Bali Salsa - Part 4

Now... Lembongan Island and a private beach... lots of sizzling hot photos...

Very flavourful... very... sabor...

Our fashon models... Tsu Yee, Adele and Cecilia.

Ooo la la........... (drooling)

Here's Nestor and Lidia getting ready for a bachata workshop. Mr Popeye here is flexing his muscles for some dips and nice partnerwork with Ms Angel-Drop-From-Heaven.

The bachata workshop... can see the sun is so hot everyone is hiding under the shade of the trees. Nestor ended the workshop in a bachata train and led everyone into the pool.

Everyone practically jumped in, train formation, in whatever they were wearing. I was quick enough to discard my camera and watch before jumping in... James jumped in with his wallet... James, next time don't get over excited.

The Malaysian gang lepaking by the beach... the Malaysian way; out of the sun. Away from the heat. I think no Malaysian got a tan at all... I tried to get one but didn't really succeed.

Hey James, nice uh... souvenior necklace... where did you buy that from? Its very... Balinese...

Me and Shankar posing by the beach... damn... need to work out more.

The beach was so hot you could cook an egg if you cracked the egg and left it on the sand. Sizzling hot... reminds me of an old Pepsi or Coca Cola advert more than 15 years ago...

Sexy people at the sexy beach... Adele, Shankar, Tsu Yee, Jaxen and Murni.

Gonna have more bikini pics on this blog... mmm mmm mmm...

The photo is a bit dark but can see that we have Jaxen, Vali, Murni, Adele, Shankar and Tsu Yee.

Everyone had to hide in the shade to pose for photos coz the sun was so searing hot (but I still cannot get a tan).

Sexy salseras in bikinis... mm mm mmmmmm....

Truly a paradise island...

Can't wait for MSF in July 2009 Cherating...

Me and Lidia... she's super hot, super friendly, super nice and a super good dancer. I always have a lot of fun dancing with her, be it salsa or bachata. There's so much fun play in salsa and in bachata I can do a lot of Zouk-like movements and she can follow it all.

Ms Adele with a nice, sexy bikini pose with water flowing down over her... Adele... real hot!!! Should send this to Inaki... hehehe!!!

Shankar posing by the pool... he is poised to become RI's salsa underware model.

And here is James and Lin... James is poised to become RI's salsa idol and Lin our Malaysian salsa ambassador, bringing the Malaysian name to the international arena.

Thanks for everything you have done for Malaysia!

And here's Nicole again without her hair in her face with a sexy pose. Damn! Got a pillar blocking her.

Lookit this! Its Oliver Pineda! He was taking a nap on the hammock when several thugs (comprising of Csaba, Shankar, Kevin and James) caught him and threw him into the pool.

Lin, Shankar and James on a mini surf board... I've got a nice photo of myself on one too but I don't have it here so will post it up in a later blog.

It was a damn fun day at the island, courtesy of Linline Salsa Holidays who arranged everything.

Lunch was good... they served satay babi!!! Yummy!!!

The banana boat ride there was lousy... you can't tip over and fall off so it's kinda meaningless. Snorkeling was limited to a certain area but with me not being able to swim, I avoided this activity altogether.

The only beach activity I did was standing in the hot sun trying to get a tan, shooting photos, hiding in the shade watching people go about at the beach... oh, and Shankar and me throwing Tsu Yee into the sea... three time... in a row.

Lemme look for that photo and see if I can get it uploaded.

More coming soon...

Bali Salsa - Part 3

After an intensive full day of workshops, tech rehearsals and 21 performances on Sat night and a full blown party at Sector, its all about unwinding and relaxing on Sunday.

Best part is, we partied until 2am and had to wake up around 7.30am to get ready for the Sunday event. It was a day cruise to Lembongan Island for relaxation on a private beach! Yes!!!

Sun, sand, sea, salsa!!!

Boobs, bums, bikinis, bachata!!!

Hehehehe!!!

A long bus ride to the jetty where we cam whored...

Jaxen, Cecilia, Tsu Yee and James holding onto Inaki Fernandez who so casually jumped into the photo shoot and I guess he's as much a cam whore as all of us...

And we're as much a bachata crazy bunch as he is...

Adele was holding the camera, I think...

Of course, I went and got a photo shoot with Oliver Pineda, 5 times World Salsa Champion and a damn good Zouk dancer. He and Vali are the ones responsible for teaching Cecilia and me how to dance Zouk.

While people like me go after Inaki (my bachata idol) and Oliver (my salsa idol), the ladies naturally went for Suzana Montero. Here you have Suzana, Cecilia, Adele and Rose. Don't the ladies look very Balinese in their attire?

Don't ask me what's going on here. It's not what you think. Me and Thiru are straight guys.

If you want more provocative (and scandalous) photos, go to Facebook and look for Senor Juez Swamigee, James Q and also Rose Zurina... they have a huge gallery of photos from the Bali Fiesta.

Me and my honey bunny Kak Ina on the cruise ship...

Me, Kak Ina and Gupson. He had to bend down coz if he stood, the camera could only capture his body and he would be headless in this photo.

And the lovely Nicole... her hair is always covering her face... most photos I have with her I could hardly see her whole face... except... hmm... think I have one whereby her whole face was revealed...

Ooh... like my tatoo? Looks cool, huh? Best thing about being in Bali is that you can walk around with that and its normal. Try that in Malaysia and the police would've stopped me and asked for my I/C.

Cecilia and James Q; James need to get another of the MSF shirt from Lin, this one is a little too worn out already.

And doesn't Cecilia look lovely in orange? Hehe... of coz I have to say that... if not I will get into trouble...

Me and giant man Kevin... he's actually very tall. He was nice enough to lower his height to shoot this photo with me and make me feel tall.

Thanks Kev!

And congratulations on your proposal to Chelsea!

So romantic...

Me and my beauties... hehehe~!!! Dato Arif and Othman's wives... still as strong in salsa no matter the years that they have. All of us should take examples from them that you can still salsa no matter you are married, of age or even after birth.

Look at them, still so sizzling hot!

Wow! A bunch of lovely salseras cruising by the waters of Bali with wind blowing in their hair and the sound of salsa music ringing in the air.

Truly, this is paradise...

And here's me and Anup... also a bachata expert well known for his bachata body movements and unique style of leading.

So many good and fun times on the way to Lembongan... stay tuned for the Lembongan Island pics!

Bali Salsa - Part 2

The salsa band in Obsession.

Salseros chilling out at Obsession.

Now, the Salsa Fiesta only started officially on 6th March which was a Friday. So all of the participants were there by then. When Inaki Fernandez, UK's King of Bachata walked in... this is what all the girls did...

Well, its Inaki... he is the one who shaped UK's bachata scene with his unique style of bachata which we here at Malaysia (and also some other parts of the world) fondly call as Inakichata. He is currently attached to UK's Latin Dance Academy, owned by Suzana Montero and Super Mario (not the Nintendo game character but the Million Moves Man).

Ok... I have the same reaction as the ladies.

But it was Suzana Montero who shaped my dance life. She taught and inspired me to move my body and it was also her who showed me what the Inaki style bachata was like.

I danced with her and she was so happy that I could dance like Inaki and her comment was that my lead was good.

With those words coming from someone like her, it meant a lot to me.

At night, we had a party at Wina Holiday Villa (which was the official event hotel we stayed in). A huge marquee/tent was erected and we danced to the open air. Despite the ventilation, the weather was still so humid even at midnight that sweat never stopped rolling down my head.

Tsu Yee, James, Cecilia, Jaxen and Adele... all wet and still sober, all high from dancing and partying. Every night was just sheer fun to be spent with your friends and also strangers who seemed to be closer to you as a friends than you'd ever expect.

We had a full day of workshops on Saturday at Wina. There was a morning samba by Gupson, and then in the afternoon I missed 2 workshops due to the tech rehearsals at Sector Club which I had to attend. I missed Anup's Stealing & Hijacking Workshop as well as Nestor/Lidia's Partnerwork Workshop.

I managed to catch Nestor/Lidia's Shine Workshop and also Vali/Oliver's Zouk Workshop. I had to sacrifice Inaki/Suzana's bachata for Zouk but it was definately worth it! Zouk was so nice...

I missed Gupson's Tricky Turn Pattern Workshop as I was too tired and needed the time to prepare for the performance that night.

Here's a photo of me, Nestor Manuelian, Cecilia and Lidia McMahon. Nestor and Lidia are from Modus Vivendi Productions Australia. Nestor is also the one organizing the Sydney Bachata Festival. This nice man has helped me alot in shaping some of my salsa as well as bachata skills.

Me and Cecilia will be performing at the Sydney Bachata Festival end April 2009 and I will also be conducting a workshop there. wish me luck!

All performance was at Sector Club. There were 21 performances. I was number 14. What a good number... The Indonesian performers were great. They had some of the best performances I have ever seen and some of their rueda team really gave new meaning to the term rueda. Their performances was superb! I believe Malaysia have a lot to learn from them. Top of the Indonesian performers was Reyno and his Salsa Fresca team. They did a total of 4 performances!

Suzana and Inaki did their bachata routine and Nestor and Lidia had a new bachata routine. I was quite nervous performing another bachata routine in front of these bachata masters but as the sole representative from Malaysia, I am glad to say Cecilia and me did Malaysia proud. Nestor and Lidia liked the routine and they hope I can bring that to Australia. Suzana also gave good reviews and all around the others also gave me a good pat on the back.

Other notable performances were from Nestor and Lidia's salsa performance as well as Suzana and Inaki's salsa performance. Suzana and Inaki's shines were really quite different from the usual shines I see performers do. Csaba and Vali from Latin Motion Australia did a good salsa routine.

One of the best was actually Oliver Pineda from Latin Motion. The 5 times World Salsa Champion did a solo shine which was simply incredible! His movements were so in tuned with the song that you could feel his every move. And Oliver also did a Zouk routine with Vali. It was a Latin Motion student choreography that they used but it really felt like an advanced choreography. It was so beautiful.

Now I can't remember anything else but that...

Bali Salsa - Part 1

Now, Bali... where to start blogging about it?

Well, in no chronological order or any order of importance, here's a glimpse of Rhythm Identity's trip to Salsa Fiesta de Indonesia - Bali 2009.

Cecilia, James and me (Jaxen, of coz) went for this holiday salsa event. Adele came about a day or two later but she was there as a ground crew. Shankar also came and he was the head ground crew there. I guess these were the only RI people around. The rest were friends we made when we where there, friends we met from before and friends from around the world.

I don't blog well so this blog might look messy...

Here we have Cecilia and Ani next to a fertility statue in Bali... can see that they are very exited at it.

There's a photo of me and James next to it but being guys, I'll just skip that photo and move onto something else more interesting. What's so nice about guys being next to a giant p***s?

There's so many more things nice about Bali and the Salsa Fiesta here. And a lot of photos of the time we spent here! This photo is Day 1, btw. Well, Day 2 actually... we arrived Night 1 and the rain was so bad the flood was knee high. Funny thing is the flood subsided as fast as it came. And I still don't know how the cars drive around in such flood!

We stayed at Harris in Kuta, a nice hotel with modern architecture and a cozy feel to it. What I liked about this hotel is that they serve gula melaka as brown sugar for your coffee!! Wow! Being coffee lover, this was fantastic!

Now, what would be Bali without a Balinese massage?

Imagine a 1 hour full body massage (with no hanky panky) for below RM15! And the massuers remember you by name!

And one of us in the photo has got an admirer amongst the group of massuers! I wonder if any hanky panky happened behind the closed curtains? Hmm...

Oh... and temporary henna tatoo! We we swarmed by tattooist at the beach. It was near sunset and all of them came up to us offering tattoo service. You really need to bargain for a good price.

James went and got 2 tatoo. I actually wanted only 1 but then I followed suit and got 2 myself! It was just supposed to be 1 but... why not 2? Its Bali anyway... you can walk around with a tatoo and its ok. Try that in Malaysia and the police would very likely stop you and ask for your identification.

Even the girls got a tatoo!

And look at the guy's tatoo!

And some salsa dancing at Bahiana in Seminyak. Boy, the Indonesian salseros are good. Most of them seem to be in their intermediate level... and I mean high intermediate level and all the girls can do their ladies styling with ease. Bahiana has a very nice wooden floor... only problem was that the bar was located in the middle of the club. If it was at the side, then the dance floor would've been huge!

Salsa the next night at Obsession... not the bachata by Aventura but the club Obsession World Music. They have a live band... quite a good salsa band. Floor not as nice as Bahiana but was ok to dance on. I hardly danced that night... too crowded. Imagine the crowd you have in Bali... just one small island and there are around 4 salsa clubs! Obsession is just down the road from Bahiana. A 5 min walk maybe?

Was nice to salsa there, a breath of fresh air from the usual Salsa Havana, Aaliyah, etc.

Stay tuned for the next part...

Salsa Bali - Prologue

Well now... Salsa Fiesta de Indonesia - Bali 2009 is over and I am back to reality.

No more sun, sand, sea, salsa all day and all night long. Was a very tiring holiday coz everynight is all about partying non-stop (if one can last that long) and day time is all non-stop activities and workshops and shopping and jumping in the pool and relaxing by the beach trying to get a tan...

It was a great event by Linline Salsa Holidays and here I get to meet all the familiar faces of salseros I knew from around the world stuck together in an island paradise doing what we all love to do; salsa!

Before I get into a long blog about what transpired at the fiesta, I would like to say that it was definately an event not to be missed. To add on, we have the Malaysian Salsa Festival 2009 in Cherating coming end July. Now, this will be very similar (with the exception of shopping) to Bali's event... will be a salsa festival cum vacation. Definately not to be missed.

For anyone reading this, log onto http://www.malaysiansalsafestival.com/2009/ for more info on the upcoming salsa event by Linline.

Now, back to Bali...

I was so honoured and elated to have performed on the same stage with great bachateros such as Inaki Fernandez and Nestor Manuelian. Inaki is the bachata master who revolutionized UK's bachata scene and Nestor is the one responsible for taking Australia's bachata to newer heights as well as organizing the Sydney Bachata Festival (to which me and my partner will have the honour to perform and teach). Both Nestor and Lidia loved our bachata routine and are glad we will be bringing this to Australia. Suzana Montero gave good comments on the performance and when I danced the bachata with her, she was so happy that I could do Inaki's style of bachata. Suzana's comments really made my day and I was so happy that I have succeeded in doing the UK's style of bachata. Dato Arif came up and said it was a good performance; he really felt the romance of the bachata in our performance.

While I do realize that the performance wasn't perfect as there were areas whereby we did mistakes (whoops!) but it was nicely covered up, it was nonetheless a satisfying one and one to remember. It was my partner, Cecilia's first international debut! And in front of so many great bachata masters and also in front of the World Salsa Champion himself!

Nestor and Lidia, thank you for your guidance and kind words that spurred me on in bachata. Suzana and Inaki, thank you for inspiring me to bring my bachata to different levels. My journey in bachata has always been inspired by these few people. And to all those around me who has supported my bachata growth, thank you so much as your passion in bachata has inspired me to try to bring a revolution to Malaysia's bachata so that we may all dance bachata the way we all actually want to dance.

Thank you Lin for giving us such great events. And thank you for all the support you have given me. Can't wait for MSF... but for now its time to concentrate on the Sydney Bachata Festival.

Viva la Bachata!



Jaxen
'Salsa Daddy'

the real me

I was once told if you can walk you can dance , but for me it wasn't a bed of roses as it sounds. it took me a lot of time , patience and passion to get where am i today in the music and creative industry. I started dancing in church, doing the tambourine dance.


what you see in the picture was exactly what i was doing in church exept we all looked different obviously lol. Here is when i really started to like dance BUT it was all ups and downfalls for me as i was a very very very slow dancer. I could never catch up in time . My friends would laugh and make a fool out of me, my teacher would give me warnings like if i could not catch up i will not be able to perform . Because of the lack of patience they had in me and not having the drive to work harder, i had decided to quit WHICH was my biggest mistake, cause now i realise if i just put a little afford in dancing i could have done better . So what if i did not dance well . God never judged did he ? and at the end of the say i was dancing for himand myself not for fame ! BUT that was a long time ago , its all in the past.

I had another passion, the piano. At first i loved it . My parents got me my first piano which looked something like this
i remember it was the day i came back from school when i was standard 2 . the smile on my face was from ear to ear. It was then i started to take it seriously as in taking the exams and moving myself a grade higher every year. As i reach a certain level i begin to take piano playing as a chore i did not enjoy it anymore . i wanted to quit at grade 5 but everyone pushed me to finish it. Today i have my grade 7 which i am happy i have. I could never imagine what happen if i had quit at grade 5 .Today everyone around me has at least a grade 8. Well I guess it was a childhood thing. :)

I stop dance for a very very very long time, in school days i realise i had another talent which was singing. I had neither the voice of Mariah Carey nor Whitney but it was unique i guess so i decided to go into for while as in singing in church and school talent shows and all. I never took singing seriously till today i always thought of it as something i do to pass time and something i am good at moderately. i dance and sing to ease my sorrows. to let out my emotions . i use the dance techniques to capture my heart hardness to make myself feel better. Its like my Drug to release stress i guess. ( Hey ! its a good thing ) i also went into acting for a bit i realize that i could act too ... HEY who cant right . so i joined clubs in schools and a few plays. i did all these to pass my time and since i only had the basic talent i thought to myself HEY improve it ! this even got me a part in gol and gincu a small part but sadly i could not make it for casting because it was during assignments and exams period. BUT hey if there is a will, there is a way other opportunities will come my way it it was meant to be.


college days came along and here i was introduce to PARTS ( performing arts ) here is when i really concentrated on my hip hop and other small small dancers. i went into performing and i did it even to the extend of performing for functions and got paid. HEY it was good pocket money and it really gave me the real exposure of performing . i have to say i learnt alot from my seniors as well who thought me how to dance . here is also where i learnt my belly dancing thanks to CLARE ... muax .... its her to thank for my bootie shaking ability hahahah

i have to say all these dancing has really made me a different person . in a way i learn to appreciate the creative department more. i learn to true meaning of singing , dancing and acting. all these are not just something people do to pass time. YES it may be but to a certain point. I did it because it was a passion that kept me going till today . I gave up here and there BUT hey i am back on track somehow .

NOW i am in the SALSA , BACHATA phase lol . It all begin thanks to Kak Lin who introduced me to the Malaysian Salsa Festival two years ago. This time when i started to help out i was still not into salsa yet. I was like , ok la its a nice dance , nice to watch , but never had any intensions to learn even though i loved dance. i did learn the bachata from Nestor that year and BOY it was a good dance. he thought me the basics of it. i was thinking to myself i never knew anything about bachata but if he can make me dance like that HELL i want to learn. Then the second year of MSF came along here i saw SUSANA MONTERO AND INAKI


both queen of slasa and prince of bachata :) Here is when i put my foot down and said AFTER THIS the first thing i am going to do is LEARN SALSA . came back from MSF i got hold of shankar and said i wana learn where can i learn ? this was when he introduced me to rhythm identity run by Jaxen . I am now already at stage 5 ? after going through a very very stresful test ? LOL than god i pass . and i have james to thank for that too, in salsa . at first it was fun and easy but not anymore. i guess nothing is in life we just have to work hard to get what we want. Being hard is a phase that we all have to learn from once conquered we can do anything i guess :)

my salsa and bacahata experience learning has been really awesome. adding to that i have met wonderful friends too :) you know who you are muahahaha i think i am going to miss all you guys so much when i go to australia in a few months time ( Tears ) :(

to sum it all up i guess what i wanted to say is eventhough i had the passion for dance since the age of 5 i had to go through ups and downs so much so that some of it i think i dont even deserve to go through but then What can i say exept that i am here today, a moderately good dancer :) ( smacks) and a fast learner ... to a certain point la ..... hahahaha . i have always wanted to quit as things got harder but ,my passion for it made me stay on . sometimes i think what good does this all do for me. what benefit do i get from all of these aexept burning my money to learn learn and learn learn BUT hey now i think of it i HAVE no regret . i have built my character and most important my posture has been change lol ;) trust me. i dont hunch and slout anymore ?? haha i have met wonderful people along the way , good friends in fact :)
life has never been better

J.U.S.T. D.A.N.C.E. !!
viva la salsa
viva la bachata too :)

delmissacent

Bachata Update: Juan Ruiz

Final confirmation is done!

Juan Ruiz, the man responsible for bringing bachata into Australia is coming to Malaysia! And Rhythm Identity will be bringing him in for a Bachata Revolution in Malaysia with workshops, demo performance and parties!

Imagine bachata in all its form and glory!

Traditional Bachata and the fusion of bachata with zouk, kizomba, tango and other latin rhythms as well as body movements that make bachata the sensual dance we all know and have grown to love will be in Malaysia full bloom!

If Juan Ruiz can make Australia into a bachata powerhouse, imagine what his presence can do in Malaysia. Bachateros in Malaysia will never be the same again.

Viva la Bachata!


Jaxen
'Salsa Daddy'

I am Sorry!

Dear RI family members,

I would like to make an official apology to all of you for my behavior in the past few month. I was difficult to handle and was not helping out much with the negative attitude i was carrying. Recently my ego got the better of me as was mentioned by some that I dance only to please myself and the lady does not enjoys it.

Sincerest Apology to: -

Jackson : At times I am difficult and most times I'm just stubborn. I will consciously stop doing that or at best reduce it to a minimal. Yes the dark side has a hold on me but I have shook it off.

Joyce : Thank you for pointing out my flaws. I will be open to accept advise and not react negatively.

Adele and Miki : Thanks for being patience with me in class and willing to discuss what I've been doing wrong.

To the rest of the members of the RI family. I may seem mean at times during class but if it gets to you please do tell me so that I can change.

Asking forgiveness,
James

Bachata Bachata Bachata

2009 is set to be a year of bachata for Rhythm Identity.

First off, the Bachata Revolution Workshop by Rhythm Identity in early Feb was a great success. My thanks to all those involved in making it a success and also to those who came and supported the workshop. I hoped everyone learned something useful that they can apply on the dance floor.

The bachata fusion styles will soon see a new intake in the weekly classes by Rhythm Identity. This will feature the Traditional Bachata, BachaZouk, the Inakichata and a bit of BachaTango in its syllabus.

Up in the pipeline is Rhythm Identity's international bachata debut at the Salsa Fiesta de Indonesia in Bali. So far, Rhythm Identity's bachata has made waves around Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, soon it will hit out of Malaysia. The bachata performance at Bali will be a great success for Rhythm Identity as it will be performed in front of great bachateros such as Nestor Manuelian and Inaki Fernandez.

Rhythm Identity's bachata will also showcase in states like Johor in the upcoming Salsa Party in Johor organized by Linline. There are also talks of Rhythm Identity's bachata going to places like Penang.

In Kuantan, it has already started with Rhythm Identity's Kuantan lead instructor Joyce who will be conducting a workshop there end Feb.

We will also see Rhythm Identity's showcase at the Sydney Bachata Festival in April. Not only will it be a performance, but Rhythm Identity was also invited to teach at this prestigious international event! This will really be a huge success for Rhythm Identity's bachata!

Then we have the Malaysian Salsa Festival, this time in Cherating! Rhythm Identity will also be performing a bachata routine there and everyone is invited to join in the performance group!

After the MSF, well... its not yet confirmed but we may have an international instructor coming to town to teach everyone bachata! More on this soon... all from Rhythm Identity, your salsa and bachata dance school!

The only sad part is that Rhythm Identity was invited to compete in the Bachata Competition in Singapore but had to decline as we are preparing for the Salsa Competition in Malaysia. Both are due in the same period.

There will also be more bachata events happening soon and Rhythm Identity will be there supporting all bachata events strongly! We hope that all of you out there will do the same.

Viva la Bachata!


Jaxen
'Salsa Daddy'

Suspense...

2009 seems set to be a year for bachata...

I can't contain the excitement I have inside of me on whats upcoming for Rhythm Identity and bachata in Malaysia.

But... some things are best kept secret until the right time.

Sorry, just to suspense everyone.

Hahaha!

More updates in this blog soon...

I am online!!!

well I just can't think of a proper title for this. So EXCITED..WOO HOO!!!!!....go check out

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and search for Great MultiCash

and

http://www.lifeisgreat.com.my/lig4/newlig/products/products_health.htm
, search for SMART MEDIC

A great night out at Club 9 and The SiX Lounge

Now Tuesdays has another place for us to dance and it was the greatest. As I was a clubber it was home to me. The lighting, the atmosphere, everything. IT'S A CLUB but it play Salsa n Bachata songs. OMG i can't believe myself last night, I did so many continuous combinations and made up some as I went that I just didn't know how tired I was until I woke up this morning.

Guys & Gals. Do come out and dance it's GREAT!!!! WOO HOO!!!! now can't wait to go Aliyaa after class..WAKAKAKAKAKA

Happy CNY

Gong Xi Salsa and Salsa Fatt Choy!

What a salsauspicious event and here's wishing everyone a salsalicious and salsarific holiday! Get lots of fiery red ang pows and win lots of money and have a salsaful time with your family and friends!

Watch the lion bachata dance and hear the drum beats of the conga and when the clave strikes and the rhythm flows, go around and wish everyone a fantastic Lunar New Year! Wear your new dance shoes and new clothes and go house to house visiting and spread the love and joy of salsa and bachata! Make sure you get your ang pows as you go around.

As the firecrackers go off, don't forget to do the merengue to its beats (especially when the firecrackers go off right next to your feet). Make sure you Lou Sang but this time use salsa sauce and enjoy your sal(sa)mon fish with the crackers and vege and what not that people put in the Yee Sang.

Happy Chinese New Year to everyone!


Jaxen
"Salsa Daddy"

Woo Hoo...We are going international

Guys....Great news, remember those T Shirts that Jackson and the rest of us wear that has the Feel the Rhythm or the Bachata T Shirt...well I got orders from Singapore and US...wakakakaka...we are really going global with this. Would like to ask for your help in coming up with more attractive "Statements" "Taglines" or wordings that we can use. Check on Rhythm Identity's FB page for the pics of designs there that you can also place orders ;)
do let me know and do spread the word that we have T Shirts for sale ;)

OMG....Test!!!!

Finally it's over but now starts the hard work to improve myself. All of you would say I will pass for sure but then I know myself. There are still thing i need to work on, timing, precision of the execution of my steps. There are times when I do wrong I don't know cos I've been so used to doing it the wrong way and to catch myself from not repeating that mistake is hard. It's not longer about just dancing nowadays, it's about dancing it well.

Great work to all of you RIers as you all did give you best to the test even though you are unsure about some of your steps.

Keep improving Keep Dancing Keep that Salsa and BachaZouk Passion burning strong.

Life is about expression and Dancing is the ultimate expression mankind has created. To Dance is to LIVE!!
Viva La Salsa!
Viva La BachaZouk!
Viva La Ritmo Indentitio!

The Salsa Sotong :P

Salsa Story

2009 seems to be an eventful year... for me anyways... in salsa.

Going for Salsa Fiesta de Indonesia - Bali in March, Sydney Bachata Festival in April, maybe going to drop by the World Latin Salsa Congress in May and finally there's the Malaysian Salsa Festival now confirmed in July.

And I just heard there will be a salsa compettition this year in May. Cool!

Of course that means I have to send all my sheeps to the slaughter... hahaha! Well, its not that bad. RI's salsa students may be new but I believe they will have the same amount of passion and dedication, commitment and resolution, determination and diligence as their instructor had during his compettition and salsa-schooling days.

For those who recently started salsa or has been learning for less than a year and are worried about joining the compettition, let me tell you a story of how there is this one guy I know who had similar experience such as you all.

This guy practically attended only 3 months of salsa class, never went for social dance (coz he did not know where to go), stopped salsa for nearly 2 years, then went for a 5 days beginner workshop and he ended up 1st runner-up for a salsa compettition 1 month later. Believe me, his salsa experience is even less than any student in RI right now who has gone up to Beginners 3.

Now, that's beating the odds.

Then after less than 1 year (read the words properly... less than a year) later, this guy joined another salsa compettition. Being still quite new and not confident enough yet, he went for the Amateur category which was the lowest level in salsa. Somehow or rather, he got pushed up to the Open/Professional category which was the highest level in salsa.

Being the underdog and the most inexperienced of the competing lot, he worked hard and strived to excel. He sacrificed much for the art of salsa. Finally, after a gruelling (and I mean gruelling) period, he emerged victorious over his peers and won the championship title.

Seems like a story from a movie? Its real.

So if you think you don't stand a chance in the compettition, think again. But if you don't work hard for it, then you're right. You don't stand a chance. Nothing comes easy and nothing comes free. There's a price to pay for it. But what you get in return is worth more than anything you can ever imagine.

It all seems like a fairytale or some stories from a movie. Except that this time, you're the star.

Aim for the Oscar.



Jaxen
"Salsa Daddy"

Resolutions and Achievements - James's

Since Jackson has started might as well get the ball rolling. I have done tings I neer though of doing or seeing myself dared to do in such a short time frame. Hope I don't disappoint anyone too much especially myself. These are mainly RI oriented goals not a wholistic view of what I want to do or what I've really done. Some of you know my heart's desire and some of you might think you know. So let's just keep it that way. :D

Resolutions
To be able to be an additional Assistant Instructor to RI
To be able to execute more complicated steps when dancing Salsa
Be a good lead in both Salsa and BachaZouk
To be able to perform BachaZouk and Salsa
To find a dance partner for performances
Get more students to come for RI Classes
Get RI Juniors to dance on the dance floor and not just in class
To be able to launch a Salsa and Bachata Dance Competition (of course this is working with Jackson)
To bring RI BachaZouk style to a whole different level of Bachata in Malaysia
Want to learn Kizomba (to Jackson's dismay haha)

Achievements
Started learning Salsa (3 years too early)
Got a Face Talent job instead of a Voice Over Talent job (hahaha)
Got recognized as being a good Bachata dancer by some ladies and men (hehe. I'm not being ego ere)
Got more students coming to RI Classes (Yeah!! :D)
Became a Manager before 30 years old (Thanks SD hahaha bet you never knew this one. :D)
Was able to do some ladies steps on the dance floor and being led by LADIES, although dun really follow well :(

Hope you guys will continue to work on your 1 2 3 5 6 7 as it's fun and it's an expression of your inner feeling relecting the music that is being played. So what if your steps are wrong or that your timing is out. Keep dancing, you will get it sooner then you think.

"Dancing - The Vertical Expression of a Horizontal Desire"
James the Salsa Sotong (to some) the Bachata Lady Killer (to others) hahaha

Happy New Year to all may this year be filled with happiness abound and success a plentyfull.

Resolutions and Achievements

Goodbye 2008...

Hello 2009!!!

Any new year's resolution? Ever pondered what are your achievements in 2008? Or what you plan to achieve in 2009?

For Rhythm Id babies, I hope you will all continue actively in the salsa scene and make it happening! Much can be done in 2009 and much of what should be done in 2008 was not done. Time to make what was not done into done and be done with it.

What are your 2008 achievements? What are your 2009 resolutions? Let's share them here with each other. And let each of us help each other achieve our resolutions together. Being humans, we are lazy and stubborn, etc... so we need friends and families to help us achieve our resolutions. So let's share...

Jaxen's 2008 Salsa Achievements
1) Creation of BachaZouk and learning the "Inakichata"
2) Performing at the Malaysian Salsa Festival
3) Forming of Salsa X Productions performance team
4) Launching of weekly bachata classes
5) Invitation to perform at the 2009 Sydney Bachata Festival
6) Performing at the Salsa Fiesta de Indonesia - Bali
7) Choreographed and performed 4 different salsa routines
8) Choreographed and performed to Te Quedas Te Vas (my fav bachata song)
9) Started the Rhythm Id Instructor Training
10) Finding my dance partner and "Treasurer"

Jaxen's 2009 Salsa Resolution
1) Actually perform at the 2009 Sydney Bachata Festival
2) Perform new routine at the Salsa Fiesta de Indonesia - Bali 2009
3) Perform at the Malaysian Salsa Festival (if so lucky to have it in 2009)
4) Debut performance of Salsa X Productions performance team
5) Intro BachaZouk to Malaysia and Rhythm Id as top bachata specialist
6) Rhythm Id roster of instructors to start teaching
7) Come up with Bachata Project Team
8) To get Rhythm Id students on the dance floor and start dancing every week
9) Pioneer Zouk into Malaysia
10) Upgrade Rhythm Id students into performers and asst instructors

Tough year ahead but impossible is nothing. Help me make it happen and let us all help you to make yours happen.

Viva la salsa!
Viva la bachata!!
Viva la Rhythm Identity!!!


Jaxen
"Salsa Daddy"