Memoirs of a Bachatero (Finland Bachata Festival)
But Vesa is a different man, a straight-forward, tell-it-like-eastern Finland. They call him El Amabajador of Bachata for nothing by the Dominicans, a gentleman who helped the Dominicans in more than one title Over the years, and a man who truly enjoy the culture of the Dominican Republic (DR). Dominican press has given the name El Embajador of Bachata (Bachata Ambassador) Vesa, because he does great act of heroism cultural bringing 13 people Band Bachata Dominican Republic in Tampere, Finland. Being an ambassador, he has also made diplomatic relations in organizing stars in Bachata European parties Embassy in Santo Domingo. It was DR 12 times for a period of 18 years.
So, to my surprise, a few months ago, I received several emails from him to me invited to the first target = "_self"> Finland Bachata Festival in Tampere.
"I want you to be the master of head Bachata Festival in Finland in October 2008 and June 2009. We will have a Dominican event.
To be invited by a person who knows a thing or two about dance bachata, culture and music is an honor. I could not say no.
Finland is a Nordic country situated in the region of northern Fennoscandia Europe. It has borders with Sweden to the west, Russia to the east and north Norway, while Estonia is located in the south through the Gulf of Finland. The capital is Helsinki.
Tampere is a city in southern Finland located between two lakes, Näsijärvi and Pyhäjärvi. Tampere is dubbed the "Manchester of Finland" for its industrial past. It is the most populous inland city in one of the Nordic countries. The city has a population of 208,000, and the metropolitan area of Tampere has a population of over 340,000.
VESA plan was to organize a small event first in October 2008 and June 2009 to make the largest, if not the largest in Finland.
He booked a dance studio medium for workshops and a place for the small club in the Dominican party night. The event created a buzz that expectation of only 50 participants reached a turnover of 200 tickets. Vesa had no choice but to announce an event counters closed because it could not agree more people.
Arriving in Helsinki on Friday morning was like Sweden, people were still asleep. When I Sweden, the sun shines at the end of the morning and late at night together. I guess it's safe to say that the Nordic countries to start their day delay and end their night early in the morning. Vesa offered two choices; me at the airport in Helsinki, or for me to take the train to Tampere, which is 1.5 hours drive. I personally believe that you do not get the essence of experiencing a certain city, if you do not take public transport, then I took the train, and I'm glad I did.
The train may be fluid, fast, comfortable and punctual race that I have ever been in. I enjoyed the views, the landscapes and lakes. Oh man, this is part of my dream … I always wanted to travel across Europe with only a backpack on a train. This was as close as it gets. And did I mention that Finland is cold? This fall but it's like San Francisco, he has unpredictable weather.
Vesa met me at the station of Tampere and we were off to his castle. Remember, a house of 14 rooms with different cultural themes of each with a perfect view of the lake. I'm glad chose stay home instead of staying in a hotel. Marcela arrived a few hours later.
After a few hours of nap, woke me Vesa to repeat the techniques of Sari, my teaching assistant. Immediately after, Vesa and his girlfriend Ula, informed me of the ritual Finnish cleaning, sauna. The sauna is part of the Finnish identity and a national institution which still blossoms in the 21st century. A comparison of the sauna bathing houses and customs of other nations provides a perspective for the display of their traditions and ways of understanding and nature of other cultures. In learning from others, they learn to know themselves better. Sweating in a sauna, a sweat lodge or a furo bath is not primarily a physical act cleaning, but a ritual that relaxes the body and calms the mind. Entertainment best describes what the refreshed mind experiences after bathing in the steam. Vesa house is built with a sauna room size average.
Finland is the land of sauna and the Finns are a nation of sauna-enthusiasts. The Finland has a population of 5.1 million and 1.7 million saunas, one for every three inhabitants.
"Uh, Vesa, I did not bring a short or even a swimming trunk. "I tried to leave the factor of sauna.
Vesa and Ula smiled and said that we are supposed to be without clothes in the sauna, it's a tradition.
I smiled and nodded but I told myself, "Holy shit!" This reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where George said: "I was just in the pool of cold water!" Of course, sauna makes your property, you know …
"Is Marcela know about it?
"Yes, we informed and is fully aware of the ritual, "Vesa said with an evil smile.
If we did the sauna after Vesa handed me a Japanese kimono and the trunk swimming. I thanked him with a gesture of the Japanese bow. A sigh of relief …
On Friday evening we went to two clubs and promotion. Marcela and I made a short impromptu demo of bachata. I met several instructors in Tampere, too.
Workshops Saturday. There was a reason why Vesa does not want to sell more tickets. There was a good amount of beautiful people, curious and hungry for learning dance bachata. We even had the promoter Helsinki Bachata Bootcamp present there.
Vesa taught his introductory workshops Marcela Dominican merengue tipicos taught him. I taught at the end of the afternoon with the keystone concept is essentially a foundation of my own style of dance tradition.
We went to downtown Tampere. Downtown Main Street is built with bricks. It is to preserve the tradition as I have been informed by Vesa later. The place has been transformed into a Dominican real party. You would instantly notice the theme in the club with Dominican flags DR ages. Instead of a bracelet that resembles You outpatient hospital, they wore a bracelet of pearls came from DR. Dominican drinks were offered at the bar Brugal and Brahma dominated. It is as Dominican as in Finland.
It was packed with Dominican music, bachata and merengue with salsa and some chachacha. The place was packed with people. This is one of the hottest parts bachata I went to and I mean that literally.
Vesa and Marcela has improvised a skit and invited me to join in. He found himself in a challenge Tipico between Marcela and Vesa. VESA is a non bachatero assuming / Merenguero, when he started dancing Anaconda, my mouth dropped. They asked me to join so I'm short version, but I knew I could not move match anaconda VESA. Marcela and I improvised bachata after our demonstration.
It was a great night that was completed in the morning. Some dancers did not want to leave the club.
"Uno mas! Uno Mas!, Por favor!"
I continued to dance. It was difficult to stop because there were many great dancers in Finland! Of course, being hot and sexy (everyone of them) was a plus, I could not resist, let alone a woman just called me target = "_self"> Rodlandia.
After many drinks, a student and I offered Marcela shot of absinthe, traditionally a distilled, highly alcoholic (75%) beverages. It is a spirit of anise from herbs including the flowers and leaves of the plant Artemisia absinthium, also called wormwood. Absinthe has a characteristic natural green color, but can also be colorless. It is often called "the Green Fairy". Although it is sometimes mistakenly called a liqueur, absinthe is not bottled with added sugar and is therefore classified as a liqueur. Absinthe is uncommon among spirits in that it is bottled at a high proof but is normally diluted with water when he is drunk. In a word, very!
We managed to get out of there and took a taxi. Everyone takes a taxi because it is absolutely forbidden to drive under the influence of alcohol with serious consequences.
Workshops on Sunday was a little sad for me because, well, it was the last day and I'm still sad on the last day of all events. Yes, I am a sentimental guy. It's one thing to teach a workshop sold out, but it's another to see Students learn what you taught easily and effectively, I had many compliments and "thank you".
I met wonderful people at the party. Participants from Sweden and as far as Lithuania have been fantastic. My commitment to the community in Finland bachata Bachata is to teach them in the most simple but effective as possible.
On Sunday night, Vesa and I spent several hours eating and drinking, after all, was a successful weekend and the prelude to the Festival International de Bachata in Tampere and Helsinki next year.
We shared my new favorite drink Brugal Extra Viejo Añejo. We got to talking about culture in the Republic Dominican history and practices. We bonded. There are many dancers who are now circulating claiming knowledge of bachata, but Vesa Parkarri is one of the few people I met I can discuss and identify and Bachata Dominican culture with pure joy and laughter.
It was Monday morning and it was time for my suitcase. Vesa gave me a ride to the airport in Helsinki. We arrived at talk a little more and brainstorming ideas for the next event. It has also been on the road to Bachata Bootcamp in Helsinki for the evening.
When we arrived at the airport, I had an hour to kill and I could say that Vesa will park his car in a park to can at least say goodbye for a few minutes with me inside the airport. I noticed instantly that we are After the farewell not good so I slapped him hard on the shoulder and said, "Vesa, it was fun, you do not need to wait here with me and go your way, I am very happy here. "He understood and gave me a nod.
When two gentlemen sit and drink together, not to mention carpool with some commonalities, passion and vision to develop. What started as a hobby both of us turned out to be an experience of life with passion and adventure over the years, thanks to Bachata.
International Tampere / Helsinki Bachata Festival 2009
Many Thanks to: Vesa Parkarri (El Amabajador) Marcela Cardenas (Muah!), Ula, Minna, Giedre, Paula, and many others who made me feel welcome in Finland. The best is yet to come and Vesa leave Parkarri – www.bachata.fi
About the Author
Rodney “Rodchata” Aquino is a Latin Dance instructor, writer and lecturer in the United States. Solely responsible for popularizing bachata dance in San Francisco Bay Area, RODCHATA, as bachateros intimately calls him, has been in the Latin Dance scene for over 15 years and is considered one of the foremost authority in salsa and bachata dance. A certified instructor, his dance background includes Latin International Ballroom, salsa (on1, on2 mambo, and Cuban son, Casino), chachacha, merengue and bachata.
He is the founder of numerous popular dance websites; Salsagang.com, iBachata.com, BachataNews.com, Rodchata.com, iTimba.com and CEO of Rodchata Enterprises, LLC as well as Reno Bachata International Convention and San Francisco Bachata Intl Festival.
Since creating Salsagang, he had the opportunity to teach the Latin Dance at big events all over Asia, Europe, Australia and USA.
He has written numerous dance articles including Bachata Innovation, Bachata Is Not Grinding,Diary of an Ambitious Bachatero, Pseudo Instructors and others. You can search his articles with the exact titles or search under “Rodchata Articles.”
Aside from being a gifted teacher, Rodchata has MA in Psychology and presently pursuing his Phd in Cognition, Brain and Behavior. He is a certified Personal Fitness Trainer and holds 4th Degree Black Belt in the Martial Arts. His experience in the Martial Arts for 20 years and his background in Fitness Training plays a vital role on his effectiveness as a dance teacher.
