the essentials Often tropical, the dance (for two) attracts a growing number of amateurs in Tarn-et-Garonne. From September to June, associations organize this activity punctuated by courses, training courses and evenings.
“85 registered! Never seen before, a record! “. Laurence Bernier, president of the Cœur 2 Danse association, in Monbéqui (Tarn-et-Garonne, south of Montauban), is enjoying this September return to school. Of course, the first two lessons are free, but it’s promising. “We should exceed 65 members for the 2024-2025 season, ten more than last year,” predicts the president. This Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at 8:30 p.m., forty people are taking an “intermediate level” salsa class.
Eric, the leader of the Monbéqui courses, teacher, friendly and demanding DDM – Manuel Massip
An hour of following the facilitator’s instructions on a step, or a pass, then applying them, first without music, then with it, changing partners for each new set. “These mixtures are sometimes surprising, but in the end, it’s better for everyone, it avoids bad habits,” explains Eric, 15 years of experience in leading dance classes.
Concentration and perseverance
This former senior technician for Airbus for 37 years literally wets his shirt, as salsa is so “physical”. “Don’t raise your hands too high… I open my arm well… 1,2,3, and 5, 6,7… Closed position… Dilequeno… Evelyn…”. The students whirl around with intense concentration, a woman discreetly murmurs the numbers dictated by Eric, like an incantation so as not to lose the rhythm.
Notice to future beginners, these Latin dances are not easy to tame. “You have to know how to persevere,” advises Laurence Bernier. “It took me two seasons before I felt comfortable,” whispers a dancer.
In Monbéqui, for the price of a single annual membership (€110 for a single person), you can dance salsa and bachata 4 hours a week, and rock if you still have the energy.
On the floor of the village hall, lent to the association by the town hall, quite dashing sixties rub shoulders with good thirty-somethings. “The youngest is 16 years old, the oldest 80 years old,” summarizes the treasurer. Patrick, 39, was drawn in by his wife’s contagious passion, himself finding a new community where we connect as much through dance as through friendship. “We even see each other outside.” Social networks (Whatsapp groups by type of dance) increase exchanges. For the holidays, we tend to go to Cuba, “to the sources”.
“A super antidepressant”
Dance as a social network? “Not a meeting club, but we meet people there,” confirms Fred, who runs the Happy Danse association in Verdun-sur-Garonne. An important structure, born in 2016, 175 members last year, evenings that can bring together up to 350 people, more women than men in general. Same common thread as Monbéqui: courses (over 4 days), more or less intensive courses and evenings once or twice a month, “to apply what has been seen in class and have fun”.
Before dancing fluidly, it takes hours (and hours) of learning DDM – Manuel Massip
The evenings (€5 or 6 entry) are times when technique gives way to the joy of dancing, the room filling with laughter, rhythmic music and friendly reunions. “It clears your head,” says Fred, “it should be reimbursed by Social Security. When you dance, you have to think about nothing else. A psychiatrist from Marseille was even able to prove that it was a super antidepressant.”
There is a sort of cordial understanding between the associations in Tarn-et-Garonne. “We talk to each other to avoid encroaching on our neighbor’s evening dates,” say the organizers, often trained in Toulouse, in unison.
Accrorock, in the lead for 36 years!
Gilbert, from the Montalbanese association Accrorock, the oldest (36 years), the largest in the department (400 members), will not say the opposite. But Accrorock nevertheless has the privilege of having its own room, where lessons are held every day of the week (good old rock, salsa, bachata, kizomba), a sociological mix considered rare (from doctor to truck driver ), regular Spanish hostels for the atmosphere, “we speak informally”. Without wanting to produce “competitors”, Accrorock wants courses that live up to its fine reputation.
In these classes, everyone dances with everyone DDM – Manuel Massip
At the start of each season, you have to convince new dancers, especially men. Fred has a formula that hits the mark: “Dare to take the first step, gentlemen, we will teach you the others”. Not always easy…
Other associative dance centers, small or large, should be mentioned: Nègrepelisse, Saint-Hilaire in Montauban, Verlhaguet, Fabas, Montech. Not to mention what happens in schools, in the strict sense, in places of entertainment (such as the Acoustic Bar in Montauban) or in gym clubs (Elancia).
In all these rooms, in the evening generally, it rises like a Caribbean tune. And the images with it.
Note: an “international dance show” from October 25 to 27 in Montbeton, at the Jean Bourdette space. Three days to see “pros” and dance on a wide track.
So we dance, yes but what?
Indeed, it’s not easy to choose. “The best thing,” advises Eric, the host of Cœur 2 danse in Monbéqui, “is to start watching videos on the internet. See what might suit, or on the contrary displease.” The dances of the moment are contained in three letters: SBK.
The sauce : origin Cuba. The basic principle consists of alternating steps, left and right, the steps being reversed between the partners, there are four counts, then four others. Jovial, festive, and energetic dance that lets off steam.
The bachata : origin Dominican Republic. Slower and more voluptuous than salsa, considered easier, with the basic steps being easier to learn. The dancer leads, his partner does footwork, undulates and moves his pelvis. Caliente…
The “chore” of the Happy Danse association during their last AG DDM – Asso.
Kizomba : origin Angola. Also known as the “African tango”, quite slow and languorous, not simple, a dance for couples in good harmony, the dancer and his partner maintain permanent contact at the chest level. We will have warned you.
West Coast Swing. Origin USA. It’s a two-person dance, let’s say slower rock. more fluid (without bounce), which is somewhat reminiscent of figure skating. Rock has not disappeared, it is still widespread. And the Accrorock association, despite the surge in Latin dances, has retained its “historic” name. The association also provides West Coast Swing lessons.
