By: Angel Ortiz

Norwegian Salsa Championships 1st Place – Amateur Division Winners
Henning Pierre Nordahl Cruz & Joana Cruz Ventura

Angel: Hello Henning. You won 1st place in the Amateur Division at the 1st Norwegian Salsa Congress. Please share with us your thoughts and feelings.
Henning: I was very surprised that we won because we had some difficulty before we started out and we haven’t been really dancing together that long. But of course when we won, it was really fun.
Joana: Yes, I was also surprised at winning. It was my first win at a contest here in Norway. I had been involved in this type of contest before but this was my first win. I’m very happy to have won 1st place.

Angel: Joana, where you are from.
Joana: I’m from Peru from the city of Trujillo.

Angel: How long did you both practice in preparation for the contest?
Henning: About one month before the contest was when we became more focused. Joana and I have been dancing socially around town for maybe a year and a half. The week before the contest, the practices actually became more intense for us and we actually practiced about 2hrs every night. We really didn’t practice too much on choreography and I think that’s one of the reasons we won. We focused on “dancing” and keeping it sort of the way we dance around town and in the clubs. I guess we were closer to the way of dancing it without choreography.
Joana: Well, I know Henning for about one year and half and when we would find each other at the various salsa clubs we would dance, without practicing, and we found we got along fine dancing socially. But I think it was about one month or so when we started preparing for the contest.

Angel: Henning and Joana, tells us about the Norwegian Salsa Congress and what you liked about it or didn’t like about it. What, if anything, would you like to see different for next year?
Henning: That’s a difficult question because, well, I didn’t take all the classes; I wish I could’ve, so I don’t have a full picture of that part of the congress. But the classes I took, I enjoyed them very much. I would probably rank this Congress along the same line as last year’s Barcelona Salsa Congress because the instructors attending the Norwegian Congress here were very good and also the atmosphere around the Congress was very calm and the evening social dancing was fantastic. And the funny thing for me was that after winning the contest, I went bazooka on the dance floor in the evening doing stuff I had never done before!!! I was dancing for pure joy. So I think the Congress here was just the best and from talking to people, they have said that they liked it a lot and would definitely attend next years’!!!!! And also, some of the people that couldn’t make it because they were busy with exams said that they heard about it and would definitely want to be there next year. So I think that the Congress was a great success for Joana and me but also great for the salseros here and for our country Norway.
Joana: Well, I didn’t have lots of my friends attend but for me, attending the Congress was very special. The judges for the contest were professional and it was nice to see a mix up of different cultures among the judges.

Angel: Joana, how long have you been dancing Salsa?
Joana: I’ve been dancing for a while now but not my entire life. In my country we dance salsa a bit different. The turns and spins that are danced here in Norway, well, it was difficult for me at first but I eventually learned it. Salsa is not really the only type of dance I know. I’m not a specialist in many dances but salsa is one of my favorites.

Angel: For next year Joana, is there anything different you would like to see at the Congress?
Joana: Well, I noticed that in some classes there were lots of students while in others, there were not so attended and each happening at the same time so I saw no balance in that type of scheduling. Of course, the more the people, the less space to practice the material. Perhaps more focus on classes that emphasize more body movement to help those who need more on their salsa dancing and movement.
Angel: Henning, how long have you been dancing and what, if anything, could be done different for next year’s congress?
Henning: I have been dancing Salsa for two and half years. I came into by accident. But it was a very nice accident!!! I had too much to drink once and I ended up at a Latin concert. And I saw two ladies dancing salsa together. So I was drunk and thought the two ladies were very very beautiful. So of course during the break, I had to go over and have a chat with them. They took me to a Salsa club called “Las Palmeras” (which is no longer available) and that’s where I actually started Salsa dancing.
Well, this Congress was so good in many ways that it becomes difficult to say what can be done next year differently!!! But I think that if the Congress can bring back more or less the same teachers, it would be a great Congress next year too. Another suggestion could be that perhaps the Congress could be better advertised outside of the internet. The internet is great but other resources can be utilized.

Angel: Henning and Joana, is there anything you would like to say to the Municipality of Skien for making this great event possible?
Henning: I really appreciate everything everyone did for the Congress such as the people that attended the Congress, the instructors, the people behind the scenes, and all the volunteers.
Joana: Yes, of course I am appreciative for the opportunity Skien gave all of us. Many many thanks to the Municipality. It was truly a grand event.

Angel: Joana, for those just starting out and perhaps thinking about participating in their first contest, what would you say to them?
Joana: Well, I would like to say to them that Salsa is a dance that should be danced with feeling and sentiment and they should also focus on the “feeling” of the dance. They should also remember to put lots of efforts into it.
Henning: I would say to try not to overtrain. Go easy on the turn patterns and choreography. Focus on the basics and staying on the beat. We saw some of the opposite at the Congress where people didn’t stay on the beat and sometimes did too much. Try to find a balance that is sometimes difficult to achieve. It’s also important to remember to have or achieve some sort of communication between you and your partner for dancing. Salsa to me is the sharing of energy.

Angel: Is Salsa new to Oslo, Norway?
Henning: I heard a rumor that some people started five or six years ago. I don’t really know. But I guess the boom started maybe three or four years ago.
Joana: I heard it started about four to five years ago. There are about five clubs for salsa here in Oslo. We have the clubs called SHIRAZ, PASSION LATINA, SALSA, BRYGE PORTEN, and a new Cuban restaurant called AQUARIUS. The evenings at Aquarius they have a small live band to dance to after you’ve had dinner.

Angel: Henning, how do you see Salsa being danced now in Oslo? Any particular style?
Henning: New York On2 is just starting out but a small community right now but I think it’s going to grow. As for myself, I’ve been dancing On2 maybe eight months now and I love it. This summer out on town it tends to be more Cuban style at the moment. Last year you found people dancing On1. So there’s a mixture but at the moment, the best dancers in Oslo dance On1.
Joana: What I see is that everyone is dancing a bit of everything. I think the reason for this is because of the different cultures getting involved in the dance. So I try to adapt to the way I’m lead on the dance floor. I see Colombian style, Cuban style, New York style.

Angel: Joana, and what about Merengue?
Joana: Yes, merengue is danced here a lot. The Dominicans here have brought their favorite dance and have shared it with all of us here.

Angel: Joana, for those of us who don’t know about Peru, please tell us a bit about the Country of Peru.
Joana: Yes, what I can I say!!!! Many things. It’s a beautiful country that many people know. Many people here in Norway tell me that they have visited Peru and find it very beautiful. Not just the countryside but also the people.

Angel: Tell us about the “typical” foods
Joana: Well, the food is very special to me. It’s similar to many other Latin cultures where rice is used a lot to mix with the other native foods. We are accustomed to always eating rice. I haven’t found a restaurant here in Oslo serving typical Peruvian food but sometimes I’ll find my way to my friend’s small parties where we try to share the “typical” foods of Peru.

Angel: Joana, what are your plans now and will you compete in next year’s event?
Joana: Yes, I am thinking about competing next year. Of course I also want to continue supporting these kinds of events as well.

Angel: Joana, any last words?
Joana: Yes, I want to say hello to ALL the salsa lovers and everyone in Oslo. To all the salsa lovers from all different cultures and backgrounds, please continue to support salsa and find your way next year to the 2nd Annual Norwegian Salsa Congress!!!
Henning: The typical food here in Oslo is fish. There are also meatballs. But Norway is turning out to be more and more international serving all kinds of foods. There’s Chinese food, Mongolian food, Lebanese food, Cuban food, etc. And for next year’s Congress and I think I will probably not enter next year’s Congress. But maybe I will dance in the professional section next year. I really don’t know. We’ll see.

Angel: Last question Henning, tell the readers about the weather in Norway?
Henning: Personal I think Norway is cold. But I like it when it’s more than 25 centigrade. But the best time to spend in Norway is between May and August. This is the summertime in Norway. It tends to be raining a lot during this time than it used to but the sun stays down only 4-5 hours in the southern part of Norway. In the Northern part of Norway, it’s the same thing like in Canada. We have the midnight Sun. Because Norway is a long territory in length, we have a variety of climates stretching from South to North.