Dancin' machine
If you've always admired those who knew the steps to the salsa or the merengue, here's your chance to finally learn. William "Billy Bob" Flanders of Mountain Salsa Dance is trying to start regular salsa dances in Reno and held a beginners dance Friday night at Dancin! Performing Arts on Skyline Boulevard in conjunction with Reno Connections.
Men, take note, the women far outnumbered the men at Friday's event and were standing in line to get a chance to practice their moves with someone of the opposite sex. Me? I was dancing with my friend Gwynne for much of the night, and admiring Billy Bob as he spun his partner Rebekah Friedline at a dizzying pace. The two have recently started compete in dance
competitions together, but already look like they've been cha-chaing with each other for years:
The night started out with a few instructions from Billy Bob and his student assistant, Devika Ghimire, with the men lined up on one side of the mirrored dance studio, and the women on the other. They walked us through some basic salsa steps very efficiently, then came the awkward mixing of the two groups as we practiced to the music. Salsa isn't that difficult (finding a partner is much more so). It was exciting to realize it was something I could actually do. After about a half hour, Billy Bob stopped the music and taught us the merengue and then let us loose again.
Here's a picture of Devika getting spun around by one of the class members:
Billy Bob hopes to get the downtown Reno casinos interested in hosting this event on a regular basis. His next big dance is on Feb. 10 in the Truckee Elementary School Gym, 11911 Donner Pass Road and includes daytime workshops with champeen dancers and LaTiDo, a Bay-area salsa orchestra performing at 8 p.m. There is an intro to salsa at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 if purchased by Feb. 9 and $25 at the door. You can get tickets at Truckee Elementary School, Different People in Historic Truckee, Dancin! Arts Center and from Billy Bob 530-927-9451 or info@mountainsalsadance.com.
Men, take note, the women far outnumbered the men at Friday's event and were standing in line to get a chance to practice their moves with someone of the opposite sex. Me? I was dancing with my friend Gwynne for much of the night, and admiring Billy Bob as he spun his partner Rebekah Friedline at a dizzying pace. The two have recently started compete in dance
competitions together, but already look like they've been cha-chaing with each other for years:
The night started out with a few instructions from Billy Bob and his student assistant, Devika Ghimire, with the men lined up on one side of the mirrored dance studio, and the women on the other. They walked us through some basic salsa steps very efficiently, then came the awkward mixing of the two groups as we practiced to the music. Salsa isn't that difficult (finding a partner is much more so). It was exciting to realize it was something I could actually do. After about a half hour, Billy Bob stopped the music and taught us the merengue and then let us loose again.
Here's a picture of Devika getting spun around by one of the class members:
Billy Bob hopes to get the downtown Reno casinos interested in hosting this event on a regular basis. His next big dance is on Feb. 10 in the Truckee Elementary School Gym, 11911 Donner Pass Road and includes daytime workshops with champeen dancers and LaTiDo, a Bay-area salsa orchestra performing at 8 p.m. There is an intro to salsa at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 if purchased by Feb. 9 and $25 at the door. You can get tickets at Truckee Elementary School, Different People in Historic Truckee, Dancin! Arts Center and from Billy Bob 530-927-9451 or info@mountainsalsadance.com.
posted by Merrie Leininger at
4:30 PM
30 Comments:
Billy Bob is the perfect little secret of Reno. The dance classes are fun; the location is right next to two restaurants so you can have a lite dinner and attend an hour long class. Billy Bob is a fantastic instructor and the class size is just perfect. We are really lucky to have such a great instructor here in Reno.
I'd love to see even more salsa in Reno...
I was delighted to see your mention of Billy Bob. I've attended the classes in Truckee, and Reno is lucky to have such a great addition to the dancing and social scene. Billy Bob makes learning to salsa both easy and exciting.
It was great to see you promote Salsa Dancing.
If you need a smile in your life, taking a Salsa class from Billy Bob might be the thing to do. The music is happy, everyone else is smiling and a stumble now and then can even make you laugh out loud. I'll be in Truckee this Saturday for the lessons and dance that follows. Something else good to know is that you don't need a partner to participate.
Connie
Billy Bob is the best.I have learned so much and want to continue to the highest level of Salsa!!!!! :):)
Rita Warren
Incline Village ,NV
Rita Warren
Incline Village ,NV
GO BILLY BOB AND ALL OF US AT TRUCKEE SALSA,WE LOVE IT:):)
"Men, take note, the women far outnumbered the men at Friday's event and were standing in line to get a chance to practice their moves with someone of the opposite sex."
Time for a reality check about the Reno-Tahoe area.
1. Men far outnumber the amount of women in the region.
2. Women complain that there is plenty of quantity, but no quality.
Have fun dancing, but don't take these events seriously about meeting someone for dating/relationships...
Especially in Reno!..
Come on, guys! Come dance! Just no Rico Suave's :)
Billy Bob and his crew are great teachers and I'm glad that the Salsa scene in Reno is gaining some much needed momentum. I look forward to seeing more info about his classes and dances in the RGJ.
It’s nice to see you mention Billy Bob! He's the best! I love Salsa Dancing. Please write more articles about the Reno Salsa Scene.
Billy Bob's classes are a blast!! You get a lot of entertainment for the money, and it's fun to dance with beautiful women! He can even untangle two left feet!
Dance adds more culture to the community. Reno is Artown and America's Adventure Place and salsa fits right in. Salsa dance is easy to learn and can be a great workout depending on how hard you push it. The music is great, too. More dance events make Reno more exciting!
I love Billy Bob! His classes are great and fun! The dances are a blast too! This is a really awesome chance to learn Salsa and I recommend it to anyone!
I've been taking salsa dance classes in Quincy for about 6 months now and I am loving it. Billy Bob is an excellent instructor and an all around great guy.
Billy Bob's salsa rocks! A thoughtful, fun and experienced teacher - I would recommend his classes for anyone looking to have a great time on the dance floor!
If you want to learn to dance salsa, Billy Bob is your man!
Billy Bob is a great instructor. Fun and low key. Highly reccomended.
This gift to us, a fun Salsa Dance class. I suggest everyone take advantage of this opportunity to learn to dance. It's great exercise and Billy Bob makes it fun.
Caroline
I have many people tell me they want to learn salsa, well here's your chance! Be lucky your living in Reno and can learn from Billy Bob. You might have to live in a larger city to get what he has to offer. So get on with it NOW!
Salsa and Latin dancing are so much fun and what Billy Bob is doing is so amazing and awesome. More people should dance all the time and spread salsa. You go, Billy Bob.
I'm from NY and live in Truckee now. There's not a lot of "culture" in Truckee. I can't tell you how excited our class is to have salsa instruction in town to add a little spice to the local life. We need more opportunity in Truckee for things like this. The classes are fun for everyone of all abilities! Sue
Go Billy Go! You rock, and the Salsa Dance community in Reno is growing, and growing, and growing! And the great thing: it's not only there but also in Truckee and Quincy!
Great to see that RGJ is noticing the growing (yes again,: growing;-) salsa dancing community!
Congrats!
Hey, if you liked that crazy dancing night, come to Truckee on the 10th to dance to a Live Orchestra, LaTiDo and see the amazing World Champion dancers,: John & Liz's performing! And of course see the amazing dancers Billy Bob, Rebekah, Devika, me, and many others great dancers!!!
Salsa dancing is fun. I have never danced with a partner before, billy bob makes this seem possible. I love the music and the feeling it envokes in me. The more people that discover salsa the better. Like a good wine stimulates the palette, good dancing stimulates the spirit.
For years I have been thinking about taking Salsa classes, but was making excuses until i found billy bob's class. he is a great instructor and provides so many opportunities to learn and practice salsa skills. it is such a fun thing to do with a friend or a boyfriend. Such a better way to meet people than going to the bars.
My husband and I have been taking Billy Bob's Salsa classes in Truckee since last May. We are having a great time with this. We missed the Reno Dancin event, but have attended a few of his Salsa parties in Reno. Too much fun, and a great opportunity to practice the steps we have learned. We are so looking forward to the Truckee Valentine's Orchestra party on Feb 10. Truckee is Salsa extreme!!!!
Having a geat time with the salasa dancing. My wife and I are looking forward to the dance on saturday.
Dancing is second to none when it comes to a social activity and remember when you're on the dance floor, nothing else matters.
Thanks to Billy Bob for his role in promoting dance in the Reno/Tahoe Area.
Manuel.
Did you go to the Valentine's Sasla Dance? It wa GREAT!!! what a succes! Even the snow didn't stop people from comming.
Billy Bob, you rock. Keep on the hard work. Soon we'll be dancing salsa in any casino in Reno! like in the Bay Area, Salsa every night! YEAH
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