¿Que
Pasa?
Magazine catches up with Felipe Polanco Puerto
Rican dancer, choreographer AND dance teacher.
| ¿Que
Pasa?: ¿Que Pasa?: Give us a brief
history of your dance background.
I
started as an amateur dancer at the age
of 14. I used to go to popular festivals
in Puerto Rico where I learned watching
other dancers, especially those from my
hometown, Carolina. It wasn't until 1992
that I made my professional debut as a dancer
and choreographer of the Jala Jala Dancers,
in Puerto Rico.
With them I had the opportunity to perform
with some of the best-known Porto Rican
orchestras. Some years later I founded my
own dance troupe:
Felipe Polanco y sus Bailadores de Akí,
whose first performance was at
El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico's 35th
|
 |
anniversary.
With my troupe I participated at Puerto Rico's Salsa
World Congress in 1997. Since then, I have developed
my career as a professional dancer and choreographer.
¿Que Pasa?: Who were your teachers and how
much influence did they have on your dance career?
As
I said before, I learned watching others dance...
I'm a big admirer of dancers such as Aníbal
Vázquez, Roberto Roena and Papito Jala
Jala.
¿Que
Pasa? When did you realise you wanted to become
a dancer?
I
love dancing since I was a kid. It's not easy
to make a living as a dancer. I had never dreamt
of it since I never attended a professional training.
While I studied my degree I danced as an amateur
and it was in 2002 that I decided to become a
full-time dancer.
¿Que
Pasa?: Do you include parts of your routines when
you teach salsa at your classes?
No,
I don't think it's appropriate to teach my routines
at my classes. When I teach dancing I don't aim
to bring up professional dancers; I just try to
get my students to express themselves on the dance
floor so they can enjoy when they go out dancing.
¿Que
Pasa?: How would you describe your dance style?
I
would describe it as elegant and sabroso (spicy)
at the same time, preserving the essence of salsa,
feeling the music.
¿Que Pasa? Where else have you performed
in your career and with whom?
In
the course of my career I've danced with my dance
partners in many different countries such as Japan,
Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, USA...
 |
Que
Pasa?: What do you think of the Salsa scene
in some of the countries you have been teaching,
for example Italy and France?
Salsa
is now at its peak, especially here in Europe
where the public has easy access to the
latest releases of the main salsa bands.
¿Que Pasa? You are originally from
Puerto Rico. What made you leave Puerto
Rico and set up a life in France?
In
2000 I signed up to participate at Paris
Salsa Congress and I fell in love
|
with
the city. The following year I was invited again
and established a professional networking. Finally,
in 2002, I decided to move to Paris for good.
¿Que
Pasa?: How do you find living in France? Do you
miss Puerto Rico?
I
love Paris! And although I miss Puerto Rico and
my family here in Paris I feel like home.
¿Que
Pasa?: How does working as an artist in Puerto
Rico compare to working as an artist in Europe?
I'm
in no position to compare working as an artist
in Puerto Rico and in Europe since I left my country
eight years ago. But I guess it's similar everywhere:
you need to work hard for a living.
¿Que
Pasa?: How do you see the future of Salsa in Europe?
Salsa
music nowadays enjoys a worldwide success. Regarding
salsa as a dance, I think it's loosing a little
bit of its original spirit... And it's our responsibility
as dancers to preserve it, no matter our dance
style.
¿Que
Pasa?: You are due to perform and teach in London
in The 2nd World Salsa Championship June 2011.
What can we expect from you?
The
responsibility, sensibility and respect towards
the public that I've always been known-for in
my performances and classes.
Share
.Ronnie
Raul
© January 30, 2011
