In the dim light, couples stand facing each other, situated in a sweeping circle on the smooth concrete dance floor of Cozmic Pizza. As the music begins, partners turn their heads toward a petite woman in the center who calls out cadence and technique instruction as she steps in time to the Latin beats.
The couples follow, more or less. An awkward young couple giggles and lurches along, a middle-aged husband and wife glide together as if on air, and two teenage girls swish their skirts and shake their hips in exaggerated swings. Everyone is finding his or her own style. In the center, salsa instructor Florabelle Moses claps and nods in approval.
This is a common Saturday night scene at Cozmic Pizza on the corner of Eighth Avenue and Charnelton Street, one of the venues that holds salsa dancing events almost every weekend in Eugene.
“What’s great about salsa is that it’s for all ages,” Moses said. It is a chance for all people, novice or experienced, to come together and enjoy a relaxed yet lively atmosphere.
According to Moses, Eugene’s salsa scene has grown considerably in the past several years.
“It’s developed a lot,” Moses said, citing the growing popularity of the Salsa I and II classes she teaches at the University. “Classes fill up in a week,” she said, capping at about 60 students.
Moses, who obtained her master’s degree in dance from the University in 1993, teaches ballet at the Eugene School of Ballet. In addition, she teaches ballet and salsa as an adjunct professor at the University and at Lane Community College. Moses also performs with the professional Portland group Salsa Con Sabor, and she holds salsa workshops during the year.
“I love to teach, to see how people learn,” Moses said, “and I love to move to the music.”
Moses hopes that her salsa students find the same joy she does and they gain “musicality, combination, an understanding of salsa – and an ability to express (oneself) through dance.”
Salsa dancing provides an exciting and engaging alternative to the popular college nightlife pursuit of bar-hopping. For those students who are not 21 or don’t do the bar scene, salsa can add a little spice to an otherwise monotonous weekend. Cozmic Pizza and the Vet’s Club, at 1626 Willamette St., are open to all ages. Luna Jazz Club at 30 E. Broadway hosts live salsa bands, and efforts are under way to establish a regular salsa night at Taboo, a new Eugene club.
For many salsa beginners, however, the prospect of dancing in public is intimidating. Luckily, many of Eugene’s salsa venues provide free lessons prior to the main event.
Jose Cruz, a key figure in Eugene’s salsa community, initiated the Cozmic Pizza event a couple years ago. He begins the night by offering a lesson to participants.
“There are a lot of people who want to learn but have never done salsa before,” Cruz said.
A native of El Salvador and a dancer since age 12, Cruz opened his Eugene dance company, Salseros, in 1999. He offers beginning, intermediate, and performance classes at Studio B location on 189 W. Eighth Ave. Cruz extends his passion for salsa as much as he can into the community via weekend public events.
“The most important thing is for people to have fun,” he said. Cruz added that he encourages his students to invite others to go dancing to get the community more involved.
But the joy of discovering salsa is not reserved for beginning dancers. Senior history major Stacey Lennon has been dancing ballet since age 4. Initially planning to minor in dance, Lennon realized she needed an elective credit. Moses, her ballet instructor, suggested Lennon try her Salsa I class.
“I’d never done any partner dancing before,” Lennon said. “I ended up loving it.”
Lennon said it took her a little while before she felt comfortable dancing at public venues, but after she took Salsa II she was hooked.
“It became my life,” Lennon said, adding that she would go out every chance she got. Lennon is currently Moses’ assistant for the Salsa I and II classes.
Lennon loves the music and fashion associated with salsa.
“It’s really an excuse to buy a whole bunch of new clothes,” she said, adding that an entire portion of her closet is dedicated to salsa garb. But what draws her most to the dance is the people.
“(Salsa) is really social,” she said. “I got to meet a lot of new people. – People I wouldn’t normally hang out with.”
According to Lennon’s experience as a TA, salsa is extremely popular among the international community, especially Japanese students, who express interest in cultural activities on campus. The University salsa classes are also open to the public.
“We do tend to get people from the community,” Lennon said, but Cruz’s Salseros school generally gets more community traffic because it is not affiliated with the University.
Wherever people get their salsa dose, one thing is for sure: Eugene’s salsa scene is hot. As salsa lovers like Moses, Cruz and Lennon can attest, it is easy to become addicted.
“I can’t get enough of salsa,” Cruz said.
Check out www.EugeneSalsa.com for regularly posted information on upcoming salsa events. For more information about Salseros Dance Company go to www.salseros.com.