site.danscents.com Blog

Professional dancer and instructor Ashanti Altovese Griffin

Dance is a passion for many professional performers and it can stir up some emotional reactions from viewers. Additionally it can heal hearts and motivate people to achieve and accomplish their dreams. Erotic InnerG® is a meditative dance fitness program for women by instructor Ashanti Altovese that releases the inner goddess using female erotic energy.

Building on a foundation of education, self-knowledge, courage, and perseverance, Ashanti, a native of Chicago, created the Erotic InnerG® program for women to utilize their natural feminine energy to build confidence and get fit at the same time. In channeling erotic energy in combination with focused breathing, concentrated thought, and slow body movement, women can reinforce their spirituality along with their physical fitness.

This sensual program blends Erotic dance, Ballet, Yoga, Salsa, Belly dance, and Gymnastics to lengthen and strengthen muscles. With levels from beginner to advance, ladies can build up their skill level in position and body movement execution, all while bear-foot or wearing seven-inch heals. It’s all about comfort and confidence as you wind your body, breathe deeply, and meditate on all the things you desire. Whether on the floor, against the wall, or in the bedroom, the Erotic InnerG® program delivers a healthy shot of sexy with spirituality.

Release your inner goddess with Ashanti Altovese, build endurance with Kristen Fitness circuit training, or get fun and fit at 24hr-fitness. After your workout, get ready for fun in the fast lane in the San Francisco city scene, because it’s more than just a dance, it’s a lifestyle!

Ashanti Altovese Griffin & Mikko Kemppe - Professional Latin Dancers & Instructors

December is here and that means, food, food, and more food! Dance is the perfect exercise for keeping the pounds from piling on as your plate piles up. New to the topic of dance fitness? Well, welcome to The Salsa Socialite, the lifestyle guide to Salsa food, fashion, and fitness.

This December, give the gift of dance to help keep the waistline slim! San Francisco offers great locations for dance fitness services and a variety of dances to sample. Salsa, Ballroom, Samba, and Ballet are just a few options for singles and couple alike. Cheryl Burke Dance Studio, located at 1830 17th Street in San Francisco, is the perfect place help make dance apart of your lifestyle. As their slogan, “Dance for fitness. Dance for life.” says, it can truly change your life for the better!

Cheryl Burke has made quite a name for herself on the hit series “Dancing with the Stars“. Who knew that her love for dance as an art form and a fitness regiment would take her to the heights of fame and fortune? Imagine what dance can do for you! Once you let it in, it can transform your waistline, attitude, and social bonds. Make a date with Cheryl Burke and discover your inner dancer! Because it’s more than just a dance, it’s a lifestyle!

Anya Katsevman & Luis Aguilar - World Champions On2

Dance is a sport that requires strength, flexibility, and agility. Salsa is a dance that brings athletes from all backgrounds to master its intricate and sensual movements. When Salsa meets sport its an explosion of talent and creativity that delights spectators young and old. Unfamiliar with Salsa sport? Welcome to The Salsa Socialite, the lifestyle guide to Salsa food, fashion, and fitness.

The World Salsa Championships is considered the Olympics of Salsa. Presented by Albert Torres of Albert Torres Productions and Salsa Seven Productions, this premier event is anticipated every year by Salsa performers, competitors, and enthusiasts alike. Four division categories comprise the established competition that includes On 1, On 2, Cabaret, and Team. Dancers from countries all across the world such as Japan, Australia, Colombia, Mexico, Netherlands, United States, and many more compete for cash prizes and bragging rights. Many competitors prepare for a year or more to qualify and compete in the prestigious event. Associated with ESPN, the event opens the public’s eyes to the true nature of the dance on an athletic level.

Explore the world of Salsa sport and get inspired by the level of talent and commitment to the art and dance of Salsa. Discover your inner dancer because it’s more than just a dance, it’s a lifestyle!

Be Salsalicious! dance fitness class by Danscents!

Yes, women have it hard. The pressure of family, career, and image is constantly present in today’s society through all forms of media. As a reaction to this public pressure, some women turn to self-destructive behaviors to numb the pain of emotional distress. This in turn effects all aspects that are crucial in a person’s life. Despair is never an attribute that one wants to display, but it comes in many forms that you wouldn’t typically recognize as desperate behavior.

Hoarding, excessive shopping, over eating, compulsive behaviors, and impulsive feelings are mentally and emotionally connected. For some they are deeply rooted in low self-esteem, self-image, and self-confidence. A positive remedy for increasing the value of one’s self-worth is doing something that is active, fun, makes you smile, laugh, and oxygenates the mind and body. Additionally, reflecting on the positive things in one’s life like social bonds and achievements is another way to see the impact of one’s self on the wider community.

Self-worth is reflected in confidence, and confidence is the light that shines from every person. Whether the confidence is high or low determines the brightness of that light. One way that women can increase confidence is through dance and related activities. Dance builds confidence because it requires coordinated movement of the body that engages the mind and challenges the person’s ability to express themselves in a manner that draws judgment from others. When one can let go of other people’s opinion of them, it’s easier to commit to the movement and feel free versus when others judgment of them influences them in a negative manner to prohibit concentration of the mind and freedom of movement. Conquering the fear of negative judgment when faced with a task to complete in front of other people builds confidence and dance is one way to achieve this.

Danscents! offers women resources for dance fitness instruction that focuses on building confidence, fragrance products that enhance the dance fitness experience, and provides lifestyle resources for an enhanced life through dance. Women can release their inner goddess through dance and let their light of confidence shine through their family, career, and image.

For more information visit Danscents! Online

Seattle was so good to me! All that beautiful green scenery, rain, and water made for a great trip. Couture Dance Alliance was invited to perform and we tore it up! The people are so nice and the energy of the salsa scene is intimate and felt like family. I’m definitely looking forward to going back and can’t wait to experience the next congress.

Ashanti Altovese Griffin & Mikko Kemppe - Professional Latin Dancers & Instructors

So, last weekend was so intense and exciting at the San Francisco Salsa Congress held at the Oakland Convention Center in downtown Oakland. Couture Dance Alliance performed on Friday and Saturday and competed on Sunday. Myself and my dance partner Mikko Kemppe also competed for a chance to enter the World Salsa Championships. Mikko and I came in 4th and CDA pro came in 3rd place in the competition. It was an awesome weekend and here is the proof!

Dance is an intense art form that brings people together from all walks of life. The 8th annual San Francisco Salsa Congress is a perfect example of dance summoning enthusiasts, professionals, students, and competitors for a fun–filled weekend of workshops, performances, and dancing. Never experienced such a treat? Well welcome to the world of The Salsa Socialite©, the lifestyle guide to Salsa food, fashion, and fitness.

Held at the Oakland Marriot Convention Center in Oakland, California, producers Ricardo and Michelle, directors of the world renowned Pretty Boys & Girls, along with Albert Torres Productions, and Congress staff volunteers deliver a dance production recognized as one of the best congresses in the country. From November 19th until the 22nd, dancers and non-dancers alike can enjoy performances from over 80 professional, semi-pro, and amateur teams, workshops from international and local instructors, competitions, and live music from famous bands in Latin genre! Bands include Orquestra Tabaco y Ron from Los Angeles, NG2 from Puerto Rico, Andy Montanez from Puerto Rico, and Montuno Swing from San Francisco.

Interested persons can purchase tickets online or at the event. For more information, visit the website or email for full details on how you can experience Salsa fire in November. Call 1-408-265-3774 to begin planning your Salsa retreat. Do it for you, because it’s more than just a dance, it’s a lifestyle!

Well, I don’t know about you, but my weekend was busy! Couture Dance Alliance, directed by Luis Aguilar, performed 4 times over the past weekend! Friday we performed at the The Beat Studio for the Afinkao Social in Berkeley, Saturday we performed at the Roccapulco Supper Club in San Francisco, and Sunday at the Jain Temple in Milpitas and finished it off for a second performance of the night at the Glas Kat for our fundraiser. The team so pumped to show our new choreography! I’m so proud of all our members! On to the San Francisco Salsa Congress! Check out this video!

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

Halloween was a party that lasted for a whole week. I had such a great time and really enjoyed my first Halloween experience here in the Bay area. Salsa Mania, one of the premier dance teams in San Francisco, threw a Wicked Social and Couture Dance Alliance performed Oye Mi Quinto and dedicated it to the deceased mother of one of the team’s dancers. It was touching, moving, and the team gave a fantastic performance. I’m proud of the dance as it was my third performance of the routine, =) So, here is a look at the CDA dedication. Enjoy!

I love this team and have made a great bond with the city of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose. Let’s keep Salsa alive and well for generations to come!

The Salsa Socialite - Ashanti Altovese

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!