A year will pass quickly and soon you’ll be back to the Caribbean DanceSport Classic, but you will always hold this beautiful time in your heart and in your soul, because you are now Borincuas at heart.
Getting to the “Enchanted” island it is not an easy task, usually two sometimes three flights are require, but it was all quite worth it. The welcome dinner and cocktail party at the Sheraton pool area was a feast of good local foods and dancing. Here the cha cha, the salsa, foxtrot or swing are never out of place under the beautiful Puerto Rican Stars and the cool temperatures being brough by the Atlantic ocean.
A stroll to the T-Mobile entertainment center was very appropriate to see the residents of San Juan dress their best for this Halloween night of costume and fun.
The next morning “La Vida Loca” continued with a trip to one of the most beautiful locations “Kikita” - a beautiful restaurant encrusted within the hills facing the sea. The views once you entered were amazing from all sides, breathtaking even.
We were served a wonderful lunch and during the intermission we were taught about the dances of the land - “La Bomba” the official folkloric dance of Puerto Rico that was brought to the enchanted island by the slaves. We also learned “La Plena” a dance derived from La Bomba. During this learning process we all danced and cheered until it was time to go back and eat our main course. The trip back to the hotel was noticeably quieter with many sleeping or just gazing at the distant mountains.
Now at the Sheraton we realized that within a few hours the Nightclub session would begin. The theme, “Angels & Demons.” From start to finish the beautiful setting of the “Mirador” in ohe 12th floor of the Sheraton was filled with people, most of them in costume. The host, Didio Barrera aka “Maleficent (Mistress Of evil) and her companion the evil “Horned Matador” made sure everyone surrendered themselves to the theme and the night. There were quite a few hours of competition, but in the end the Nightclub scholarships were danced. With horns still up Maleficent grave a handful of earth from a flowerpot nearby and she raised it to the ceiling saying, “Tomorrow will be another day!”
It was a late finish for some of the nightclub fans, but the Smooth portion of the competition started bright and early around 8:00AM and there were plenty of smoothies around. Many of the competitors were of great quality and so it was a fabulous day to watch for the island people that came to see.
Later in the day, after dinner at the “Mirador” overlooking a stunning view, we headed back to the ballroom where the Latin section for the Pro/Am competition began. At some point in the middle “Bomba” was played and the organizer Mr. Barrera dressed with a hoodie did a little dance while a cake was brought out for the one and only Mr. Forrest Vance who was celebrating his 40…ish, birthday and then the competition was sent on its way.
“The Rhythm was going to get us……” the next day and we were all ready for it. The Pro/Am Rhythm events were opened by Eddie Falciano and his two partners (Ksenia Sokolover & Nicole Prosser) doing “Cuban Peat.” What a treat this was and he certainly was rewarded every time he danced with his two lady partners. The Rhythm competitions were also quite heavily populated and we had to get it done before 5pm, because the evening party was just about to begin.
It started with a dinner at the Mirador featuring wonderful ceviche and shrimp appetizers followed by a varied dinner items. Jerry LeNoir sang his wonderful selection of dance favorites for entertainment during the meal. (Click Here to see a video) But this was interrupted by the band that began to play by the pool as one made it down to the pool where refreshing Mojitos were waiting for us - plain or passion fruit. By the time everyone was down from the “Mirador” the salsa dance teacher was in full swing and nearly everyone joined in. The “teacher” soon realized he was not dealing with 2 left feet, so he proceeded to do a number of dances starting with merengue, then bachata and last at the request of Mr. Barrera his dance of choice from Colombia, “La Cumbia” the “Poyera” was played and everyone danced it until the finish. (Click Here to see a video)
Plenty of “mojitos” were served this evening making a little shortage of mint for the next two days and the people danced and partied and drank until late hours. Once again we congratulated Mr. Vance on his 40ish… birthday and I even think I saw him have one mojito or two??? that night! For those of you that do not know Mr. Vance he does not drink so he went right to bed - no after party for him this evening. The after parties DJ’ed by Chris Johnston and with bartender Matt Sturtyvent, were always fun to go to with pizza being served for those night cravings after a long day of competition and dancing.
Next morning we were all back to the ballroom for the Ballroom Pro/Am events and the children’s competition that had some of the judges quite “Verklemt.” The children of Puerto Rico love to dance. They did the cha cha, swing, and salsa in all divisions and all categories. The Junior and Youth had close to thirty solo dancers, so a quarter-final had to be called. The congested energy these kids brought to the ballroom was like no other, they cheered for their friends and cheered for the Pro/Am ballroom competitors.
Gala San Juan that same evening was a tremendous success with over 150 people served dinner and another 150 spectators in the room when all the dancers took to the floor. The room explored with excitement. The top school and top teacher prize money was awarded and everyone had a wonderful night of show dance and fun atmosphere.
Many people opted to go out on the town to some to the best salsa places - La Factoria or to the El San Juan hotel even though many came back to the “Factoria” a little disappointed with the rules and regulations of the new Fairmont Hotel.
We were quite lucky that for the last outing of The “La Vida Loca” we decided to go to “Wicked Lilly” where we had a lovely brunch followed by a drag show and then the beach with plenty of drinks, water, umbrellas and towels provided.
Many people stayed for an extra hour of fun, others came to the Sheraton pool to get rid of the salt and enjoy some more fun in the amazing and inviting pool of the Sheraton Hotel. And soon it was time for dinner and dancing.
The “Fogo the Chao” in Condado is always and amazing location for the dinner dance. It sits facing the lake and so it is always cool and we can literally eat, drink and dance until we drop. Many came back to the hotel for some casino action and some salsa dancing but with this the dancers were full of excitement but a little saddened that we must leave this enchanted island of Puerto Rico the next day.
At T-Mobile Center
At T-Mobile Center
At T-Mobile Center
At T-Mobile Center
The T-Mobile Center
The T-Mobile Center
Nighclub Night on the rooftop
Nighclub Night on the rooftop
Officials and competitors
Officials and competitors
The Horned Matador
The Horned Matador
Gala San Juan
Gala San Juan
Gala San Juan
Gala San Juan
Gala San Juan
Gala San Juan
Gala San Juan
Gala San Juan
Gala San Juan
Gala San Juan
