I often try to explain to non-salsa-addicts what it's all about; you know how it is - those not in the know don't understand why we go out dancing so much; they have no idea why we spend entire weekends away learning about it; and they certainly don't comprehend why we talk about it so much..

But as the song goes..".if a picture paints a thousand words.." So I often give up on the word front and pull up something on You Tube so they can see for themselves. And the people I often pull up to illustrate "Salsa" are Tito and Tamara; there's one clip where they are at the Palladium and it looks like a modern version of those old fashioned variety shows - so much so if Frank Sinatra or Dean Martin appeared it would be absolutely no surprise it all - and suddenly there they are in dapper suit and swirling skirt all Latin spirit; and Puerto Rican rhythm and I'm thrown back into a glossy fifties Hollywood musical...

And I say, "See..!"

When I met them recently at the Mambo City Five Star Congress it struck me how differently dancing is viewed within the Puerto Rican culture to how it was perceived when I was growing up in the UK . I mean, lets face it from about 1961 to about 1990 (all dates approximate please don't write in.) partner dancing was definitely niche and has never been part of the mainstream culture. Although, these days it is improving, so fingers crossed and here's hoping..

But for Tito and Tamara they grew up in a world of music and dancing - it was always there and that's how they ultimately got into it Even if Tito needed a little bit of persuasion.

"I started dancing salsa because my parents encouraged me," he says "I was never into the salsa - I liked heavy metal and rap, but I had to dance because my father told me to when I was 17!

"I studied biology and wanted to do salsa on the side; but salsa became my life and biology became my hobby

He continues, "When I finished University I was doing some shows already in my fathers group. And I did study other kinds of dance in New York - I decided to do this to become a better and complete dancer; but I still wanted it to be on the side

When I came back to Puerto Rico I was still working in biology, but gradually the salsa took over"

And for Argentinean-born Tamara, her childhood love of dance was something she could never shake off

"I studied biology; I wanted to be a vet. But I have been dancing all my life and I found it hard to give up my dancing in favour of biology, so I became a dancer."

The couple met in New York at a concert and were introduced by a mutual friend. But that was that for three years until they met yet again in New York at yet another concert where they were both performing with other acts

They got together and the rest is history, but actually, according to Tamara, dancing with Tito was initially just a temporary arrangement.

"Tito had three dance partners before me," she explains, "the last one got married and I just began filling in for her until he found another partner"

But salsa didn't come naturally to classically trained Tamara,

"In salsa there are few rules" she says "I was used to things in black and white; in salsa there's no right or wrong - it's all about styles"

And in case you hadn't realised how steeped in dance Puerto Rico is, Tito actually runs a salsa dance programme for the government which is what tipped the balance between the biology- dancing debate

"The government wanted to put salsa on the sports programme," explains Tito, who was a fitness trainer at the time. "The classes were free and I started with 20 people eight years ago. I now have 200 students and four more teachers.

He continues, "I got that job because I had a degree; I started at it part time, but they offered it to me full time. So I gave up the other job."

And the couple don't restrict themselves to teaching ballet in Puerto Rico, either, and have opened a Dance school, separate from the government programme, called Rhythms, which teaches salsa, hip-hop, ballet and tap.

Obviously, ditching the biology was the right thing to do for both of them!

Says Tito

"This is my life. I feel so grateful to be on stage to meet new people, travelling, and sharing it with my wife. We are happy to make our career doing this."

Where's that You-Tube video again? Time for me to spread the salsa word once more..

http://www.titoortos.com/

Copyright Chris Penhall 2007

http://www.chrispenhall.co.uk/