Salsa Dancing in Flood Devastated Pakistan

The worldwide campaigns for donating money to the more than twenty million Pakistanis affected by the heavy floods is slowly gaining pace in the last week of August 2010. Many Salsa dancers do not know that there is also some serious Salsa dancing going on in Pakistan. This is a follow-up on the article “Global Natural Disasters and Salsa Dancing”.
 

On August 17, the World Bank has pledged 900 million dollars to help the flood-devastated Pakistan. A U.S. military said past Wednesday that the United States is sending four more helicopters and an amphibious ready group to Pakistan to increase the U.S. response to Pakistan's flood crisis and – according to Brig. Gen. Michael Nagata – at least 23 U.S. helicopters will be in Pakistan next week ferrying relief supplies and rescuing people in and around the Swat River in Northern Pakistan. Yesterday August 26, the Dutch collected 16,1 million Euros during a national radio and TV campaign.

Salsa Dancing in Karachi, Pakistan

Many people around the world think that the Islamic Republic of Pakistan does not have any Salsa due to the strict rules & regulations and the Taliban. But, that is far from the truth. Karachi – the capital of Pakistan – has a buzzing Salsa scene. Here are two major Salsa dance organizations in Karachi:

Salsa Jive

Faisal Anwar introduced his invention “Salsa Jive” to the population in Karachi. Anwar said in a televised interview held at the beginning of 2008, "Just came across with the idea to start Salsa Jive classes in Pakistan. I came back from UK and did it for like two and half years. And when I came back I realized I should start these classes over here as well," Salsa has always been popular in many Asian countries, and this watered down version of Salsa dancing has had people in Karachi queuing up for dance classes. Anwar adapted the dance keeping in mind the sensitivities of the local cultural norms.

Faisal Anwar instructs his Salsa Jive classes twice a week – on Tuesdays and on Fridays – from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Pakistan American Cultural Center in Karachi.

Email: info@actone.pk

The Candela Salsa Group

The dance instructors of the Candela Salsa Dance Group are originally from Canada and the United States and have been dancing several Latin dance styles for over 10 years. They teach the Original and Classic Salsa from Puerto Rico, Cha Cha Cha, Merengue, Bachata Dominican Style, New York and LA Style Turns, Men's and Ladies Styling, Footwork Patterns and Salsa Nightclub Dance Etiquette. Candela also teaches twice a week with one hour of social dancing afterward.

Email: candela.salsa@yahoo.com.

The Taliban is now threatening to mount terrorist attacks against foreigners who are in Pakistan helping the population. A good way to help these well-doers and all the Salseros & Salseras in Pakistan is by donating money for the good cause.