6 | L!FE | FEBRUARY 12, 2010 | HAMILTON JOURNALNEWS
FAIRFIELD — Salsa — it’s not just for chips anymore.
That’s particularly true in Fairfield, where weekly salsa classes and monthly salsa socials are held at the Fairfield Community Arts Center at 411 Wessel Drive.
The events’ instructor is Herman Recalde, who teaches salsa classes throughout the area via his organization called Salsa Underground. He had been teaching salsa classes at a local YMCA when nearly five years ago officials invited him to bring his lessons to Fairfield’s then-new arts center.
Once the classes took root, students began telling Recalde they’d love to have a place to dance, but they didn’t care to go to a club. Therefore, the idea to have the socials came about, and have been going on for about two years.
“The thing about salsa is, it’s a very energetic, sexy and technical dance. You put those together and it creates excitement — people love the way it looks,” he said.
By “technical” Recalde means that salsa is a dance with very intricate moves and precise steps, much like ballroom dancing. One cannot just improvise a salsa dance, he said.
“What you need more than anything else, truthfully, is just the passion. People become addicted to it,” he said.
One of Recalde’s students is Gina McCormick of Evendale, who has been to a number of the Fairfield socials. She became interested in salsa after taking classes in zumba, an exercise done to Latin music.
For McCormick, salsa has had at least one tangible benefit.
“In a little more than the three years I’ve been doing this, I’ve lost 40 pounds. And I’m not an exercise freak. Dancing is fun, and you get to meet a lot of people. It’s certainly kept me from being a couch potato.” she said.
Ben Strickler, Fairfield’s parks and events manager, said the salsa socials started with about 25 or 30 people but have since grown to about 100. If they continue to grow, live bands may eventually be added, Strickler said.
The next social, on Feb. 19 at the arts center, will feature internationally known salsa dancers Andy Cruz and Kimberly Rivera, who will dance and give instruction, Recalde said. The FCAC holds salsa socials the third Friday of every month for dancers of all levels, with music provided by DJ Aikon for dancers to twirl on an all wood floor. An optional lesson is taught before each social.
The weekly lessons include individual and combination moves. Dancers will learn approximately 15-20 moves and 8-10 combinations over the six week period. No partner necessary.
“My goal is to teach (students) where I have to put salsa into your heart. If it gets into your heart, it gets into your blood. If it gets into your blood, you’re going to be dancing,” Recalde said.
For information, visit www.salsaunderground.net.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2836 or erobinette@coxohio.com.
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