Party @ Touch Launches Congress!

July's heat had nothing on Touch Lounge Thursday night as the world's Salsa dancers converged in Toronto for the Canada Salsa Congress Pre-PartyThursday night. Israel, United States, Canada, Bermuda, France.. and more... all celebrated their common language - Salsa!

Expectation, buzz, anticipation was in the balmy October air, even at 8:30pm before the doors opened. Performers were trickling in, a few people were resting on the terrace by the main entrance, sound checks were being made and some troupes were testing the ceramic tile floor.

DJ Julio and SalsaTO took a quick stroll west and found City Dance Corps' studio about two buildings away. Tina was finishing a class and one of her troupe was looking forward to his Saturday night performance. His grin matched the grins on the folks gathering at Touch. "Going to the pre-party?" "Nope, going to get rest tonight before Friday!" One could see that he really wanted to take in the heat up the street, but he knew that he had to be up for Friday.

The UK's "Million Move Man" Super Mario - a Canada Salsa Congress institution - was dancing with every and all who came his way and Ismael Otero showing another dimension.

People were re-newing friendships from last year's Congress and were starting new friendships.
The shows started around 11:15pm and moved quickly, entertaining but not tiring for the packed house.

"Are You Ready!" Jennifer Aucoin called out to the crowd who roared their delight.

Graciously thanking all the people and the Toronto Instructors who promoted the Congress over the past year, the show started.

There were lots of surprises.

Hamiltonsalsa.com's Arturo performed with Bong's Rumbon troupe. And, DJ Emily Torres does more that spin tunes. DJ Emily also spins with DC's Melao Dance Company.

DJ Julio and DJ Emily exchanged notes later in the evening. It turns out that Emily has been spinning tunes *and* dancing for about two years. She was invited by people she knew to dance with Melao Dance Company. Besides performance dancing, Emily also performs on stage, her latest being a role in the play, Infinican.

Toronto's Mambo Tribe's Mark-Anthony's Advanced Student Group executed a contrasting study of dance and expression with "War & Peace." Smiling white clad women contrast with olive drab clad stone-faced men. Dancers of all ages performed.

Bermuda's Sabor Dance Company - a pair of very enthusiastic dancers - had the crowd in their hands from the first note. They genuinely expressed the playful, seductive and acrobatic slices of salsa.

Rhythmic Fire's young dancers captured the crowd with their very strong urban themed salsa. Almost all under 15, Salsa's future is safe with these young people. Jennifer closed the performance part of the evening by briefly introducing some of the instructors and performers who took time to drop by and playfully challenged the Americans,

"We have to show the Americans how loud we can be!"