News!

Sun First Solar Where to begin with all the news? Well, let's start with the professional news - Anna is now employed by Sun First Solar (woohoo!). Anna is very excited to be part of this small but experienced company. Through their training she will be working in residential and commercial sales of photovoltaic and solar water heating systems. As well as responding to clients who come to Sun First, Anna will be reaching out to whole new sections of humanity who have not yet considered solar as an option for their house or business. This business development aspect is very exciting as it will directly create more "green" energy. If you, or someone you know, is considering solar and would like more information, please contact Anna at the email below.

Anna Volunteers In other news, Anna is volunteering on two different fronts. With the California primary so close at hand, she has become involved in the campaign to elect Senator Barach Obama. More thoughts on why here. As well, Anna is volunteering to help coordinate for Acterra's annual fundraiser, Party for the Planet. This event promises to be a fun night of dinner and dancing, with a silent auction to support Acterra's great environmental work. If you'd like more information on the event check here.

Anna and Gavin team up for Classes and Performances Gavin and Anna have known each other for 6 years, but only recently teamed up to practice, perform, and teach together. Anna is very excited to have found a local partner who is and old friend too! They have many plans - first off to expand the Thursday night Salsa classes and party at Steppin Out in Sunnyvale (if you haven't checked them out, please do!) They have already been performing on the salsa circuit, mostly recently in the Alberto's professional salsa contest where they qualified for the finals to be held on September 27th. Finally, they are preparing to compete in the American Rhythm category of Ballroom dance competitions. They have four out of five of their routines completed, and are looking forward to getting out on the competition floor soon. You can check Gavin's news at www.gsalsa.net, or see both dancers on Thursday at their group classes.

Anne Remsen = Anna Botelho If you were a little confused, yes, Anne Remsen has changed her name to Anna Botelho. This is in part due to her very happy marriage to Heraldo Botelho on June 16th, 2007.

Anna and Gavin to perform at the Puerto Rico Salsa Congress Anna and her new partner, Gavin Calkins, enjoyed performing at their first salsa congress, the Palm Springs Salsa Congress in August. They were happy with the good reviews and the invititation to return in January to perform again. Anna and Gavin are also excited to be invited to perform at the Puerto Rico congress in October. As Anna has never been to the Caribbean before, she is thrilled to have this opportunity to enjoy the beach.. and dance!

Upcoming Ballroom Dance Competitions Anna and her students are planning to dance at the local ballroom dance competition, the Autumn Dance Classic. This will be the third weekend of October in San Francisco at the Cathedral Hill Hotel. This competition is very friendly and local, please come out and enjoy watching some dancing!

Dance Week at Stanford Anne was invited back to teach at the Annual Stanford Dance Week and taught two morning classes, salsa and West Coast Swing. Anne had the pleasure of co-teaching with her partner, Gavin Calkins, and they had a great time passing on some challenging material to all the dance week participants. Good job to all who stuck with the classes - as they were quite fast paced!
Here are the videos of the routines that they covered: The Salsa routine with Counts
The Salsa routine with Music
The West Coast Swing routine with Counts
The West Coast routine with Music

Anne really enjoyed returning to Stanford and wish she could have stayed all week - thanks for the warm reception and enthusiasm.

A New Congress of Vienna Anne and Heraldo had a great time teaching at the June Friday Night Waltz in Palo Alto. For the first time ever they taught a new choreography to The Congress of Vienna, including all kinds of fun pivots, skates, spins, and wraps. Many people requested the notes to the choreography, and they are listed below. There were also requests for a video of the choreography, and that may happen in a month or so (after Anne and Heraldo are done getting married).
Here are the notes:
A New Congress of Vienna

Opening:
Bow and curtsey
Connect right to right with partner
Lady's Underarm Turn to Right to Shadow position

First section:
Two shadow position cross-steps, both begin with R foot
Lady double Underarm Turn to Right as man circles to closed position
(and fakes to first foot)
Wedding cake position, 2 full rotary waltzes (4 measures)
Skate, rotary, Skate, rotary
Free spin (cast off) to Shadow position (men fake to her foot)

Second section:
Four shadow position cross-steps, both begin with R foot
Two windmills (men fake as they return to closed position)
1 rotary (2 measures)
2 canter pivots
1 rotary
1 canter pivot and slide to 2 hand hold.

Wrap section:
Right to right handhold, lady turn half to left inbetween arms, then full right turn under arms ending with her back to man. One side to side waltz with left hand unwrapping, then right hand unwrapping.
Lady turn half to left to face partner on last measure.
Repeat wrapping man under arms.
Change to open hand hold one extra measure.
Lady dances underarm turn to right for double hammerlock, both travel forward around circle. Man switches to left shadow on last measure.
Lady ducks behind man's back and out other side. Both travel forward around circle, and she turn underarm left on last measure, ending with right to right connection.
First wrap is repeated.

Anne and Heraldo will definitely teach the choreography again for those who missed the class, and for all who would like a review.