We are interested in your opinion about the multitude of issues
that make up the Australian Latin scene.

What about Reggaeton
I am a longtime reader. Normally I don't send letters to the editor, and certainly not in response to letters written by your readers, but I feel compelled to send this e-mail. In the issue #28, a reader complained that "people associated reggaeton music to some violence occurring in clubs” Here's a thought for you Reggaeton music-loving out there: Learn about Reggaeton, its origins, it lyrics and so on.

Not only will you understand that Reggaeton is a music associated with violence but it advertises it as a style of life. If you want some more try to check how reggaeton lyrics degrade women in general.

If you do this you'll have a deeper and more understanding of why people think like that about this music and the culture it comes from.
Thank you for the opportunity to present my view.
John Martin, Parramatta

Cuban or no Cuban
The other night while trying to have a dance at La Cita I heared a group of people discussing about the style of some of the people dancing that night, trying to establish where Salsa is coming from and what really is “the authentic Salsa”.

"Who cares where Salsa came from? Let's just have fun !!" That's my point exactly. Cuban-style Salsa or Casino is more fun than North American style dancing. Most people in Cuba don't take dance lessons, they learn from childhood how to mark the clave. They don't count when they are dancing. It is not technical and stiff like Latin Ballroom dancing.

Cuban men can dance with anybody of any style. The spins and dips are pre planned in Latin Ballroom dancing. It is difficult for men who have learned Salsa dancing here to dance with Cuban women. Cuban women I guess move too much or move their hips too much, it throws them off. They don't care about steps. They just move. It is not as rigid as North American Salsa dancing. It is inventive and playful. Cuban dancers invent or improvise constantly. Basic steps can move around the floor. Cross body leads can be made at angles rather than a straight line. It is the flow and the angles the make Casino beautiful.

But most of all, Cuban style dancing seems to appreciate the music more. It follows the clave whereas LA style dancing seems to have gaps, pauses in the dancing, particularly after a series of spins.

Salsa is a street dance. You can dance it however you want. Many people believe Ballroom and LA style salsa is an improvement on Cuban salsa dancing. Well, it's their right. When I see a people making waves with his/her arms and pointing to the sky, I feel something has been lost.
Tamara Nolan, Bondi Beach

Not quite in the swing
As much as I enjoyed reading Viva Magazine and found interesting articles about local talents and the what’s on with the local scene, I also found an aspect of the local dance scene curiously missing. In photographs and text, I found references to many dances and studios, yet not a word was there about a dance that - quite possibly - surpasses all others as a gracious and graceful ice-breaker, the aptly named Swing.

The studios mentioned in your articles teach other dances, including some very physical and often brutally fast dance that is hardly elegant. On the other hand, Swing is flowing and sensual, able to accommodate most musical styles, thus universal and oh, so good to watch and dance.

I am not a teacher, nor do I have a studio that was not mentioned in your article, prompting a protest. Far from it, I would find it distasteful to write this letter, were I directly involved in the business of dance.

I have been dancing since I was a kid and I like many styles of dancing. I would be more than delighted to send you information about sources and resources, should you want to delve into this subject again.

Your magazine has done much good in promoting the notion of partner dancing as something desirable. I sincerely hope that these lines will not be the last one on this subject written in your magazine
Susan Andreopoulus, Rockdale

No everything is dancing
Allow me to go away from the pleasure of dancing and express my horror at Israel's recent actions in the West Bank and Gaza and Lebanon. The massive and senseless destruction of infrastructure are a sort of collective punishment that can only wreak havoc on innocents.

I believe that such a policy will, in the long run, if not the short run, wreak havoc on Israel.
Jews and non-Jews alike should be urging for negotiations and restraint on the Israeli government. And the U.S. government, as Israel's principal donor, should be exercising its muscle to reverse these disastrous and immoral policies.
Sandy Weizer, Centenial Park