

Archive for August, 2009
12,937 People Dancing to Thriller at Once
Author: Salsaholic
The current record for the most people ever to dance to Michael Jackson’s Thriller was officially set and recorded by the Guinness Book of World Records when 242 students from the College of William & Mary performed it in May of 2008.
Looks like that record may have just been blown away by Mexico.
On Saturday, August 29, 2009, (Michael Jackson’s Birthday) 12,937 people in Mexico City attempted to beat the current record and did a great job of doing it. Getting that many people in one place to do Thriller is just amazing. They’ll find out if they beat the actual record sometime next week.
As it turns out, there was also another group of people trying to beat the old record. More than 500 people in Liecester danced to Thriller on Saturday as well. At least they had fun.
Watch both videos below.
read comments (0)Pop Culture, Dancing and Politics
Author: Salsaholic
The reason I wrote this post was because I ran across a video of Obama dancing on the Ellen show back in 2007 and it just got me thinking about how this type of stuff never happened when I was a kid. I never felt like I could really relate to our political figures and see them as real people, just like us normal folk.
Isn’t it weird about how differently politics are viewed these days as compared to only eight short years ago? When I was young, I saw politics as the most boring topic in the world that only my parents could enjoy. Of course this has changed as I’ve grown older and began to understand it’s impact on my life.
I’m sure many people have learned to enjoy politics much more recently, especially with the latest election including so much pop culture.
Both Obama and McCain had Twitter accounts and were highly involved in social media, both were being endorsed by celebrities such as Daddy Yankee and Brad Pitt, and with so much drama surrounding the cultural and racial status of Obama and the gender of Sarah Palin, not to mention the baby drama surrounding her daughter, the gossip magazines weren’t ever going to run out of material.
All of this brought politics out of the boring, bland days of old and into the young eyes of our future.
I think we’ve come a long way and I’m very happy of the way things have changed. What do you think about it?
And to end this post the only way I know how, some fun dancing videos featuring Obama, Biden and Palin. Make sure to check out the last one where Obama and McCain have a dance off.
Barack Obama Dancing on Ellen Show
Michelle Obama Dancing on Ellen Show
Joe Biden Dancing with Jill Biden at Commander in Chief Inaugural Ball
Obama Dancing for Senator Ted Kennedy
Obama and McCain Dance Off!
You Can Even Learn to Salsa Dance In Prison
Author: Salsaholic

Hopefully prison isn’t the place you decide to learn how to salsa dance, but if you ever go there, at least you’ll have a good instructor.
At Kirkham Jail near Preston, Lancs in the UK, both prisoners and guards are getting free salsa dance lessons by an inmate who is known as an expert Salsa dance instructor. They aren’t revealing exactly who that instructor is, but it’s being said that he’s a world class level teacher.
The lessons take place every Wednesday night and the instructor also provides separate lessons to the guards during the weekends.
So far, the lessons have proven to be huge success and the prisoners love it. The prison has been quick to note that this is not funded by the Prison Service, but is instead a prisoner initiative. They have also stated that the Salsa lessons are always monitored by staff and do not replace work, training or education.
I think it sounds like a good deal. I only have one question; are they dancing together or are they learning to Salsa dance solo?
Dancing With the Stars 2009 Pairings Announced
Author: Salsaholic
Today on the Good Morning America Show, all of the pairings for the upcoming season of Dancing With the Stars have been announced.
Several of the pairings have already been leaked online from various sources such as from the press and even Twitter.
Karina Smirnoff will be training Aaron Carter while Karina’s real-life partner, Maksim Chmerkovsky will be working with Debi Mazar on her own dancing skills.
One of stars already being voted most likely to reach the end due to her history in dance is Mya, who will be paired with Dmitry Chaplin.
In a strange twist, Ashley Hamilton will be trained by the same person his father George was paired with back in season 2, Edyta Silwinska. The father Hamilton must’ve had only great things to say about her, for that push to happen.
Two pairings were accidentally leaked via Twitter. Donny Osmonds son wrote to his father, “Good luck on DWTS!!! You and Kym are going to win this season. You’ve got my vote every week,” in reference to Kym Johnson. Then Natalie Coughlin spilled the news that she would be paired with Alec Mazo, when she Twittered, “We both went to Cal Berkeley and studied Psychology at the same time. Go Bears!”
Of the last leaked pairings is Tom Delay and Cheryl Burke. Tom Delay should be fairly happy with this since Burke has already lead two other celebrities to victory.
Here is the complete list of pairings officially announced today:
- Aaron Carter and Karina Smirnoff
- Natalie Coughlin and Alec Mazo
- Mark Dacascos and Lacey Schwimmer
- Tom DeLay and Cheryl Burke.
- Macy Gray and Jonathan Roberts
- Ashley Hamilton and Edyta Sliwinska
- Melissa Joan Hart and Mark Ballas
- Kathy Ireland and Tony Dovolani
- Michael Irvin and Anna Demidova
- Joanna Krupa and Derek Hough
- Chuck Liddell and Anna Trebunskaya
- Debi Mazar and Maksim Chmerkovskiy
- Mya and Dmitry Chaplin
- Kelly Osbourne and Louis van Amstel
- Donny Osmond and Kym Johnson
- Louie Vito and Chelsie Hightower
Dancing With the Stars 2009 Lineup
Author: Salsaholic
Tom Bergeron, the host of Dancing With the Stars announced yesterday on Good Morning America who would be joining the cast for the upcoming season of the show and it looks like it should make for a very fun and exciting year.
First announced was one of the most gorgeous models ever, and featured on one of the best selling Sports Illustrated issues ever is Kathy Ireland.
Next up, Grammy award winner and pop artist, the wonderful Macy Gray. She always has such relaxing music doesn’t she?
You might know the next actress as the star from both of the long running series of Clarissa Explains it All and Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Melissa Joan Hart. I actually never watched Sabrina the Teenage Witch, but Clarissa was on my TV every day after school.
The beautiful R&B winner and Grammy winner, Mya will also be taking to the dance floor this season. Starring in the film version of the musical “Chicago” and her experience with choreographing might help her out some, but it was mentioned that she has no experience in ballroom.
The son of George Hamilton, who by the way, took part in the second season of Dancing with the Stars, will be scuffing up the floor as well. Looks like Ashley Hamilton will follow in his fathers footsteps.
Are you ready for some Footballllllll! I mean.. Daaaaaance! Former wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys and football Hall of Famer, Michael Irvin will be tossing around his dance partner instead of the pigskin this time around.
You may know this next person as a host on the Food Network or The Iron Chef of America, Mark Dacascos. The dance floor is a long way from the kitchen!
And lastly, making a special appearance in the announcement video of Good Morning America, Donny Osmond who came onto the show just to announce himself.
Lots of big names this year, huh?
Here’s the full list of stars who’ll be appearing on the show this season.
There are two more stars in that list that I just can’t believe weren’t announced on the morning show and that’s Kelly Osbourne and Chuck Liddell. The daughter of Ozzy and The Iceman don’t get special mentions?
This is gonna be an amazing season!
5th Graders Doing the Tango
Author: Salsaholic
No this isn’t Salsa, but I thought is was just too fun not to post.
It’s always a lot of fun watching kids performing dance routines. They all look like they’re concentrating so hard, lol, but I’m sure they had lots of fun.
I hope they plan to continue learning how to dance. Maybe we’ll see these kids on So You Think You Can Dance one day!

