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Ashanti Altovese - professional dancer and instructor

Fake. Definition: To be false. Why is it that being false gets such a bad wrap? There are so many great things that come from fakeness. Fake breast, hair, nails, tans, fur, eye color and lashes, lips, butts, curves, jewelry, handbags, etc. What difference does it really make in the end? After all, the eye is trained to pick up on the prettiness, the glitz, and the glamour. It doesn’t really care that it’s not what you think it is. It’s true that American society has idealized beauty standards to make women go the brinks of insanity to accomplish this image of perfection. But the smart ones know that it doesn’t take millions to achieve “The Look”. In the end, fake is fabulous because it’s economic and it gets the job done.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not advocating that women should sell their souls to the Beauty devil. Simply that there is nothing wrong with looking and feeling good and fakeness can help you get there. My motto is it takes millions to look cheap and cents to look like a million-heiress. As long as you now how to take care of them, fake items can last a long time and pay back a hundred times over what you spent.

Let’s start with the foundation that every woman must know: no matter what you look like on the outside, if the inside is ugly, the outside follows suit. So the key to true glamour is working on developing the inner goddess of confidence, self-love, and spiritual balance. With these in line, you can change your outer appearance to whatever your mood is on any given day and still be completely true to yourself. To begin fostering a healthy inner goddess, dedicate a minimum of a half hour for alone time, light some candles, turn off the lights, get in front of mirror and turn on some slow, mellow, relaxing music. Close your eyes and let your hands follow every curve on your body while breathing deeply and meditating on positive thoughts. Repeat this process once a week or more to build and maintain a strong inner spiritual core.

Listening to whom you are inside is crucial to defining your own personal style. Once you determine who you are, you can begin taking steps toward creating your own brand of fashion. Remember, don’t keep up with The Joneses, be The Joneses. Decide your brand of chic, sophisticated, sexy, street, modern, urban, or conservative and then accessorize your perfect inner goddess with a trend-setting outer appearance. Costume jewelry, synthetic wigs, press-on nails, and no name shoes can look awesome when you wear it with an attitude of, “Bitches I’m here!” Next thing you know, you’re on the cover of a magazine for best dressed because you’re setting the standards of celebrity.

So take notes ladies, fake is fabulous as long as you’re being your authentic self and wearing confidence, not a name brand. Wearing a name is only making someone else rich! Wearing confidence makes you a million-heiress because of your attitude and positive energy, which can’t be bought. Therefore, fake it out and let the haters hate because you’re doing it well.

Chihuahua

The popular film “Beverly Hills Chihuahua” has created quite a stir for the state of California. It appears that droves of people throughout the state ran out and purchased this cute and cuddly dog after viewing the movie. Once people discovered the amount of personal and financial care that goes into being a pet-owner of the small wonder, owners across the state abandoned their dogs at local animal shelters. Now, California authorities are transporting hundreds of Chihuahuas to shelters in various states across the country for adoption by loving families. Just look at those affectionate brown eyes, perky ears, and that pouty nose. You know you want one! Bring a little sunshine into your life with a special pint-sized friend; not because it looked cute in the movie, but because you have the means and desire to provide a loving home to man’s best friend.

Motorists

What is your biggest concern when you enter your car? For most, safety during transport is of the utmost importance, but a growing population across the nation have shifted their priorities from proper vehicle safety to mobile entertainment transport. With the invention of devices such as the iPod, PSP, Droid, and the iPhone, drivers have become extremely distracted with behaviors usually reserved for home entertainment. There was a time when the most you had to worry about while driving was drunk drivers, but now texting, eating, make-up application, talking, and grooming have taken over as some of the most distracting habits for drivers. Is plain driving just to boring? Are there not enough seconds in the day that we need to complete home activities in our cars? What we need is a motorist make-over. Drivers of all generations but especially the latest that have grown up in a world of individual entertainment technology must understand the importance of focusing solely one activity at a time while driving, and that activity is driving – not with one eye on the road and the other on the iPhone watching the score, or one knee on the wheel, one hand with a coffee cup, and the other hand checking a text message. Think about it. Isn’t your life worth driving for?

Charlie Sheen - actor

Who is the luckiest man in the world? Michael Jordan? Tiger Woods? Obama? Bill Gates? None of the above! Charlie Sheen takes the cake in my book as he continues to ride the roller coaster of hitting rock bottom and coming back again to rule on top. For as long as I can remember Mr. Sheen has been in the news headlines not for his acting prowess but for the public ousting of his personal needs and afflictions. From battles with drug addiction to paying for sexual favors and now accusations of domestic violence, Charlie has fought with many demons during his past and present. Regardless of the demons, fine women continue to come in and out of his life, vowing to spend forever with the troubled actor only to dramatically end the relationships in a trail of broken glass. Where is the love? The latest wife to call 911 is Brooke Mueller Sheen, a real estate investor and the mother of Sheen’s twin boys. Mr. Sheen is currently out on bond and awaiting trial on the domestic violence charges. Let’s see where this trail leads as another hot woman bites the dust of love gone wrong.

Ashanti Altovese - professional dancer and instructor

So, everyone wants to know the secret: The secret to becoming rich and famous. The secret to living a long life without debt, disease, divorce, or death. The secret to having everything your heart desires. Can you imagine living a life where what you dream becomes reality? Where your daydreams are actually premonitions of what’s to come? Well, that’s living “Rich, Pretty, Happy, and Healthy”. Really there is no secret to it. If you think of it, we all have a salvation. For some it’s a friend, or a family member, a pet, a television show, a book, a religion, take your pick. For me, it was Salsa. The dance and the rhythm captured my soul and lead me to this place. My story is The Salsa Salvation….

Ashanti Altovese Griffin

Ashanti Altovese - professional dancer and instructor

Allure…
That ever mysterious aura of a women that makes you wonder,
“Who is that girl?”
So sweet yet strong, you feel her independence as she walks away, her eyes saying,
“Yes, I know you want it…”
Sensual and classy with a stride that commands attention when she walks in the room
Fire and ice as she burns up the dance floor with a smooth style only known as…
Altovese Allure

Want to get some?

By Ashanti Altovese

Ashanti Altovese - professional dancer and instructor

Hola Salseros,

Have you ever experienced the spiritual nature of Salsa? The pop of the clave can bring you to a higher place when you just let go and allow the rhythm to move you. You’re not just doing steps that you were taught, you are dancing and it’s a magical place. For me, Salsa has a strong spiritual element that transformed my life from a state of insecurity to a position of confidence and empowerment. Salsa was my salvation from fear and this is my testament to the spiritual journey that I traveled through Salsa.

As people develop from their childhood years into adulthood, life can bring many challenges that test the will and character. Some people fall and learn from their mistakes while others stay on a path that leads to confusion and self-pity. In the end, it’s all a choice. We can make a choice to succeed in the face of adversity or fall short because of fear. Fear of failure, rejection, and the unknown all lead to a place of insecurity, anxiety, and a lack of self-confidence. Fear can be developed from traumatic experiences and it can be instilled from the surrounding environment. Regardless of the case, fear is a disease that can kill from the inside out – taking an internal hold of the spiritual and mental psyche while showing its presence in the emotional and physical domain. My fear stemmed from childhood abuse, physical and sexual, poverty, and a void of my father’s presence in my life growing up.

There were many blessings provided to me that I was aware of in my younger years. Some were natural such as high intelligence, strong artistic ability, athleticism, and good health. Others were a matter of circumstance like having a grandmother that provided a warm home and food when my family was in need. Those blessings gave me a better perspective on how to use positive elements to combat negative ones when looking to attain a goal or dream. The cultural I grew up in guided my mind to think, act, and respond in a certain way to situations I was presented with. For example, children are to be seen and not heard, never question authority, follow what is told to you and not what is shown to you, and mistakes bring the highest penalty of corporal punishment. These cultural norms fostered a mentality of oppression, self-doubt, strict obedience, and non-communication for lack of trust in the adult or parental figure. My mentality lead me to anxiety and doubt regarding my body image, questioning of my self-worth, and wanting attention to feel important and special. Eventually it lead to a series of bad decisions and situations I put myself in to feed my fears.

Overall, I wanted to be a part of the crowd. I wanted to have more material things as well as popularity. I wanted to be liked more than respected and I wanted to fit the image of beauty that was shown in the media. As I went into my college years, I acted in ways that supported all of my insecurities. I was on a path to self-destruction through sexual promiscuity and trusting those who assisted in my self-destruction. I was a lost soul and began to feel like I didn’t deserve to have peace because I was allowing myself to be taken advantage of by people who saw my weaknesses and used them for their own benefit. In short, I felt stupid and alone. The realization of my actions and the path I was on came to its peak on one fateful night when I had a nightmare that woke me up in a cold sweat. I received a message from a man who told me I had tested positive for HIV. I was stunned and collapsed on the floor. This dream had a special meaning because two members of my family passed from HIV, a young cousin who was born with it and her father, my uncle, who contracted it through sexual activity. Watching a child and a full-grown man slowly deteriorate from the disease had a lasting effect on me, but I was doing everything right to have the same experience as my passed loved ones. I needed to change and I needed to change immediately.

Dance had always been apart of my life and I enjoyed it for sport as well as self-expression. I grew up watching public television and Ballroom competitions and Ballet showcases were something I anxiously awaited to watch. I imagined myself as being one of those beautiful dancers moving so gracefully and having the confidence to entertain while being grounded in their own character. I thought they were special and gave something back to their audiences. I had a little ballet and gymnastics training and was on the pon pom team in high school. But college is when I had my first introduction to Salsa. I went to a SummerDance event in Grant Park in Chicago and my life changed forever. I watched a dance team perform a short number and I fell in love. The women were lovely and elegant, the body movement was sensual but classy, and I enjoyed watching it. I knew I had found something, I knew my salvation was here. Soon after that I was going to Salsa clubs that had free lessons and I would stay and dance for practice. I danced every single day for one summer until I felt like I understood the musicality, the basics, and the fundamentals of the dance and the rhythm. Later I ended up joining a dance team and began teaching and performing. I was so happy because Salsa empowered me.

Salsa allowed me to find courage and be my true person from within. It further cultivated my spirit of perseverance to continue learning, dreaming, and achieving to reach my goals of being a professional in all that I do. It utilized my education and discipline to help me become polished and understand the meaning behind what is presented. And, it allowed me to increase my self-knowledge and be comfortable in my own skin. This was a gradual process that took ten years in the making and continues to this day. As I spiritually developed through Salsa, all other aspects of my life improved such as my personal relationships with family and friends, my technical career, and my health. I pulled from my Salsa dance experience to be creative at work in problem solving, speaking and presenting in public, and leading projects. Additionally, Salsa allowed me to network with people of all backgrounds that I could converse with and learn from. I have so much and more because of Salsa and I feel it truly has healing powers.

It’s important to remember that as humans, we are not perfect. We never know what choice we will make when a situation is presented to us. But, with our values in line, we can be prepared to battle in those tough moments when our will and character is tested. I feel that Salsa has made me a stronger person and has given me an outlet to express my sensuality, fashion sense, and dance ability. It can be a beacon of light for those looking to pull themselves out of a place where the path is lost. I think it’s important to share our learning with others so that they understand the power of communication and to know that they too can find a way to a place of inner peace. It’s a special feeling that we shouldn’t take for granted. Salsa truly is more that a dance, it’s a lifestyle and was my salvation to finding love, health, and wealth.

Ashanti Altovese

Professional dancer and instructor Ashanti Altovese Griffin

Dance is exercise that can be hard on the body, especially the feet. To give feet the love and attention they need after a barefoot workout of Afro-Cuban dance, Belly dance, or Samba, slide your feet into a pair of Reebok Easytone shoes. Reebok’s Easytone shoes are comfortable, light, and literally cushion and massage feet while toning leg muscles, which is perfect for a dancer!

Reebok’s revolutionary shoe technology of “Balance Pods” creates natural instability. This allows the body to tone muscle while walking through muscle activation in three key areas of the leg. How amazing is that? Dance and tone, walk and tone, or run and tone. Either way the body is working out and the legs are getting sexy. Be the envy of every housewife on the block with Reebok’s Easytone shoes.

Dance fashion is best when it’s practical and these shoe definitely live up to that expectation. Visit any major retailer such as Lady Foot Locker, JCPenny’s, Macy’s and other stores for a taste of dance fashion and fitness.

Last night was like a dream! My partner, Mikko Kemppe of Finland, and myself competed like pros at the Hot Salsa Friday On2 professional division in the Semi-Finals. We performed to a very musical piece, Triton by Tito Puente and it felt like dancing on silk. I was so proud of our partnership as it is new and blossoming. Take a look and see for yourself our interpretation of Mambo. Now we prepare for the big stage at the San Francisco Salsa Congress at the Oakland Marriott City Convention Center.

Ashanti Altovese Griffin & Mikko Kemppe – Pro On2

So my dance partner and I are working really hard to prepare for the semi-final round for the Professional On2 Division at Hot Salsa Friday in San Jose. HSF is sponsored by Ricardo and Michelle, the directors of the pro dance team Pretty Boys & Girls. The competition will be awesome and we are looking to dance well, show good technique, and fun styling. As my partner and I are on the Couture Dance Alliance pro team, we will perform our routine for them first to get good feedback and work out the first show jitters. I’m so excited and really want to do well and have fun. Here is a look at what we did for the first round which was a free dance.

As 3 couples will qualify for the finals on Sunday, November 22nd at the San Francisco Salsa Congress, we are looking to grab a spot and get the opportunity to show our stuff on stage. Here we go!