A little magic happened in the last Angel Choir performance. In celebration of Cinco de Mayo I invited the enormously talented Lou Lopez from Latin Moves Dance Studio in Stamford to teach us salsa steps. He arrived with his elegant dance partner, Dina Clemens, and not only did they give us an inspired exhibition of their skills but they got all of us up on our feet immediately. With a personality that looms large with generosity and experience, Lou led us all into a new world of music and movement in Latin dance. This was a highly anticipated Angel Choir rehearsal and performance so it was well attended. To see all of these singers, from high school age to honored citizens, release their inhibitions to move to the music was a rich experience for me. There was a palpable joy in the room. Mostly this stemmed from a simple sense of wonder for all involved. I watched as a childlike intention crept over everyone's faces as they abandoned self consciousness to slip into new territory. The sounds of laughter were the only competition with the intense salsa music. Lou Lopez wears his love of life with a big smile and an infectious energy level. Immediately you see his love of what he does. With excellent tutelage and encouragement he had us all doing several steps within 15 minutes.
The Angel Choir had taken 45 minutes before Lou arrived to prepare two salsa choral pieces. Both were intensely rhythmic and quite difficult. But the choir rose to the occasion and the performance was as deeply felt as our dance lesson was. Everyone was happy and I was gratified at the achievements of an amateur group that continues to excel in preparing their pieces in such a short amount of time. The singers left with the comments that I often hear after our performances of "I can't believe that we actually learned all of that and performed it!"
Unknown to many of the singers, there was a special guest that Lou brought to the event. It was his old friend, Benito Garcia, dancer/choreographer/trainer to some of the greatest talents in the world of ballroom and Latin dance. I smiled when I saw him get up to be part of the class and dance with us. When he and I spoke afterwards, he shared with me some of the original projects that he is involved with. One of them being his work choreographing people in wheel chairs. I was humbled by his spirit. I sat back and thought about all the talent present in the room at that moment. Besides Benito Garcia's luxurious sharing of his immense talent with the handicapped, Lou Lopez runs the Connecticut Salsa Festival over Memorial Day weekend which raises money for St Jude Hospital. And then there is the Angel Choir. My endless and sincere energy never tires in the training of this group. Meeting once a month to offer a platform for cancer patients, survivors, their friends and families or anyone who would like to sing to revive their own spirits, the choir keeps chugging along built on the dedication of the singers. They know if they take part they will be repaid with an uplifting gratification. I would like to think that everyone who comes to offer their voice with the Angel Choir walks away with a little magic. And once again in our Salsa Special they definitely did.
More information on the Angel Choir can be found at www.angelchoir.org and information on the 9th Annual Connecticut Salsa Festival for St Jude Hospital can be found at www.CTSALSAFEST.COM or at www.facebook.com/ctfest
