the first 3 weeks of the quarter. All membership requests must be made with Gal Oppenheimer either in person or via email to blda@uchicago.edu. You cannot purchase a membership from any other instructor.

Proper Attire:
Clothing: Please wear comfortable clothing. Skirts or dresses are not required.
Shoes: We strongly recommend you dance in heels (for girls) and shoes with little traction (for guys). This is not required, but recommended. However, no flip-flops or shoes with an open back. This is due to safety concerns. If you dance in shoes with an open back, you will most likely severely twist your ankle. If you spin in flip-flops, you can injure yourself and on occasion break your flip-flops.

If you would like information on where to purchase dance shoes, please speak to any of the instructors.

Salsa Summer Schedule!

I'm pleased to announce the summer schedule of our salsa lessons! The lessons will have a workshop-like, self-contained format, starting at 7pm and lasting 90 minutes, with 30 minutes of free practice. All of them will be taught in Ida Noyes. Some days prior to each workshop we will provide a description, requirements and room where the class will be held.

here's the schedule:

Wednesday August 5- Sasha & Tanya (Spin/ Turn workshop?)
Monday August 10- Pranjal & Samantha (Afro-Cuban Body Movement)
Monday August 17- Felipe & Sheila(Bachata Workshop)
Monday August 24- Alex & Joy (Beginning/ Continuing Sequence)
Monday August 31- Antonio & Sheila (Rueda Workshop)

we'll have more info soon in the website and in facebook!

any questions please send them to martinj at uchicago.edu

Looking forward to see you and keep dancing!

BLDA Salsa Spring Party this Saturday!

This Saturday May 16th!

Enjoy Salsa, Chacha, Bachata and more, also dance Performances at 9pm!



This Saturday May 16th!

Enjoy Salsa, Chacha, Bachata and more, also dance Performances at 9pm!

We are hosting out quarterly dance party at BJ courts (1005 East 60th Street). Free lesson at 7pm (Bachata). Dancing starts at 7:30PM (until 10:30PM).

Cost: $3 with UCID, $5 all others.

As in the last party, RSVP is required to be admitted into the building, please RSVP here.

Looking forward to dance with you!

Be a fan of the Dance Teams in Facebook!

We have a new Fan page for the BLDA Dance Teams: Ballroom Team & Salsa Performance Group.

Check them out become a fan!

In Facebook, search for

"BLDA UChicago Dance Teams"

We'll have updates with our performances, auditions and other events!

Some Salsa Winter Break News - subscribe to our blog - outreach opportunities

Hi,

some salsa news & announcements

- We are finishing the details on our Lesson schedule, which will be announced soon! As a sneak peak, I can tell you that we will offer the three basic salsa levels (three 1.5hour lessons/sequence, starting Mon Jan 26) , plus beginners Rueda, and new club chacha & bachata sequences (starting Thu Jan 15). More soon!

- For Beginning & Continuing students, we'll have a review lesson on the first monday of class! it's important to come since you will be evaluated to be admitted to the Cont & Intermediate levels.

- We'll have two parties this quarter! dates & times will be announced soon!

- We'll have auditions for the new Salsa Performance Group members. They will be: Wednesday Jan 28, Feb 4th, in the Shoreland ballroom, starting at 8pm. Also on Monday, Feb 2nd, at Open Salsa. Please email salsa@uchicago.edu if interested in auditioning and your preferred date.

- Check our Blog at http://ballroom.uchicago.edu/Blog.html We are posting there the last pictures, performance videos, news and tips for salseros. You can subscribe via google reader or email to get the latest news!

- On February 12-15 it's the Chicago International Salsa Congress! check their website at http://www.chicagosalsacongress.com/home.html. It's a wonderful event, full of workshops, performance & music. There's discounted rate until Jan 9. There are also volunteering opportunities: usually you can volunteer for half a day and enjoy the rest for free! If you are interested in volunteering, please email me to salsa@uchicago.edu to put you in contact with the organization.

- Finally, we'd like to ask for volunteers for our Outreach Program: One of the most important ways that BLDA serves the community is by sending instructors to local schools to bring ballroom and latin dance opportunities to southside students. If you are a student with dance experience interested in joining our team of volunteer instructors, please contact me at salsa@uchicago.edu. It's a great way to introduce yourself to the club, gain experience and share the joy of dancing!

Happy Holidays, and go dancing!

Board Meeting Tomorrow!

We ar inviting everyone to our Board Meeting on Tuesday. It will be this Tuesday, at 7:30pm in the Ida Noyes West Lounge (on the Second Floor).

If you have any interest in getting more involved with the club, including teaching or assisting administratively, or would like to share your suggestions for how we can improve our classes and workshops, feel free to join us.

The Agenda will include the following (in addition to other items):
- Setting our schedule for next quarter.
- Discussing our parties and workshops for next quarter.
- Fundraising ideas and development
- Designing the Winter 2009 budget

I hope I'll see many familiar faces. If you have any questions, feel free to contact anyone on the board, email to blda@uchicago.edu, or speak to any of the instructors tomorrow.

New Shoe Advice & Info!

Hello,

Mary Caldwell, our Salsa Instructor, has written a very nice article on the importance of bringing adequate shoes to the dance lessons, tips to select your ideal dancing shoe, and information and links on where to buy them, in stores and online.

Check it out at

http://ballroom.uchicago.edu/Shoe_Info.html

if you have additional questions, do not hesitate to ask Mary or email to danceshoes@uchicago.edu for more info and advice.

Cheers,

F.

Saturday Party - check pics!

Update: Check the party pics clicking here!

Mark your calendars!

We are proud to announce our Salsa Fall Party for this Saturday, October 18.

We'll start at 7pm with a Bachata-Merengue lesson and party music starts at 8pm at the Ida Noyes Theater.

We'll have free drinks & snacks! Please invite friends and roommates! No age restriction.

Admission: $5.00, which gives you the opportunity to enter a raffle to win 1 hour of private instruction!

BLDA RAFFLE - Win free private lessons!!

BLDA is excited to announce an ongoing RAFFLE! Tickets can be purchased starting this Monday at all of our classes. They're $1 each, and you can buy as many of them as you want.

FIRST PRIZE will be 3 *free* hours of private instruction with the BLDA instructor/s of your choice. That's a $90 value!!!

SECOND PRIZE will be 1 *free* hour of private instruction with the BLDA instructor of your choice. That's a $30 value!!

The DRAWING will be held at Open Salsa on the Monday after Halloween (that's Nov. 3rd). You DO NOT have to be present to win, so don't worry if you can't make it--you can still buy tickets and you can still win FREE PRIVATE LESSONS!

Look for raffle tickets at the registration desk when you sign in for classes, and start increasing your chance to win!

This week's Ballroom lessons

Tuesday in the Ida Noyes Library:
7:30pm Intro to Social Hip-Hop with Chandni
8:30pm Fusion Belly Dance with Chandni

Both classes will be taught by Chandni in the Ida Noyes Library. They are fusion classes and are therefore not traditional Hip-Hop and Belly Dance classes as they also incorporate Latin Ballroom Movements. No Experience is necessary, and you do not need a dance partner to attend. Both classes are 8-week courses and are therfore $32 with UC ID and $40 for all others. If you would like to try the first class it is $5.

All Tuesday classes are $32 for the 8-week sequence with UC ID, $49 all others. If you would like to try the first class it is $5.

Thursday in the Shoreland Ballroom (5454 S. Shore Drive):
6:30pm Beginning Competitive Ballroom with Beth

This course is for all students and non-students interested in Competitive Ballroom. No Experience is necessary, and you do not need a dance partner to attend. Even if you are not explicitly interested in Competitive Ballroom, you are still eligible to attend the lessons.

This is a 8-week course (2-hours each week) (16 hours total). Cost is $20 for the whole sequence. First class free.

Google Calendar:
All the above information and more is available on the google calendar available at:
http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=n6afa3u6ce58ctuppi3qpidp4s%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=America/Chicago


Quarterly Membership:
Quarterly membership is available. It is $60 for with UCID, $70 all others. Membership can admit you to all classes, workshops, and parties. However, this does not mean you can skip sequences. Memberships may be revoked if membership rules are broken.

Memberships can only be purchased during the first 3 weeks of the quarter. All membership requests must be made with Gal Oppenheimer either in person or via email to blda@uchicago.edu. You cannot purchase a membership from any instructor.


Proper Attire:
Clothing:
Please wear comfortable clothing. Skirts or dresses are not required.
Shoes:
We strongly recommend you dance in heels (for girls) and shoes with little traction (for guys). This is not required, but recommended. However, no flip-flops or shoes with an open back. This is due to safety concerns. If you dance in shoes with an open back, you will most likely severely twist your ankle. If you spin in flip-flops, you can injure yourself and on occasion break your flip-flops.

If you would like information on where to purchase dance shoes, please speak to any of the instructors.

August 18th Workshop & Salsa Performance Group meeting

Our Salsa workshop for this Monday, August 18th at 7pm is going to be hosted by Rie & Felipe and it's called: "Improve your salsa". Description below;

Continuing/Intermediate Salsa Workshop
Instructor: Rie and Felipe
Prerequisites: Completion of Beginning I and II or instructor approval.
Cost: $5 per workshop

The workshop will stress styling elements in Salsa dancing. It is divided in two parts: in the first part we will show and teach styling elements for guys and girls separately, and then in the second part, will focus on partnering dancing: how to lead/follow better, include your own personality in your dancing, have cleaner and nicer moves. You will start to dance in a new level!

The workshop will be followed by a free open salsa session from 8 pm to 9 pm.

After the class, we'll meet with anybody who's interested in participating in the Salsa Performance Group to give info and start learning new moves. Remember that to be admitted in the group you must have taken Intermediate I & II with us. If not, you can audition and we can evaluate if it's OK for you to join us or need more instruction.

Any questions please write to salsa@uchicago.edu

Looking forward to see you and keep dancing!

Summer Workshops & Open Salsa!

We are pleased to announce that we will host Salsa Workshops this Summer Quarter.

First, we are offering a joint Continuing/Intermediate Workshop, every Monday night at 7pm followed by Open Salsa at 8pm, starting June 30 at Ida Noyes Cloister Club. These are an excellent way to be introduced to new styles and particular techniques that will make your dancing easier, and more enjoyable.

The workshops will be taught by many of our instructors and are open to anyone who has completed Beginning Salsa I & II or with instructor approval. In case you have not completed the requirement or feel a little rusty (but still have some Salsa experience) we will have a 2-hour 'leveling workshop' on Thursday, June 26 at 7pm in Ida Noyes to get you in salsa shape and ready for the workshops.

For complete Beginners, we'll have a Introduction to Salsa workshop on Thursday, July 3. Depending on the attendance, we will consider having more Beginner's workshops

The cost is $5 per workshop.

The schedule so far is

- Thursday, June 26, 7pm: "2-hour Leveling Workshop" with Felipe & Anne
- Monday June 30, 7pm: "Musicality" with Pranjal & Rie
- Thursday, July 3, 7pm: "Beginner's workshop" with Stephen & Rie
- Monday July 7, 7pm: "Dips" with James & Rie
- Monday, July 14, 7pm: TBA
- Monday, July 21, 7pm: "Cuban Salsa" with Alberto & Anne
- Monday, July 28, 7pm: "Salsa on-2" with Alex & Mary
- Monday, August 11, 7pm: "Rueda Style" with Felipe & Sheila
- Monday, August 18, 7pm: TBA
- Monday, August 25, 7pm: "Jumbo sequence & Styling" with Felipe & Sheila

For the specific schedule of instructors and topics, please visit our Google Galendar.

Any questions please write to bldapresident@uchicago.edu, bldatreasurer@uchicago.edu or salsa@uchicago.edu.

Hope to see you soon, and keep dancing!

Latin Dance Party!

Good evening everyone,

I just wanted to remind you all that on tomorrow (Saturday the 7th), we will be having our last Latin Dance Party of the quarter.

It will be located at 5640 S. University Ave. there will be signs pointing you to the correct room.

The Schedule:
5-6pm Latin Night Club Dance Workshop (Salsa, Merengue) with Sasha ($5)
7-7:30pm Free Bachata Lesson
7:30-11pm Latin Dance Party! Refreshments provided. Raffle for a surprise CD! ($3)

Hope to see you all there,
Gal

New Website!

We'd like to announce that we are renovating our website, to make it more modern, interactive and fun. We released the beta version at

http://ballroom.uchicago.edu/beta/Ballroom/Home.html

Please check it! The new features include:

- A brand-new Blog, where you can subscribe to get the latest news, pics, reviews, and videos! and you can comment and give us feedback!
- Pages for our Ballroom Team and new Salsa Performance Group
- New albums in our Pictures page. Please send us yours too!
- More links and a list of our new awesome instructors and TAs!

Bookmark it, along with our blog, since it will be where we will put our latest news and announcements.

Please let us know of any comments, suggestions and ideas to bldawebmaster@uchicago.edu

Enjoy and keep dancing!