Mr Salsa TV Teams Up With Global Dance Network World Competition

December 2011
Title: European Salsa Open Championships  
Written By: Katy Evans 

The first European Salsa Open Championships took place on Sunday night (December 11, 2011) at the newly renovated Bar Salsa on Charing Cross Road, London.

Nine amateur couples and eight professional duos took turns to dance through two heats, in front of a packed-out crowd of 300 salsa fans at the central London venue, who whooped, cheered and whistled as the competitors wowed them with a diverse range of salsa styles, impressive tricks, flips and dips.

On the judging panel were Strictly Come Dancing salsa choreographer Richard Marcel, Hawaiian salsa champion Jerome Ramos, Dutch national champion and choreographer Patrick Mussendijk, founder of Descarga Latina Nelson Flores, and international teacher and performer of 12 years, Melissa Fernandez.

The event was organised by Joseph Davids, who runs The Latin Collective and DJs all around London, and is the first of what is to be an annual competition. Prior to the heats, head judge Richard Marcel said: “I’ll be looking for musicality, a high level of skill respectively for amateur level and professionals, and entertainment value.”The competition was open to all styles, so it was important, he said, that the couples “dance their style correctly, stay on time, and react to them music”, and any tricky moves be performed well. “It’s important to look as professional as possible and dance well together as a couple,” said Richard, adding that the performance needed to “make you want to get up and dance yourself”.

Jerome Ramos said he would be looking for “tricks, timing, and presentation”. “We’re looking for a couple that’s going to represent London. And having seen some of the couples rehearse, tonight is going to be a really great show and I’m looking forward to judging. It will be nice to see what ideas people are coming up with.”Patrick Mussendijk was less interested in impressive tricks and more concerned with the accurate performance of the basic steps. “I like a good, clean sense of timing and feel of the music. Technique is good to have but for me it’s not the winning issue,” he said. “I want them to show me they’re having fun. I’m not really into too many tricks and acrobatics; it’s nice to have a few but not too much: I want to see dancing.” He said spins were one element, but not as important as having a “good connection with your partner”. Nelson Flores added that for him, it was all about “connection, presentation, timing, elegance and form”.

Rebecca Jackson and Dean David G, competing in the professionals, have been together for two years but this was their first salsa competition as a partnership. “We’ve been practising twice a week and have some choreographed routines but mainly it’s just all freestyle,” said Dean prior to their heats. “He leads and I follow! I’m a bit nervous but exited as there’s such a lovely atmosphere here,” added Rebecca.The competitors danced freestyle to three different songs, rotating round the floor so the judges could get a good look at each couple.

Cass and Amanda Ellis, dressed all in white, who took part in the amateur section, had travelled down from Nottingham to compete, where they teach and train about 2-3 times a week. “We found about this by Googlingcompetitionsonly about a week ago,” says Cass. “We didn’t really have time to prepare! We just freestyle it. It was a bit tight up there; not too much space and the tracks were quite short, so we didn’t get a chance to do some of the dips and lifts we normally do but it was still fun. We’ll wait and see” said Cass after they finished their performances.Jason and Sharon, from London, had also found out about it last minute. “We don’t’ usually dance together. Jason does more social dancing. It’s was really weird doing a competition instead of social dancing but was a good experience,” said Sharon. “We normally do shows,” said Jason. “We’re in a group called Mambata, and used to dance with Diablo (Dance Company) too. Performing and competing are quite different.”Between the rounds, the audience members packed out the floor for social dance sessions.

Organiser Joseph Davids and judge Melissa Fernandez presented the awards at 10pm, which, for the amateur section, went to Amanuel Burhan and his dance partner Stephanie Brown. “We were very nervous before the results were read out but we are very excited and overjoyed really,” said Amanuel. “It’s amazing. We couldn’t wait for this, just to be able to do freestyle and go for it. We didn’t do too much rehearsing, just social dancing out and about when we can but that’s the best thing when you’re in a comp where you have to freestyle anyway,” said Stephanie. Amanuel and Stephanie’s Amateur/Semi-Pro level prize package valued at £500 which includes contracts for performing shows at a number of events throughout 2012 as well as 2 pairs of shoes from sponsors Rhythm Dance Shoes, salsa cds and DVDs from Melissa Fernandez and a year’s VIP membership to Bar Salsa.  Second placed was Daniel Olive and Georgie Smit, and third place went to Julian Gil and Becky Hood.

European Salsa Champions 
Amateur category - Amanuel Burhan and his dance partner Stephanie Brown

Winning the highly anticipated professional section was Mauro and Eva, with their funked-up, modern take on salsa that had the audience worked up into a frenzy of excitement as they played to the crowd, and dazzled with their dips and acrobatic lifts. Afterwards, Mauro said: “I feel very good, it was great. We worked really hard and have twice won the best British show. I’m so glad people enjoy it, as we always like to be different in our choreography, sticking salsa with flamenco, cha cha cha or rock for example; we are very happy people understand what we do.”“It’s awesome, because when you work hard all year you just got kind of some goal you want to achieve and this is one of the best things to have happened,” said Eva.

The couple is now working on a flamenco show which will next be performed at the Scottish Salsa Congress.The Professional level prize package was valued at £2500 and, as well as the contracts for performing shows, 2 pairs of shoes, salsa cd’s and a year’s VIP membership to Bar Salsa this included a £2000 cash prize.Runners up were Gil Prado Mendez and Shelley Cook De Prado, and Saulo Gonzalez and Luz Fernandez.  

European Salsa Champions
Professional category - Mauro Casali and Eva Hurychova