VISITING CUENCA--Part II--Mall Del Rio Dance Program

Last Saturday, March 10th, Martha Abril and I took my brother, Leo and my sister-in-law, Carla to the Food Court of Mall Del Rio, for a dance program.  Martha's son Joshua who is fourteen years old, and her daughter, Amy, who just celebrated her ninth birthday were both performing during the program.  Amy recently took a silver in a country-wide dance competition in Quito, which was especially amazing since at the time she had only been dancing six months.

The dance was sponsored by the Fama School of Dance.  The information below is taken from a post by Larry Marler and his wife, Linda, who are expats who stay young and healthy as dance students of the school:

FAMA School of Dance and Bailoterapia

David Ortega - Dance Choreographer 

Location:  Av. del Estadio y Roberto Crespo (Edificio El Estadio next to Pronto Pizza), Cuenca

David also has a group of dancers that performs shows around Cuenca.  His dance troupe has put on shows at California Kitchen and the Eucalyptus Cafe, plus many others.

You can also get dance lessons for:  Salsa, Bachata, Meringue, Hip-Hop, Reggaeton, Cha-Cha-Cha, and Tango.

Bailoterapia:  0700 - 0900  ($1.00 per hour) + $5,00 inscription for the year and 2000 - 2100

Phones:  07 286 6228; Cellphones 08 795 4749, 08 582 0762.

My disappointment with the program was that with my relatives in town, I had hoped for them to experience some of the dance programs that would give them a real experience of traditional as well as contemporary dance.  Some of the programs I have attended during my year here in Cuenca featured a variety of dances, with some young performers in their traditional, amazingly colorful costumes and greatly talented in their presentations.  These presentations would have been something  Leo and Carla very much would have enjoyed.  Some programs I've seen have also featured some of Cuenca's finest Salsa as well as Tango dancers.  


This program was strictly contemporary dancing which can be seen among young people almost anywhere in the world, although no doubt the performers were talented and performed well.  The large audience certainly had a good time, and so did we. The program included  aerobic dancing by folks in the packed food court who chose to participate, while members of FAMA SCHOOL of DANCE led the aerobic dancing. There was also a belly dancing performance by a young man and two attractive young ladies.  I had seen them perform before some months ago, and they have definitely gone from performing well to performing to a very good status.  Unfortunately, for whatever reason, I don't have any pictures of their performance.

As the program approached its close, the audience by their applause and cheers judged who among the voluntary aerobic dancers was the best.  A young man who you will see in a black tee shirt after multiple reactions by the audience emerged the winner over a young woman who was also very good.  The young man won a two day stay at a hotel, while the young woman won a month of free lessons at FAMA SCHOOL.  Getting carried away in my enthusiastic exuberance, I promised that I would begin to take Salsa lessons in June when I return from my trip home to the states.  It is amazing the things with which I continuously preoccupy my time to keep from seriously studying mi Espanol.  I use to know the basic steps to the Tango, and I loved to Cha Cha.  Maybe, I'll take up Hip Hop as well, and if my heart holds out, give Joshua Abril a run for his money.

Here is the link below.  You click on the slide show in the upper left hand corner and set the timer for two seconds, or you can just continue to click on the forward arrow of the slide presentation at your own pace of preference..  

https://picasaweb.google.com/111741036841400152108/DancingAtMallDelRio31012?authkey=Gv1sRgCPvkzdXp-OHBag