Mild, medium or hot - salsa is a sauce of many flavors. But salsa is also music and dance and when salsa dancers gather, at La Luna Dance Studio in Bensalem, their flavor is always spicy.
Upbeat music, festive party lights, high-energy dancing, and lots of friendly smiles - these alone are enough to make anyone fall in love with the hot flavor of salsa at La Luna.
But as if the dance center's festive biweekly salsa parties were not enough, La Luna is offering a treat tonight that will add extra spice to the usual fun - the Fourth Annual Philadelphia All Stars Salsa Party.
Eleven of the best salsa instructors in this region, well-known dancers from Pennsauken to Bensalem to North Philadelphia, will gather to showcase their skills in a collective performance. With the help of two guest instructors from Los Angeles - Karla and Al "Liquid Silver" Espinoza - the group will choreograph and perform a must-see salsa composition.
Salsa, a dance style of Latin origin, is usually a partner dance. Sonya Elmore, artistic director and co-owner of La Luna Dance Studio, created the All Stars performance.
"All these teachers in Philadelphia always fight for students," said co-owner Ryan Elmore. "Four years ago, Sonya said, 'This is stupid,' and created an opportunity for everyone to dance together."
Susan Fanning, 51, a veteran La Luna salsa student, has attended all of the previous All Stars parties. "It's fabulous," she says. "It's like an onstage production. They do things I've never seen in my life."
Last year, the Espinozas choreographed the All Stars performance for the first time. The couple return to dance tonight and again on Saturday morning to help teach the community workshops.
Raul Santiago Jr., of Visual Impact Dance Co. in North Philadelphia, is one of the instructors who participated in the dance show last year.
"It's a way for everybody to come together and learn from each other," Santiago said. "There is always space for learning."
And learning is what dancers do at La Luna year-round.
When the party lights turn off, La Luna's large ballroom transforms into four mirror-walled classrooms. The center offers small group dance classes in various styles in these rooms. With training levels extending from beginner to advanced, experienced and enthusiastic instructors offer dance lessons daily.
But what of those who would like to learn to salsa, but don't have time for daily lessons? La Luna offers preparty group lessons every Friday - salsa every second and fourth Friday of the month, and ballroom every first and third. Learn the moves, then show them off.
"Learning to become a better dancer shouldn't be a chore. It should be fun, exciting, rewarding, but most of all, easy," the La Luna owners say on their Web site. Apparently this philosophy works; it attracts students from all over.
Fanning, a public relations director from Cream Ridge, N.J., comes to the studio four times a week for lessons and never misses a Friday-night party.
"It's a good hour's drive, but it's worth every minute of my time," she says.
"I've been coming here since Sonya opened it four years ago. I've learned so much here," she adds.
Fanning speaks of La Luna as her family; she loves meeting new people who share her passion for dance.
Students of Atrium Dance Studio in Pennsauken hit the floor at one of La Luna's parties this month. Their salsa performance had the crowd cheering and clapping to the music. "It's a shared experience," said Charlotte Serrano, one of the instructors from Atrium.
So, whether you are an experienced dancer or just a beginner, tonight you can head to La Luna for a taste of some extra-hot salsa.
Everybody Salsa!
The Fourth Annual Philadelphia All Stars Salsa Party and Workshop will be presented this weekend at La Luna Dance Studio, 4610 Bensalem Blvd., Bensalem.
Tonight: 8:30-9 dinner buffet; 9 p.m. salsa lesson followed by an All Stars Show and a Salsa Show. Among the scheduled dancers: Mike Andino, Barbara Capaldi, Victor Colon, Kathleen Eccleston, Sonya Elmore, Joe Figueroa, Darlin Garcia, Jose Maldonado, Jessica Moya, Amber Rawls and Raul Santiago. Admission: $12 (lesson and dinner included).
Saturday: 9 a.m. Five hours of workshops with guest instructors, Al "Liquid Silver" Espinoza and Karla Espinoza of Los Angeles (no partner needed). Admission: $80 (lunch and T-shirt included).
Information: 215-638-0418 or lalunadancestudio.com.
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