Beaubourg et Hôtel de Ville: Centre de danse du Marais

I finally did it. Signed up for a salsa class as a belated birthday present to myself. I probably would have found a way to talk myself out of it, had the dance center not been right around the corner from my apartment.

The Centre de danse du Marais, though a bit more expensive than other dance centers in the city, has such charm that it's hard to not want to hang out there everyday. The building's grounds date back to the 1600s, and according to the center's website, the cobblestoned courtyard is original to the building. The classrooms, however, a bit more contemporary and were created in the 70S when the place was converted into a dance center. Now there is even a little café right next to the studio where, on sunny days, people come to have a drink and listen to the sounds of little ballet slippers hitting the hardwood floors above. The first time I came to the center, it was an exceptionally beautiful fall day and in the studio on the ground floor, a flamenco class was taking place with the help of live guitar players. I was immediately seduced. So far I have gone to two classes, Thursday evenings, and am learning Puerto Rican salsa, which according to my instructor, Wilson Sither, is a much richer and more elegant form of salsa than Cuban salsa. Don't know that I am particularly elegant looking at the moment, but I am stubbornly practicing and hope to eventually venture out to one of the many salsa clubs in Paris to put my lessons to work.

I can see myself becoming a dance addict her at the center. Everything looks like so much fun - from the flamenco classes to the African dance lessons (with live percussionists no less). For right now, though, salsa will have to do.

Maybe you'll see me on the live webcam: http://www.parisdanse.com/webcam.asp

Centre de danse du Marais
41, rue du Temple

Sometimes

Sometimes I wish I were still five years old. Unfortunately, I've outgrown the plastic sleds that usher these ruddy-cheeked babies down the artificial snow hill outside Hôtel de Ville.

Bored at work

This is what I look at when I'm bored at work


moar humorous pics

My Paris Idol

The other day I was walking down boulevard Montparnasse, on my way to buy stamps at the post office, completely oblivious to my surroundings, when I was suddenly jolted back into the reality of my Parisian life by the most amazing apparition: There she was, an almost microscopically sized little old lady, slightly stooped over, but totally rocking her leopard coat and vermilion patent leather boots. Her cat-eye glasses matched her bag and her thin gray hair was cropped in a stylish cut reminiscent of Jean Seberg (quite fitting because I saw her right at the junction of rue Campagne Premiere, where Jean- Paul Belmondo was shot down in A Bout de souffle). She was the epitome of style, despite being at least ninety years old. I have decided that when I grow up, I will be just like her.

Prince shops here (or at least he did in 1984)

Hmmm, seems like even the fashion capital of the world shouldn't be exempt from occasional raids by the fashion police....