Inspiracion Latina Dance Company and School Blog - Inspiracion Latina Dance Company and School

Dance showed up in my life when I most needed a friend: An interview with Inspiracion Latina’s student Gabriela Daroczi

1/27/2016

Gabriela was born in Romania. Since her family background is Hungarian/Romanian, she learned Hungarian and Romanian folk dances when she was 7 years old. After moving to Canada, she learnt a variety of Latin dances such as salsa, merengue, cha cha, bachata and Brazilian samba. Currently, she is taking afro Peruvian dance classes which are new for her.

She is married and has an adorable son called Stefan who also enjoys dancing. Gabriela brings him sometimes to the Dance Cardio classes and he is our official selfie photographer :)

In a short interview, Gabriela speaks about the meaning of dancing in her life.

Queen Latina: As a dance student, what inspires you?
Gabriela: Seeing performances of other dancers. Dedicated teachers who are so passionate about what they are doing and know how to transmit that to their students. Music!

Queen Latina: What does dance mean to you?
Gabriela: Dance for me is a feel good state. I hear a song I like, I want to dance :-)

Queen Latina: How does dance influence your life?
Gabriela: Dance showed up in my life when I most needed a friend! I got hocked to the Latin dances and I met so many people and made many good friends.

Queen Latina: How was your family’s view about dancing?
Gabriela: We all love music and dance in my family

Stay tuned for more interviews to our dancers and students!

By Queen Latina

Meeting the Inspiracion Latina Dancers: Lynda

9/28/2015

It has been awhile since the last posting in our blog, but we are back now with our dancers and students interviews!
This time let me introduce you to one of our talented dancers who is always promoting social awareness. She is a cycling advocate, environmental educator and community engagement enthusiast….. Her name is Lynda!

Lynda was born in Singapore, but moved to Canada several years ago. She started learning Chinese dance in primary school at the age of 10. It was at University where she learned jazz and modern dance which allowed her to choreograph and perform for the Eusoff Hall at the National University of Singapore and to be part of NUS’s Dance Ensemble and the team that won the dance performance for the Annual Rag event, three times. As she points it out all this means that she spent more of her university years dancing than studying! :D
After graduating, she started learning Salsa (LA and casino style), Bachata, Cha Cha and Merengue which opened doors for her to perform at salsa festivals and congresses in Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. At these events, she got to take workshops from well known international instructors such as Super Mario and Susan Montero, Olliver Pineda and Luda Kroitor, Magna Gopal and Ana Masacote. Parallel to taking Latin dances classes, she also enrolled in Ballet, Hip Hop and pole dance classes.
After moving to Toronto, she started her training in Brazilian Samba and Afro Peruvian dances with Inspiracion Latina Dance Company and School. She also brings her mom to Dance Cardio classes when she is visiting from Singapore. Lynda is married and has an adorable daughter.

In a short interview, Lynda speaks about her passion for dance.

Queen Latina: As a dancer and performer, what inspires you?
Lynda: Music! I love dancing to the music. I love watching dancers feel the music, dance to the music.
One of the most memorable dance performances that I have ever watched was Floor Play (Burn The Floor). I highly recommend it! And I love performing. It is exhilarating and highly addictive.

Queen Latina: What does dance mean to you?
Lynda: Dance is a form of self-expression. It connects me to my inner being. The physical workout from dancing also connects me to my body. It lets me better understand the muscles of different parts of my body.

Queen Latina: How does dance influence your life?
Lynda: I can't imagine my life with no dance!

Queen Latina: Do you think living in Toronto influences you as a dancer? How?
Lynda: Living in Toronto exposes me to so many more different dances. I really appreciate the diversity! In addition to Latin dances, I've also tried Eskitas (Ethiopian), Zorba (Greek), Nia (a Non-impact Aerobics dance that originated in the U.S.) amongst others.

Queen Latina: How was your family’s view about dancing?
Lynda: My family supports me because I enjoy dancing so much. My 14-month old already loves dancing too, so maybe one day I'll get to perform together with her.

Stay tuned for more interviews to our dancers and students!

By Queen Latina

Strengthening your core: Challenge yourself!

5/1/2014

So last week, I wrote about the topic of exercise: the benefits, different types, and ways to incorporate physical activity in your daily life. To extend this discussion further and offer you more motivation, I decided to focus on the topic of strengthening your core muscles for this week’s blog.

For those of you who are clueless about what I mean when I say ‘core muscles,’ these include your lower and upper abdominal muscles (located near your stomach) and lower back muscles. Often overlooked, these muscles are crucial for our well-being. They help keep our body balanced, maintain proper posture, reduce inflammation and pain in the lower back area, and allow us to reach our optimal potential when we are engaged in any form of physical activity such as biking, running or dancing.

For the above reasons, it is important that we strengthen this part of our body by proper stretching and resistance training exercises. With time and a good workout plan, not only will you see the benefits but you will feel them as well! Remember to be realistic with your goals and exercise plan to avoid failure and disappointment. Starting small and being consistent with your workout plan will ensure lasting results. Summer is almost here, which makes this a perfect time to shape up :)

To help get you started with your exercise plan, I recommend that you watch the following video by Jillian Michaels: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zI5EoiYi1c If you feel these exercises are too difficult, check out some other great videos on YouTube. Here is another video which includes more detailed information about the topic of core muscles: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOFG2SxuaXg

Consider joining our Muscle Conditioning and Stretching class on Tuesdays evening. Click here for more info.

Diva in Heels

Exercise: What is it good for? Absolutely everything!

4/23/2014

It’s a no brainer that exercise is good for us. Exercise includes any physical activity that gets us moving, whether it is stretching, cardio or lifting weights. Exercise offers many benefits. It has a positive impact on our mood, hormones, immune system, heart health and metabolism (increasing our fat burning engine).

Now, we come to the most important question of all: how can you include exercise in your already busy life? There is clearly no one answer-fits-all. What really worked for me, and is likely to help others, is to set aside 10 to 20 minutes every other day for exercising (morning is best). Start small and be consistent.

I start my exercise routine by doing a little warm up (3 minutes) with jumping jacks, or running; I do a quick stretch (2 minutes) to avoid injury and improve my workout. Next, I do a series of weight training activities that focus on different parts of the body (15 minutes). I choose activities that keep my heart rate up (cardio) while also working my muscles (strength training). The best exercises are those that work a few different muscle groups at the same time. Lunges, planks and push ups are great. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2n58m2i4jg

A good book to help you get started with weight lifting is ‘Strength Training Anatomy’ by Frederic Delavier. I also recommend to check out the following two websites for more great tips on this topic: www.alive.com and www.livestrong.com.

I suggest choosing the most efficient workout plans and keeping a photo journal. A photo journal includes photos you take regularly (for ex, once a week or every two weeks). You can also include a few words about how you feel (physically and mentally) when you exercise. Photos in particular will help you see real progress visually.

Don’t forget to eat a protein balanced meal or snack within 45 minutes of finishing your workout. Remember, even 5 or 10 minutes of physical activity is better than nothing! Finally, don’t forget to have fun during your workout. What activities do you enjoy? Be creative and start moving. Try one of our dance classes to get you started. Click here for more details.

Diva in Heels

Dancing for Health: What Happened to Your New Year's Resolution?

4/3/2014

Let's face it! We have all said it, we have all tried it, and we have all watched it melt away in the spring, like the last snow fall under welcomed sunshine rays.

Every year, as the holidays spark excitement and motivation to begin a fresh new year of promises and goals, something seemingly universal happens: we embark the roller coaster ride of our daily lives and we lose sight of what we wanted to change or improve. Commonly, our new objectives revolve around losing weight, getting fitter, healthier, or feeling less stressed. Taking a closer look at this relentless cycle of lost goals and failed efforts, we can uncover some interesting ideas.

When we think of becoming fit and healthy, people ordinarily look for the standard fitness workout plan that involves sweating and burning, losing calories, lifting weights and flattening that insidious belly! "No pain no gain is the way to go! ". "It should be all or nothing". That is what we have learned; if we fail to exude this sense of power and self control, all fingers point to oneself for shamefully lacking willingness and discipline. How many can identify with this?

We are continuously influenced by societal expectations and beliefs circulated by the gigantic presence of the media. We are born in the midst of media and we learn to become part of it, confounding our personal beliefs with those of our culture. Health is a social construction: society provides judgment on what it means to be healthy. However, optimal health is a relative concept when we consider each person as a unique individual with different needs, at different time periods and in different circumstances.

What you need today, what you can do today will be different tomorrow. And what you are able to do today, may not be the same for someone else. What it means to be healthy will change at various stages of our lives. There is no single, cookie-cutter solution to becoming healthy, fit and happy individuals.

Consequently, we need to ensure that our goals are realistic with where we are at during a particular time of our life. We must creatively find solutions that sustain our motivation, that focus initially on our strengths, and that allow us to feel good.

As a fitness professional, I have experienced my body through its journey of ups and downs. At one phase during my professional development, I was teaching certain types of fitness classes that depleted me of my optimism, passion and energy resources. I felt that I needed something that would propel me, that would ignite my natural predispositions and desire to savor life. I needed to feel good first and engage in what initially felt easy to me, so that I could sustain my motivation and overcome limitations.

Hence, I unveiled my long forgotten love for dance. Dance offered me the stress relief, emotional expression, joint mobilization and muscular endurance that I needed at that particular time. As I committed to dancing, my energy increased, my body reacquainted with the experience of strength and intensity. Ironically, the curiosity of returning to fitness classes at the gym reemerged, naturally and progressively. I had to explore something else in order to land right back to where I started, to where I wanted to be. Today, as I pursue my journey as a fitness professional, I continue to embrace the blissful moments of moving to that favorite rhythm or chorus. Dance is at the core of all my other fitness activities; Dance builds within me the roots of my strength, and in turn, everything else enhances my dancing.

Health is multifaceted: it extends beyond physical fitness to encompass our mental and emotional health. When we experience difficulties achieving our health goals, it is essential to revisit the compatibility of our goals with what we truly need at a particular time. If something doesn't work, we may have to creatively change our approach by customizing our efforts.

There isn't only one solution to become fitter and healthier. Whether it's dancing or something else, we have to start with what we can do right now. By exploring new ideas we unlock our potential, but most importantly, our ability to achieve.

The Twirling Tigress

Dance Is Like The Air We Breathe: An Interview with Inspiracion Latina’s student Cassandra

3/27/2014

Cassandra was born in Etobicoke, Ontario. She started learning Samba in 2009 at the age of 26. She had no background in dance, but loved the music and wanted to perform. After learning Samba, she started learning Axe, Afro Peruvian and Salsa. Also, she enrolled in our Samba Performance classes which allowed her to perform in front of big audiences. Of course, the audience was blown away by her beautiful smile and her exotic looks.

She is a go getter who perseveres and practices by repeatedly going over the routine until she feels comfortable. As her teacher, I am very proud of her accomplishments.

She works within the healthcare industry as a kinesiologist and of course enjoys healthy living. Part of healthy living for her is having a work/life balance which is why she makes time for dancing.

In a short interview, Cassandra speaks about the meaning of dancing in her life.

Queen Latina: What is your family background?
Cassandra: My parents are both from St. Vincent and the Grenadines. This is a group of islands in the Caribbean close to Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados.

Queen Latina: Did your family introduce you to any form of dance?
Cassandra: No. Dancing was definitely a sole pursuit.

Queen Latina: How was your family's views about dancing?
Cassandra: I grew up in a family with conservative views on dancing. Personally, I love dancing and feel it's as natural as breathing. Dancing is an expression of the soul and our creativity.

Queen Latina: As a dance student what inspires you?
Cassandra: As a dance student I find inspiration in following the rhythms of the music. There is a liveliness to Brazilian Samba music which I love. I remember the first time I heard such music and I instantly fell in love with the music. I find once I get into the music it is easy to dance.

Queen Latina: What does dance mean to you?
Cassandra: Dance is like water or like the air we breathe. It's necessary and part of the flow of life. I discovered dance as an adult but it felt so natural to me. There is definitely a connection between how the body moves and how the spirit feels. Dance is something I can do when I'm happy or even if I am not feeling my greatest.

Queen Latina: How does dance influence your life?
Cassandra: I am fortunate that I dance out of pure enjoyment of it.

Stay tuned for more interviews to our dancers and students!

Queen Latina

Spring Resolution: What’s Yours?

3/20/2014

In the winter time, Canadians look forward to spring and summer patient-less. Many of us experience winter blues, also known as SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), while others may experience what I like to call “hibernation season syndrome” characterized by endless time spent in bed sleeping and resisting the need to get up. Whatever your behaviour may be for dealing with the harsh Canadian winter, rest assured that spring is right around the corner! In fact, the official date for spring this year is today: Thursday, March 20th.

Many people choose the New Year to set new goals and resolutions. But why wait a whole year for a break through? Spring is a great time to start planning and realizing your dreams including any new or old resolutions. I always think of spring as the perfect time to get fit for summer: eat healthier, meditate, exercise more, sleep better, pick up a new hobby, for example, dancing, learning a new language, or anything else that that your heart desires.

Start your spring resolution by setting small, realistic goals. Be concrete about what you want to achieve and don’t give up trying if you don’t succeed the first few times. For instance, my goal is to engage in at least 15 minutes of physical activity such as weight training every day, except the weekend. I want to gain more muscle mass, increase my energy level, and feel better overall. Starting small means you won’t set yourself up for failure. Dream big, but start small.

Write down specifically what you want to attain and track your progress. Decide on a deadline if you’d like; this may help especially if you are more goal-oriented as opposed to process-oriented. Remember to prioritize (new goals take up time which you normally spend on something else) and remain positive throughout the process. After all, even the slightest attempt to improve and meet your goals counts!

For those of you who are serious about getting healthy and fit this spring (or in the near future), I highly recommend “The Hormone Diet” by Dr. Natasha Turner, ND. In her groundbreaking book she shares some very valuable advice on how to stay healthy by keeping our hormones in balance. Truly an interesting read!

If you’d like to include more physical activity as part of your spring resolution, consider joining one of our dance classes. Click here for more information.

Please share your comments! What is your Spring Resolution?

Diva in Heels

Inspiracion Latina rocking the New Year!

3/15/2014

Are you curious about what we’ve been up to since the onset of 2014?

In January, we had the pleasure of performing at the KPMG’s Annual Networking event in Toronto. We had four of our best performers at the event, working their magic to bring the hottest Latin entertainment to the occasion. Our vibrant choreographies included Samba, Merengue, Salsa and Bachata. We certainly brought the heat to the party, despite the cold Toronto weather outside.

In February, we performed Samba at Aladin’s Palace once again since New Year’s Eve. We always get excited (and proud) to hear back from our regular customers; it serves as a non-verbal testimonial of the excellent service we provide to our clientele.

In March, we performed Salsa, Bachata and Merengue at the 90th birthday party of Harold, a lovely English man who was a champion ballroom dancer of the Blackpool in England. He is an inspiration to all of us because of his upbeat personality and his love for dance.

There is no better way to celebrate your special day or event than with our performers from Inspiracion Latina Dance Company!

To book us for your next event, click here.

To sign up for dance classes, click here.

Want to join our performance team? Contact us at [email protected]

Follow us on Twitter and visit us on Facebook.

Diva in Heels

Meeting the Inspiracion Latina Dancers: Kate

3/8/2014

Let me introduce you to another of our talented dancers who is a very kind and spiritual human being. She promotes animal welfare and enjoys being in touch with nature as an example she volunteers at a community garden club in Thornhill. Her name is Kate Vino.

Kate was born in Ukraine, but lived in several parts of the world before finally immigrating to Canada with her family. She started dancing at the age of 10 with Ballet as her starting point. Parallel to taking Ballet classes, Kate also began to enjoy Jazz and Pop dance. As a teenager, Hip Hop was very popular and she had to try that as well.

In her early 20's Kate decided she needed a change in beat, so she began learning Salsa, Bachata, Merengue and Brazilian dances. She joined Inspiracion Latina Dance Company in 2013 where she continues to work on her technique in a variety of dance styles while performing at various events around Toronto and the GTA.

In a short interview, Kate speaks about her passion for dance.

Queen Latina: As a dancer what inspires you?
Kate: I am inspired by the world's diverse cultures. I love travelling and getting to know new places and people, their unique traditions, languages, their music and dance. I've always been particularly drawn to Latin American culture, and that is where I found my inspiration for dancing.

Queen Latina: What does dance mean to you?
Kate: Dancing, for me, means many things. It is its own unique language that offers a way to connect to our ancestors and spiritual selves. Through dancing, I learned the meaning of being a human being. Dancing allows me to strengthen my confidence and face my fears; it also reminds me how to embrace my imperfections.

Queen Latina: How does dance influence your life?
Kate: Dancing definitely helps me stay fit, and connect with like- minded people who are passionate about similar things. Simply put, dancing helps me “come out of my shell.” It pushes me outside of my comfort zone. I carry on a similar attitude in my day to day life when I face challenges. Interestingly enough, when I am performing, I see a different side of me. And I kind of like it :D

Queen Latina: How was your family’s view about dancing?
Kate: Everyone in my family enjoys dancing as a hobby. We like to see musicals and other dance shows like ballet and Cirque de Soleil.

Queen Latina: Do you think living in Toronto influence you as a dancer? How?
Kate: Toronto is so diverse and multicultural, which opens the door to try many different styles of dance. If I was living in a different part of the world, I am not sure I would be dancing or performing Latin and Brazilian styles.

Stay tuned for more interviews to our dancers and students!

Queen Latina

Dancing Is Ageless

3/1/2014

Dancing is sometimes considered to be an activity for the young rather than the old. Just think about it. Have you ever seen a ballet show with a ballerina over 45, or a 60 year old break dancer doing the spins? Most of us have this stereotype that the only thing older folks in their 60’s are breaking is their hips.

In a rapidly changing world, there are many more people interested in dance, whether young or old. Nowadays, more people are choosing dance as a physical activity and a hobby, as well as a mental and confidence booster. Truthfully speaking, dance has no boundaries or limitations, nor should it have an age cut-off. New Zealand’s senior dance team “Hip Op-eration” is the perfect example of this.

They are labelled as the "world’s oldest Hip Hop group" with dancers who are anywhere from 65 to 90+ years old. The Hip Op-eration is a great example of what dance should be: boundless and ageless. The group’s members stay physically active despite some mobility issues: one member is in a wheelchair and a few others use walking sticks. Moreover, you may be equally surprised to know that The Hip Op-eration took part in the 2013 World Hip Hop Dance Championship in Las Vegas.

This definitely serves as an inspiration for me (and I hope for others as well) to continue enjoying dance until old age, and even beyond!

Diva in Heels

Meeting the Inspiracion Latina Dancers: Daphne

2/14/2014

It is such a blessing to work with not only talented, but also committed and responsible dancers who are part of the Inspiracion Latina Dance Company. I would like to introduce each of them individually through our blog. First we will start with our lovely Daphne Delefes.

Daphne was born into a Greek family in Nova Scotia. She started learning jazz and ballet at the age of 4. Later, she learned modern dance, Bellydance, Samba and other types of Latin dances which opened doors to perform with Arabesque, Tropicaliente and Egyptian Dance Company in Toronto. Currently, she is one of the lead dancers in Inspiracion Latina Dance Company.

She is the mother of an adorable angel called Benjamin who brought out such tenderness in all the Inspiracion Latina family... A huge AWW! can be heard each time mom and baby arrived for rehearsals. Ben is nine months old now and his mom went back to dancing and performing as soon as he was two months old. She was so fit from that time that it was hard to tell she was a new mom.
Of course, Ben inherited her good looks and genes and has already started his modeling career… eventually; he will be dancing with us in our Inspiracion Latina Kids Team :)

In a short interview, Daphne speaks about the importance of dancing in her life.

Queen Latina: As a dancer and performer, what inspires you?
Daphne: The music inspired me the most, but beside it I get inspired by watching other dancers and learning from them. I have always enjoyed being part of a company, learning choreographies and performing them together with the other dancers.

Queen Latina: What does dance mean to you?
Daphne: It's part of who I am. It's saved me during very hard times in my life... Dance is athletic because of the exercises and physical activity involved. It means creativity...friendship… camaraderie...inspirational. I have had so many fun and crazy dance adventures!

Queen Latina: Do you think living in Toronto influence you as a dancer? How?
Daphne: Yes. Because of its multiculturalism, there are so many opportunities to learn and perform in Toronto!

Queen Latina: How does dance influence your life?
Daphne: Because I have always danced, it's such an important part of who I am. In the journey of my life I have followed the path of dancing, which has not always been easy, but absolutely, worthwhile. Dancing inspires and uplifts me.

Stay tuned for more interviews to our dancers and students!

Queen Latina

The Dancer Contra the Performer

2/1/2014

After having the privilege of being present at Inspiracion Latina’s various performance shows in the past few months, I began to ponder about what makes dancers good performers.

I decided to do some research online. I started off by looking up relevant keywords on Google: “how to improve your dance performance” and “how to be a better dancer.” Related articles offered some typical advice on the subject matter: practice makes perfect; stretch before you dance; use visualization to improve performance; etcetera. This is nothing I haven’t heard before, but not to say that it isn’t useful advice!

I did find a few more intriguing articles on how to improve dance performance. For example, an article written by Christopher Bergland, Why is Dancing So Good for Your Brain? (http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-athletes-way/201310/why-is-dancing-so-good-your-brain), mentions dance marking, a technique whereby ‘dancers can improve the ability to do complex moves by walking through them slowly and encoding the movement with a cue.’ So, in other words, marking implies going through choreography at slow speed (as opposed to practicing choreography at normal speed to the actual music) and without necessarily making full steps, but rather using hand gestures to represent choreographed dance movements (for instance, using a finger rotation to depict a full turn).

According to Bergland, marking can help improve memory of complex steps, which can further improve the quality of performance. ‘Marking essentially involves a run-through of the dance routine, but with a focus on the routine itself, rather than making the perfect movements.’ The whole idea of marking reinforces psychological theories related to how learning through meaning can support long-term memory.

Another interesting article, Your Best Body: The Secret Performance Enhancer (http://www.pointemagazine.com/issues/junejuly-2012/your-best-body-secret-performance-enhancer) by Jennifer Stahl argues that a cup of coffee before the show can actually benefit your performance. Stahl indicates that, ‘caffeine prepares your body for peak athletic performance’ by increasing heart rate and alertness. Moreover, Stahl writes: ‘Research has shown that caffeine improves endurance by sparing glycogen, your muscles’ primary fuel source. One study found it reduces the loss of glycogen by as much as 50 percent in the first 15 minutes of exercise, which means your body can go longer before running out of gas.’ The recommendation made by Stahl is to consume one cup of coffee (or 2 cups black tea) about an hour before your performance, and with a good nutritious meal. Remember that too much coffee can make some people shaky and nervous, so moderation is key.

Beyond all this talk about what makes dancers good performers, we must remember that no one is perfect. While talking to some of Inspiracion Latina’s performers, I came to learn that performing is a metaphor for life. If you mess up or make a mistake, you got to keep going. I remember last year, when I went to see the Nutcracker ballet show, one of the ballerinas fell down while doing multiple turns on her pointe shoes. She got up gracefully and continued to dance her routine.

I also remember, as a little girl, I was part of a small dance competition at a friend’s birthday party. I spent so many hours rehearsing for the competition. When my turn finally came, all I felt was nervousness. As a result, I forgot one of my dance moves and I ran away. Looking back I can’t help but laugh at myself. As an adult, I am better equipped at facing my flaws and moving forward.

If you take away anything from this article, I hope it is the fact that everyone has flaws. Even great performers have flaws! To conclude, I believe all dancers have the potential to be great performers. And don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. All dancers worked very hard to get where they are. Practice may not always lead to perfection in your performance routine, but dedication, resiliency and perseverance will definitely lead to positive results with time.

At the end, what really distinguishes a dancer from a performer (in line with the title of this blog)? When I was learning the technique of Samba-the cultural dance of Brazil that goes back many years ago-someone mentioned that technique only plays 40% importance in the actual dance, and 60% comes through the confidence and attitude of the dancer. Based on this, we can conclude that good performers do not necessarily need to be masters of technique, rather have the right spark on stage.

Please share your comments with us! What are your thoughts on what makes a good dance performer?

To book us for your next event, click here.

Diva in Heels

Exploring The World of Dance...SHOES

12/30/2013

Hello friends!

Hopefully, you are keeping warm during this cold December month. It is officially frosty-winter! I hope all of you enjoyed Christmas with your family and friends. And for those of you who don’t celebrate Christmas, I hope you are enjoying the holiday season. The weather has been kind of crazy lately, and hibernation has been a comfortable and very desirable option for me.

Today, I finally decided to venture into the freezing (yet beautiful) outside world. Being it Boxing Day/ Week, I decided to go dance shoe shopping. While I didn’t shop until I dropped, I did take advantage of some great deals. For those of you shoeholics, you’ll be pleased to see some of the heavenly images I’ve been able to capture at dance shoes stores Boxing Day event.

I was pleasantly surprised with the vast amount of options the place had to offer. All colours and designs you can imagine, different heel sizes and widths, and different price ranges. I couldn’t help but feel joy when I entered the store, like a child who entered Santa’s gift factory (or Carrie Bradshaw from Sex & the City). I tried many different styles and colours, and happily purchased a pair of silver, 3” heel Latin dance shoes. Can’t wait to break them in!

Would you like to share your shoe photos with us? Post your images here!!

Want to see more of Inspiracion Latina? Join us at Aladdin’s as we welcome the New Year together.

To book us for your next event, click here.

See you in the New Year!!!

Diva in Heels

Celebrating the Holiday Season with Inspiracion Latina

12/16/2013

Thank you to everyone who came out to see Inspiracion Latina perform last night at El Rancho. The night was amazing! We started off the evening with a delicious dinner with the Inspiracion Latina group, family and friends.
While some of the guests chose to go with the 3-course meal, I decided to try something else from the menu. I was pleasantly surprised at the options the restaurant had to offer. I ordered a vegetarian meal which included rice & beans with grilled vegetables, salad, baked plantain and yucca. My palate was overwhelmed by the diverse flavours bouncing in my mouth. My meal was paired up with red-wine sangria which is exactly what I needed to put me in a party mood :)

After dinner and mingling, the performance group went off to get ready for the Annual Holiday Show. Getting ready for any show builds the suspense for the actual ‘performance.’ Any good performer must get the jitters before coming out on stage. Whether it is forgetting choreography or the inevitable fear of losing parts of your costume that would leave you exposed, most performers can relate to this experience. But put all worries aside, the night was unforgettable!

Want to see more of Inspiracion Latina? Join us at Aladin’s as we welcome the New Year together.

To book us for your next event, click here.

Look out for our next blog, The Dancer Contra the Performer

Diva in Heels

Behind The Scenes: In Preparation For The Annual Holiday Party

12/10/2013

Ever wonder what goes into the preparation of one of our vibrant and glamorous dance shows?

It takes a lot of time and effort to plan and organize our shows. The dancers have to learn new routines and attend weekly rehearsals, the director needs to pick out the right outfits for the dancers and figure out the logistics for the show. But it's all part of the fun!

It all starts with a lot of practice...

Shopping for additional costumes on a Saturday morning...

Finalizing last-minute details...

And finally, the actual show!!!

Come see Inspiracion Latina perform next Saturday, December 14th, at El Rancho. Tickets at the door are $10. Women are free before 10 pm.

To book us for your holiday event, click here.

Have your own dance experience you would like to share? We welcome your comments!

Look out for our next blog, Celebrating the Holiday Season with Inspiracion Latina.

Diva in Heels

New Year’s Resolution

12/1/2013

November has been a busy month for Inspiracion Latina Dance Company. With several private and corporate shows, and preparation for the 2nd Annual Holiday Party on December 14th at El Rancho, the director and the company dancers have had their hands full.
On November 16th, we celebrated a 50th birthday party with a very special person who is also one of our returning clients. The show that Inspiracion Latina put together was actually a surprise. The theme of the night was Rio Carnival at the Grand Empire Banquet Hall in Brampton and the performance included several samba routines. The audience was full of energy and party vibes. The guests at the party immediately wanted to be part of the Carnival show. As a matter of fact, the guests decided to join the party before the dancers even finished their performance!

"It was so fulfilling to see such an enthusiastic crowd," said one of the dancers performing that night.

"You just have to move with the flow when you perform," said another dancer. "It's all about the audience and meeting their needs."

That is at the core values of Inspiracion Latina Dance Company. Whether your group is reserved or outgoing we have the skills, experience and energy to get them on the dance floor during our shows. At the end of the day, we want everyone to have fun and leave with a smile on their faces.

On November 23rd, the Inspiracion Latina dance crew showed off their talents at a corporate Christmas event at The Royalton in Woodbridge, Ontario. We definitely brought some heat to the party with our Bellydance, Latin Salsa and Brazilian Samba performances. This group was a bit on the shy side, but we managed to get a good number of people on the dance floor. It's like a chain reaction. You convince one person to get up to dance and suddenly you have a group of people dancing. I think it's a fact that dancing is contagious, even for the inexperienced.

Inspiracion Latina Dance Company is so grateful for having the opportunity to play an integral part in each and every event, from birthdays to Christmas parties, to charity events. Looking forward to the New Year and reflecting on our accomplishments in 2013, Inspiracion Latina would like to thank all of its clients, fans and supporters, students and company dancers for all their support.

Stay tuned for videos of our shows and bios of our dancers!

To book us for your next event, click here.

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Diva in Heels

Save the Best for Last

11/18/2013

Photo by Dance Social Toronto Events

The audience formed a circle to make room for the performers to show off their talents. The crowd was cheering and screaming. People were clapping and whistling. The atmosphere was very welcoming, and the room was filled with lots of energy despite the fact that it was a Monday night. The Inspiracion Latina dance company was one of the performers at Alleycatz that evening, celebrating Frank Bishun’s Birthday with his friends and family. Initially, the Inspiracion Latina performers were told that they were going to go on stage first, among a few other salsa dance groups.

“You are actually going on last,” said Soraya unexpectedly.

“They are saving the best for last,” someone nearby commented. Soraya’s performers smiled with flattery.

Soray’s dancers were wearing exotic samba costumes. Beautiful, silky feathers were sticking out from the headpiece and the bottom piece of the costume. The vibrant colours brightened the room with pink, purple and yellow tints. The Brazilian spirit filled the audience with warmth and excitement. Being it is mid November in Toronto, everyone can appreciate the feeling of being in a tropical country such as Brazil. That is precisely what Latin dancing does to you: it takes your mind off the seriousness of everyday life, and it fills you with the heat of the Latin culture. And this is exactly what happened on Monday, November 11th at Alleycatz as the Inspiracion Latina dancers performed a Brazilian Samba routine to Vide Gal by Daniela Mercury.

“It was a great evening,” said one of Frank’s guests. “Everybody loved the samba dancers and their performance was superb!”

To see more photos of the event, click here.

To book Inspiracion Latina for your next birthday party, click here.

Diva in Heels

The Mindful Dancer: Dancing with the body, mind and soul

11/8/2013

After taking a 10-day Vipassana Meditation course in Northern Ontario I became convinced that our every-day thoughts get stored in our bodies. This was not based on any personal belief or teachings. It was apparent from personal experience. As I sat to meditate 10 hours every day for the duration of 10 days, in complete Noble Silence, I noticed different sensations in my body. Any thought that arose in the mind manifested as a particular sensation (pleasant or unpleasant). These sensations are always there. We are just not always aware of them. And if we are aware (e.g. of pain), it may be on a very superficial level. The Vipassana technique allowed me to look deeper into the interplay of mind and body.

Well, what does all of this have to do with DANCE, you may ask. Everything! After all, dance involves body coordination, thought process, memory, feelings and sensations. It is about body as much as it is about mind. It is my belief that all humans are innate dancers. We are defined by movement of the physical body. But the body does not stand alone. It has such an intricate connection with the mind (I know it's cliché, but it must be explored further). Somewhere recently, I read that to avoid injuries as a dancer, one must be mindful of her/ his body. And by mindful, I mean present in the moment, aware of every step without judgement. Easier said than done...

An article written by Jane Di Leo in Women's Health Magazine (October 2013 Issue, p.114-116), "Eating Under the Influence," talks about mindful eating. Di Leo quotes Elizabeth Lyons, Ph.D., M.P.H.: 'Not paying attention to what we're eating prevents us from noticing when we feel full.' In the same way, not paying attention to when we dance can prevent us from reaping all the benefits dance has to offer, and may even result in injury.

So, what about mindful dancing?
Being inspired by Di Leo's article on mindful eating, I would like to share with you some tips on how to practice mindful dancing (and other physical activities):

1. Start by focusing on your (nasal) breath. Centre your mind.
2. Always warm up before any physical activity, even if it's for a few minutes.
3. As you begin to dance, you may have different thoughts (related or unrelated) creeping up. Bring back your focus to your breath.
4. Be aware of your body to avoid any injuries or fatigue. If you feel pain, take a break. Don't be hard on yourself.
5. Enjoy every moment of it! Listen to the music, smell the beat and the melody of the song, feel the sweat, and taste the beauty of movement. And finally, don't forget to smile :)
You are so lucky to be able to dance, to move your body and to express yourself.

In conclusion, I would like to leave you with the following thought: THE MIND DANCES TOO. As dancers, we should try to avoid 'mind dancing' (body-mind disconnect) and instead practice 'mindful dancing' (full awareness).
~ "A heart speaks through dance" ~

Diva in Heels

Toronto: Not simply the most multicultural city in the world - Sharing diverse cultures, languages and dance traditions

11/2/2013

The more I think about where I live.... the place I call home... the more proud I am to pronounce, "I am a Torontonian!" These four little words have such a big implication.
I often get into a superficial conversation with people about where I'm from. "I hear an accent. What is your background?" I get asked from a new acquaintance. The superficial gets quite profound as I begin to peel the layers of my own 'onion:' my cultural background. Filled with different experiences I picked up from my various journeys, I cannot zero in on one particular answer to this puzzling question. "I'm from around the globe!" I conclude in my mind. As I peel the layers of my being to make sense of who I am, and to help others understand me, I always come across the different languages I speak, the delicious food I've tried, and the ceremonies I took part in.

But what about DANCE?

The different types of dances that exist in the world not only represent the tales of the past, but also make up who we are in the present. Dance, like any language and tradition, helps form our identity. Toronto represents the diverse nature of my life experiences and who I am today. And being such a multicultural city, Toronto offers a taste of every country.
Samba and Lambada from Brazil, Salsa from Cuba, Tango from Argentina, Merengue from other parts of Latin America, Belly Dance from the Middle East, Afro Dances from Africa and the Hula Dance from Hawaii.
Inspiracion Latina sprouted as a result of this passion for diversity and appreciation for the unique cultures that form Toronto. The school and the dance company celebrate these various forms of dance traditions. During classes, students engage in the history of these movements that help define who they are and where their ancestors came from. During the shows, these realities come to life as the beat of the music comes in sync with the beat of the heart and the universe. And hence, the various cultures that make up Toronto come to life in front of your eyes. As the show concludes with an end, you suddenly start craving more. You feel as though you've just traveled the world, each dance bringing you to the unique place where it originated from.

And of course, there are many other dances that I have not mentioned, but they all exist, hidden in the diverse pockets of Toronto! But for now, you can find some of these dances in one particular spot in the GTA: Inspiracion Latina. Get inspired by Inspiracion Latina today! For more info, visit: www.inspiracionlatina.com.

Diva in Heels

Salsa For Smiles 2013

9/30/2013

We, Inspiracion Latina Dance Company, are so excited on helping to raise money for the "Salsa for Smiles" Event organized by Transforming Faces at Lula Lounge on October the 9th. All the proceeds go towards providing Comprehensive Cleft Care. This event will have the presence of Clave Kings Band and DJ Jimmy Suave who will be in charge of the music and we will provide the dance lessons and entertainment. Also, there will be amazing prizes including tickets to the Raptors and Argos games, a trip to Montreal and much more. Don't miss it!!!
Please click on the following link to order your tickets in advance: http://www.transformingfaces.org/connect/events/salsa-for-smiles-2013/

Queen Latina