Cathleen van der Lee-Haarloo

Name: Cathleen van der Lee-Haarloo
Age: December 17, 1979 (30 years ; ))
Nationality: Dutch
Currently residing: Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Profession: Sales specialist
Salsa Style: NY Mambo on2 Advanced, LA Style Salsa on1 Advanced & Cuban Salsa Intermediate level.

How long have you been dancing for?
I have been dancing Salsa for almost 10 years now.

What made you start with salsa?
I was watching a video clip of Enrique Iglesias, "Bailamos", and had seen people dancing salsa. I was in love with the movements, the joy, the smiles and wanted to experience the same feeling. I was 17 years old and had ask my best friend to join me in my first Cuban salsa dance class. After that, the fever got worse and I started dancing from once a week to almost every day in the years after that.

Where do you take your lessons?
At the moment, I am trying to learn from the best, but in projects. So I am not really following classes at a Salsa dance school, but am taking Salsa dance workshops and short classes/projects. If I do choose  to follow regular classes, it would be at Marsies Mambo  in Leiden (The Netherlands).

What’s your best salsa tip for a night out in [your city/closest city]?
My best salsa tip for now would be Salsa Casa Loca in Utrecht (The Netherlands) for many reasons: It is a large venue, good dancers come there, the music is good - and best of all - you can dance until 4 o' clock in the morning.

What is your best salsa memory?
My best salsa memory is dancing with salsa dance squad and performing all over the Netherlands and abroad. My second best salsa memory is dancing with the best salsa dancers I know and enjoying every move of the dance & every note of the song.

What is your worst salsa experience?
My worst salsa experience happened when I was dancing with a great dancer and enjoying the moment. After 30 seconds of the song, the dancer I was dancing with stopped and told me he did not want to dance the song (for no reason at all) and just walked out on me, leaving me behind on the dance floor. This is my worst experience ever.

What are the best salsa tips you have for [men/women] dancing salsa?
Always keep learning, and always develop yourself. If you think you are there, think again… you are not. Keep improving. Practice makes Perfect. Dance for yourself and not to be seen by others. Enjoy every moment on the dance floor. Let no one tell you that you are a bad dancer. There is no such thing as a bad dancer. Everybody has to learn, salsa is for everybody and you can interpret it in your own way. Dance with people you feel comfortable with. Always be yourself. Do not walk with your head in the clouds, looking down at others.

Which song will get you up on the dance floor?
O my God: any song can get me up on the dance floor. Where there is music and dancers, you will find Cathleen on the dance floor non-stop. Dance until you drop.

Which salsa dancer/teacher/choreographer inspires you?
There are a lot of dancers and groups that inspire me. I will tell you why these dancers inspire me.

Marlon Borkulo (Marsies Mambo)
Marlon has opened my eyes and teaches me to pimp up my mambo techniques and my fundamentals of dancing. He always brings me back to the beginning of the dance to remind me where to start or look back when you get caught up in so much inspiration. He also teaches me to listen to the music, to dance to the music and to improvise.

Sjomara Hogenstrijd (Sjo’s Sessions)
Sjomara is teaching me to dance like a woman and use my entire body to make the dance complete. Dance is not only using your fast feet, but also your arms and the rest of your body. Everything has to fall in place. The combination of Marlon and Sjomara makes a perfect match to combine my techniques.

Erik Lalta (Salsa Dance Squad)
When creating a Salsa dance routine of my own, or when I am thinking about what I can bring on the dance floor, Erik thought me to look outside the box. So, whenever I come up with a choreography, or whenever I want to something different in my dancing, I think back of what he gave as advice. Not only dancing, but Erik also thought me that the dance scene is sometimes a crazy place and can be a hard and cold place to be when surrounded by people who are not pure of heart.

Kurt Alexander (Salsadicction)
Kurt showed me a lot on how to improve my spinning technique, he taught me to dance on high heels and he taught me many techniques. He really inspires me, because when he is on the dance floor this man always shines, enjoys and smiles, even when it does not go the way he would wish it to go. He reminds me to always smile and enjoy my dancing. He also teaches me to listen to the music, dance to the music and to improvise. Use all the energy you have in dancing and explode on the dance floor.

Heinrich Angela (Drakenwoede)
Heinrich inspires me, because we have the same ideas in dancing, and dancing together makes it complete. I would love to perform with him again. We had a Salsa dance rouine in no more than three weeks. It is great working with him.

Diane Lam
This girl always puts a smile on my face. Not only is she a very beautiful dancer with a lot of style and not only does she really dance with so much feminine grace, but she has a good heart. She is really a kind and good person. She inspires me to always do my best in dancing as feminine as possible.

Roberto Gutierrez
Roberto will always inspire me, because dancing with him is like mathematics for the advanced  dancers :p His style is so different than others; he always challenges me to be sharp and I enjoy dancing with him.

Where do you see salsa going in 5 years from now?
In 5 years, I see salsa still growing and developing with more styles in salsa dancing. I hope for different kinds of shows instead of the regular ones. I would like to see people thinking outside the box. There is so much more to explore in salsa.

What inspires you on the dancefloor?
I get inspired by the music, the person standing in front of me, the way I feel, the way I am, a way to escape reality, the moment, the room, the space I have when I am dancing, and I get lots of inspiration from the things I have learned.

Lastly, if there was one salsa wish you could make, what would that be?
I wish to perform; I wish to touch people in their hearts when performing. My ultimate goal is to make people smile..