Josie’s Blog

The Legendary Sportsmen’s Lodge

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 14:54:55 -0700

Excited about out 2nd Annual Bachata Congress this Summer...

Fri, 7 May 2010 17:08:32 -0700

I am so excited because I have met with at least ten hotel and event locations over the past two months trying to decide the best location for the Bachata Congress this year and I just dealt a great price at a very luxurious, newly renovated hotel!!!

I managed to get a low cost room (Hotel & Flights) rate- cheaper than anywhere else, and the rooms are spectacular in comparison!

Get your Bachata hips ready, we are going to have a sexy, hot, steamy hot, summer Bachata weekend at our 2nd Annual California Bachata Congress!

@ LAX Sheraton Gateway Hotel
6101 W. Century Blvd.
Los Angeles, Ca 90045

See details!

http://www.josieneglia.com/CaliforniaBachataCongress.com/Hotel_%26_Flights.html

A Sign of the Times

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 16:12:55 -0700

In the past two weeks, I have had my car-keys stolen while making a coffee at a gas station, had my iPhone stolen from my car at a car dealership, had my car broken into, in my own driveway, in the middle of the night (and I live in an affluent neighborhood).
I think the economy is causing some people to resort to stealing to survive.
I have since become more fearful and more careful about my belongings, but more so about the safety of my daughter and myself.
When people are desperate, they are blinded by their own needs and could care less about others. It makes for a very hostile environment with resentment toward wealth and affluence. They pray on any vulnerable victim and look for opportunities to gain or score a financial reward.
Be careful!

Has Dance Been a Blessing or a Curse in Your Life?

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 18:35:14 -0700

The joy and ecstasy of dance has both been a blessing and a curse in my life... it takes a very skilled male lead to give me an amazing pleasurable dance these days. Otherwise, it is just going through the motions or worse, doing a pity dance (dancing just to be polite but do not enjoy being pushed around by an unskilled leader).   If I ever go to a place that is playing Latin music and there is no one to dance with, it is torture.  On the romantic side, I have suffered and is one of the reasons why I am single today. Often men who are trying to date me, feel inadequate or insecure that they will not be able to please me (through their lack of dance ability), so they sometime shy away.   Ideally, it would seem, a great Latin dance would be a perfect match for another professional Latin dancer, but often times, male Latin dancers tend to socialize in the Latin night clubs. Unfortunately, frequent night club dancers are less than gentlemanly and not always the most faithful men... sorry to stereotype- but in my experience, I have witnessed it many many times.  Tell me your thoughts...

Mia and Adrian -Top 3 in the Kid’s Salsa Competition

Fri, 4 Sep 2009 16:19:20 -0700

For the past month, my 6-year old daughter, Mia, and her 6-year old partner, Adrian, have been rehearsing for the first Annual Kid’s Salsa Competition that David Nieto hosted at Steven’s Steak House.

It was a great learning experience for all of us. I learned, as a children’s coach, that rehearsals needed to be fun and rewarding and the kids needed to know how many times they had to run through it, or they felt uninspired.

I had them do it 10 times through with corrections after each one. Sometimes I stopped them if they were not applying the corrections. I gave them plenty of water-breaks and rewarded them with 5-minute T.V. breaks so they would not get dehydrated with all their perspiring.

They worked hard despite the heat (record high temperatures in Long Beach!) and the kids learned that they needed to prepare more specifically for competition verses their show last May. I coached them more strictly on timing, footwork, posture, lines (pointing toes and extending their arms), hip action and holding positions.

Also important, was the emphases, along with Adrian’s mom, that this event was not only about winning, but about having fun and trying their best. They went in with a great attitude and a nervous excitement.

On Friday Sept. 4, Mia and I picked up her new dance shoes, painted her nails and toe nails (french manicure), ate a healthy dinner and had a fruit smoothy for energy and headed to Steven’s Steak House.

As we were getting dressed and ready, Adrian came with many family and friends to support.

They did fantastically- the crowd was so supportive and screamed with every cute movement. They executed it with such precision and great timing- they made me very proud!

The older kids, 8 and 9 year-olds, took 1st and 2nd, but Mia and Adrian took 3rd place!! They both received trophies and $250 Cash!

Mia fell asleep in the car on the way home and slept with her trophy in her arms.

Spreading Yourself Thin- Bad or a Necessity?

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:53:41 -0700

As life gets more complicated, I sometimes long for the days when life was simpler and I had to worry about one task at a time.
Reality is just not that way. Being a single mom, entrepreneur, professional dancer, instructor and Master of Ceremonies as well as web designer, marketer and DVD producer and distributor, it has become necessary to spend a little bit of time each day on many, many things.

In one day, I will do approximately 25 tasks in every area from: motherhood, order processing, housekeeper, accounting and paying bills on time, marketing online, dog walking, keeping friends, professional dancing, choreographing, mixing music for choreography, replying to email, answering customer calls, gardening, maintaing cars, long term goal planning, attending important marketing events, reading up on new business ideas and self-help books and articles, updating information on all web-based ads & sites, printing business materials, setting up meetings..etc.

If I spend too much time doing any one task, my whole world crumbles around me. Believe me, I have experienced it a few times.

I am sure many can relate to this lifestyle scenario. Especially now, when financial times are tougher than usual. I am trying harder to be creative and get my business message out to more people without the added costs.

Is life stressful right now? Yes, Are people complaining, including my own daughter who says I am always working or on the phone? Yes. Am I getting things done-YES!

I am proud of myself and learning more and more about setting priorities. I do not do many of the things I used to do for fun and enjoyment because there just isn’t time.

The other day I went to lay down for what intended to be a few minutes due to exhaustion, and turned into a 3-hour nap in the middle of the afternoon- which is so rare to happen in my life- it only happens when I am sick. I realized at that point that health has to be one of my major priorities.

Without our health, we will not be able to do anything or take care of the people or family who depend on us. Therefore, recently I just made appointments to get a physical check-up, see the dentist, get a mammogram and a therapeutic massage. My body needs care due to all the stress of physical and mental marathons.

I think people who have partners in life can find balance a little easier, but then again, if the partners do not get along or clash in their priorities, it can add more stress to their lives.

One thing that has helped me to cope with all that is on my plate, is making a check list on paper. I prefer to put it on one legal-size piece of paper rather than my cell phone or computer, so that I can see it all in one glance, and feel a sense of accomplishment when I cross it off the list upon completion!

I try to live a peaceful life- little negative energy around me and try to laugh everyday. Humor, children’s laughter, the simplicity of my dog’s life and DANCING keep me sane!

My daughter and I have a ritual called “Lovey-Dovey Hugs”. Every time I am busy on the computer or doing some work, she gently pulls me away and says she wants a “Lovey-Dovey Hug” in bed. She always brings the dog and the three of us spend a few moments hugging and giggling together. I am happy that she can express this to me when she needs my attention and affection and I always say yes- even if I am in the middle of something important. It is my promise to her to give her that special time.

Dancing is one of the only activities, when done at a high level of intensity and skill, allows me to really live totally in the MOMENT and let all of life’s stresses melt away around me- even if only for one moment :-)

Excited about the Red Carpet Event

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:49:28 -0700

Friday Aug 28th, Yesenia and I will host the first Annual Salsa Women Calendar 2010.
All the calendar girls met back in May in 2009 at Felicia’s beautiful house for the full day photo shoot.
We were pampered all day with food, drink, make-up artists and hair stylists as we relaxed in the gorgeous homes of Felicia in lovely Calabasas, California.
The day was perfect. Warm and sunny and great for outdoor shots.
It was great to connnect with some of the girls that I have not seen for a long while, like Alyra (who was living in Italy for several years) and Janette Valenzuela. We all caught up while we were waiting for our turn to shoot.
Charlene, Felicia and Alien did an amazing job at arranging this entire projects.

See you Aug 28th for the launch party!

AT STEVEN’S STEAK HOUSE
5332 STEVENS PLACE, COMMERCE, CA 90004

My Song

Sun, 26 Jul 2009 10:23:11 -0700

Isn’t this the most sexy Bachata you have ever heard?
Anthony Umina and I choreographed it for the Bachata Congress Aug 1st. See us do it live Saturday Aug 1st at the Mayan Night Club
1038 S. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90015

The Hottest Bachata Event of the Summer Coming August 1st and 2nd

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:09:42 -0700

I have been working hard on getting everything ready for the August 1st and 2nd California Bachata Congress.

I have been dancing Bachata for over 7 years. I saw it first in Holland in the year 2000 when I was on a European Salsa Tour. The music and dance had captured my heart since then.

I am actually surprised it has taken this long to get popular in Los Angeles.
I teach a weekly class that is gaining momentum and just released three new Bachata instructinal DVDs.

Freddie Munoz is a singer that I have known for over 10 years. His latest CD “Amiga” is getting played on stations worldwide. I am excited that he and his band from New York will be performing live Sat August 1st!

For info and registration, visit
www.CaliforniaBachataCongress.com