Latin American rhythms at new club in Jakarta
By Jules Bell
JAKARTA (JP): Latin American pop music already is the next big thing in Asia, and Indonesia is no exception. Hip-swinging Hispanic superstar Ricky Martin, and pop diva Jennifer Lopez, are now household names in Jakarta. MTV and local radio pulsate with the South American styled music; a fusion of Latin beats and English vocals.
One place that epitomizes this trend, and where you can take some dance lessons and get with the action yourself, is the Salsa Club on Jl. Kemang Raya, South Jakarta.
As a specialist Latin dance venue and Italian restaurant, the idea for such a club in Jakarta originated with Teges Soraya, the club's marketing and communications manager, and her husband, Matteo Guerinoni, the manager of a local Italian restaurant.
"We thought of opening a Latin dance club because we know that Latin (dance and music) is booming in the world," said Soraya. Her husband had seen how popular Latin clubs were in other parts of the world she said, adding that the recent popularity of Latin music stars such as Ricky Martin had really helped the club.
Opened on May 15 this year, Salsa Club seems to have found itself a real niche in Jakarta's entertainment scene.
Friday or Saturday nights are always crowded and the dance floor is where you find the real action. The crowd is first warmed up by two resident instructors who demonstrate one of the numerous styles of Latin dance, such as the rumba, samba or merengue.
By 11 p.m. on a busy night, the dance floor is usually packed with happy guests swinging a variety of Latin inspired dance steps. The atmosphere is very high energy, and the crowd absolutely love it.
A strong feature of the club is its restaurant, an Italian Trattoria, headed by Italian chef Mario de Carlini. Described by Soraya as a casual and relaxed eating environment, a variety of Mediterranean dishes are available averaging Rp 35,000 (US$5).
The restaurant serves food daily from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. on weekdays, and until 2 a.m. on the weekend. After 11:30 p.m. though, the menu is restricted to pizza.
The eatery is very popular on the weekend, so book at least a week in advance for a table. On weeknights patrons can usually be seated without booking, said Soraya.
If dancing is not your style, or you need a break from the dance floor, Salsa Club has other rooms and areas. The Cuban Bar is a typical barroom with a pool table and usually standing room only. Soon to open on Aug. 1 is the Cigar Room where guests will be able to drink cognac and buy cigars. A VIP room is also available at the club for functions and group bookings.
Salsa Club has two resident native Cuban dance instructors, one male and one female. Dance lessons in all styles of Latin dance are available weekday afternoons by appointment, and evenings at 6 p.m., 7 p.m, and 8 p.m. Classes last one hour, have a maximum of seven to 10 students and are available in freestyle (on your own) or as a couple.
"A lot of Indonesian women come and learn on their own," said Soraya, "because husbands and boyfriends are very shy." Classes cost Rp 200,000 ($30) for one level, which equates to four classes. A free first trial class is also available.
Although tired and hot from their freestyle dance class, Angie and Rina have had a good time. "It was fun," they said. "At first I was shy but now I am fine," continued Angie. They rated their first class in Latin dancing as medium in difficulty, and said that they would probably come one night and practice their new steps in the club.
Entry to Salsa Club is free, and a good time to arrive on a busy night is around 9:30 p.m. to avoid the later crowds. On such nights you have an option to buy your first drink as you enter, a good idea if you are thirsty and would rather not go straight to the bar.
Weeknights are also an option, when the DJ still spins tunes, but the crowds are small, meaning more dance-floor space. Another bonus on weeknights is that you can dance with the instructors and pick up some tips for free.
Salsa Club's drink prices are average for a Jakarta venue at Rp 10,000 ($1.50) for a Pepsi, Rp 18,000 ($3) for a glass of Bintang beer and approximately Rp 40,000 ($6) for a bottled beer.
If you buy two glasses of Bintang you receive one free at the club this month. Next month's promotion will get you one free bottle of Corona when you buy three. Wine, spirits and Cuban cocktails are also available.
The crowd at Salsa averages 25 years of age, said Soraya, and includes a complete mix of nationalities -- Indonesians, Westerners, Indians, Chinese and Koreans to name the most prevalent. It is also important to the club that families feel welcome, said Soraya.
Being only two months old, Salsa Club is yet to hold its grand opening festivities. Soraya is also planning to book a live Colombian or Cuban band at some point in the future.
Ricky Martin's number one song, Livin' la Vida Loca, translates as living a crazy life. Considering the nightly dance floor action and atmosphere, it seems that the Salsa Club crowd have appropriated this theme for themselves. With a little help from the club of course. So get out your dancing shoes get down there, pronto!