TED 03 | The Highs of Festivals, the Flow of Energy with Grace Clay

Episode 3

Grace Clay is a local Bristol bath dancer. She has been dancing for nearly 10 years now, and you are just as likely to see Grace at a local midweek event as at a National Congress Weekender. Grace is a familiar face wherever she goes. She is a triple threat of salsa, bachata, and kizumba. Welcome, Grace. 

Thank you very much for having me, Bobbie. I'm really pleased to be here.  I love getting to have some local, local dancers on with me. It's really nice.  So, Grace, why don't you start us off by telling us how did you get into salsa, bachata, kizomba, any of it? I used to really love Latin music. So if I passed the bar or somewhere and I heard Latin music going on, I would just set me off and I would start dancing.

So yeah, I, um, I, uh, Googled and I joined them, um, in 2014, um, in July 2014, and I have not looked back since then.  Did it hook you in like it hooked me? Like, I started and I just thought, I need more of this.  Looking and looking for more.  That's right. So I set foot, um, at Bath Salsa and I remember seeing all these lovely dancers and I thought, Oh my God, this is amazing. 

Um, um, the learning wasn't straightforward to start with, but after six months, I remember the, um, the host, um,  Um, took me from beginner class into the improvers, and that was the turning point. Yay! Um, I think it was the quality of the, the dancers and the lead. They somehow did something, and I felt confident that I could actually dance with the more experienced people, and that was it.

And I was hooked. In 2017, I joined a team that used to do all three classes.  At a venue in Bristol every Thursday and I, um, I would do Cuban Salsa and then Bachata and then Kizomba or the other around depending on which class was, um, first. And, um, I got really confident in all three classes.  That's a lot in one night! 

I know! Um, so they used to start at 8 until 12 and I would drive back. But I worked in Bath at that point, so it would be closer for me to move from Bath to, um, travel from Bath to  there and then back home.  Yeah, but, um, so that's how I got into the Latin dance, and, um, uh, I have just, I think every day that goes on, I get more and more hooked.

So I, I, as you probably know, I, I venture out, you know, to national festivals.  places like London now. And, um, yeah, I go to festivals and big events. So, um, it's remained very much a part of my life now, this lesson. And I'm really enjoying myself. So, yeah. Fantastic.  And this past year, so 2023 into 24, has been like festival central for you.

It has indeed, yeah, um, for whatever reason, I just, I think after booking that Saw We Kiss, I felt the buzz and I thought, ooh, um, it was almost addictive and I thought, well, I need to book the next one and then next month. Saw We Kiss, that was 100 percent Kazumba.  That was 100 percent Kizomba, so yeah, um, and it was the first time I had actually attended a,  like, a, a single style event, um, uh, and, um, I didn't think I would enjoy it as much as I did, but I, I loved it,  and I think partly, um, If not, one of the major reasons is because, um, the quality of dancers was so high, and we had national teachers and international teachers, and also all the national dancers came, and we were all under one roof. 

So, um, you know, we all don't, you know, as a follower, when you're led with like a really good, good lead, you know, your experience is different, isn't it? Massively, yeah.  You get the best time on the dance floor, don't you?  You're made to feel like, you know, you can  dance and you, you know, it's a different experience, isn't it?

Yeah, it gives that extra empowerment and confidence  because they've got you, you've got them. Yeah, that's right. That empowerment and confidence. You feel like you can do it. You are amazing.  And so these people are really good because they make you look amazing. Because I was actually chatting to one of the leads and they said, My job is to make a lady look elegant and beautiful when they dance and I was like, Oh, that's really interesting. 

Yeah, that is interesting. It's, yeah, that team teamwork involved. It's cool.  Yeah, it definitely was. Um, and for me, I was, I was so happy. I was like, uh, I looked back at my photos and I was like, my God,  that was the biggest smile I was giving for this throughout the whole weekend. It was really, really good. I felt so, it was amazing.

It was, it was, it's just the atmosphere, I think. But also, I think, for me, um, what makes the good festival is the quality of dancing and the, um, the environment, really. Um, when you connect with people and you are able to, um,  to, to be yourself, as long as you connect with people, that's, for me, that's, that's, that, that makes a perfect festival.

I think. Yeah. You don't have to worry about how you're turning up. Like, are you,  am I smiling enough? Am I interactive enough with my conversations? It's just, it all comes together. That's  right. That's the. You come as however you feel. That's right. Exactly. That's. 

So if you had to pick between, or you had to rate them, which one's the highest? So if you can't pick, I think it's impossible, but if you had to rate  dancers.  environment or teachers, where do you think the order comes for you in making a great festival?  Goodness, I, I am so tempted to say all three. Oh, it's so difficult.

It's so difficult. Uh, but um, if I was to really choose, I would say the dancers. Yeah. And then the second would be the environment  is that you can have the best dancers, but if you're  If the environment is not right, you know, if the energy of the people around you is not right, then your whole experience will be nothing.

Definitely. So, I think the environment and then the teachers put a lot into making sure that the students get the best out of the teaching. Yes. Um, and they connect with the students a bit more and, you know, uh, and they know exactly what the students need. Uh, looking for or want or what the needs of the students are.

Yes. And that can be quite hard to pitch at a festival  when you have 50 things going on at any one time anyway. Exactly. And you're working out how to pitch this room you don't know. Yeah, it's quite,  I don't envy them.  Exactly. And people at different levels. And how many times you'll be an improver but you'll end up at an intermediate class. 

If ever that happens, I'm thinking, I spend the first 10 minutes going, should I be here? Should I be here? Should I bail? Should I be here? Trying to decide. And sometimes I have gone, no, I'm bailing. This is nope. Just walk away. I do imagine the job that teachers have to make sure that we all get the same experience, you know, even though we're at different levels, so I really salute them. 

So, um, I would say all three, but I think I will, if I had to pick, he'll be the dancers, the environment, and then the teachers,  because everybody goes there to learn. So, for those who are social dancers, then yeah,  if they get the environment side of things, then they get the dancers to obviously, um, um, enhance their experience.

And then for those who go there to learn, they've got the teachers looking after them. So, I guess that's it. Yeah, they are all quite interwoven. You're dead right. Um, yeah, they kind of all feed into each other and feed off of each other. They do. They do. Yeah, they do. They do.  So, yeah. Um, I think it'll be in that order if I was to choose,  I think at the moment I agree with you on that order.

Yeah. Oh, that's good.  the same. I don't have to agree with you. You don't have to agree with me  . Yeah. So, yeah. I'm glad we're on the same page.  , uh, it happens every now and then. And then your winter's been non sort I feel like every month since November. You've been somewhere. You've been, you were at Wolf in before the end of the new end of the year. 

Oh God, I forgot about WOLF. WOLF was a big one.  Um, but that's different in so many ways. Tell us. It's an emerging festival. Um, last year was its fifth edition. And, um, it moved from Devon to Weston Super Mare. And so, yes, last year was the first time that it was held in Weston Super Mare. Oh, and for those who don't know, WOLF is the Winter Afro Latin Festival.

That's right. Um, thank you, Bobby. And, um, and it's different because it's new, but it's also, um, it's salsa, bachata,  kizomba, but it focuses more on the salsa and the kizomba side. Ooh, yeah, that's an interesting combo. Yeah, but it's also very, it's smaller compared to others, because I guess it's just emerging and it's still that intimate. 

Environment where Oh, that's nice. Where you all feel like a family, that family kind of, uh, you know, atmosphere, that's quite a special atmosphere to create. Yeah. So I guess that's what makes it different from all of the others.  Just like, so we kids, they were all the bloke, the majority of them were really top instructors.

So, um, for those who dance kids on, but even souther actually, um,  you were guaranteed really good dances.  Because we're dancers. We're the best.  The best dancers being the instructors.  Yeah, and the, the guest teachers, um. That is wonderful when, when you've got the guest teachers and instructors  out there keen to dance with everyone.

That's right, and they were out there all the time, and it was amazing. That's special. It was really amazing. You never, like, it was non stop dancing. And so,  for anyone who hasn't been, I would really, um, recommend that, you know, you try this year.  I have heard many lovely things from, like, various different people over the past couple of months of how much fun it was.

So I'm looking forward to the winter already. Yeah,  are you going probably? Yes, I'm going to go this year. Ah, that's good. Yeah, you'll see for yourself. I had the best salsa dances, the best kizomba dances. I left feeling like I was a pro of kizomba. Yes, that's the feeling we want.  Yeah, because of how, because of the quality of the dancers and all the instructors there.

It creates this synergy where  you feel amazing, therefore you are amazing. That's right, that's right. And um, yeah, you want to carry that up, you know, that feeling. You leave there with that feeling and, you know, you just want to carry on feeling like that.  That's the addictive part, isn't it? That's right, and it's one thing that will make you go back.

Yes. Because we all want to feel great, you know, that environment that we were talking about, you know, that's so important, isn't it? Yeah, definitely. I'll have to work on my kuzumba throughout the year then. So I've only just done my first kuzumba lesson a few weeks ago at the Bristol Salsa Congress. And it was great.

It was fun. So I followed a little bit when someone's like, let's dance, and I say, okay, great, I'll follow, but I have no Kids number skill. Um, but this was my first time doing a lesson and it was really lovely. I enjoyed it. Did you like it? I'm glad. That's a good, that's a good place to start because you've got to enjoy. 

Yeah.  The type of class that you do, yeah. Yeah, because it's that one step closer than bachata, I think I've been a little bit nervous of trying it.  Hmm, yeah. But actually, from that one lesson, I could see there is still, A personal space.  There is. And it's not always the, um, it's not always as scary as, and it doesn't always have to be closer or close to close.

You know, there are all sorts of various versions of Kisomba that you can do. Yeah, I was looking back at my videos actually of the ABC jigsaw, I took some, although I haven't posted and I was looking at how different leads led me and I was like, oh my god, kizomba is so varied.  Yes, I've only started to learn how varied it is. 

The first I came across it when Hanalor posted in the empowered dances about different kinds of kizomba.  And I thought, gosh, there's, there's so many different variations. It was like a rabbit hole of videos for me for that evening of looking at all these different styles and it, it seems.  Far more styles than in bachata, for example, I think.

Would you agree? Yeah, I do agree. And oh God, your learning is, is impressive. You actually get into the, all the, the bits about learning all the different, you know, I love a learning session, . Yeah. I'm only just, even though I've, I've, you know, done number, well, I'm, I'm, I'm an improver each.  Um, dancer. Um, I haven't actually gone into, you know, deeply as to sort of  finding out  what sort of different styles, even, even learning musicality in Kizomba.

I'm still, I'm yet to do that. Um, and it has so much depth that people don't know about, you know, so when you see adverts for Kizomba, you'll see things like Tarashinya, or Tarashio,  or, um, Kompa, all these different things, and you'll think, Gosh, what is that? But if you go and find out, you'll see how varied the dances are.

There's urban kizomba, which is like a fusion,  and a mixture of, um, like pop with, um,  Some traditional zomba. Okay. The music. Yeah. Some, some, some musicality is, is similar but also very different. Mm-Hmm. . Um, and you might just get away with dancing, urban kids music. You might Yeah. Uh, dancing zomba with urban kids music because the beats are very similar, but, um. 

You have, if you know it, you will know that, you know, various, like, just like salsa, Cuban salsa, for example, when you hear the beats, you know that this is how you need to style yourself, or you, this is how you need to dance. The same is Kizomba, so you have, you know, you interpret the music just like Bachata as well, you know.

Yeah, so you have, you know, it's interesting, if you're into learning, you're gonna be very impressed with how varied it is. Love it. I think that's what's so good about dancing, whether you get to improve or intermediate, whatever level, label, we want to call ourselves.  Or even if people are dancing 20 years and they're advanced dancers, there's always more to learn, whether it's a sidestep to a style like you've been explaining or just going further into the depth of things.

There's always More to get. That's right, there's so much room for improvement. Even these performers, they will never stop learning. And then you were at Bristol, we were both at Bristol South for Congress a couple of weeks ago. Yeah, that was already a month ago.  Magical. Oh, I, I just, I loved, I loved being there.

And I think it was my best. For some reason, I've been there in previous years before the pandemic. But this year, for some reason, I don't know if it was because it was post pandemic, but  I felt I felt the presence more than I, you know, I did in previous years theme of the um, um, festival's, musicality and it, that actually was reflected throughout the teaching and the music that,  yeah.

So I think I do agree with that. Definitely. Yeah. 'cause it was builder's musicality focus and lessons did Yeah. Musicality was very clearly permeated through a lot of the teaching, um, which. It's great. I love it when it says it's going to do A and then it delivers A. Great. Yeah. It was. It did deliver. It did deliver.

And I felt like it just,  they delivered what they promised and perhaps even beyond.  That's always a win.  Yeah. Perhaps it's just me. I don't know. Maybe because I just love being in a festival, but I know it was, it was one of the good ones. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Cause you stayed all night. Oh, and was it Saturday night? 

I feel like I rolled in Sunday and you hadn't gone home yet.  No, I didn't get home. Again, I didn't, I wasn't there for the whole weekend, but I did Friday. Um, and I was there, I was the last one to leave on Saturday morning, um, and,  and I did Saturday, and I was the last to leave on Sunday morning. Oh my goodness!

I don't know, I, you know,  I, this is it, I'm one dancer who will go all out. In fact, I'm like that in real life. But if you feel that vibe and you're feeling that connection with the event, then you're Yeah, go all in. Why not? I just keep going. I just go all out. I just, you know, I just make the most of it until my body says enough. 

My trouble is hearing my body. I feel like as long as I keep dancing, I don't check in with myself. And then when I finally stop for something, I think, Oh my goodness, I'm shattered. I need to go now. I'm the same. I'm the same. I'm exactly the same. It's just like one of those comments you put on your Facebook page about, um,  Avoiding certain, um, dance rooms, well, you go with your energy when you, you are at a dance room.

Yes, yeah, yeah, like we were talking about, yeah. Yeah, yeah, that's right, because, you know, you, you're, you're, you're very aware of  the fact that if you, if your energy levels are low, you need to stay at a certain dance room. Yes. Because you pace yourself. Very much so. Um, and I was like that at the ABCD event where, um, Um, because I had started on Thursday, I was there from Thursday, by the way.

Well, you're Queen, wasn't? I don't know about Queen.  Oh my God, by Friday, I was shattered, and so I wasn't feeling it for salsa at all. And salsa was my main dance, so I thought, I'll just stay in the bachata room, that'll do me fine. Yeah. And that's where I stayed throughout.  That was it, you didn't leave then. 

Oh man. That was the only shit I've ever said. It is, um, it is, I would like, I would have liked them to be, because I had, I think I had danced myself out, doing, um, doing  styles on, on Thursday, I think,  and, um,  On Friday night, I think I did a couple of, what was it, three dances, and that was it. I, I felt like  the energy levels have, have dropped completely, and all I needed was just being in a room where I don't have to make as much effort,  like being in the Cuban salsa or even just normal salsa, and yeah, so yeah, it was interesting about the energy bit that you mentioned. 

How well timed!  I don't know, but I tend to, yeah, I tend to go with it. I, I, I, I forget if that is you, I forget to check in with my body and then suddenly it will hit me that, you know, I'm actually very tight. Yeah. I can't do it anymore. Yeah. Yeah, I'm definitely that way. A lot of events the last couple of years where I will get to a certain point, okay, not 5 AM like you.

And I think, Oh, okay, we're dipping. Let's go find some bachata where it can have its bounce, but it will, it will never involve all of those spin frame, freeze frame, turn frame. What  is  that mental focus as well? Yeah, there's so much. I'm so glad you said that because I, I've always found that salsa needs a lot of, um, you know, focusing and sort of, you know.

You have to really be focusing to give yourself and the, you know, partner a good dance.  Definitely. Yeah, when I know some people will say that following is the easier path than leading, but you try following a fast salsa and come and tell me that again.  They both have their challenges.  Do you have any other events coming up  this year, any weekenders and festivals that you're thinking, right, I'm going to go to this one? 

Um, I've got my eye out for the Mambo City in May. Ah, yes. Um, so that one, because of the experience of the ABCD where I've been left completely wiped out, I think I'll just do this Saturday. Or,  and I haven't actually booked anything, or just the socials, the three night socials. Yeah. I'm not sure about any other yet.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yeah, we're in February. See how we go.  I know. Well, thank you so much for your time today, Grace. It's been wonderful having you.  You've made me laugh a lot.  Oh, really? Oh, gosh, I'm so glad that it turned out to be a good interview.  Oh, wonderful. Yeah, really lovely. And thank you for telling us all about  the different values that are in festivals and different ones you've been to.

It's been really lovely.  You're welcome. And thank you so much for having me.  You are most welcome as well.  Take care. Take care. Bye bye. Thank you for listening to the Empowered Dancers podcast. If there's an aspect of the dancing you would like to hear about, or a particular teacher you would like to hear from, drop me a message and I will try to make it happen.

Make sure you subscribe to get every episode as it comes out.  so much for the comments and questions you are already sharing. I really, really appreciate it and I look forward to serving you in next week's episode.