Salsa DVDs, Salsa Videos, Merengue, Salsa Rhythm, Salsa Timing

The relation between music and dance is obvious: dancing would not exist without music. But in salsa this is even stronger, since here the opposite is probably also true. I believe that a salsa dancer with a superficial understanding of the music is incomplete, as is a salsa musician who has never danced.

Maths enters into this since it allows me to see structure and patterns both in the dance and in the music. Seeing 'structure' in dance means analyzing dance patters, breaking them down, understanding which can be combined and which can not. It helps me to memorize figures and to be able to pick a figure by just watching someone else perform it once. Ultimately, it makes it possible for me to develop a salsa figure in my head before even dancing it. And is crucial to improvisation.

My 'CV'

Music: Composer and arranger. I started by playing bass in High school bands. When the very first computer systems to write music appeared in the early 80s I switched. I have used them to write music ever since. I have written pop songs, soundtracks for short movies, radio advertisement tunes and more recently, Latin music. Highlights - 1984 Single with the group 'Velvet Side' - 1988 'Festival Bar 88' tour (broadcast by national TVs in Europe) - 2002 'Salsa on the Beat' Rhythm CD

Dance: Video producer. I have danced since late 98. Because I live in Perth in the extremely isolated West of Australia, I made several trips just to learn more about dance. These include Costa Rica, Curacao, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, LA and NY. I took many other classes worldwide during my business trips. When back home, I also learn a lot from videos. I taught salsa for 3 years, running what at the time was the most successful course in town. In 2002 I 'retired' from teaching, partly because of my frequent work related trips, partly to concentrate on my video and music production.

Highlights: Invited instructor at the 2002 East Coast World salsa congress in New York - 'Cuban salsa for non cubanos', Salsa instructional video - 'Feelin'Merengue', Merengue instructional video.'Advanced Figures in Ny/La and Cuban Salsa', Salsa instructional video. 'Salsa on the Spur of the Music', Salsa Instructional video.

Maths: my 'real' life.