It's never too late to learn new dance steps
by Rick Clemenson
Times Union - Around the Region. Albany, NY. January 30, 2007

Albany - Janice Woodard was determined to stay active in retirement so she looked for an activity that would stimulate her mind and body, yet not leave her feeling wiped out. Woodard chose Dancing With Our Elders, a (donations welcomed) program for seniors run by professional dance instructor Carlos Osorioo at Trinity Institution-Homer Perkins Center in the South End.

"I enjoy every minute of it," said Woodard, 59. "Carlos is excellent. He's not intimidating and has a very relaxed persona."

Osorio, who runs a private studio at his home in Woodstock and also volunteers at other senior centers in the Capital Region, created the program for men and women 55 and older last year after he was approached by Trinity comptroller Eva Madigan, a pupil of his at eba Dance Theater on Lark Street.

"I fell in love with him immediately. He's charismatic. He can put you at ease and make you feel comfortable even if you have two left feet." Madigan said.

Osorio is proof of the power of dance. As a shy child growing up in the mountains of Manizales, Colombia, he felt different from other kids who often picked on him. When he was 14, he discovered dance helped express himself.

"It gave me a purpose and helped me connect with the world. I think it can help my students in the same way," said osorio, 42, who came to the United States in 1987 to join his father in Brooklyn and worded there for a time as an architect and social worker.

Osorio's class is an all-encompassing dance experience. He teaches several different forms - merengue, salsa, samba, mambo and cumbia (a
Colombian dance) - and explains the movements, the history of the dances and where the music originated.

The fact that some of his pupils have physical challenges or use wheelchairs does not deter Osorio. Osorio, who is also a massage therapist, warms up the group with exercises that loosen the joints and hips. Often the class dances in a circle to accentuate the feeling of togetherness.

Woodard said she comes as much for the dance as the social interacion.

Ecolia Morman, 72, had become isolated in front of the TV with her puzzles. Naturally shy, Morman said Osorio makes her and the others feel welcome and free to epress themselves.

"I really look forward to going to dance with Carlos," said Morman of the once-a-week classes at Trinity. Her classmates have taken to calling her Beyonce, after the entertainer Beyonce Knowles.

One member of the class proudly reported she had attended a wedding and danced by herself in public for the first time in her life.

Strangers eight months ago, the classmates have become friends, according to Woodard. They showcased their talents during Martin Luther King Day celebrations at the Empire State Plaza.

Woodard believes classes like Osorio's will become increasingly important as people live longer and stay fitter later in their lives. She calls herself one of the "young-olds."

"We are not the elders of years ago," Woodard said. "We are looking for more to do."

Rick Clemenson can be reached at 454-5030 or by e-mail at rclemenson@timesunion.com

Learning to dance Latin-style
Capital Region News
Times Union - Albany, NY. May 2006

"Regina Burns of Albany, left, learns to move Wednesday from dance instructor Carlos Osorio of Woodstock, who is teaching a Latin dance class at the Trinity Institution-Homer Perkins Center in Albany. Trinity Institution usually works with the children in the neighborhoods it serves, but is now reaching out to the seniors in the area. Above, Willie Mae Spencer, 73, of Albany, twirls during a lesson."

Kwanza celebration focuses on roots,
urges everyone to have "imani" By John Mason
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers - Hudson, NY. December 2006.

Carlos Osorio & PJ Lawrence perfom "Rain Falls in May" a Colombian dance,
at the Kwanzaa Umoja Celebration Saturday.

Hudson's annual Kwanzaa celebration took place Saturday in the cafeteria of John L. Edwards Elementary School, under the sponsorship of Operation Unite and the Hudson Opera House.

Elena Mosley, moderating the ceremony, said Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday - many faiths were represented in the room - but a chance for people to celebrate their African or African-American roots. The holiday, celebrated from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1 by millions of African-Americans, was started in 1966 by Maulana Karenga. Sharing and preserving history are the most important elements, although gifts may also be exchanged. The word "kwanzaa" comes from Swahili word meaning "first roots."

Those in attendance became familiar with several more Swahili words through the afternoon. The centerpiece of the celebration was a candle lighting ceremony, in which the seven candles of the kinara, a candleholder that resembles a menorah, were lit, one by one...

Learn Latin dances at workshops.
Register Star - Hudson-Catskill Newspapers - Hudson, NY. November, 2005

In collaboration with Cumbia Spirit, the Hudson Opera House is offering latin Dance Workshops with Carlos Osorio from Cumbia Spirit School of Dance
weekly in the Opera House starting today and ending Dec. 7. The workshops take place in the Workshop Room on Wednesday evenings from 7:30 to 8:30 pm.

Participants will enjoy popular social Latin dances. Workshops will explore Cumbias from Colombia, Salsas form Cuba and Puerto Rico, and Merengues with more Caribbean rhythms. For the veteran or beginner, all are welcome.
Cumbia, the national dance of Colombia, is one of the great rhythms and the most populare dance in Latin America and Europe. Africa, Spain and Colombia's natives fused their love of nature, spirit, their roots and freedom to create this form of graceful, gentle and proud dance that grounds the spirit and lifts the heart. For several centuries Cumbia has been used all over the country for celebrations, communions, ceremonies and festivals.

Instructor Osorio has studied with Dorian Uribe, and Afro-Colombian choreograppher and director of the folkloric group Estampas Latinoamericanas in Colombia, where he learned Cumbia, mapale, pasillo and other folkloric dances.
Since 1999, he has been teaching Latin dance throughtout the Hudson Valley including Siena College and Skidmore College, Omega Institute, National Museum of Dance, Lorraine-Michaels Dance Centre and locally at the Hawthorne Valley School and Columbia-Greene Community College. Osorio has also conducted numerous workshops in elementary schools across
the Capital Region area.

Osorio focuses his classes on the basics of Latin dances (folkloric and modern Cumbia, Merengue, Salsa, Mambo, Samba and other lesser-known dances), encouraging each individual to enjoy the movement and have fun. For more information, call Osorio at 845-679-2704 or visit www.CumbiaSpirit.com.

For further information about this program, or the Opera House, call 518-822-1438 or visit the Web site at www.hudsonoperahouse.org. The Hudson Opera House is located at 327 Warren St.

Cumbia! Cumbia! by Jean Rose, Editor
Foot notes. July/August Vol. 7, Issue 8, 2004

In the legal vernacular, "Res Ipsa Loquitur" means, "The thing speaks for itself", and the photograhs say it all! Was it amazing? Yes. Was it fun? Yes.
Was it educational? Yes. Was it sesual? Yes. It was Carlos Osorio teaching an unforgettable dance lesson in Cumbia, the traditional folk dance of his native country, Colombia.

USABDA was throughly excited when invited to drop in on the dance lesson on May 27, at the Swire Theater, which is part of the National Dance Museum in Saratoga. The program is called "Dancing Through Time" and features a lesson each week from September to Thanksgiving and again from April through June (10 weeks - $110 each session and includes a ticket to the Alvin Ailey Dance performance). This educational and instructional program, sponsored by the Dance Alliance, is now in its 7th year. The program explores the many forms of dance from Ann Miller to creative dance, Native American to dances from the Balkan region, with a different noted instructor each week. Imagine our delight the day we attended (and I do mean day - lessons are from 1 to 3 in the afternoon) featured Carlos Osorio's instruction in Cumbia. He, of course, was yound, dashing and totally captivating; and then there was the dancing, too.

Marilyn Rothstein, the program director (www.dancealliance.org) had located Carlos about a year ago through the Columbia-Greene Community College newsletter and invited him to participate in last year's program. Carlos offers a
4-week evening adult dance class at the College and was involved, both as a dancer and choreographer, this past March at the Skidmore College Dance Festival. He is also an instructor with the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck and will offer a 3-day workshop from October 1-3 in Cumbias as an expresssive and healing art.

Carlos began his program explaining the roots of Cumbia music with its African, Spanish and indigenous blend of cultures and styles. He used a video to illustrate the types of customes worn in the different regions of Colombia, and explained the subtle meaning of the basic steps, hip movement, playful skirts, hats and choreography.

Excerpted from his poem, CUMBIA, Carlos writes, "Con tus tambores tocas el alma, y llevas al extasis los cuerpos que saben entregarse a tus ritmos".
("With your drums you touch the soul, and take to ecstasis the bodies of those who know how to follow your rhythms.") We hope to see Carlos often in the Capital District in the future and have invited him to participate in upcoming USABDA dance events.

Many thnaks to Marilyn and the Dance Alliance for giving USABDA the privilege of participating and reporting on this wonderful group of dance "aficionados". Anyone can join the group if you're 55 and are ready to have fun!

FootNotes - US Amateur Ballroom Dance Association Newsletter
NY Capital Distric Chapter.