Interview with Josie 2002

1. Josie, salsa lovers all over the world know that name or person. I too have always heard the name Josie Neglia. What made you decide to give your all too this energetic dance called salsa that has made your name so popular?

I have taken dance classes and trained in dancing since I was seven years old. When I first got introduced to Latin dancing (final year at York University Toronto where I majored in dance), I knew I found my niche. The femininity, the challenges of the technique and the beautiful music that is danced in synchronicity with your partner created a new passion in me. I began lessons in all the Latin dances: mambo, rumba, cha cha, samba, and paso doble.

I decided to go to a Latin club (El Rancho in Toronto) with my co-workers from the dance studio I was working at, and I fell in love with salsa the first night. I returned many more times and danced with great dancers in many different Toronto clubs for 2 months. I then started salsa classes at my studio and was determined to share this great Latin dance with everyone.

I have always kept my training going in my Latin (competitive ballroom style Latin) and Salsa was just my stress releif and my passion. However through the years, because of my addiction, I became a specialist in salsa and have travelled worldwide to share my knowledge and passion with other salsa enthusiasts.

I miss the beautiful people that I became close to as an instructor and a dancer. I miss my friends and some of the great clubs. I do not miss the cold weather!

My dance partner was Abby Mina (a great trained dancer who could do anything). I also danced salsa with Fernando Lemos, Martin Samuels, Guillermo Baez, and sometimes with Sean and Frank.

4. What do you think about that highly energetic couple Orville and Ana (Salsation Dance Co.) from Toronto? I believe you met them in LA this year, correct?

I met Orville and Ana in Ottawa the first time. They are both very sweet and very talented dancers. I see a strong passion and a competitive spirit that will keep them doing greatly in the salsa community for as long as they keep dancing.

I am still busy keeping my web site and video business productive and growing. I am not teaching or performing at the moment (obviously), but I plan to get back into it after the baby is born. I already have invitations to Germany, East African islands and cities in the US and Canada.

7. What are some, if any of your challenges that you may have encountered as a women starting of in the salsa world in Toronto and Los Angeles trying to do your own thing?

Surprisingly, I have had a great career that has taken off for me as long as I keep working hard and dedicate my passion to sharing with others. I never think of it as a struggle or as a "woman thing". I am a professional dancer and I have good business etiquette (learned from my entrpreneur mother and mostly through my own experiences, both bad and good).

Coming to the US on my own was hard because I started from nothing. I felt like a stranger to myself because I had no identity here. However, within the first week, I met and danced with some of the best salsa dancers in LA and we all used to dance together for years before we all made Salsa our full time career. I was a ballroom/Latin instructor at Fred Astaire Dance studio. The great dancers I am talking about are: Francisco Vazquez, Rogelio Moreno, Luis Vazquez, Edgar Trejo, Alex Da'Silva and many more great dancers that may never have become professional but were fun to dance with. I really beleive that being on my own has made me focus and work hard because I had noone else but myself to rely on to survive and build a great life for myself.

Do everything to improve yourself, your dancing and your business knowledge. You do not need anyone else. Train, practice and be persistent and disciplined. You can have anything you want.

Since August of 2000, I have been performing and teaching in various cities worldwide almost every other weekend. I mostly judge or M.C. competitions. I performed last at the West Coast salsa Congress when I was 3 and a half months pregnant.

I presently have 9 instructional videos and each had it's own challenges, but none were difficult to make. Just a lot of preparation and organization. I had a great time producing all of them.

That is a hard question because I loved performing everywhere! Even the smallest performance for a local school sometimes gives me as much thrill as dancing on stage for thousands of people. I loved the response we received in Japan, Korea, Germany and Rome.. everywhere!

Yes, not as often as I used to because I traveled so much and wanted to rest when I came back home. I do have favorite clubs in Los Angeles though that I bring friends and out of town guests. The Mayan, Sportsmen's Lodge, and Rudolfo's are three of my favorites.

Germany at the end of March 2003, and East African Islands in June 2003 are the only confirmed events at this point. Being a new mom stops me from confirming too many events until I know more of my new lifestyle in the near future with my little girl.

I love black and white mostly, but I wear many costumes and outfits of many different colors. As long as it is sexy and I can dance comfortably in it, I love it.

Keep the negativity out of the salsa world. Keep it fun, loving, supportive and respectful. Keep communication open so that divergence and animosity does not take over.

Whether you dance on one, two or three, don't think one style is "better" than the other. Just learn them all and have fun dancing with everyone. People get too caught up in their strong opinions about this issue and create negativity where there is no need to.

Again, I would like to say Thank You for your time and your prompt response to our request for this e-interview. I look forward too meeting you in Japan in the near future.