Syracuse salsa community welcomes you to learn some dance moves! Every Monday night Epicuse hosts three-hour free dance sessions organized by Mark Capria.
Transcript
POLINA SHEMANOVA: These are the sounds you hear at the downtown restaurant Epicuse every Monday night… Salsa… Three hours of uncontrolled fun… But why Monday night?
MARK CAPRIA: People were just so happy to do something on a Monday night, it was like a continuation of the weekend.
SHEMANOVA: Mark Capria is the founder of Monday Night Salsa, which is open to everyone no matter their skill level. And it’s free!
CAPRIA: I’d rather share and honor the culture, rather than possibly profit off of it or exploit it in any way.
SHEMANOVA: Monday Night Salsa is a place of pure happiness and relief for dance instructor Robert Okun.
ROBERT OKUN: This is the most beautiful place to come and dance every Monday after work…
SHEMANOVA: However, teaching dance is not Okun’s primary job. He is a construction worker. But dancing is his passion.
OKUN: Dancing for me is everything, you know… I think in the morning…
SHEMANOVA: Contemplating between a pair of red or black pans.
OKUN: What should I put at night because I’m ready to go dancing…
SHEMANOVA: Okun’s partner, Myla Bseirani, is the co-owner and accountant at Life Amplified Solutions spa. Bseirani values the salsa community.
MYLA BSEIRANI: Salsa, at least for me, is an extension of family. It’s where we just go and dance, and have fun, and not think about work or stress…
SHEMANOVA: At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter if you are a construction worker, an accountant, or just a pedestrian, because salsa is available for everyone. In Syracuse, I’m Polina Shemanova, NCC News.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — When the pandemic seems to subside, it’s now time to bring the Syracuse salsa community back together. Tasting room “Epicuse” located in downtown Syracuse hosts Monday Night Salsa events organized by Mark Capria.
Every Monday night from 6 to 9 p.m. anyone can master salsa dance moves. It’s completely free! Instructor-led session lasts the first hour, followed by the next two hours of uncontrolled fun. In case you need some fuel during dancing, Epicuse will gladly offer you food and drinks.
Even though the event is called Monday Night Salsa, its founder Mark Capria said all types of Latin dances have been implemented.
“What we do is, every week we rotate instructors,” said Capria. “One week we have an instructor who teaches salsa, and then the following week we learn bachata. So we learn a lot of different Latin dances.”
Remember, the dance floor is open for everyone! So, if you’ve never danced before or dancing is not your primary occupation, it’s okay! Dance instructor Robert Okun has a construction business as his main job; however, dancing is something he thinks about the second he wakes up every morning.
“Salsa, Latin music… It changed my life,” Okun said. “It makes me happy every day, when I wake up, I just think about what I’m gonna do after work and it is dancing. Just come and dance, enjoy time with friends, and learn. Even though I teach dancing, I still learn something new every day.”
If you think you don’t have time for salsa, ask Okun’s dance partner Myla Bseirani how she can do it all! Co-owner and accountant at Life Amplified Solutions spa and a professional bodybuilder starts her day bright and early before she gets to Monday Night Salsa.
“You make time,” Bseirani said. “First thing in the morning, I get up at 4 a.m. and lift in my basement, then I deal with taxes, I work a lot of hours, and I add salsa to it. And I absolutely love it. It’s all about priorities.”
Still looking for ways to extend your weekend and make new friends? The answer is simple – Monday Night Salsa.