Salsa to make you move
JOBURG – Veteran journalist turns a 10-year hobby into a thriving and explosive cultural movement.
Having been a journalist and writer most of his life, Samson Mulugeta initially hadn’t realized the cultural richness of salsa and dancing until he decided to turn a 10-year hobby into a thriving and explosive cultural movement in Johannesburg.
“There are two reactions when people are exposed to salsa. They say, I love that! Or not for me. I was in the Hell yeah, I want to be a part of that! Camp,” he said.
The veteran journo has travelled to 62 countries covering wars and revolution and is now at the forefront of creating a definitive culture of salsa. He helped kick start salsa in the city by hosting a weekly salsa party at a restaurant he owned in Melville from 2005 to 2008. After he sold the restaurant, he kept on organizing salsa parties all around town.
“My current salsa home is the legendary Six Cocktail Bar on Melville’s 7th Street…I also host occasional Saturday Rooftop Salsa sessions at 28 Auret Street in Jeppestown, near the Maboneng Precinct,” he said.
Although the story of salsa in Joburg is relatively new, Mulugeta said Joburg has its charms because it’s a small community and people are friendly and welcoming.
“There are a lot of people interested in dancing, but very few who are keen to put in the effort to take lessons to do it properly. I recommend you take lessons to learn the basics, and you will be off and flying. You can learn where to go by contacting us at roof top salsa,” Mulugeta said.
Looking at SALSA AT SIX is a good indication that the culture is picking up the momentum it deserves and Mulugeta said checking out the electrifying dancing at the famous cocktail bar gives one a glimpse of the future of South Africa with people from all walks of life, dancing in harmony.
“Joburg has the potential to be a cultural, political and economic capital of Africa. But there is a very strong strain of xenophobia in the country that is poisoning that potential. Salsa shows the way of how we can work, live and play in harmony, bringing the best out of each other instead of the worst,” he said.
Mulugeta said the salsa bug has opened his eyes to other dance forms such as bachata, kizomba, and Angolan semba – a faster form of Kizomba.
“Dance is meditation for the body and soul. It’s hard to dance and not smile. Everyone needs that in their lives,” said Mulugeta.
