In 2014, I had the chance to visit the magical land of Elves and Trolls. The country where the aurora borealis is as banal as our rainbows. Like all Nordic countries, old beliefs have a hard life, so do not be surprised if you hear a lot of stories about the little men living in the caves. This usually happens late in the evening when bars and other nightclubs are closed.
Iceland is also the country of intoxicating landscapes, patchworks of heteroclite materials... Volcanic rocks partially covered with ice with the ocean in the background... all bathed in this unique light of the sunset on the horizon from 10:30 am to 5 pm... It is priceless. It is also the country of blonds and blondes, so much that it becomes boring and monotonous. It almost feels like they all look alike.
As always, every country, every region, every city I visit, I make it a point of honor to find the local Salsa evening. What a pleasure to talk about the universal language of dance ....
Before reveal to you all about Salsa in Iceland, I give you a few tips: sharpen your English, all Icelandic are bilingual; Even the grannies! Also, everyone knows each other in the dance world: the island makes about 300,000 inhabitants, including 200,000 in the capital, Reykjavik.
A local association is very dynamic, it seems that there are others but they are invisible, hidden in a corner, without real website or visibility on social networks. This one is called "Salsa Iceland". This association organizes many events including a weekly party in the Icelandic capital. So it was Thursday evening, the day before my departure, I went to the Thorvaldsen bar which is on the main avenue of the capital. Free entrance, like all the dancing bars of the city. You will find a warm welcome and people wanting to share time with you. A class of Puerto Rican Salsa (Line Salsa) is given until about 10 pm. So you have time to eat in the countless bars and restaurants in the area. Personally, I have a small weakness for the restaurant right across from the street: the "Laundry", formerly lavomatic transformed into a chic restaurant and where you can wash your laundry in the basement in a unique atmosphere.
The dance teacher and DJ is called Edda Blöndal. You are lucky, Icelandic names are usually much more complex ... She is a very good dancer (also beautiful and elegant) whether in Cuban Salsa or Puerto Rican.
The music on the other hand is almost exclusively of type "Salsa Dura", so rather Puerto Rican (I hate all these fucking rankings but they are necessary to the description). A few Los Van Van here and there are nevertheless of the party during the evening. The general level is pretty good and there is level for everyone. The girls are smiling and pretty dressed, I must say, which is not to displease us ... isn't it guys? 😍
Dancing and salsa in particular is a universal language that will helps you to make magical encounters. Also, do not hesitate to diversify your style and adapt yourself so that you can dance with all the dancers you are likely to meet. If you dance only Cuban, avoid too complex figures, too fast movements on the sides, as well as the Vacilala (which is not even taught in Cuban classes in Italy or in Spain ...).
Here, my Steemian friends, I spent a wonderful evening with the Salseros and Icelandic Salseras.
Salsally