I want to share a funny experience from the 3rd Hong Kong World Championship 2014. Hope you have a fun read! 😊
The Need to Be Different
I come from an era where we all wanted to stand out—not just in dance but in everything we did. Looking like a copy of someone else was never the goal. I’ve always strived to bring something new to the table, pushing boundaries in the dance community since I turned professional.
This mindset is probably why I don’t jump on TikTok trends or viral challenges—if everyone’s doing it, it doesn’t really need me to do it! That’s just how I see things.
I’ve been like this since childhood. When I was six, I started playing chess professionally—an unusual choice for a kid when most were playing cricket or video games. Later, in school and during my Bachelor’s, I took up field hockey while everyone was obsessed with cricket. Even academically, I chose Biotechnology over Engineering or Medicine, just because it was different.
Dance was no exception. I never wanted to move or perform like someone else. Back then, many dancers shared this philosophy. Unfortunately, today, you see thousands of clones of popular dancers all over the world.
Choosing the "Unique" Song
Now, back to the story!
In 2014, I was preparing a new solo routine for competition season. I watched countless championship performances to make sure I picked a song that stood out. After much deliberation, I chose Descarga 73. If you haven’t heard it, give it a listen and let me know what you think!
At the time, my shows were a mix of choreography and improvisation—not the best approach if you’re serious about competing, but it worked for me! The song had incredible musicality, and my mind was buzzing with ideas.
The First Performance—And a Reality Check
I debuted the routine at the 2nd Global World Salsa Championship—World Salsa Summit 2014 in Miami. It was my first trip to the U.S. and my first time performing this piece. I didn’t make it past the semifinals.
Looking back, I realize every show needs a few trial runs before it’s truly competition-ready. That experience taught me valuable lessons, and I returned home, determined to improve.
Side note: The Summit was hosted by Billy Fajardo, who had been invited to Chennai in December 2013 for an event I organized on behalf of my previous dance company, LVDS. That year marked a milestone for Chennai—our first time hosting an international artist at the Chennai Salsa Festival!
The Hong Kong Championship Surprise
Two weeks later, I flew to Hong Kong for the 3rd Hong Kong World Championship 2014. The qualifiers were on Thursday, and if you advanced through the quarterfinals and semifinals, you’d compete in the finals on Saturday.
This competition was particularly special because I was in the same category as Oliver Pineda—one of my biggest inspirations in Salsa Solo. Competing against him was a dream!
Thursday arrived, and I was backstage, warming up for my turn. Suddenly, I heard Descarga 73 playing. That’s weird, I thought—I hadn’t stepped on stage yet.
Turns out, someone else had picked the same song.
Then it happened again.
And again.
And AGAIN.
WHAT A BUMMER.
After all my research, trying to be unique, I had unknowingly picked the most popular song of the year. A total of four dancers had chosen Descarga 73. The irony was hilarious!
I barely scraped through the quarterfinals and semifinals, but by the time I reached the finals, I knew I had to switch my song—just to regain some sense of originality.
In the end, I placed 6th in the world, and as expected, Oliver took the crown.
Competing Against the Best
Here’s a video of Oliver’s performance that year—he was flawless, powerful, and sharp. In my opinion, he remains one of the greatest Salsa soloists in history.
Competing against him was an eye-opener. I realized I wasn’t anywhere near his level in terms of experience, technique, musicality, or quality of movement. But more than the ranking, the lessons I learned were priceless.
I may not be on Oliver’s level yet, but I’ve definitely improved. And isn’t that what truly matters?
The Silver Lining
Despite the song mix-up in Hong Kong, my routine went on to win me the Asia Salsa Championship in Bangalore later that year. It was my second consecutive win in the Salsa Solo category—and also the last time I competed professionally.
Lesson Learned
Being the best in your city or country doesn’t define your true level. Step outside your comfort zone, and you’ll find hundreds of dancers better than you.
Final Reminder
You’re not the only one thinking differently—so keep pushing forward! 🚀
Salsa Solo Performance, Singapore 2015
About the Author:
Arun Pauer is a scientist turned dancer with nearly 16 years of teaching experience in Salsa, Bachata, and Kizomba. Having taught and performed in over 25 countries, he is actively shaping the social dance scene in Graz and Chennai. Whether you're new to dancing or a seasoned social dancer, there’s always something to discover.
💃 Join the movement! Explore classes, socials, and events:🔗 salsamadras.com (Chennai); www.salsamadras.at (Graz)
Commentaires