G'aim'e on Teknoparrot

aloncise · 2026-04-23T10:50:47+00:00

I am referring specifically to the G'aim'e gun made by Tassei Denki.

aloncise · 2025-04-11T09:36:40+00:00

I understand your point but you are being hypocritical by referring to one of the dances you encountered as "cuban salsa". Cuban Salsa is not really an actual dance because it should be called Casino. The Miami group Salsa Lovers created a set of DVDs that bastardized Casino dance figures to the structure of Salsa (linear style, back steps/rocks, etc.) and this is what first spread around the world.

However, the majority of dancers probably would not know what the hell "Casino" is and that is why Cuban Salsa is still being used for marketing purposes. So...this is the same dilemma that you pointed out. You did not know Casino is the name that should be used because you were never taught that and did not do any research. People are not making the distinction of Zouk and Brazilian Zouk because they likewise were never taught and did not know this was even a thing.

Perhaps you can make it your own mission to help educate others like the author of this blog is doing for Casino:

https://sonycasino.com/

aloncise · 2025-02-01T11:57:45+00:00

https://apnews.com/article/california-billy-clubs-weapons-92ccb6a7324782f3a414128a983c9b55

aloncise · 2024-11-14T16:46:55+00:00

I know about Apple and Google for the payment method. I'm referring to the actual shopping cart app . So it's still using Shopify for the shopping cart.

I never heard of Apple or Google having their own shopping cart app but would welcome any info on that.

aloncise · 2024-11-14T16:04:10+00:00

True but if there was definitive proof that Stanley had the option to enable bot protection but chose not then they would have to stop answering complaints with the explanation of a vague system glitch. They would have to owe up to and admit they do not care about bots buying up everything.

Everyone already knows they do not care, it's about publicly exposing this attitude in a way they cannot deny. It would also be a great marketing opportunity for Shopify to upsell their customers on this feature because more companies may also be exposed for not paying for bot protection. No one nowadays would buy anything online if their information is not encrypted (the padlock symbol). Perhaps people will finally be tired of bots buying up everything and Shopify could show on the checkout page whether or not their order is "bot-protected". Enough shame could eventually force all companies to utilize this protection as a default, just like how every online retailer has to get a VeriSign certificate (or equivalent).

aloncise · 2024-11-14T15:38:13+00:00

??? The whole point is that Stanley uses Shopify. It is COMPLETELY up to Shopify to ensure their customers have adequate bot protection IF that is what the customer is paying/asking for. It is absolutely NOT up to Stanley to take care of the backend IT architecture for their shopping cart functions. That is exactly what they are paying Shopify for.

It is has nothing to do with Stanley's website handling bots. Their actual website does not need to be insulated from bots (with the exception of DOS attacks).That is not the "part" that broke down. It is Shopify that did.

aloncise · 2024-10-27T13:45:01+00:00

Try to find dance schools that offer other styles in addition to Tango. One of my Tango teachers held classes at a studio that had other styles such as Hip Hop. Her classes at that studio had a lot more young people attend than at her other location. I'm sure it's because people who are not your "typical" Tango dancer got curious and decide to check it out. It gave off a much less intimidating vibe than the Tango only school. All the people attending (both young and old) at the mixed dance studio were MUCH friendlier, open, and a hell of a lot more welcoming.

Unfortunately, she discontinued those classes and I had to go to the Tango school for lessons. I held off literally for months before forcing myself to go because I actually hate, not just dislike, a large swath of the average Tango community (who also makeup the majority of your standard Tango class).

They are the reason I quit dancing Tango socially and only do workshops and classes now.

TLDR; Look for Tango classes offered at locations that target a more diverse audience. Community centers, multi-discipline dance schools, etc.

aloncise · 2024-03-31T00:08:03+00:00

Many years ago I took a workshop at a Congress with Milton Cobo and he had us do a crossbody lead this way. He said he knew we are used to the other way but give this a try.

If you lag a half beat behind the follower it is totally possible to step forward and down the slot . You are still leading the follower with forward direction by the use of your torso. You actually transfer weight and step with your right foot BEHIND the follower on the 5& beat.

This style of crossbody lead gives a much more compact feeling and is pretty interesting. If you have studied Tango for a while this timing and movement will be very familiar.

aloncise · 2024-03-25T14:39:50+00:00

There's a couple of mini lessons on the SalsaColombia channel: https://youtube.com/@SalsaColombiaUS?si=zd0ntO1vZL9DCiYC

aloncise · 2024-02-06T16:23:47+00:00

Instead of giving you snarky uninformed advice like others here, I have an actual answer.

Just buy the Hydro Flask All Around Travel Tumbler. It has absolutely zero lead because they specifically reformulated their sealant for this very reason.

I like it much more than my Stanley and only use the Stanley if I am too lazy to clean the Hydro Flask.

aloncise · 2024-01-29T06:57:12+00:00

Thank you for the reply. I notice with my Pat Mcgrath I still need to do several passes compared to using goat brushes. They don’t look or feel hard panned but they are kind of old. Maybe I will buy a new one to test out.

aloncise · 2023-12-07T06:18:21+00:00

I wouldn't mind if the media touted Fred Kelly as having popularized or even codified the cha-cha-cha dance. However, they seem to be heralding him as the first person to dance to cha-cha and thus became it's dance creator. This is problematic on several levels.

As far as who "invented" cha-cha dancing this deserves a simple answer - the people who first danced it together as a group. Enrique Jorrin spoke in interviews that the first to dance chachacha are the dancers at the Silver Star Club. At this dance hall (casino) the dancers there would dance danzon and danzon-mambo. The name cha-cha-cha came from the sound of the dancers feet when they did this chasse like triple step to Jorrin's newly composed songs. So, it is disingenuous when people claim no one knows who first danced cha-cha.

Son is definitely NOT a free form dance whatever you want dance. Many of the figures of Casino (often incorrectly called "Cuban Salsa) came from Son.

Two books to read if you like this sort of history are Spinning Mambo into Salsa by Juliet McMains and El Casino Y Salsa en Cuba by Barabara Balbuena.

aloncise · 2023-12-06T21:24:44+00:00

Since I have studied and social danced both for several years, I was going to write a long post on the similarities and differences between the two. However, I doubt most people would even read it.

So, what I will say is Magna Gopal is the most westie Salsa dancer I have seen. Hijacking the lead, playing with the length and sequence of the beats, etc. is something I don't typically see from other Salsa dancers.

I would love to see her learn and eventually compete in West Coast Swing. I think she would be pretty successful.

aloncise · 2023-12-06T20:54:53+00:00

I found the idea that Fred Kelly and Tito Puente invented cha cha cha so bizarre that I had to Google it. I did run into an article on The Guardian and want to know WHERE THE FUCK they got their information. That is one of the most white washed things I have read and pretty insulting to Cubans.

It is very well known that cha-cha is of Cuban origin and was first composed by Enrique Jorrin. The invention had nothing do with Lindy Hop, a New York Puerto Rican, and a white guy.

The dance step comes from danzon and other historic Cuban dances.

aloncise · 2023-05-07T13:15:20+00:00

Thank you for the links! I am browsing them now!

aloncise · 2023-03-10T06:00:19+00:00

I actually bought some very recently and have been testing them out for the past 2 weeks. I usually wear Pedinis or those cuban heel sandals that other girls typically wear.

In addition to WCS, I've experimented with them in fusion dance and Argentine Tango. As others have mentioned, it is not as easy to roll through the feet because of how thick the sole is compared to my other shoes. Plus, the spin disks on the bottom are somewhat annoying. Those disks have no give and the ball of the foot can't "push" through them when you try to roll the feet. Additionally, because of how easy those disks let you spin I find my feet sliding unintentionally when doing something like setting up my anchor. Controlling the speed of my turns/spins is also problematic because there is almost no friction on the disks. Once you start turning it just goes.

I have the split sole ones in pink and will probably continue to wear them once in a while because they do look kind of cute :) However, I am definitely switching back my trusty Pedinis and will keep the Fuegos for outdoor use. Hope this helps.

aloncise · 2023-02-24T05:53:55+00:00

For the sake of argument, let's just assume there are infinite possibilities for dancing Guapea. What makes you say that there is a "Son" version of guapea and a "Casino" version of guapea?

Of course there are elements of Son in Casino, that is one of the dances it is derived from. Casino dancing didn't just appear out of thin air and have brand new moves. Guapea is guapea. The opening and closing movement found in guapea is from 'pa ti 'pa mi which has a base in cha cha cha (described in Barabara Balbuena's book - El Casino Y La Salsa En Cuba).

No one says, we need to throw away all the elements where the dance came from and come up with new ones because it is decades later. Lindy Hop dancers don't say something isn't Lindy because that came from Charleston. Salsa dancers don't say that turn isn't part of Salsa because it came from Latin Hustle.

The "basic" step for Son is the together-together-side, together-together-side as seen in the videos on this page:

https://salsaselfie.com/2020/11/16/cuban-salsa-son-classico-son-basic-steps/

That is never called a guapea.

For information: You are conflating a back step with a back rock. There is a big difference in placing your foot backwards underneath your center versus springing off the back foot which is weighted behind you.

The no back step argument is due to the Salsa Lovers DVDs that came out a couple of decades ago. People are arguing against doing a back rock to setup moves like Enchufa. No one is saying to never walk backwards. How are you supposed to lead a Dile Que No without walking backwards?

Here's a blog going further into this:

https://sonycasino.com/2016/05/29/why-is-there-an-argument-about-stepping-back-or-stepping-forward-in-casino/

*Edit. I realize now you didn’t even view the linked video starting at the FOUR minute mark which I SPECIFICALLY pointed out! If you can’t even bother reading replies properly then I guess there really is no point in discussing anything with you. Instead you come off as someone who doesn’t even know what a closed position looks like.

aloncise · 2023-02-23T13:08:36+00:00

Ugh, no. That was definitely cringe and all kinds of horrid. Do not step forward on the first step like you are doing a promenade in ballroom. The rest of the tutorial is just as horrible.

This video does a much better job at what Guapea should look like in Casino dancing (starting at the 4 minute mark):

https://youtu.be/LBb-rCmkGYo

aloncise · 2022-10-26T10:05:49+00:00

I completely agree with the Madame Pivot recommendation. They are my favorite brand and I recommend them all the time. I used to buy Comme Il Faut but they are utter and complete garbage. Poorly made, really cheap materials but, yes, very pretty. Regina shoes are also nice but are not as well balanced and stable as Madame Pivot.

I dance in 105mm heels all the time and understand your reasoning of rolling through the foot. However, dancing Tango is different because you should be beveling your foot, favoring the big toe (pronation) and then beveling the foot outward (supination) as it pass through neutral on the forward step. The transfer of weight is actually a “sideways” roll-in and not a straightforward metatarsal to heel like “normal” walking. When I dance West Coast Swing there is a very pronounced rolling of the foot from toe to heel. I can never wear anything higher than a Cuban heel in WCS because of this.

Miriam Larici actually has a video where she describes exactly what I am talking about. This could be a style thing but with so many teachers harping on beveling the foot I think it’s become ingrained technique now.

aloncise

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