Here’s a brief dispatch from the Boston congress after the first night and day of workshops at the Hilton. The opening party last night (Friday) was well attended by local and visiting dancers. Performances were well received, particularly those of Ana & Joel (got a standing ovation), Hips on Fire (nice tricks), Latin Enchantment (Philly/New Jersey), Mambo Dinamico (North Carolina), Mambo Mike (a street bum drowning his sorrows with alcohol and Mambo from Chicago), Piel Canela (New York), and Salseros Unidos (very synchronized and clean number by a large dance group from Philadelphia).
Also good was the dance floor surface and the views of the stage from the seats. The party ended at 3:00 and many people would have liked to continue for another hour.
The workshops started at 10 this morning with two concurrent classes. I was surprised at the turn out at both given the hour and how late the party went the night before. Jayson & Kimberli led a large group through an hour of intermediate footwork, while Dave Paris and Deisree had people executing an up to the shoulder lift and turn in the second room. All the workshops of the day were also very well attended.
The vendors’ tables were busy and they seemed happy with the business they were getting, i.e. they had products people wanted and there were enough attendees to make it worth the vendors’ expense.
Tonight’s party promises to be even bigger and better than last night’s with many out of town performers seen arriving earlier this afternoon. It starts at 9 pm with a short show at 9:30 of participating youth groups and the main show sometime after 11 pm.
Tips for people coming tonight for the first time:
The hotel parking lot (with the $14 congress special) apparently is not very large and filled up early last night. The airport’s central parking while right next to the hotel doesn’t have the reduced rate. A suggestion is to car pool with friends and share the $22 fee for the night at central parking).
Guys, bring a change of shirts and ladies, bring comfortable shoes. While the ballroom is large, air conditioned and there’s lots of water on the sides, people were overheating from continuous dancing.
There are two more nights of the congress and one day of workshops left. If you missed yesterday, call up a friend who went and ask how it was.
SF2