Blackanese Mambo Dance Team

For the people who don't get what our name is all about, here is a little definition from the Urban Dictionary.  

Blackanese : A combination of two races; To be of both Asian and African descent; Someone with Black and Asian attribute.

As you can see, this definition reflects perfectly who we are.

In 2007, six friends (2 Asian guys, 2 Haitian girls and 2 Québecois) decided to go to Montreal to take some salsa classes in order to improve their dancing and enjoy a new adventure. They started to take private classes with Edson from Saltimambo. It was great fun and they were having the time of their life. After a while, only the 2 Asian guys and the 2 Haitian girls kept going. They then decided that it would be a good idea to have a routine made with some of the moves they learned and perform it in Salsa events in Ottawa. They presented the first version of their routine for the first time in January 2009 in Ottawa under their brand new name Blackanese Mambo Dance Team…. Good thing it was only the 2 Asian guys and 2 Haitian girls left or they might have had to call themselves something like “Shepherd’s pie Mambo”!!!

After that, the 4 original members decided to teach their routine to another couple and after performing in some Salsa events in Ottawa, they decided that it was time to go outside their comfort zone and perform the new version of their routine outside their hometown. From there, they got the chance to perform in some of the best salsa events in Canada. They are still having a great time and are still a Black and Asian Experience… Azuca!!!

Soul (Director

Before learning to dance salsa I had two-left feet. When I started to dance, I first learn Cuban style/rueda. After a few years, to challenge myself, I decided to learn to dance New York Style (On1 and On2). To push myself further, I started to perform in various salsa events in Ottawa, Montreal, and Toronto with Salsasion (rueda dance troup), Salsafanatics and CLG. Wanting to expend my dancing, I went to take some classes in Montreal with some friends, which lead to the creation at the Blackanese Mambo Dance team in 2009. I also competed for the first time with my girlfriend and dance partner at the First Summer Salsa Festival in Laval. Now to take my dancing a step further, I am learning Ballroom, Ballet, Hip Hop, Afro-Cuban and more with various school in Ottawa and Montreal (Gottadance, Saltimambo, Caroline Pare, Audrey Gaussiran, Julio Hong, Les Petits Ballets, ect.).

Nadège  (Coordinator/Webmaster)

Ever since I can remember, I’ve always been dancing. My mom used to put Haitian music on and dance with us for hours. While growing up in Montréal and Laval, I’ve never stopped dancing. In the early 2000, I started to take salsa classes on and off in Ottawa while I was studing. Once I finished University, I decided to expend my vocabulary and take other kind of dance classes along with salsa. After sometimes, I got the opportunity to perform in various Salsa events in Ottawa, Montreal, Laval and Toronto with Salsafatics and CLG.

In 2007, my boyfriend and I decided to go take some classes in Montreal with 4 other friends, which lead to the creation of the Blackanese Mambo Dance Team. After that, we decided to compete for the first time at the first Summer Salsa Festival in 2009 in Laval and a couple of weeks after, I participated in the first ever lady styling week retreat giving by Ana Masacote in Boston. Now, I am still taking various dance classes (Afro-Cuban, Ballet, Ballroom, Belly Dance, Guinean Dance, Haitian Dance, Hip Hop, Salsa on1 and on2) both in Montreal and Ottawa with great teachers like Edson Vallon (Saltimambo), Caroline Paré, Audrey Gaussiran, Julio Hong, Nancy Cowan (Gotta Dance Ballroom and Latin Dance Studio, Les Petits Ballets, ect.). I love dancing and I am having a blast!