What's happening with Want2Salsa?

Hello W2S family! The month of December was an interesting and fun month for us here at W2S. It was also a happy and sad month for us. One of the founding members of W2S relocated to the beautiful state of Arizona. It was a sad month because he is no longer here in North Carolina; but, at the same time, a happy occasion because we have sent W2S to the state of Arizona. This is the first step in making W2S a nationally known brand. We have been seeing a lot of new members of the W2S family from Arizona, so our brand of Salsa is being well received in "The Grand Canyon State."

The Big event that we attended during the month of December was the Christmas Party/ Show case of one of the biggest Salsa companies in the state of NC, "Mambo Dinamico." This was a fantastic night where they performed different dance routines. Their various dance teams performed throughout the night. To finish the night, the Pro-team from the CoboBrothers Dance Company stole the show. Their performance was breathtaking and full of energy. This event was one of the best Salsa parties/ showcases of the year. There were dancers from every city of the state of NC, and lots of dancers from neighboring states as well. We cannot wait to see what they are going to put together for the 2013 Christmas party/showcase. If you have the opportunity to attend this party, you should.

One of our founding members took the W2S Salsa brand to Latin America, to the beautiful country of Panama for a few weeks. This was a fun time for him, as he got to mingle with the Salsa lovers of that country. The two main places to go Salsa dancing in Panama City are: Habana Panama and El Rincon de Villa.

Habana Panama: This place gives you the feeling of being in a ballroom atmosphere, but they are more of a Cuban type of Salsa location, like their name refers to. If you love live music, this is the place for you to go if you are ever in Panama City. They usually have bands that are comprised of a mixture of musicians that are from Panama, Cuba, and other Latin countries.

El Rincon de Villa: This place prides itself as the home of Salsa in Panama. It has more of a Panamanian feeling to it. It is in an open location with great security. It is truly a Salsa lover’s dream, because it plays 100% Salsa music. To complement this, they sell local food, so you can dance, drink, and eat to your heart’s content. If you are ever in Panama City, Panama, and want to have a fantastic time Salsa dancing, this is the place to be.

Another founding member moved to Germany about 6 months ago and has been experiencing a whole new world of Salsa. All depending where you live, there is somewhere to dance no further than 1 hour away and everyday of the week. She lives in the Bavaria area and enjoys dancing in places such as Nuernberg, Regensburg, and Amberg. There is one place in downtown Regensburg called Club Scala where the Salsa lovers go to on Wednesdays, which has been the livest one so far. There is lots of Cuban Salsa danced here, however, don’t be afraid to ask for Salsa on 1 or 2!

A dancer’s feet should never hurt on the dance floor!

That’s why we at Want2Salsa only offer high-end, high-quality dance shoes at reasonable prices. Having worn and tested Very Fine Dance Shoes, we confidently believe these to be the best shoes on the market for novice to professional dancers. Shop our store for that special pair, or visit www.veryfineshoes.com and email us your preferred style, shoe size, heel size, and color.

Scalloped Potatoes and Ground Beef Casserole

This scrumptious recipe takes a little more time to prepare, so it maybe good for those nights when you can’t go out dancing. This will surely comfort you.

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hr 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hr 50 minutes

Yield: Serves 8

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 lbs. ground beef (or use bulk Italian sausage meat, can increase the ground beef slightly)

• 1 medium onion, chopped

• 1 small green bell pepper, seeded and chopped (optional)

• 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped (or to taste)

• 1/2 teaspoon dried chili pepper flakes (adjust to taste) (optional)

• 1 teaspoon seasoning salt (or to taste) or 1/2 teaspoon white salt (or to taste)

• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper (or to taste)

• 5 -6 russet potatoes (peeled and sliced thinly, or use as many as desired)

• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (or to taste)

Sauce

• 2 (10 3/4 ounce) cans condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted (using any other flavor of soup will not be as good)

• 1 small onion, chopped (about 1/3 cup)

• 3/4 light cream

• 1/2 cup sour cream

• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt

• fresh ground black pepper (to taste)

Directions:

In a skillet cook the ground beef with onion, bell pepper and chili flakes (if using) until no longer pink; drain fat over a colander. Return to pan and add in garlic, season salt and black pepper; cook stirring with a wooden spoon until the meat is lightly browned (I usually add in about 1-2 tablespoons bacon fat that I keep frozen in my freezer to the meat while browning for added flavor and it also helps to brown the meat) set aside.

For the sauce; in a medium bowl mix together the undiluted soup with onion, milk, sour cream, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, seasoned salt and black pepper to taste; mix well to combine.

In a greased 13 x 9-inch baking dish or a large oval casserole dish, alternately layer the sliced potatoes on bottom of the baking dish, then soup mixture (I like to sprinkle grated cheddar cheese on top of the soup mixture) then the ground beef mixture on top.

Since this is a large casserole I strongly suggest placing the baking dish on a jelly-roll sheet in case of any spills.

Bake covered with foil for about 1 hour at 350 degrees F. Uncover and continue baking for another 20-30 minutes or until the potatoes are tender (baking time will vary depending on the thickness of your sliced potatoes).

Remove from oven then sprinkle with grated cheddar cheese; return to oven for 4-5 minutes or until the cheese has melted.

How to keep the Flu and Colds away from the Dance Floor (And Away from You)

Well, cold and flu season is upon us again. How can we stay as well as possible, and help others to stay as well as possible too, while we are out dancing and exchanging contact with people we know and don’t know? Here are a few tips that can help us.

1. Keep warm – Many of us do not like to go inside of a club wearing big and bulky coats. If there is a coat room, then there is no problem. If not, and you still don’t want to take the coat, dress in layers, wear a sweater or two, gloves, scarf, and a hat. These don’t take up too much room, and can fit on your chair or in your shoe bag.

2. WASH YOUR HANDS – Universal rule. Since it is impractical to wear gloves while dancing, try to wash your hands after a couple of dances, or use hand gel between dances.

3. Keep moving – exercise. Salsa qualifies, so you should have no problem here.

4. Take vitamins and probiotics – Really important to take during the winter, as less fruits and vegetables may be eaten during this time of the year. Reports have shown that taking probiotics can increase the body’s resistance to bacterial and viral infections.

WHAT TO WEAR FOR A SALSA CLASS OR SALSA SOCIAL EVENT?

Many people at times stress about their appearance and how they should look during a Salsa dancing event. Whether we are attending a class at a dance studio or a Salsa social event there are few major rules to keep in mind.

• Regardless of the event you are attending always dress in layers. The first layer of clothing’s purpose is to absorb sweat while the second layer acts as an concealment.

• Bring dance shoes appropriate for the type of floor. The rule of thumb is to always bring regular shoes (as you see fit) and dance shoes.

• Last, always wear deodorant and bring a small dry towel to handle excessive sweating.

At the Dance Studio

Most classes given in a dance studio environment tend to be less casual. It is quite normal to see people wearing sweat pants, t-shirts or casual aerobic attire. This type of clothing allows students to stretch and maybe do certain moves that semi-formal or formal attire wouldn’t allow. The classes that are given in dance studios tend to be a bit more casual. It is also normal to see people in their work clothes. Those of us who have no time between work and class have to plan ahead and either bring changing clothes to the studio or keep the same work clothes on. One of the main things to consider while dressing up for a Salsa class in a studio environment is the presence of large mirrors. Mirrors won’t lie or hold back on telling you exactly what others may be reluctant in sharing with you. It is recommended to always do a last minute 360 degrees check of your appearance before stepping into a social learning environment. Being overdressed or underdressed can cause distraction and slow down learning. Bottom line is that it is preferable to wear comfortable yet appropriate clothing items.

At the Salsa Club

If you’re attending a class at a dance club and are planning to stay for the dance portion, gym clothes may not be appropriate here. It is recommended to bring at least an extra first layer of clothing (undershirt) to change into before transitioning to the social dance portion of the event. A fresh first layer of clothing and some deodorant can positively affect your dance experience. Being underdressed or overdressed in a dance club environment may result in fewer dances. Also watch your outfit to see if it matches with the overall theme. Some dance clubs are more formal than others, which tends to depend on your location (major cities vs small towns). It is not a bad idea to call the club ahead of time to find out the dress code. Some may not accept jeans, t-shirt and fitness shoes. Finally, be cognizant of your sweat level. Gentlemen roll those sleeves if wearing long sleeves and Ladies take a trip to the rest room or outside to air out if wearing pants or conservative outfits. Use your towel as much as necessary to avoid dripping sweat on your partner while dancing.