August 19, 2004

By LaReeca Rucker
lrucker@mcherald.com

Michael Grasso/The Herald Dance instructor Mike Day teaches a student the art of salsa while other class members watch. If you go What: Salsa on Sundays When: Sundays from 3-4 p.m. Where: Repeat Performance Dance Studio on Main Street in Madison Fee: $5 per class Information: 956-4138 or 372-5614

Heating up the sultry summer with a Latin-inspired dance that will put a little spice in a typical lazy Sunday.

Dance instructor Mike Day invites the public to "Salsa on Sunday" classes held every Sunday from 3-4 p.m. at Repeat Performance Dance Studio on Main Street in Madison.

A little over a month ago, Day began teaching salsa, a blend of Cuban and Puerto Rican dance that emerged in the 1960s from immigrants in New York.

The name of the dance means "sauce," hence the mixture atop your tortilla chips, but the phrase "echale salsita," a song title from the 1920s affiliated with salsa dancing, means to "put sauce on it" or "heat it up."

"Salsa was something being done on the west coast," said Day, "not in this area."

It has also caught on in Miami, but not in Jackson as of yet, despite its popularity in larger cities.

"Even the Latin clubs here are catering to rap and hip hop because this is their market," Day said.

In an effort to introduce something a little different to the area, Day began teaching beginner and intermediate salsa classes each Sunday for $5 at Repeat Performance. Intermediate classes begin at 4 p.m. immediately following the beginner class.

"Basically, you want to wear something loose enough that you can move in," Day said. "No sandals, boots, tennis shoes or flip flops. That will not work. The ladies need to make sure there is something to hold their heel."

Day said there are usually 8-15 people who show up for his beginner salsa classes, which start with organized walking.

"You just organize your walking to where it takes on a form of dance," he said. "In my 20 years of dance, I've never seen anybody not be able to get it.

"The class is repeated every time, so they learn they same thing. I basically show you what it's like and see if you want to continue on."

Ridgeland resident Diane Horton has been taking "Salsa on Sunday" for about a year.

"It's easy to catch on to," she said. "There is a basic step that you can do with salsa. If you don't know all the other moves, you can do the basic steps and it looks like you are really doing salsa."

Horton said she has received health benefits from the workout she receives in dance class.

"Sometimes I want to stop those people running on the sidewalks and tell them they could get the same results if they come to ballroom or salsa," she said.

The public may also be interested in participating in two other related dance events. Next month, Day will begin holding a monthly dance at Headliners in Banana Joe's Island Party.

"We are going to do it on the first Tuesday of every month," said Day, who will be the D.J.

"I will play ballroom, country-western, disco and Latin music," he said.

A dance class will be taught from 7-8 p.m. and the dance mix will be played from 8-10 p.m. Attendees pay $5 per person to participate.

On Monday, Day began teaching dance on the Raymond campus of Hinds Community College, where he will offer a 16-week program in three sections.

Students and faculty members will learn swing, salsa and ballroom dance.

"If you are not a student, you can come and sign up for any of the programs you would like to participate in and half of the proceeds will go the American Cancer Association," said Day, who started out as a disco dancer and appeared on the '80s TV show "Dance Fever."

He has worked as a choreographer, coach and teacher for more than 20 years.

"I was really shy," he said. "I walked into my first disco and, right away, I realized that a guy who can dance is popular."

Day said others thinking about taking salsa should attempt to overcome their hesitation. He said college students and grandparents attend his classes, so one need not fear they will be too young or old to participate.

"When I started teaching a while back, it seemed like all the students were younger," he said. "Now the average student is in her 40s."

Student Linda Foreman, 62, has also been taking "Salsa on Sunday" classes. Foreman said those who want to do it, but feel a little uncertain should know that everyone does the first month.

"As I became more familiar with the people and the dance steps, I really learned to love it and my husband has, too," she said. "He has bought himself dancing shoes and is just loving it."

Foreman said there will always be some who are better and some who are worse than you there.

"You will love it once you get into it," she said, "but you have got to give it a little time. I had to learn that I don't have to be perfect to just have fun. Once I learned that, it was much easier."

Day said he believes many people would like to dance, but in the back of their mind, they don't think they will be able to or are too shy to try.

"The most difficult steps in learning to dance are the ones that bring you in the door," he said.