June Weng is a professional dancer and the owner of the Shanghai Dancing Studio Souldancing, which specializes in dance classes, events performances, and talent management. Check out a YouTube video of one of their pole dancing classes here.

For me, there is no clear distinction between weekdays and weekends; in fact I'm often busier on Saturday and Sunday, since I have to teach more hours, organize rehearsals, perform with my team at various clubs parties, and be on the phone more than usual... It gets pretty hectic sometimes, but I can’t complain. Dancing is my passion so I really enjoy this life.

My weekend starts on Friday, the only day without classes on Souldancing's schedule. This means we get to chill a bit on the teaching side, but work continues: one rehearsal for an upcoming club performance and another three hours rehearsal for next week’s Olympics Gala Dinner performance, with my funny and creative friend, choreographer Jean Marc.



Between those two sessions, I will probably go to Citizen Café for lunch. Citizen is very close to the studio. They have tasty coffee and burgers, and a cozy atmosphere to boot, so I'm there a lot.

Around 5pm, if we don't run late, I'm supposed to go refresh my haircut. I finally found a hair salon to go to after an (in)famous hairdresser cut my long hair like a boy and left me crying last year! Last time Souldancing performed at the popular monthly Pervert party at MAO, I met Andrea, who heads the new Contesta Rock Hair salon. I really clicked with him so I went to check their place, in a beautiful three-floor villa on 137 Wuyuan Lu. They started to play rock music, and Andrea's movements followed the music--it looked like dancing, quite a performance! I'm looking forward to another one.

The haircut done, it will be time for dinner. Charmant is like my home--healthy and tasty Taiwanese food. Almost everything on the menu is good there, especially the best hot chocolate in Shanghai.

Around 9pm, I will meet friends at the new Enoteca on Taicang Lu, which, like the first one, is a great place to relax and have a glass of wine or three. 11pm, time to party! Two options for me: JZ Club is hosting a great salsa & latin band, or The Shelter and its "Foundation" charity event. Maybe both. Whatever it is, I will put on my cute 40 kuai flowery Qipu Lu sneakers and get ready to dance 'til the morning lights!

Saturday I will wake up around 12am, run to the studio to teach my salsa class at 1pm, my belly dance class at 2pm, then supervise our new Afro and "Dance Like the Pussycat Dolls" classes. And maybe do a bit of pole dancing.

The rest of the afternoon will be spent on emails and a private kick boxing session with my friend Cypress, so I'm ready to kick some ass if need be. Watch out!!

Later in the day, I will visit my glamorous local Carrefour to buy some food. I'm not performing this Saturday night, so I invited friends to over to cook, eat, drink, and watch DVDs．"So You Think You Can Dance" season 4, anyone?

Sunday will start early, as my award-winning photographer friend Mick Ryan is coming over to do a few shots for our new brochure... Yay!

At 1pm I will teach another salsa class, which is now balanced, with five girls and five guys in the lesson. Often there are a few more girls than guys in the class, and that's also what happens in salsa clubs. Cute guys, what are you doing on the weekend? There is more to life than Detroit techno! Get out there and salsa!!

After work, I'll go meet with my friend William, the leader of Reload Graffiti Studio. I like graffiti and would like to learn, but they only have a class for kids now it seems. We'll have coffee together, catch up on life, and have a laugh.

My Sunday dinner is usually down at Little Sheep, the hot pot mega chain. I am from Sichuan so I like it spicy! A massage typically follows, at a little place on Xuhong Bei Lu.

Finally, tucked in my bed, I will upload some dance videos on YouTube, check the latest on Facebook...and fall asleep with my laptop on. I do that a lot.

Hope you have a nice weekend - keep dancing, keep smiling!

XXX
June

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