DC Bachata Congress Offers Smorgasbord

Written by Will Shamlin for OnlineSalsa.com

I am among the hundreds of Bachata/Salsa enthusiasts who have returned home after partying at the 4-star Gaylord National Hotel on the scenic Potamic River this past weekend. The second annual DC Bachata Congress offered workshops with beginner to advanced instruction in Bachata, Salsa/Mambo, Zouk and Hip-Hop in addition to less popular styles including Samba, Rueda and Crunkchata.

But, no one was propping up their head in boredom. Perhaps, from lack of sleep from non-stop partying, maybe! But boredom, not!

The hourly classes held simultaneously in spacious hotel ballrooms were fun, engaging, informative and there was something for all skill levels. You could attend workshops geared to help you expand your repertoire of moves or improve your technique or musicality. Some sessions were more narrowly
focused on specialties from isolated Body Movement, Shine (Footwork and Flourishes) patterns, and basic Boot camps to Man’s - & Ladies' Styling and a crowd-favorite: Dips, Tricks and
Lifts. Many participants, including myself, returned home energized after being inspired to be more creative and even more sensual on the dance floor.

Lee "El Gringuito" Smith Jr., event organizer, arranged more than 50 workshops led by some of the best instructors from across the country and around the world. He found major corporate sponsors in PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Southwest Airlines. Lee "El Gringuito" also made certain to add some spice to each day's schedule.

Lap Dancing workshops were tastefully done, but the racy topic still sent a buzz through the convention crowd. There were Pool Parties and even friendly Dance Competitions between the sexes.
Special performances held each night were the perfect segue for social dances with themes - Latin Carnival Masquerade Party on Friday night, Red Party (all-red attire encouraged) on Saturday night and Suit & Silk Party on Sunday night.

Video clip of Alejandro Rey & Kathy's sexy performance during the DC Bachata Salsa Congress 2010. 

Toby Love, a former member of the Bachata group Aventura, which has sold out concerts in Madison Square Garden, performed in live concert on Saturday night and then entertained some convention-goers for an after-party in his penthouse suite. The Gaylord Hotel and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., is situated along the banks of the Potomac and its interior is nothing less than magnificent – fitting for one of the biggest events of the year for Salsa and Bachata lovers.

There was a diverse and friendly crowd. Some participants came from the West Coast and others traveled overseas for the four-day showcase that began Thursday, Aug. 19, 2010. Local performance groups included Joe Figueroa's “Living In Rhythm” and Darlin Garcia's “Art In Motion Latin Dancers”, both in Philadelphia, and Henri Valendia's “Hot Salsa Hot”, based in Princeton. Participants recorded the routines that they learned during the “how-to” workshops on their camera-phones and digital cameras so they could watch it again later. This is extremely helpful because dancers are constantly learning new information over the course of the weekend and it is difficult to remember what you learned a day or two later, or even a few hours later.

I wish I could rewind my weekend as easily as I can rewind the videos I recorded during the four-day event!

About the author

Wil Shamlin is a reporter for the Courier Post and he writes his own blog Salsa Scene . Wil is an avid salsa dancer having danced for over four years. His experience, inside information and network, are featured weekly on his blog, providing readers with an insider's perspective on the biggest events. Great information, news and updates are always just a few clicks away!