Edie "The Salsa Freak"

Artista: We've obviously left the best for last and I'm here with Eddie
"The Salsa Freak" at the very last night of the Congress. Eddie you're
probably exhausted from it all but happy I'm sure. What did you think
of the whole Congress, give us your views?

Eddie: It was really cool to be able to do this where they had the Olympics. The venue was perfect,
they didn't have to buy a dance floor, and the floors ended up all the way to the walls, so you
didn't fall of them….right? It really was a dancers dream. And when I was teaching
Privates, there was a convenient line on the floor, so I didn't have to bring my tape,
which is cool, and that helped a lot. The acoustics of the place were fantastic,
I think, 'because you need a lot of power to get across the whole area. And the
stage was phenomenal, I know they must have spent a lot of money on the
stage, and they was they had the "Risers"….you don't see that at other
Congresses. There was also ample room for the instructors, and most
of the time they don't let everyone is because it's just too small, so that
was great. And then having the stage up, so that everyone can see….etc…
it just seems that they thought of everything which is fantastic. I think that
they did a phenomenal job.

Artista: I know that you were here about a year and a half ago, so this is
your second time in Sydney. What do you think of the Dancers then,
and now? Have we improved?

Eddie: Oh my God, yes, you guys have improved more than any
other country I know and that's the truth. Even faster than Korea and
I consider the Koreans to be some of the best dancers in the world.
So I think you guys are literally neck to neck. Even over and above,
LA and New York. I mean personally I think the style in New York
has become very difficult and the lady has to almost read the guys mind,
you know, the moves are too complicated. You have to be able to dance
socially and not just assume that your partner knows all these "complicated turn patterns from hell".
And HERE, I think that they're still leading well, they're not "cocky" about the On One or
On Two…in general they're cool with both.

Artista: Do you think that it may be because of that "Laid back Aussie Approach
and way of Life"? We're known to be very easy going and don't really stress much?

Eddie: Yeah, you know that's what Al and I try to stress in our "Millennium Style"
is like, stop all these complicated turn patterns. I mean you can really see
the difference you know, the ones that keep doing patterns after patterns
after patterns…..I mean its exhausting after a while. I mean can you imagine,
if it's hard for ME to keep up, Holy Smokes can you imagine all these poor girls !!

Artista: YES I can. I'm one of them!

Eddie: And these guys must be very frustrated. Because lets face it guys,
NOT every woman out there is a FERRARI ! I remember telling the guys
the last time we were in Sydney "If you keep "cranking" onto your girl to
spin faster, she'll just "break" on you more. You got to let her use her
own energy and you'll be surprised how she turns easier."
And NOW, I see there's no more "cranking"…. Really a big improvement.
It's so wonderful and I've very proud of you guys.

Artista: That's fantastic. I also enjoyed you saying in one of your workshops
how you should "LISTEN" to the music more, how it's getting too technical.
But that is the biggest challenge, isn't it? Teaching rhythm and getting people
to hear the music. How do you do it? How do you teach people rhythm?

Eddie: I think that if a person can find "The One" they are really chosen by God. I think it is
actually a Gift to know where "The One" is. And I've asked Instructors all over the World
"How do you find The One" ? I've asked Eddie Torres that, and he says it's the Piano.
And you know why he says that? Cause he plays the piano. Then the Puerto Ricans
will say that it begins with the Clave…but then I think there's about 25% of songs
out there that have actually no clave….so then they would go into these long
Historical and Cultural explanations of the music and it just goes on and on.
And that's why I think that finding "The One" is really a Gift. And for those
that can't find the One its not that they don't have the gift, they enjoy it,
they dance it, and they love it and they still do it. You know my first partner
still can't find "The One", even 10 years later, but we have won performances
together, Why? Because he knows when to hit the breaks, where the peaks are,
where the music was, but that's also because he's tone deaf. And there are some
people that just can't keep the rhythm.

Artista: I guess Dancing really does become a personal journey, how do you
convince the Guys that they need to go easy on themselves because lets face it,
it will take them a bit of time and o lot of guys really find it hard to learn.

Eddie: It's a bit like "Boot Camp" for guys, it really develops their
character. But I also show them my "Beginners Hell Graph". Just go
to the "Beginners Corner" of www.dancefreak.com ( see Article
"When Will I Get Good" ) All these guys think that they are the only ones
having the problems, but that's how "players" are born. Because as soon
as they get through this Hell, they just want to grab any girl and tell them who they are.

Artista: Ok Eddie, I think you've given some great tips to all our readers out there and I know
I've certainly learned a lot. Thank you so much for your time, and just to wrap up, do you have
any messages for the Non Dancers in Australia?

Eddie: (screaming) They're missing out on Life !
Once you dance Salsa, then you can Die !