photo by Thomas Tam
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Pa' Gozar! Project
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"Pa' Gozar" is the title of a classic Cha-Cha song by the late master Tito Puente. Pa' Gozar, in spanish, means "To Enjoy". It is the name I chose for a performance team I led in late 2004 and early 2005, and a name I kept for my later salsa projects, because of its inspirational nature. The Pa' Gozar Project is a means to qualify what I am trying to contribute to the Hong Kong salsa scene. An active salsa scene is led by three main factors: Promotion, Teaching and Inspiring. Promotion is quite active in Hong Kong, in great part thanks to the amazing efforts of Joseph and Quick Step Productions. The Salsa Festival, Salsa Championships, Salsa Shines Competition are events that increase media awareness to salsa. Additionally, hosting salsa parties free of door charge, such as those held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights are excellent ways of reaching out to the public, to people who might not otherwise be exposed to salsa dancing. The Street Party often held at the Avenue of the Stars also serves that function. Teaching is more active now than ever before in Hong Kong. When I started dancing in 2000, there were only three active salsa teachers, and two ladies' styling instructors. Now, honestly, I keep losing count. Joseph & Emily, Franky & Chris, Myself, Mi-Jung, Jason, Janita, Eddis, Peter & Faith, Simon & Lydia, Sam & Winnie, Rambo, Shirlee and more... And this does not include teachers who pass by such as the amazing Anton. Inspiration, however, has always been a problem. Inspiration is about making dancers want to dance better. This is not about teaching, but about wanting to learn. I am often asked who I learned from, and I usually answer that I learned mostly on my own. That is true, but unfortunately very incomplete. My dancing owes a huge debt to all those who, at one time or another, inspired me to be better, to try harder, and especially, to keep learning. That is what I try to pass on in salsa. I love the music, and I share that love when I DJ. I love the dance, and I share my passion when I teach. The Pa'Gozar project, as I feel it, is about finding ways to inspire budding dancers to go further. Specifically, it is about encouraging a certain attitude towards learning. One of the ways I try to do this is by encouraging commitment to learning. The classes that I teach are among the most affordable in Hong Kong, and become even more so for students who commit to keep learning. Another attitude I encourage is the curiosity to find out what else there is out there. I consistently encourage my students to attend classes with other teachers, to enter competitions, to perform, even to try teaching. And finally, Pa' Gozar is about reminding people that salsa is first and foremost about having fun. |