|
Salsa
Your Way to Good Health
June 5, 2009
Finding Fitness on the Dance Floor
By Serena Gordon
One reason many people don't stick with
exercise is that it's often not that
interesting. But what if you could dance
your way to improved health?
Two new studies suggest that you just might
be able to do that.
Presented recently at the American College
of Sports Medicine meeting in Seattle, one
study found that salsa dancing could improve
cardiovascular fitness, and the other found
that less vigorous ballroom dances such as
the fox trot or tango -- although not as
much of a workout as
salsa
-- can add 2,000 steps or so to a person's
daily walking total.
"Learning
to dance can be a fun, social, local and
friendly way to enjoy low-intensity physical
activity and skill learning,"
said the author of the second study, Stephen
Cobley, a senior lecturer in skill
acquisition and sport/exercise psychology at
Leeds Metropolitan University in the United
Kingdom.
Dancing, or at least watching dancing on TV,
has soared in popularity recently. In the
United States, "Dancing with the Stars"
draws a significant audience each week, and
its British counterpart, "Strictly Come
Dancing," has more than 8 million viewers,
according to Cobley.
Because this show was drawing so many
viewers in the U.K., Cobley and his
colleagues thought to capitalize on its
popularity and conducted a study by offering
a 12-week series of introductory ballroom
dancing lessons to a group of sedentary
adults.
The average age of the 27 study participants
was 53, and most -- 22 -- were women. The
once-a-week, two-hour classes were led by an
instructor and included dances such as the
tango, fox trot and cha-cha.
The classes replaced what was usually
sedentary time for the participants and
added about 2,000 steps to their daily
total, the researchers said. Experts
recommend 10,000 steps a day for good
health.
"Ten thousand steps per day is the
recommendation, but how many seniors are
getting that?" asked sports and lifestyle
nutritionist Molly Kimball, from the Ochsner
Health System in New Orleans. "Two thousand
steps is still good, and every little bit
helps."
But, she said, different dances, such as the
salsa
would provide a much greater aerobic
workout.
Salsa
was the focus of the other study, in which
Italian researchers measured heart rate and
oxygen consumption in dancers who were doing
a typical
salsa during lessons,
salsa
dancing at a night club or doing a group
dance called
rueda de casino.
The study included 11 pairs of dancers who
were, on average, 36 years old. Maximum
heart rate increased between 58 and 75
percent for those doing any of the three
dances, and oxygen consumption went up
between 41 percent and 56 percent, depending
on the dance. Nightclub
salsa
dancing appeared to be the most aerobic of
the three dances, though all increased heart
rate and oxygen consumption, the study
found.
"Salsa is
a spirited dance," study author
Gian Pietro Emerenziani, from the University
of the Studies of Rome, in Italy, said in a
statement.
"With this
form of dance, you are clearly getting a
workout. All three types of salsa in our
study, practiced frequently, will have a
positive impact on health and fitness."
More information
The AARP has more on dancing your way to
good health.
SOURCES: Stephen Cobley, Ph.D., senior
lecturer, Leeds Metropolitan University,
United Kingdom; Moll
Copyright © 2009 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights
reserved.
|
Southern Living
Magazine: Healthy Getaway
Robbie
Caponetto, Van Chaplin, Article
by Erin Shaw Street
Klaudia Szabo and Alex Ruiz Dancing
|
May 2009 Magazine
Healthy Getaway: Miami
Go
beyond its nightlife and discover
Miami's lighter side for an active
urban vacation.
Salsa
Mia
Bliss comes in many
forms, andno weekend
here is complete without
a taste of the
nightlife. I head to the
Yuca Lounge on
Lincoln Road, home to
Salsa classes on
Wednesday, Friday and
Sunday nights.
Instructors from the
dance company Salsa Mia
teach the footwork and
timing of Cuban salsa
here.
"People come to unwind,
have a good time, and
learn a few steps,” says
Salsa Mia’s owner Susan
Fisher. Dancers are
divided into groups
based on ability. As the
evening goes on, the
music gets louder, and
locals and visitors
gather in this communal
experience of rhythm,
dance, and celebration.
Salsa Mia at Yuca Lounge
:
501 Lincoln Road; (305)
987-3033. Classes 8:30
p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays
and Sundays.
|
Lincoln Road - The Heart of South Beach
The Heart of
South Beach
History, architecture and
location combine to make Lincoln
Road one of the more remarkable
streets in the world
STORY AND PHOTOS
BY DONNA SWEENY
When it comes
to people-watching, nothing can
beat the Lincoln Road Mall. The
seven-block promenade between
16th and 17th Streets is a
popular destination with
visitors to South Beach, and a
central part of SoBe life.
Filled with restaurants,
theaters, art galleries and
shops, it pulsates with energy
from early morning to late at
night.
The first
bay-to-ocean roadway cleared out
of the mangroves by Miami Beach
developer Carl Fisher in the
early 1900s, it was named in
honor of his hero, President
Abraham Lincoln. Fisher’s plan
was to create a street that
would be the “Fifth Avenue of
the South,” and indeed from the
1930s to the 1950s it was one of
the premiere shopping districts
in the country.
 Frequented
by shoppers in flashy sports
cars and chauffeured limousines,
the wide avenue was lined with
the likes of Saks Fifth Avenue,
Bonwit Teller, Peck & Peck,
Adrian Thal Furs, Elizabeth
Arden, FAO Schwartz and others.
Joseph Moseley’s store took
orders from around the world for
its delicate hand-embroidered,
custom-dyed 1000-thread-count
linens. Cadillac and Packard
dealerships showcased their
newest models on the strip.
But when the
opulent Fontainebleau Hotel
opened in 1954, it threatened to
eclipse Lincoln Road – and much
of Miami Beach as well. Designed
by famed Russian immigrant
Morris Lapidus, the
Fontainebleau was the antithesis
of the popular minimalist
architecture of Art Deco
designer Ludwig Mies van de Rohe,
whose dictum “less is more”
summed up his style.
For Lapidus,
more was more, and the design of
the curvilinear Fontainebleau
was extravagant, ebullient and
exuberant, recalling the glamour
of Hollywood. “If you create a
stage and it is grand, everyone
who enters will play their
part,”
Lapidus
wrote. Guests at the
Fontainebleau certainly played
their part, beginning at the
majestic “staircase to nowhere,”
which led to a small coat room
above the lobby. Guests would
take an elevator up, check their
coats and descend the stairs for
a grand entrance. Architecture
critics decried the design, but
the public loved it.
The
beachfront Fontainebleau was a
self-contained resort, providing
guests with everything they
might want or need, even a
shopping concourse with
exclusive shops. With the
then-popular American plan, all
meals were included, and the
hotel hosted top entertainers
like Frank Sinatra, Tony
Bennett, Dean Martin and Jerry
Lewis. As a result, guests had
no reason to venture out and
local businesses suffered.
To address
the problem, the city
commissioned Lapidus to make
Lincoln Road desirable again.
The first thing he did was close
it off to traffic, creating one
of the earliest pedestrian malls
in the world. Criticized for
that, Lapidus famously quipped,
“A car never bought anything,
people do.”
He brought in
hundreds of towering palms,
tropical plants, trees and
flowers from around the world,
transforming the mall into a
lush garden, complete with long
rectangular pools, fountains,
waterfalls and concrete shelters
reflecting the Miami Modern, or
MiMo, style he pioneered.
When it
reopened in 1960, it was an
immediate success. For
well-heeled matrons wintering in
Miami Beach, a trip to the Road
was de rigueur, and they would
fill up their suitcases with the
latest styles from the fanciest
stores in town.
By the
mid-1970s, however, Lincoln Road
Mall’s luster was seriously
tarnished. One by one, the
leading retailers had left, many
drawn to suburban malls such as
the new, exclusive, Bal Harbour
Shops. In their place came
small-time storefronts selling
cheap electronics and clothing
in bulk to tourists from Latin
America.
“By 1986,
Lincoln Road Mall was dead,”
says M. Barron Stofik in her
book, “Saving South Beach.”
Vacancy rates reached 25% to 40%
and property values dropped.
Vandals, drunks and bag ladies
made themselves at home, and the
only store that continued to
thrive was Woolworth’s.
Desperate merchants floated
every conceivable plan to revive
the mall, but none drew
sufficient support. Given its
striking architecture and
unsurpassed location, however,
it did not remain depressed for
long. The city approved a
$60,000 grant to revitalize the
area through the arts, and
landlords lowered their rates to
attract artists.
“ArtCenter/South Florida has
served the community for 25
years, and was one of the early
leaders in the economic and
cultural revitalization of South
Beach and Lincoln Road. Since
then, it’s been a story of
location, location, location,”
says executive director Jeremy
T. Chestler. “An easily
accessible venue has helped make
audiences aware of the work
created by many of South
Florida’s most talented artists,
provided the community with
exposure to contemporary art,
and access to hands-on art
instruction. Lincoln Road is
dynamic and vibrant and it has
become a world-class cultural,
dining and shopping destination
for residents and tourists
alike.”
The Miami
City Ballet opened its first
studio on Lincoln Road, where
passersby could look through a
large window and watch the
dancers practice their routines.
Another early arrival was
Mitchell Kaplan who opened Books
& Books in the late 1980s, and
who vividly recalls those days.
“Over twenty years ago, and
about seven years after we
opened our first Books & Books
in Coral Gables, I was
approached by Cathy Leff about
opening a store in [the]
Sterling Building. She knew that
I had grown up on Miami Beach
and that Lincoln Road held a
great pull for me. She had just
the right space in what I
thought was the most beautiful
building on the Road, and when I
saw it I knew Books & Books had
to be there to help with the
revival of South Beach.
“It was very
lonely in those first years, not
much traffic, but I could sense
that a community was building,”
Kaplan says. “Now, with rents in
the stratosphere, and our lease
out of options, we’ve been able
to secure our store and café for
the foreseeable future in the
same building, if not in the
same space. With our move toward
the back, we’re happy that our
customers have found us, and are
very pleased that there is still
room for a small, local
independent business among all
the giants that now seem to
inhabit one of the more
remarkable streets in the
world.”
These days
Lincoln Road attracts national
chains such as Williams Sonoma,
Gap and Ghirardelli Chocolate,
contributing to high rents.
“Legendary
and historic Lincoln Road is an
ideal location for the
Ghirardelli Chocolate Company,”
says senior PFabrizio Parini.
“Almost a decade ago, [we]
recognized that the iconic
pedestrian mall would be the
epicenter of retail and
restaurant activity for Miami
Beach, attracting steady streams
of visitors from nearby
oceanfront hotels along with a
strong and loyal local following
to its umbrella-clad sidewalk
cafes, signature black and white
striped streets and lively
international destinations. Its
50-year old nostalgic design is
still vibrant today.”
The arts
remain very much in evidence
along the Road, where many
galleries and cultural venues
have set up shop. The Colony
Theater, at 1040
Lincoln Road, first opened in
1934 as a movie theater. In
1986, the Art Deco building was
transformed into a performing
arts theater with a seating
capacity of 440. It hosts a
variety cultural performance
including dance, comedy, opera,
music, and theater. The Colony
is listed on the National
Register of Historic Places.
Another
historical landmark, the Lincoln
Theatre, 541 Lincoln Rd., opened
in 1936, also as a movie house.
When it was purchased by the New
World Symphony in 1990, the
interior was gutted and
renovated into a 700+ seat
concert hall with exceptional
acoustics. The exterior was
restored to its original Art
Deco and Miami Modern splendor,
with wide overhanging eyebrows
which curve around the corner,
pilasters topped with painted
relief capitals, a dramatic
overhanging marquee, florid
scrolls and basrelief.
Buildings
like these, and others, attract
architecture aficionados from
around the world. The tallest
building on the Road was
designed and built by Carl
Fisher as the headquarters for
his real estate enterprise. In
the Mediterranean style popular
at the time, it boasts a great
wraparound terrace and tiled
roof.
Located at
846 Lincoln Road, it is now home
to the Van Dyke Café. The
Mediterranean-style Sterling
Building, 927 Lincoln Rd., was
designed by V.H. Nellenbogen in
the 1920s. It was actually two
separate buildings covered with
Moorish detailing. Like many
buildings in Miami Beach, around
1940 it was renovated and
modernized in the Art Deco
style, extremely popular at the
time.
The Miami
Beach Community Church on the
other hand, designed by Walter
DeGarmo, remains true to its
original Mission style. Located
at the corner of Lincoln Road
and Drexel Avenue, it was built
on land donated by Carl Fisher
and has been in continual use
since 1921. Members and friends
of the church have preserved its
architectural beauty with
ongoing restoration projects
over the years. Of particular
note are the beautiful stained
glass windows. It is open daily,
welcoming those in search of
quiet time.
The church
may well be the only place to
find quiet time on Lincoln Road
Mall, as vibrant as ever with
its coffee shops, bars and
restaurants that spill out into
the promenade in a happy
hodgepodge. The ambiance is
decidedly more casual than in
years past and the demographics
more diverse – you are as likely
to hear Portuguese and Italian
as you are English and Spanish.
On Sundays a
year-round farmers market takes
over the promenade between
Meridian and Washington Avenues
from 9
a.m.-6:30 p.m. offering fruits,
vegetables, fresh cut flowers,
plants, bread, honey, jams and
jellies. Organic produce is
available in front of the
Lincoln Theatre.
Lincoln Road
is among a relatively small
group of pedestrian malls around
the globe, and one of the
oldest. Plans are now underway
for a 50th anniversary
celebration in June of next year
says Michael Aller, tourism and
convention director and chief of
protocol for the City of Miami
Beach. “Lincoln Road Mall is an
important element of this
tropical paradise we call home,
and deserves recognition for its
historical significance,” says
Aller.
The
celebration will coincide with
the American Institute of
Architects annual convention,
attended by thousands in the
industry and the media. Miami
AIA member Deborah Desilets, the
last architectural associate of
the late great Lapidus, is
working to make Lincoln Road an
important part of the
convention.
However
well-deserved, the hoopla will
not likely change Lincoln Road
Mall, where on any given day
shoppers are likely to
intermingle with athletic moms
pushing jogging strollers, young
backpackers, dog walkers,
tourists dragging suitcases,
bicyclists, rollerbladers,
skateboarders, hand-holding
couples, the occasional
celebrity, and a model or two
who wander over from Ocean
Drive. Morris Lapidus would be
pleased – the characters are all
playing their parts on the stage
he created.
|
Salsa
Mia Interviewed by Plum on TV Channel 5
|
|
February 27th, 2008
Alex Ruiz
and
Brianne Barco,
of
Salsa Mia,
give Tristin and Jeff the ins and outs of
salsa dancing, performing and passion.
|
Daily
Candy Miami - Addicted to Love,
Spring 2008 Wedding Guide
April 23, 2008
Planning your wedding is
driving you to drink. Fight back with
DailyCandy’s twelve-step program. Private Salsa
lessons with Salsa Mia are an essential part of
your wedding planning.
 Step
1
Admit you have a problem. Your future
mother-in-law? Nope. Your lack of venue.
Luckily,
Schnebly Redland’s Winery
now hosts weddings in the
plantation-style property’s tranquil gardens
(complete with waterfalls and passion fruit
vineyards). And for party favors: mango wine
bottled especially for your guests.
Step 2
Discover the higher power. Flower power,
that is. Guerdy Réjouis, the flower architect
behind Fisher Island’s
Ocean Flowers,
pairs her stylized
designs with lighting, accents, and draping. Her
pick for this season: opulent color, like
fuchsia calypso orchids.
Step 3
Turn your will over to the gods (of
music). Namely
DJ Ross One,
the super spinner known for Favela Chic at
Mokai. Without a tinge of the macarena, he gets
everyone out on the dance floor (even, rumor has
it, Bill Clinton).
Step 4
Take an honest look at yourself. Realize
you deserve couture invitations.
Paper Fetish’s
designers don’t work off books. Instead they
craft each distinct card from scratch, using
everything from watercolors and rose petals to
feathers.
Step 5, 6, and 7
Admit the nature of your wrongs (it’s
your dancing); prepare to change (light
stretching); eliminate your shortcomings.
Private lessons from
Salsa Mia,
the folks who bring you Friday nights at Yuca,
should do the trick.
Step 8 and 9
Make a list of those you harmed (your
bridesmaids) and make amends. Before the
big day, send them Beauty in a Box from
Face Time Cosmetics.
The darling package arrives bearing the maid’s
name and a cache of customized makeup.
 Step
10
Keep a personal inventory (of the party).
Capture it all, not just posed and sober. Let
In Focus Studios
resident artist, Manolo Doreste,
reveal the night in all its natural splendor,
including a trash-the-dress shot, in which the
bride mars her fated frock in fiery devotion
(optional, obv).
Step 11
Contact the higher power. Or get a power
contact high by providing guests hand-rolled
cigars. Anissa Velazquez of Deco Drive Cigars
(305-674-1811) will arrange for a tobacco
aficionado to craft stogies using their
Dominican and Nicaraguan blends.
 Step
12
Have a spiritual awakening (after tasting
your cake).
Ana Paz
uses her grandma’s recipe to create iced
art, which she can bling-out Miami-style with
Swarovski crystals.
If all else fails, there’s always step 13:
rehab (a.k.a. your honeymoon)
|
The
Miami Herald's New Miami.com
March 18, 2008
Salsa Fridays at Yuca
When in Miami, do as the Miamians do:
Salsa!
By Rayme
Samuels
Picture this: It's Friday
night and you find yourself
sauntering down Lincoln
Road. Somehow along the way
your feet start tapping,
your hips start shaking and
before you know it, you're
swept up in the sensual
rhythm of a salsa beat. No,
your ears aren't playing
tricks on you. Look up on
the corner of Drexel Avenue
and your senses will surely
be overwhelmed by the flurry
of sexy dancers spinning
their way across a crowded
dance floor. Salsa Mia has
hosted an addictive salsa
night in the upstairs lounge
at Yuca restaurant for more
than two years and has
successfully attracted both
diehard dancers and novices
alike week after week.
Once you venture past a
cheerful doorman and up a
narrow staircase, you will
find a ceramic tile dance
floor filled to the brim
with some of Miami's most
enthusiastic salseros.
"People come here to
socialize at the end of the
workweek, have drinks and
practice dance with other
students," says Salsa Mia
owner, Susan Fisher.
For the novice dancer,
Cuban salsa classes begin
every week at 9 p.m., when
impossibly attractive
instructors cover the gamut
of basic steps, intricate
twirls and classic rueda
calls. Arrive a few hours
later and you'll be amazed
by the gravity defying spins
and dips enacted by the
second wave of visitors --
some of Miami's best and
surprisingly humble dancers.
Everyone here is eager to
share the spirit of this
Latin dance. If you're
feeling shy, pony up to the
bar for a Corona or mango
mojito, two popular
favorites, and just enjoy
being inspired by the crowd.
For those with two left
feet, don't worry. It's not
all salsa here, as DJs Alex
and Alfredo mix things up
regularly by adding
reggaeton, merengue,
bachata, and hip-hop to
their rotations. At Yuca,
where the party goes on
strong until the wee hours,
says Fisher, "everyone fits
right in."
Click here to see
the article on miami.com
Crowded house: Salsa Mia
at Yuca on Lincoln Road. Photo: Rayme
Samuels
|
Miami
NewTimes "A Different Kind of Dip"
|
Thursday, March 6, 2008
A Different Kind of Dip
Learn how to do it with Salsa Mia.
BY RAINA MCLEOD
Julie Dull and Oscar Ochoa
|
Feeling Caliente, Caliente Caliente!
The infusion of Latin traditions into Miami
culture requires that upon entering
Miami-Dade County, you trade in the rules
you used to live by for a set saturated in
Goya spices. Here coladas are
piping-hot and sipped for breakfast instead
of on-the-rocks and guzzled by the pitcher,
and when you speak of salsa, you’re usually
referring to the dance, not a dip for
tortilla chips. But although you’ve
perfected the art of ordering a Cuban coffee
sin azúcar, your dance moves are
another story. And since your Hispanic
friends giggle behind your back at the
stiffness of your swivel, the crew at
Salsa Mia will teach you how to execute
the sensuous and flirtatious dance with ease
– and rhythm.
Two-hour salsa classes will take you
through all the steps, whether you’re a
beginner or a hoofing legend. New students,
just show up 15 minutes before the class
begins and you’ll be grooving before you
know it!
Link to the Article
|
Universal Music and Salsa Mia present Hector Lavoe "The Originals"
|
|
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Enter To
Win
A 2-Night Pass to Salsa Mia at Yuca Lounge
Compliments of Universal Music & Fania
Participants went
online to FYE, submitted their entries at Yuca Lounge, or the
FYE stores in South Florida. Winners were announced in September
2007.
|
Premier of "El
Cantante"
|
|
Thursday, August 1, 2007
Premier
of El Cantante
Regal Cinema - South Beach
Salsa Mia Dancers were
invited by PictureHouse to perform at the
premier of new movie "El Cantante". El
Cantante celebrates the life of the
legendary Puerto Rican salsa singer Hector
Lavoe. Local Miami radio station MEGA 94.9
was there to broadcast the event. Que viva
para siempre la salsa y la musica de Hector
Lavoe! Tremendo "Cantante". |
Miami.com
Salsa and the City
By Lisett Araujo
The Miami
Herald's
Nightlife
Homepage
Miami’s got a reputation – and it’s a hot one. Steamy nights, trendy clubs, little clothing and lots of spice. The city is a melting pot, and nothing captures the essence, the feel, the vibe of the place and its people like salsa. This style of music and dance, derived from the Cuban son and mambo, exudes sensuality and passion. No wonder it’s often the soundtrack for movies and shows that depict Miami and its sexy inhabitants.
A city so full of Latin influence is also full of clubs claiming to be the definitive salsa spot. But which are worth your money and time? We did the research and found the perfect clubs for every sabor of salsa lover.
If you have a desire to swivel your hips and turn or be turned, head to South Beach’s Salsa Mia at Yuca Lounge. Located on the northwest corner of Lincoln Rd. and Drexel, Salsa Mia offers salsa classes at Yuca every Friday and Sunday night beginning at 8:30 p.m. All dancers – regardless of skill level – are welcome. The two-hour classes teach hordes of eager dancers everything from the basic step to the more complicated Rueda – a group dance where couples form a circle and rapidly swap partners through fancy moves.
A 5-night lesson pass runs $100. That’s only $20 for a two hour class and it gets you free admission into the nightclub, which opens once the classes are over, and half-price drinks. This is a great place to master the basics, gain some confidence and join the party on the dance floor. Come with a partner or alone. Yuca provides a friendly atmosphere perfect for mingling.
Yuca, 501 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach; 305-987-3033
|
El Nuevo Herald
|
Friday, July 6, 2007
Salsa
con sabor a
Yuca
MANUEL
EDUARDO SOTO
El Nuevo
Herald
Son hombres y mujeres altos, bajos, gordos, flacos, rubios, blancos, pero todos se reúnen los viernes y los domingos en el salón de fiestas del restaurante Yuca de Miami Beach con un solo fin: aprender a bailar salsa, perfeccionar sus pasos en la pista, o simplemente mirar a los alumnos de la academia de baile Salsa Mía que luego se quedan en la fiesta hasta altas horas de la madrugada.
PARECIERA
QUE SU LEMA
ES QUE EL
MOVIMIENTO
SE DEMUESTRA
BAILANDO, Y
PARA ELLO SE
HA CREADO
UNA ACADEMIA
QUE LOS
VIERNES Y
DOMINGOS
ADIESTRA A
SUS
ASISTENTES
EN EL RITMO
LATINO POR
EXCELENCIA
Son
hombres y
mujeres
altos,
bajos,
gordos,
flacos,
rubios,
blancos,
pero todos
se reúnen
los viernes
y los
domingos en
el salón de
fiestas del
restaurante
Yuca de
Miami Beach
con un solo
fin:
aprender a
bailar
salsa,
perfeccionar
sus pasos en
la pista, o
simplemente
mirar a los
alumnos de
la academia
de baile
Salsa Mía
que luego se
quedan en la
fiesta hasta
altas horas
de la
madrugada.
Mientras
por las
bocinas se
escuchan
discos de El
Gran Combo,
Celia Cruz y
Willy
Chirino, y
cada una de
las parejas
que repletan
la pista del
local
situado en
el segundo
piso del
famoso
restaurante
de comida
cubana
practica lo
aprendido,
la directora
y
propietaria
de tan
singular
escuela,
Susan
Fisher, se
desplaza por
todos los
rincones
para
cerciorarse
de que todo
esté bien, y
de paso para
bailar con
algún alumno
que no tenga
pareja en
ese momento.
''Esta
noche
tenemos unas
80 personas
en el
salón'',
dijo Fisher.
Un pase
por una
noche cuesta
$40; por dos
noches, $50,
y $100 por
cinco
noches.
También se
puede firmar
contrato por
20 horas de
clases
privadas o
en grupo o
si uno
resulta un
alumno
aventajado
sólo paga
por 10
horas, pero
tal vez le
baste con
cinco horas.
Hay
diferentes
tarifas
según lo
aventajado
que sea el
alumno o
alumna.
La noche
del domingo
llamaba la
atención una
rubia
espectacular
con un
vestido de
seda
transparente
que no
dejaba
prácticamente
nada a la
imaginación.
Tamaña
sorpresa fue
saber que se
llamaba
Catherine
Ivanova y
que había
llegado
recientemente
de Moscú
para
aprender a
bailar mejor
la salsa, a
pesar de que
por sus
sensuales
movimientos
muchos
podrían
confundirla
con una
caribeña de
cuerpo y
alma.
''Me
encuentro de
vacaciones
aquí en
Miami'',
dijo en una
pausa que
hizo para
tomar
aliento,
pero sin
perder la
sonrisa en
ningún
momento.
``La salsa
la conocí en
Moscú a
través de
unos amigos
latinoamericanos.
Pero siempre
que vengo a
Miami,
aprovecho
para
perfeccionarme''.
Y nadie
puede dudar
de que a
cualquiera
le gustaría
entablar
amistad con
esta rusa
tan alegre y
simpática,
ya que a
ninguno de
los varones
que la
invitaron a
bailar les
dijo que no.
Uno de
los
bailadores
que tuvo
oportunidad
de bailar
más de una
pieza con
ella fue Wes
Barnes, un
traductor
del
tailandés y
el laosiano
al inglés,
de unos 70
años, que
según contó
hace cinco
años que
concurre a
Salsa Mía
``por orden
del
médico''.
''Mi
médico me
recomendó
que hiciera
ejercicio
para
mantenerme
bien
físicamente
y por eso
vengo a
bailar salsa
aquí, a
Yuca, en
lugar de
montarme en
una
bicicleta
estacionaria,
como lo
hacen los
viejos'',
dijo en alta
voz para
poder
superar los
decibeles
que invadían
la sala. ``A
mi esposa no
le gusta
bailar, así
que vengo
solo. Ya
pronto me
voy a
jubilar y
pretendo
irme a vivir
a Bangkok,
donde no
dejaré de
hacerlo
porque allí
también se
baila
salsa''.
Los
alumnos
reciben
lecciones de
expertos
hasta las
11:30 de la
noche, los
viernes o
los
domingos,
después de
lo cual el
sitio se
convierte en
discoteca,
donde todo
el mundo
puede
disfrutar
por igual de
los bailes
tropicales.
Algunos
de ellos se
solazan
sirviéndose
los variados
tragos del
bar del
salón y
otros
prefieren
bajar al
comedor del
primer piso,
donde pueden
degustar
exquisitos
platos
cubanos como
la clásica
ropa vieja y
otras
especialidades
de la
exquisita
mesa cubana,
pero con un
toque
gourmet
que los
diferencia
de los que
sirven en
cafeterías y
restaurantes
familiares
de la
ciudad.
Otro
aspecto
positivo de
Yuca es que
a pocos
pasos están
los
estacionamientos
municipales
que les
permiten a
sus
parroquianos
dejar sus
automóviles
sin el
peligro de
que queden a
merced de
imprevistos.
Una mujer
ya madura
entró al
local en
medio de la
clase, se
sentó
tranquilamente
en un sofá,
abrió su
cartera,
extrajo un
par de
zapatos
cerrados con
los que
reemplazó
los que
traía, que
no tenían
talón. Se
paró y
raudamente
se sumó a
los
bailadores
de la pista,
moviendo los
pies al
ritmo de
Azuquita
p'al café,
de El Gran
Combo. Fue
una de las
últimas en
irse con su
pareja,
satisfecha
de la
jornada
salsera.•
'Salsa mía'
en Yuca, 501
Lincoln
Road, Miami
Beach. Para
más
detalles,
llamar a la
escuela al
(305)
987-3033
  
|
|
|
SunPost
Best of 2007
|
|
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
The SunPost Best Of 2007
Treasures Of Miami And The Beaches
Nightlife:
Best
Salsa Nights
Salsa
Mia
Ever
wanted to learn to salsa? Or are you
just looking for a great place to dance
the night away to a Latin beat? Salsa
Mia incorporates both. Six different
levels, from beginners to advanced, are
taught by six different instructors at
the same time and place. No need to
bring a partner as everyone rotates, so
you get to step on the toes of, and
eventually get in perfect rhythm with,
all sorts of people. Classes are held
Fridays and Sundays from 8:30 p.m. to
10:30 p.m. Stay after class Friday for
the hottest salsa nightclub on the
beach; open until 2:30 a.m. Location:
Yuca Lounge, upstairs, 501 Lincoln Road,
Miami Beach. Phone: 305-987-3033. Web
site: www.salsamia.com |
Sports Club LA -
Member Celebration with Salsa Mia
|
|
Thursday, April 26, 2007
The Sports Club LA/Miami at the Four Seasons Hotel
Members of the
incredible $25 million 40,000 square foot luxury complex enjoyed
a wonderful night of Salsa with Salsa Mia.
 |
The 2007 Miami Beach
Dance Festival
|
|
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Miami Beach Dance Festival
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Miami Beach Botanical Gardens
|
Alonzo Mourning's Overtown Youth
Center Fund-raiser
|
|
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Salsa Mia representing Yuca at
Alonzo Mourning's
Overtown Youth Center Fund-raiser
|
Miami NewTimes "Hot and Spicy"
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Hot and Spicy. Salsa is our favorite dance
and condiment
BY KAREN R. FIGUEIREDO
Baile, baile!
You’ve lived in
Miami for how many years and you still can’t dance salsa?
There’s no need to feel like a dance floor loser;
Salsa Mia will
make it easy for you to learn. Every Friday night at 8:00
the muy caliente event organizers host group classes at Yuca
Lounge. You don’t need a partner, and you certainly don’t
need to know anything about dancing; just show up and
they’ll teach you how to move.
You’ll start with the basic steps, one foot forward then the
other back, almost easier than walking. Soon you’ll be
swaying like a native Cuban, twirling in rhythm with
everyone in the rueda group or inching closer to your
favorite salsero. Ay papi. After the lesson is over you can
carry on Latin dancing at the lounge until 2:30 a.m.
|
Despierta America on Univision
|
|
Friday, February 23, 2007
2-Year Anniversary of Salsa Mia at Yuca Lounge
The story of Salsa Mia filmed and reported by Paola
Gutierrez of
Despierta America!
Aired on television show August 3rd, 2007
|
Escandalo TV on
Univision's Channel Telefutura
CBS Early Show - Live from South Beach
SALSA MIA ON CBS
|
Saturday, February 3rd, 2007
 
Salsa Mia LIVE from South Beach on the CBS Early Show.
Saturday, Feb. 3rd. Super Bowl 2007 special coverage.
   |
Telemundo's Ritmo Deportivo Films
at Salsa Mia
|
|
Friday, January 19, 2007
Salsa Mia was filmed for
Ritmo Deportivo on Friday, January 19th, 2007. The program
aired on Sunday, January 28, 2007. |
Food Network Filming of Giada's Weekend Getaways
|
|
Friday, November 10, 2006
Food Network's Filming of
Giada de Laurentiis' new TV program called "Giada's Weekend
Getaways"... (MIAMI)
Chef Giada de Laurentiis travels across the
United States looking for vacation destinations for food lovers.
Giada’s
Weekend Getaways premiered
Friday, January 12, 2007.
   |
The Miami Herald
|
|
Posted on Sat, Sep. 09, 2006
First of a series
Where DO singles mingle? Some
untraditional places to seek out Mr. or Ms.
Right
BY
JILL BAUER
CAN'T BE BEATIf you have to choose one
place to be on a Friday night, try salsa lessons
at Salsa Mia (at Yuca Lounge) on Lincoln Road in
Miami Beach. With a relaxed lounge atmosphere
and a welcoming staff, it's impossible not to
feel at home here -- whether you have two left
feet or can shake your bon-bon with abandon.
''I think this is fantastic,'' said
27-year-old Juan David who was there for first
time. ``I've been looking for an atmosphere like
this. . . . Everybody's like a family. You can
see and feel the energy.''
You don't need to bring a partner, and gay
participants can learn both the leader and
follower role, says owner Susan Fisher.
|
Italian TV Host - Gino Latino,
Films @ Salsa Mia
|
|
August 18, 2006
Salsa Mia was visited by Italian television host, Gino Latino.
Salsa Mia instructors were interviewed and the classes were
filmed for a program called Momento Latino to air in
Italia. |
Wild On
Latino
|
 |
Sunday, August 6, 2006
E! Entertainment Television Latin America
Wild On Latino
Salsa Mia was interviewed and filmed for an upcoming program
of Wild On South Beach.
The program will air in over 28 Latin American countries. Stay
tuned for dates!!! |
Satisfy Your Zest for
Adventure
  
The Salsa Mia Crew
Oscar, Alex, Brianne, Alex, Susie, Silvana,
Klaudia, Benny, Liliana
Not pictured above (Shadow, Nelson, Leticia,
Alexito, Tamara, Omar and DJ Alex) |
July 14, 2006
On his summer tour of the most adventurous
cities in the United States, Procter & Gamble's ZEST FOR
ADVENTURE Man visited Salsa Mia at Yuca in Miami.
To see the video clip of his visit to Salsa Mia click
here and then on "salsa dancing"
http://www.zestforadventure.com/blog/index.htm
This is what he had to say... Written by
Zest for Adventure Man, John Guidroz
Fact: Salsa
Dancing lessons exist to make you look silly. At least that's
what happened to me last night. I went to South Beach for a
taste of the infamous Miami nightlife. What better place to try
some Latino grooves? Kickin clubs, hot ladies strutting down the
promenades, clothes clinging to flesh like a man to his pride.
As it turns out, a "good night" of Salsa education requires a
man to take off his pride; a "better night", his clothes. I
can't comment on the clothes.
The lesson kicked off with an introduction
to the basic 1-2-3 steps. Then a couple transition moves, some
side-steps, back steps-- simple enough after a few minutes. Then
they tripled the speed and threw on some music. Add the group of
people watching and I was petrified. Don't get me wrong, I can
count to 3 and generally get by on the dance floor at a club or
bar, but when I tried to follow the instructions in my head and
still listen to the music I ended up moving like a Zombie from
Night of the Living Dead. After an hour, solo time was finished
and, apparently, we were ready to be paired up for couples
dancing.
In a thick Hispanic accent,
the instructor told the men in the beginner group that it was
our jobs to lead the ladies. "Salsa dancing is communication
with your bodies. You take the ladies. Ladies, you want to be
taken, no?" I liked this guy, but he was a liar. When I got out
on the dance floor to try out my basic steps my experienced
partner tolerated my zombie steps for about two seconds before
taking me. I didn't care, she made me look good. What the hell,
dancing is all about a good time and living a little right? The
bottom line is that tonight had all the core elements of a good
adventure: fear, hesitation, learning, and, in the end, success.
Next time I just need to stop counting in my head, loosen up a
bit and brush up on my espanol. Maybe that will also lead to a
"better night."
|
Summer Rocks with Salsa Mia!
 |
Issue 29 | July/August 2006
Salsa Mia appears in the
July/August issue of LRM magazine in their cover story of
the summer called "Summer Rocks! Twenty-four reasons to
emerge from the air conditioning to experience all that Miami
has to offer during the summer--great deals, hot events,
cultural stimulation and, best of all, shorter lines."
"Summer Rocks"
is proof that summer is not hell on earth in South Florida.
It's also far from boring.
Salsa Mia is #2 out of 24 hottest
things to do this summer in Miami!!!
You Can Dance
"You may hear the music, but you'll
never really feel like a Miamian until you've learned to Salsa.
Summer's a great time to learn with Salsa Mia, which holds
lessons every Friday and Sunday night at Yuca Lounge. After the
2-hour Friday-night lesson, put your new moves to the test at
Yuca's Salsa nightclub."
-- Sara Churchville
|
|
