Salsa : How I got hooked, and how you can join the dark side.
In November, I had one of the most fun photography assignments I ever had since I started shooting.
The Salsa Cruise involved people, it involved a lot of females (definitely), and it involved a lot of body movement. None of which I was too interested in initially, so as I told many people, I ventured into it purely as a photographer. According to TimLow, he was looking for someone who was good at capturing emotions.
I think that maybe I should have warned him beforehand that the emotion that I capture the most was that of MY OWN. I don’t think he would’ve complained though. Camwhoring, after all, is an art ma *crazy laugh*
So, after Day #1 of the Salsa Cruise show at Singapore, came the most exciting part of the journey.
Jordan Frisbee of Jordan & Tatiana.
Kadu Pires & Larissa from Brazil.
It was sail-off day on the Legend of the Seas! Ain’t it grand?
I would have looooved to get a shot while on the pier standing next to the ship for a typical China-man shot but they simply wouldn’t let me get off the boarding passageway. What’s wrong with these security guards? So I could only take a photo of the tugboat instead. Damn.
And this is what you’d see on board. Feast your eyes, people…..
Actually, this is what you get if you board this ship as a regular cruise member.
But what you’re gona see next is what brought the whole thing to life. The Salsa part of the Cruise. Where over 300 guests from all over the world gathered…they came from different origins, practised different cultures, ate different food, but they all spoke one language : Dance.
Honestly, it all came as a shock to me. Here I was, standing with a camera, watching couples who barely knew each other, grinding each others bonbon dancing to music that I can only describe as songs that you hear in the movies. Like the very South American type, eg when James Bond visits Morocco.
I shot and shot like Rambo with an M-16 machinegun. And the more I shot, the happier the faces I got.
This artist Magna Gopal was originally also very happy, until I took such a LOW shot that she thought I was doing an upskirt. Oops..too artistic maybe.
Damn happy right these people! While wondering why…I put some facts together.
I don’t Salsa / Ballroom dance, but I do club. That’s technically dancing right? So because I do not smile as happily as these Salsa people while clubbing, I did some thinking and made this table to see a comparison between Salsa and Clubbing.
| Salsa | Clubbing | |
| Sobreity | 100% Sober or 100% drunk | Must be at least 50% drunk, or body cannot move. |
| Lighting | Any | Must be dark, preferably with laser lights shooting around. |
| Comfort Zone | If you can dance, you can dance with anyone in the club | The moment you speak to that hot chick on the table next door, she’ll think you wana take her home. |
| Skill Required? | Yes. Even basic will do. | None at all. It’s so dark, noone can see even if you dance like Barney the Dinosaur. Everyone else is drunk anyway. |
And get this. A regular Friday night Salsa party in KL costs me RM10 (including a Coke / mineral water). A regular Friday night Clubbing session costs me RM60 at least (assuming I don’t dun run into road blocks that I need to bribe).
Group shot after dinner aboard the ship
Ulysses McLaren and Lidia McMahon
The directors of the cruise were, not surprisingly, awesome people themselves.
TimLow, Audrey, James, Tamie.
Even though I was on board as a photographer, I was allowed to join the dance workshops, as long as I had done my share of shooting.
AT THIS POINT I TENSION LOR.
Part of me wanted to try. And part of me knew that if I did, I would look completely like a fool. And sure enough, I did, when I joined the Bachata workshop under Tony and Daniella.
Had I simply partnered with anyone, it wouldn’t be so bad. But guess who dragged me out to dance with.
It’s Zher from 8TV. And it was caught on tape also! *faints*
The only real consolation was that she was a noob like me. So it was a potato dancing with a potato, and that was still OK. Hehe. The best part is, no one laughed. So FAIL on the dancefloor is allowed! *yes*
The incredible Lidia McMahon that exists only in guys’ wildest dreams.
Salsa, Bachata and Zouk are considered street dances, and are the only dance (as far as I know) that can be brought to parties in clubs. You can’t do that with dances like Tango, Rhumba, Ballroom etc. Salsa is a social dance; a universal language that brings people together.
I must admit that after all these, I found myself very drawn in, and wanted to get involved if I could.
So I’ll share with you on how YOU can get right in. I got this invite from TimLow a few day ago, that I wanna share with y’all:
If you think that you dance like Barney, then this event will be perfect for you. It caters for newbies and experienced dancers alike. Organized by the same people who pulled off the successful Salsa Cruise 2009.
There’s food, dance workshops, games, performances, holidays, up for grabs. For free. And if you’re worried that you don’t know people there, that’s what I’m there for. I’ll make sure you get acquainted in no time 
Once again, here’s details for ya:
Date : 30th January 2010
Time : 12:00pm to 6:00pm
Venue : Kuala Lumpur Dancers Association (KLDA)
Level 2, Indoor Sport Complex (near Hotel Grand Olympic / behind Stadium Negara)
Wisma OCM
Jalan Hang Jebat
50150 Kuala Lumpur
We’ll be waiting for you 
Join the revolution….the Salsa revolution!
Cheers!
EVo
WAH evo, great minds think alike! we blogged about the cruise at the same time!
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euveng Reply:
January 27th, 2010 at 1:11 am
Ya bro. but apparently we have different focus..u focus on ship i focus on salsa. haha…!
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LikeDislikeoh my! hot gals! notty u evo! xD
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euveng Reply:
January 27th, 2010 at 1:12 am
Ash! heyy…where notty la..i’m just doibg my photographer job…shooting them wasn’t my choice..
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LikeDislikewahhhhhh salsaaaa
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euveng Reply:
January 27th, 2010 at 1:13 am
The sauce or the dance?
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LikeDislikeThe pics damn nais lor
and O_o last shot so scandalous, i like HAHA
Damn true about the salsa-clubbing thing,*faints*
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euveng Reply:
January 27th, 2010 at 1:14 am
Oh 10q 10q man. i wish it was scandalous but to be honest she’s someone else’s wife liao. r u sad now?
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LikeDislikeoh ooo mg… im feel like wanna join the dark force…
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euveng Reply:
January 27th, 2010 at 1:15 am
yes join the dark force. come for dance fair on saturday and find out why i’m hooked to salsa now
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LikeDislikegreat great pictures!! looks fun! wish i could be on the cruise too.
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euveng Reply:
January 27th, 2010 at 1:16 am
Heyyyya esty! well if u make it for this saturday’s dance fair u might win some trips. cool?
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Esty Reply:
January 27th, 2010 at 2:09 am
I’ll try my best!
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euveng Reply:
January 27th, 2010 at 12:45 pm
I’ll take that as a ‘yes’!
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LikeDislikehaha. the TO SHIP, KE KAPAL seems funny!
anyway, it looks like you had a fun time! =D
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euveng Reply:
January 27th, 2010 at 1:16 am
Oh i had an awsum time bro. totally unexpected really. so r u coming for this saturday’s dance fair?
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LikeDislikeAwesome article Evo ! You’re the man. I love the way you presented the dance idea to others. How original …..
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euveng Reply:
January 27th, 2010 at 1:17 am
Aw thanks Tim. Just stating facts and feelings bro…see ya there this sat!
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LikeDislike*woots* EV! A bloody ass fantastic post!!!!!!
*woots*
*friday friday friday* lets go and dance the night away~
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euveng Reply:
January 27th, 2010 at 1:18 am
Thanks Eve! u can feel me hor..i put 1000% my hearts feelings into writing this post lol. can’t wait for the weekend…c ya there
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LikeDislikeYour posts are always so interesting !!
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euveng Reply:
January 27th, 2010 at 1:19 am
Well..my posts don’t do salsa justice..it’s much more interesting on the dancefloor
bro come join us on satuday!
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LikeDislikeI must say, you are the best photographer i ever met. Carried your duty so well. Well done!
Like your comparison table .. ha ha ha
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euveng Reply:
January 27th, 2010 at 1:20 am
That’s awesome ethan. your very words inspire me to work harder and dance better! ahaha…see ya at dance fair on sat!
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LikeDislikeLike the pict “Ulysses McLaren and Lidia McMahon” =)
Evo go do this pose with Serena =)
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euveng Reply:
January 27th, 2010 at 1:21 am
Why must ber-pose with gf one meh? wahahahahahahaha….
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Tian Chad Reply:
January 27th, 2010 at 9:41 am
Haha! Not a must, but to prevent jealousy, you know la ;p
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euveng Reply:
January 27th, 2010 at 10:45 am
No worries man..we’ve got ‘understanding’ ady..i can post with u also she won’t mind. ahahaks
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Tian Chad Reply:
January 27th, 2010 at 11:14 am
lol Congratz that you have a stable relationship =)
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LikeDislikehaha, that “artistic” shot you took seemed like really triggered the girl wei. Did she shout at you? =S
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euveng Reply:
February 12th, 2010 at 3:45 pm
Bro! sorry late reply..configuring the blog was quite the headache :/ well she said ‘Hey!!’ but naw wasn’t pissed. it’s all good fun
euveng´s last blog ..ADV : Petrosains Muzika and my homemade music
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LikeDislikeGreat photos EVo! Looks like you had lots of fun
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euveng Reply:
February 12th, 2010 at 3:49 pm
Hey maybee!thanks for dropping by. i did. lots of fun. can’t wait for the next cruise haha. how’s things going with u?
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LikeDislikeWhoaaaaaa awesome!
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euveng Reply:
February 12th, 2010 at 3:50 pm
Thanks dude! it was 5 days of non stop partying weii…can’t wait for the next round
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LikeDislikeHey, I like all the photos posted here and especially the Lidia McMahon one. Wakakkaa…like that the most.
Kevin Cheng´s last blog ..Pre-wedding Photography
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euveng Reply:
February 12th, 2010 at 3:56 pm
Oh, that was just too hot wei. and she’s just so friendly and sweet bro. i can’t wait to see her again.
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LikeDislikeWow, this was a truly quality post. In theory I’d like to write like this too – taking time and actual effort to make a great article… but what can I say… I procrastinate alot and never seem to get something done.
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