“DC DIRTY DANCERS” PREPARE FOR A
NYC PARADE!

Three DC Cuban Salsa teachers were collaborating to prepare a group to perform in a NYC Dance Parade. We planned to do a Mambo routine and then move down the parade route with solo footwork.  All choreographies were enriched and original, but include a few moves that are reminiscent of the final scene in that movie. We also added an adorable Cha Cha Rueda choreography to the song, “Do You Love Me Now That I Can Dance?” It’s a perfect song for a Dance Parade!!

The parade was to be on May 16, 2020—1.4 miles down the streets of Manhattan.  For more details, visit DanceParade.org. But as you can guess, the pandemic derailed the plans for this parade.

However, the parade folks did their event online and it was great fun despite the circumstances.

We hope to be able to participate live in the 2021 Dance Parade, as long as the virus is no longer a threat at that point.

Please note that despite this website’s name, the dancing that has been choreographed is not highly suggestive. The material is basically a Salsa/Mambo routine, a footwork routine, and a lively, fun team Cha Cha presentation. It’s all fine for any audience!

For a sneak preview of some rehearsal runs on our choreographies, watch this: https://youtu.be/i_O7ug8hRow

And here is another very cool creative project based on the movie Dirty Dancing. Watch this video of a guy doing the exact movie choreography with a lamp for a partner: https://youtu.be/iyBkmHcvdkE He’s amazing!!

Anyone interested in helping out with parade preparations can let Barb know: Barb (at) Danceintime.com. We’ll be teaching the routines to additional dancers with the expectation of performing live in the NY parade once it’s safe to do so.

There is a wonderful, annual “Dirty Dancing Festival” in September, located in Lake Lure, North Carolina. Part of the movie had been filmed there so it was a natural location (and a beautiful one!) for this festival. The activities includes a wide variety of fun—such as a Baby and Johnny Look Alike Contest, and a “Lake Lift” Contest where contestants try the famous lift in the movie!

The Festival also helps and highlights the fight against pancreatic cancer, which is the illness that took Patrick Swayze’s life. For more info: dirtydancingfestival.com or info@dirtydancingfestival.com.

The Salsa teachers who are preparing the choreographies are Chae Reid, Ashu Mola, and Barbara Bernstein. Friends and collaborators, they all have enjoyed adapting dance moves to create their original choreographies.

For more information about these Salsa teachers, all of whom specialize in Cuban Salsa, visit their online pages:
Chae: www.movingrhythmsllc.com
Ashu: www.facebook.com/amsalsadance
Barb: www.DanceInTime.com