Mambodelphia

Dennis is a 1996 graduate of Olney High School. He attended Elon University in North Carolina on a basketball scholarship, and while there, his girlfriend introduced him to salsa. After college, Dennis stayed in the area, joined the Army Reserves, and studied the dance at local studios before moving back to Philadelphia. But he didn’t begin teaching until he was sent to Iraq.

During his second deployment to the Middle East, Dennis learned that his battalion commander at Talill Air Base wanted him to teach salsa in an effort to boost morale. Once a week for eleven months, when he wasn’t on a mission with transport security, he instructed a class for dozens of military personnel dressed in PT outfits and uniforms. As Dennis watched his class grow to include over 60 people, he recognized that salsa was more than a hobby. “I realized, then,” Dennis says, “that this dance can be an escape for people. It was something to look forward to.”

When he returned from Iraq, Dennis studied as a student and a teacher under the tutelage of Barbara Capaldi at the Atrium Dance Studio in Pennsauken, New Jersey. He also trained with Caribbean Soul, a company in North Jersey, and began performing with Sangre Nueva, a semi-pro team. Now a full-time dance instructor, George Dennis is the co-director of FuZion Creativa, a dance company he founded with Victor Colon. Dennis, Colon, and their network of instructors teach out of eight different locations in the area. “What really drives me, and what I try to portray in my classes,” Dennis says, “is an appreciation for the music, but not just the music - also the way that music can make you feel.” Dennis, like other local and regional dance instructors, uses the term “Mambodelphia” to encompass this connection between the roots of the music, the musician, and the dancer.

I met George Dennis through a basic class offered by FuZion Creativa at Studio 1831, a yoga and dance studio in Fairmount. His teaching style is fun and hip, and his emphasis on repetition puts beginners at ease. So instead of feeling guilty about struggling with strict diets or exercise routines, think about accepting your body through a dance form that emphasizes sensuality and self-respect.

Scared about starting? “Know that the majority of people feel the way you do,” Dennis advises. “Don’t be afraid to tell anybody you’re new.” The salsa social environment is friendly and welcoming, but it helps to know a few things. Most clubs offer a one-hour lesson before the dance; this lesson is often free, and going to it allows you to meet other new people who you can dance with later in the evening. Also, there is an informal dress code - “comfortable, but classy,” as Dennis says. Most women wear jeans, heels (it’s easier to turn in them than other shoes), and a loose fitting, flirty top. Guys wear jeans, dress shoes (again, easier to spin in), and any type of shirt.

This Monday night, George Dennis is offering two free classes at Studio 1831: a beginner class at 7, and an intermediate class at 8. On Thursday, February 12, he will offer another free class at the Westville Square Ballroom at 8 PM. Not sure where to go dancing? Try Alfie's at 2417 Welsh Road on Sunday nights, Vango’s Lounge at 116 S 18th Street on Mondays, the Chill Bar and Grill in Holland, PA on Tuesdays, and Brasil's at 112 Chestnut on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturdays. Check www.salsadelphia.com for specific dance times.

On February 6, FuZion Creativa will host a social at the Westville Square Ballroom in Westville, New Jersey, starting at 8:30 PM. At the end of the evening, the company will debut a new routine.

Image Credit: euzesio