2009 Programs And Events
Salsa and Merengue Spice-up Weekly Chai Chat (08/14/2009)
Ole! The U.S. Embassy Tashkent became a center of Latin dancing for a day as over 60 participants of all ages visited the Embassy on August 14th to learn about the history of Latin American dance and practice the basic steps of Salsa and Merengue, two more well-known Latin American dance styles. With a significant percentage of the U.S. population of Latin American heritage, Latin American dance has become part of main-stream American culture, and Americans of all ethnicities increasing enjoy Latin-dance themed nightclubs and dance classes.
Led by Vice-Consul Sean O’Hara and Assistant General Services Officer Yasya Petrova, participants listened to portions of salsa music and watched movie clips of dancing before trying the moves themselves. As Yasya Petrova explained, “modern Latin American dancing is very energetic and about self-expression.” The dances primarily are performed with a partner as a social dance, but solo variations exist. The dances emphasize hip and knee movements and the connection between partners. Some of the dances are done in a close embrace while others are more traditional and hold a stronger frame between the partners. O’Hara and Petrova first introduced participants to the Salsa, noting that the word “salsa” means a sauce denoting a "spicy" flavor, which is an apt name for this dance which involves quick footwork and spins. A lesson in Merengue, the national dance of the Dominican Republic and Haiti, closed the interactive Chai Chat.
Participants continued to dance away even after the end of the formal instruction. The U.S. Embassy hosts Chai Chats every Friday. The public is invited to learn about a wide variety of topics of American culture while practicing their English in an enjoyable, entertaining environment.