Tis the season

Hi all,

I hope you all had a good Christmas with friends, family, husbands, wives, girlfriends, boyfriends, dogs, cats etc etc(you get the idea). I just wanted to wish you all a happy New Year. Seems like Abuja is rapidly developing the status of a real city as more people decide to stay for the end of year holidays. Years ago, this place would have been a ghost town.

Salsa was alive and kicking at the Dome thanks to Dare and I hope to add to that this 1st weekend of the new year with Abuja Spice at Aristotle. They have a few themed nights on for the festive period but I'll speak to them to see if we can have our regular slot this Saturday. Apologies for not holding last week's dance but I had to travel. Family stuff, you know how it is. But it was funny getting calls in my village to see if salsa was on. Nice to see more people getting hooked.

The new videos are about male styling and shines. I find that most guys aren't dancing much. I'm talking about what I see in Abuja and London. I include myself in this by the way. We tend to spin and drag the ladies about and expect them to come up with amazing styling and shines whilst we just chill. We have to stop being lazy guys. Let's step up our game and play with the music too.It's more fun for us and the ladies.

Later people

New Times at Aristotle

Hi all,

Just a quick one to let you know the new times for the Saturday salsa club night at Aristotle.
We now start at 8:45pm every Saturday. Dancing goes on to around 11:30 depending how much dancing is going on. The more dancing, people and energy the longer we dance! So you make the night guys...

Check out the new video selection. They are of Mario B. One of my favourite dancers. I just love his attitude.

Salsa, Saturdays, Cedi

Ok well, technically it should read Salsa, Saturday, Aristotle Bar, Cedi Plaza. But that wasn't as catchy for a title.

For now we are trying something out. Saturday will be for only dancing. And on Monday you can learn beginner salsa with improver and intermediate classes being introduced as the need arises. The Monday lessons take place at 8:00 pm after work. So if you want to take part come for around 7:45.

We are also trying to get the timing for the Saturday night right. Currently it starts at 10pm and lasts until around 11:30-12:00. Then there's another session at around 1:00am. However some people have said this starts too late for them so I will look into starting it earlier. Once I confirm that, I'll post up the details.

What a Difference a Day Makes....

Hi all,

First of all, apologies for the lack of updates regarding the salsa night. Let's just say the management at the last venue kept me out of the loop on a few things.

Anyway salsa is still alive and kicking on the weekends. We have found a new home at Aristotle Bar in Ceddi Plaza which is a great venue smack in the middle of the city. The management have shown nothing but goodwill and support so watch this space!

We had our first night last Sunday between 7-11 which was great. But they liked us so much that they might push us to Saturday soon. I'll let you all know how that goes.

Catch you all later. In the meantime check out the new vids.

Some new vids

Hi All,

Just posted some new vids just to show some different flavours of salsa. Slick, subtle styles right through to all out showbiz. From old school to new school. It never ceases to amaze me when I find new examples and takes approaches to the dance.... There's something for everyone.

Later guys, see you on Saturday and have a great weekend.

Ahh don't we love holidays...

I just wanted to congratulate all those who completed a successful Ramadan. I also wanted to wish Nigeria a happy birthday. Don't worry, I'm not going to get all sentimental or political here. That's for another space and time.

Right back to the salsa. Same time same place this week people.Salsa,Roxel Bar,Saturday,7:30. The details of the venue are just to the right in the profile section or in previous posts.

We had a great night last week but as usual I was running around and dancing so much I forgot to take pictures and videos. I hope to this week.

Catch you all this Saturday.

Facebook...It had to be done

Hi all,

First of all, our next salsa night is taking place on Saturday 27th of September. For details on where it is and how to get there just check my previous posts as the time and venue still remain the same.

I also set up a facebook group for those of you who use it. Here is the link http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=32538065670 .The group is called Abuja Spice Salsa. I'm experimenting to see the best way to give news and updates on Abuja Spice and Facebook might be a better option as it's more efficient in getting information out to a lot of people. But don't worry my non facebookers ( I was one of you up till last week). I will still keep the blog updated regularly, especially with videos.

And once again thanks to all of you who braved the rain to come down last week. A few of us danced outside on the balcony in the fresh air after the downpour. It was actually quite refreshing...

Dancing in the Rain....

OK, even I have to admit that the rain last Saturday evening was heavy. In fact heavy is an understatement. Biblical is more appropriate. I was half expecting to see Noah cruising down IBB way in his ark.

So well done to all who braved the storm and came down. Especially to all the ladies who, despite the downpour, looked flavourlicious...(is that a real word?).We even had some new faces again. You’ll all get a treat next week, promise.

Our next night will be this Saturday the 20th. As usual, everyone is welcome. It doesn’t matter if you or your friends can’t dance salsa. So all those friends of yours who keep saying they can't come because they can’t dance salsa have no excuse. We play more than just salsa music on the night.

The most important thing is that you come to enjoy yourself. If you only want to relax and listen to the good music,that's fine too.No where else in Abuja plays the selection of music we do on a Saturday. The whole point of Abuja Spice is to have salsa fusion night where all are made to feel welcome.

Entry is free. Any beginners who want to learn the basic steps of salsa should come then. From around 8:30 you can practice your salsa steps and show the ‘pros’ how it’s done. But even if you come late, I’m sure there will be those who will gladly show you the basic salsa steps to get you going.

The night starts between 7:30-7:45 at the Roxel bar 167 Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent in Wuse II. The building is a white building and the bar is actually on the first floor. At night you can identify it by a orange tube lighting on the balcony. It is directly opposite Peniel apartments. It is close to Bodyline gym.It is 10 seconds from the junction of Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent and IBB way. The British Council is 1 minute away by car and the Hilton is about 5 mins away.

All the best guys and see you on Saturday…..

Salsa, Saturday, Abuja...simple

Greetings people. The torrential rain that hit on Saturday didn’t stop us from enjoying ourselves and welcoming some new faces. So well done and thanks to all those who braved the rain to come out to dance.

We had people from the U.S., Chinese and Sudanese communities join us. So my Cubanos where are you? We all know no salsa party is complete with out the Cubans showing us how to do it. So my Cuban brothers and sisters in Abuja we’d love you to come down.

Our next night will be this Saturday the 13th. It will be our 1 month anniversary!! So you know you have to come down and celebrate with us. As usual, everyone is welcome. It doesn’t matter if you can’t dance salsa. So all those friends of yours who keep saying they can't come because they can’t dance salsa have no excuse. The most important thing is that you come to enjoy yourself. If you only want to relax and listen to the good music,that's fine too.No where else in Abuja plays the selection of music we do on a Saturday. The whole point of Abuja Spice is to have salsa fusion night where all are made to feel welcome.

Entry is free. Any beginners who want to learn the basic steps of salsa should come then. From around 8:30 you can practice your salsa steps and show the ‘pros’ how it’s done. But even if you come late, I’m sure there will be those who will gladly show you the basic salsa steps to get you going.

The night starts between 7:30-7:45 at the Roxel bar 167 Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent in Wuse II. The building is a white building and the bar is actually on the first floor. At night you can identify it by a orange tube lighting on the balcony. It is directly opposite Peniel apartments. It is close to Bodyline gym.It is 10 seconds from the junction of Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent and IBB way. The British Council is 1 minute away by car and the Hilton is about 5 mins away.

All the best guys and see you on Saturday…..

First Sweaty Little Steps......

Hi guys. Apologies for taking so long to stick up a post(The day job keeps getting in the way!). Well we've now had two Saturday's of Abuja Spice. And the night is proving to be little gem. We would like to thank everyone who made it down to both nights. The night would be nothing without you all. Our next night is on Saturday the 6th of September, starting at 7:30pm. at the Roxel Bar.The address is 167 Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent in Wuse II. The bar is opposite Peniel Apartments which is about 5-10 mins from the Hilton. It is in the first floor of a white building. You can identify it at night because it's the only building with orange tube lighting on the street.

Remember, this night is not only for hardcore salsa dancers but for all who want to dance, chill, and just have a good time...

Here are some pictures of the first night.

Abuja Spice Opening Night....

Greetings to the millions of you who have searched in vain for this site...Ok, hi to the two of you who stumbled across this site by accident. Welcome to Abuja Spice.Abuja Spice is a club night designed for those who love to dance and are open minded about their music.

At heart it is a salsa night. 'What if I can't dance salsa?!?' we hear you cry. Relax, we've got you covered. First of all there will be free, that's right FREE beginner salsa lessons starting at 7:30pm for about 30 minutes just to introduce you to the dance. If you want information about where to get proper salsa lessons in Abuja, it will be available on the night.

Besides that, the music will not be strictly salsa all the way. We will have everything from funk, highlife,hip hop, old school, new school through to soukouss as the night goes on! If it's music with heart designed to make you dance, we'll play it.

Our first night will be happening this Saturday the 23rd of August at the Roxel Bar. Thanks to Bode (the Roxel manager) for being brave enough to give the night a try.The address is 167 Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent in Wuse II. The bar is opposite Peniel Apartments which is about 5-10 mins from the Hilton. It is in the first floor of a white building. You can identify it at night because it's the only building with orange tube lighting on the street.

The salsa classes will be between 7:30-8:00pm. Proper dancing will start from 8:00pm to around 10-11:00pm before we hand over music selection and the night back to the Roxel.The entire night is FREE so you have no excuse not to come and say hi now do you?

So, that's Abuja Spice in a nutshell. If you want to get sweaty to some good music, come on down.If you want to enjoy yourself at a night with no snobby attitude, come on down. If you have bad breath, come on down....just bring some mints with you or somethin'.