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The Martha's Vineyard Times is a weekly publication.
March 31 - April 6, 2005 Edition
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Salsa steps lead to Puerto Rico March 31, 2005 By Julian Wise JoEllen Keaney and Mark Meuse have the salsa beat as they dance cheek to cheek at The Wharf last Thursday. Photos by Ralph Stewart Singer Barbara Intriago lends her talents to benefit student travel to Puerto Rico. Jamie Leon (left) and Trish Cell have fun learning the salsa steps. Hocine Khelalfa (left) and Jose Sanabria provided the music for the Salsa Night benefit. Sheila Fridman teaches dance steps to an enthusiastic crowd. Hips swayed to tropical beats as scores of salsa dancers swung and spun the night away at the Wharf in Edgartown last Thursday. A benefit for the Martha's Vineyard Regional High School's trip to Puerto Rico, the Dinner and Salsa Night was also one of the best nightlife bargains of the off-season. Guests paid $20 to enjoy dinner, live music by international recording artist Barbara Intriago, Salsa lessons with regional high school language teacher Sheila Fridman, and dance music by DJ's Khefala and Sanabria. Salsa nights have become frequent occurrences at the Wharf, led by the charismatic dance instructor Jose Sanabria. Mr. Sanabria and the musical volunteers lent their services to help nine students travel to Puerto Rico from April 13 to 20. The students will stay in San Juan, Aguadilla, and Fajardo, where their itinerary will include a cultural exchange with two high schools. The trip will also feature surfing in Vieques, ocean kayaking, and dancing in Old San Juan. Island artists and merchants donated items for a silent auction, including aikido lessons, 50 gallons of heating or kerosene oil, and a 30-minute violin concerto from high school student and trip participant Emma Conley. The combination of quality food, loud salsa music, and a mixed-age crowd lent the evening a light, spirited feel. Husbands and wives stepped out onto the dance floor while adolescents tried to grasp the salsa moves. Oak Bluffs School teacher Sandra Macias walked fifth-grader Peter Keaney through a series of basic steps as dancers twirled around them. As the night progressed, dancers became less tentative and attempted increasingly complicated spins and turns. By the end of the evening, Mr. Sanabria was promising enthusiastic dancers that there would be plenty more Salsa evenings to come. Spanish instructor and trip chaperone Lynn Ditchfield said the event reflected the generosity of the community at large. “It was fun to get such support from Wharf owner Will Coogan,” she said. “He was a former student of mine at MVRHS. It was great to have him and others come out to support and party with us.” Julian Wise is a frequent contributor to The Times, specializing in music, film, and the performing arts.

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