Star Interviews | Salsa UK

It’s said that behind every successful man is a woman - and it’s certainly true of our very own Leon Rose. If it wasn’t for his mother Rose dragging him to a salsa club in 1997, one of the most creative, entertaining and talented personalities on the salsa scene could well have been being creative, entertaining and talented for someone else’s benefit entirely.

“It was actually Leon who encouraged me to go out on a Sunday evening and enjoy myself at first”, explained Rose. “I decided to learn Salsa because I was used to the music – my parents used to dance to it and be a bit silly, the way parents can be! – so although I didn’t know the steps, the music was very familiar. And because of that and the fact that I had learned to dance in my youth, I found it very easy to learn.”

So, where did Leon come in? “I enjoyed it so much,” she continued, “that I brought him down one evening to cheer him up a bit. He enjoyed it so much he didn’t go home until the end. And then he came the next week. And to be honest, I wasn’t particularly happy as it was my one night out in the week and my son was there!!”

But it was meant to be as from that beginning, according to Rose, he just took off and soon began to fly
And if Rose ever had any doubts about his new passion, they were turned to dust when she and Leon went to look for a shirt for his performance with partner Susana Montero in the 2000 UK Barcardi Salsa Championships…

Now, the name Rose is not the only Rose in Rose’s life – the house she was bought home to after she was born was called Rose Villas and she got married in a church on Rosebury Avenue…..the word follows her around……

She takes up the story, “I went to Camden Town with Leon to buy a shirt for the competition, but to be honest, I didn’t really want him to do the routine: I thought it was a bit too sexy and a bit too much all round.

“Years before, I had a stall in Camden Market where I used to sell nothing but black clothing. And when we went to buy his shirt Leon took me to a shop on exactly the same spot to buy it – he had no idea that’s where my stall had been.

“And there’s more – the shop was called Black Rose!
So I just had to give in as far as the routine was concerned – someone was obviously trying to tell me something! Which is just as well as it was his breakout performance”

And if you are one for signs, and in this case, there is no getting away from it, there were even more….
Says Rose, “Leon was dressed as Dracula for the show, the event was sponsored by Barcardi, and above the stage was the Bacardi symbol – a bat.”

That competition saw her son begin his journey to international fame and fortune and you probably all know the rest – or if you don’t, you can find out on www.leonrose.com

So, did mother Rose watch her son soar and then retire quietly from all things salsa?
You bet your bottom socks she didn’t!

If you should ever visit SOS in Tavistock Place in London on a Sunday night, there she is meeting and greeting and making everyone feel welcome; encouraging people to dance and make friends and feel a part of the experience even if it’s their first visit.

“I never thought I’d be so involved now,” she says, “I’ve been helping at SOS for seven years and still enjoy it.”

“I like people and I like them to have fun, come in, switch off and enjoy themselves,” she continues. “I like to think we’re passing something on with partner dancing; it’s something I saw as a child and it’s nice to see it back.”

So, there you are, a Rose by any other name – is still Rosemary Rose. And she still loves to dance!

Chris caught up with Rose at SOS in Tavistock Place, London. www.sosalsa.com