Dancing During the Holidays: How to Stay Healthy on the Dance Floor this Winter

An Article by Ritmo Bello Guest Writer Kelly Rice

Dancing during the winter is like a natural prozac; when it gets dark earlier and the cold air forces us inside, we seek the refuge of the dance floor: it keeps us warm, it creates a blissful distraction from the shortened daylight hours, and, unfortunately, it creates a paradise for viruses, the dance room essentially becoming a petri dish for breeding strains that pass from one dancer to another.

The good news, though, is that there are some simple things dancers can do to stay healthy during the flu season.

Wash Your Hands

Before you go out, while you are out, and when you get home. A simple thing that can prevent the majority of germs that cause sickness. Avoiding touching your mouth/nose while dancing will also aid in keeping you healthy. Simple soap and hot water are clinically proven to kill most germs, and the best choice but if you are unable to get to a sink, an alcohol based cleaner such as Purell will help in a pinch.

Get Plenty of Rest

Our bodies’s immune systems are directly affected by the amount of sleep we get and jeopardizing our defense system by inadequate sleep will increase the risk of catching a cold or the flu. Maintaining your daily quota (most adults need 7-9 hours) during the flu season will keep you feel better and healthier out on the dance floor. For those of you who love to dance till dawn during the week, consider calling it a night a little earlier if your job requires an early wake-up call.

Stay Warm

It may sound funny, but staying warm is another vital key to keeping well during flu season. Sure you feel warm after you’ve sweated your heart out to 30 salsa songs, but leaving the dance floor, soaked in sweat, and going outside and getting chilled can compromise your immune system and leave you feeling not-so-hot in the morning. Bringing a change of clothes, or at least a dry shirt to change into before going to your car is the best method to prevent chilling.

Vitamin C

Medical experts agree that while most healthy adults need about 250 mg of vitamin C daily, when the immune system is compromised or our bodies are exposed to illness or excess stress, or vitamin C requirements are increased. A supplement such as Airborne or Emergen-C has 1000mg and is easy to mix with water. When out dancing, keep in mind that excess alcohol is known to lower immune system, so when considering a drink at the bar, why not opt for OJ on the rocks?

Get Vaccinated

There is not much debate between doctors about whether or not to get the flu shot. According to physicians at San Diego’s Lifewellness Institute, the flu shot is the most effective means of flu prevention.

This year especially there are questions about the H1N1 virus, or swine flu, LifeWellness breaks it down for us dancers: The H1N1 virus is a new genetic strain of virus which was created when viruses infected both mammals and birds. The result was altered DNA in the virus, creating a new “bug’ for which we have no antibodies. So the H1N1 vaccination, when available, is by far the best means of preventing this infection from curtailing your time on the dance floor.

Remember to Keep Dancing!

Being healthy means participating in a moderate amount of exercise, so by all means keep dancing. Following these tips can help arm your defenses and keep you well throughout the winter so you can salsa, boogie or swing your way through flu season.

About Kelly Rice

Kelly (a San Diego native) is a substitute teacher, graphic designer and health coach. When not working, Kelly enjoys dancing and teaching zouk lambada. Check out what this dance is all about on the San Diego Zouk website.

Back by popular demand, Café Sevilla is planning one last yacht party for 2009.

For those of you that attended the last few yacht parties you know that this will be a great event that should not be missed. This time around Café Sevilla is providing a more intimate experience with a different twist.

Join Cafe Sevilla and Ritmo Bello along with 450 guests as we celebrate along on the waters of the Pacific.

The Adventure Yacht is an intimate boat that holds only 450 guests. You will be able to enjoy breathtaking views of the San Diego bay by night.

Some other highlights of the night will include:

*  2 Floors of music (Live Salsa Band & Hip Hop )
*  Professional Photography
*  An Outdoor deck to enjoy the California Ocean
*  Complimentary Tapas (These were really good last time!)
*  2 fully-stocked bars
*  Official After-party at Sevilla nightclub

The San Diego Salsa and Latin Dancing Meetup Group along with Ritmo Bello will be there to enjoy the evening with you. For more information about the event and to RSVP please visit the Café Sevilla Boat Party Page.

See you on the Café Sevilla yacht and message me via Twitter at @RitmoBello!

Although San Diego has many different dance companies, each one shines in their own special way.  A good example of this is Alma Latina Dance company.  Directed by Gabriela Equiz and Sergio Jasso, their dance company is known in San Diego and throughout the world as one of the best around (they are currently ranked #5 in the world in the On 1 division of the ESPN World Salsa Championships).

Apart from world class salsa dancing, Alma Latina is also known for its great work with dancers of all levels, including kids.  I recently sat down with Gaby and Sergio to discuss their dancing, what motivates them, and what they have in store for San Diego salsa dancers.  I hope you enjoy the interview!

John  @RitmoBello

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Ritmo Bello: Sergio and Gaby, thanks for taking the time to address the Ritmo Bello dance community. Let’s begin. What would you say is the main focus of Alma Latina Dance Company?

Alma Latina Dance Company: We focus on helping salseros dance better than they ever thought they could and even helping them get to competitive levels while enjoying the process.  Many people have told us that they really enjoy our sabor and the attitude that our dancers project on stage!

Ritmo Bello: What are the origins of your dance company? Why did you choose Alma Latina Dance Company for your name?

Alma Latina Dance Company: As a child, I went to a performing art school in Mexico City and loved it- all I wanted to do everyday was sing and dance.  I realized that Tijuana didn’t offer anything like that, so I decided to start a performing art school in the summer of 2005.  Later, I asked Sergio to come and help me instruct the boys in salsa dancing and we became partners. Then we expanded into teaching salsa to adults in 2006 in Tijuana and in San Diego in January 2008. We just started teaching in Los Angeles as well.

Ritmo Bello: What type of salsa dancing does Alma Latina perform? What types of influences have impacted how you both dance salsa?

Alma Latina Dance Company: Unlike other salsa companies, our dance teams aren’t exclusively On 1 or On 2- we focus on the musicality and that means we train our dancers to easily switch into whatever timing the music calls for.  You’ll see that our salsa choreographies usually incorporate many other dance influences: hip hop, ballroom, modern, flamenco, ballet and tap- it gives our routines their distinct style.  On top of that, both Sergio and I contribute different aspects of what makes us so strong:  Sergio has a strong sense of musicality ( & humor) and that comes through in our choreography and I have a good eye for lines and details and tend to polish and perfect things.

Ritmo Bello: Does Alma Latina Dance Company have a particular focus on teaching certain age groups to perform?

Alma Latina Dance Company: We don’t like to limit ourselves to any age group: We have people 3 years to 70 years old. But we do earn a lot of attention for the accomplishments of our young dancers: Our kids couples took 1st and 2nd place in three age divisions in the first Annual Kids Salsa Convention in LA, and Albert Torres has invited our kids to be featured in a showcase at the 2009 World Salsa Championships in December!  We’ve recently decided to form a non-profit around our kids dance troupe.  Our Mission statement is to connect kids to culture using Latin music and dance to promote discipline, pride, health, and the history of Latin culture all while having fun.  If you or someone you know would like to make a donation, please contact us at Info@AlmaLatinaDanceCompany.com

Ritmo Bello: Are you taking on new dancers now? How does someone audition to be a part of your salsa performance team?

Alma Latina Dance Company: YES!!! We are always taking new dancers for our Amateur & Intermediate teams.  We also have Semi pro and Professional levels that do require a private audition- but we can do that anytime- just send us an email:  Info@AlmaLatinaDanceCompany.com.  In addition, we have members of each team learn the routine of the team above them so they are always challenged and so they can get ready to step up a level.

Ritmo Bello: I understand that your dance company operates out of Tijuana , Mexico as well as San Diego, California . How has this impacted the types of dancers you train?

Alma Latina Dance Company: I think it has made all our students really happy and inspired- there is such diversity in the dancers!  The San Diego students always comment how they love the warmth of our Tijuana studio culture (we all kiss hello and goodbye to everyone at our TJ Studio).  And our Tijuana students love the enthusiasm of our San Diego dancers!  Also, a big plus is that all our dancers can come to the Tijuana studio and practice for free whenever, and there is always a Social going on at Alma Latina … I am not joking, there is a party every night…. And then TACOS at a stand by our studio  :)  We’re working to bring that same atmosphere to San Diego- starting on November 14th, we’ll have a monthly Social in San Diego too.  Our new studio, The Woodroom, is in Northpark, which has a big neighborhood party called Ray At Night.  As part of that event, we’ll be offering a free beginner lesson from 7:30-8:15 and free social dancing open to the public from 8:15-10:00 (just in time to head out to the other salsa clubs and socials)!

Ritmo Bello: Where has Alma Latina Dance Company performed?

Alma Latina Dance Company: We love to perform locally as well as at all the big West Coast Congress events like San Diego, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Palm Springs, Arizona and San Francisco.  We have also regularly traveled to the Acapulco Congress, the Mexico National Championships in Mexico City, and the World Salsa Championships.  We recently performed at the Mayan Team Competition and WON- we are so excited to have earned that distinction!  We are also really pleased to have been invited to headline the Seattle Salsa Congress over Thanksgiving weekend.  We are hoping to add Europe to our list of performance destinations in the next year!

Ritmo Bello: In many of those performances and competitions you’ve won a number of awards. Can you share with us some of your best memories involving winning those awards?

Alma Latina Dance Company: Yes- we are so proud of our many dancers who have done so well in competition! Just this year we have claimed 6 first places and 6 second places in competitions Nationally and Internationally.

Competing is really hard work but we love it- it is the best learning experience. Competing takes all the challenges of performing and adds judges into the mix!  You learn to cope with your nerves and the pressure– and dance regardless.  The challenge is doing it like it is a show even when you see the judges just in front of you.  You want to think that they are going to be entertained!

Admittedly the competitions add pressure, but they also push us to grow as dancers and be the best performers we can be. That’s where the great memories come from: working together towards a goal and achieving it- and traveling as a group to perform for very appreciative audiences!

Ritmo Bello: Is is true that you’ve been ranked within the top 10 salsa dancers in the world according to the ESPN World Salsa Championships?

Alma Latina Dance Company: Yes, we are currently ranked 5^th in the world and this year we want to go back and rank higher if possible!  It is really hard because you compete with the best in the world and everybody is improving and getting ready- there’s no way to get an advantage…so imagine!!! But I think we could do something good this year…

Ritmo Bello: How was your experience at the San Diego Salsa Festival this year?

Alma Latina Dance Company: Great! We closed the show on Friday and performed the 2nd to last number on both Saturday and Sunday- just before Yamulee from NYC closed the show- and after great dancers like Adolfo Indacochea, Hacha y Machete etc.- what a compliment!  We were incredibly flattered by the fact that we got standing ovations on Friday and Sunday.

Ritmo Bello: In your opinion, what is the best thing about dancing salsa in San Diego ?

Alma Latina Dance Company: Everything!  The people are genuine and nice, there is a huge number of incredible dancers, and everyone has a good attitude.

Ritmo Bello: I’ve noticed that there are a number of videos on YouTube showcasing your salsa dancing. How do you feel about being a virtual salsa celebrity for the YouTube crowd?

Alma Latina Dance Company: I think that YouTube has helped us a lot.  We find a lot of people who have never seen us in person but they follow us on YouTube.  We have even had people hire us based on that- can you believe it?  We hardly can!

Ritmo Bello: Is there anything else you’d like to share with the Ritmo Bello readers about your dance company and yourselves that we haven’t covered yet?

Alma Latina Dance Company: We want to thank you and all of the San Diego salsa community for your support!  We feel really blessed to be teaching here where people really believe in us.

Ritmo Bello: Do you have contact information in case anyone from the Ritmo Bello audience wants to contact you?

Alma Latina Dance Company: Yes- please contact us- we are still growing and want to serve the needs of the San Diego Community!

Alma Latina Dance Company

www.AlmaLatinaDanceCompany.com

Info@AlmaLatinaDanceCompany.com

619-600-5536

Ritmo Bello: Sergio and Gaby, Thank you so much for your time and I look forward to seeing you at one of your events.

Alma Latina Dance Company: Thank you so much- we look forward to seeing you and all your readers at our free social on November 14^th!

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You can contact John on Twitter at @RitmoBello

1^st Wednesdays of the Month with Meetup.com is coming up again and with it a great opportunity to meet new people here in San Diego.  This time the event will have a different twist in that we are asking people who attend to donate food to the St. Vincent de Paul Villages in anticipation of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Please bring any NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS for donating to the St. Vincent de Paul Village and Food pantry. We will have a box on site at the event to collect any canned food and other non-perishables to help out the less fortunate during this Thanksgiving season.  For those of you unfamiliar with St. Vincent de Paul’s Villages check out the videos here that explain some of the great services they provide to our community:

This monthly event held at Café Sevilla is a great way to break the ice with new people in a safe and friendly environment. Just like last month, Café Sevilla has eliminated the cover charge for Wednesday so it will again be FREE to attend!

For those of you unfamiliar with Café Sevilla, the venue is known for its great Spanish Cuisine and as a great salsa dance venue.

The event is open to everyone so feel free to come alone or bring any friends. We’ll meet downstairs at 8pm in the VIP area of club that will be reserved for our group.  Just look for the Meetup.com signs.  Valerie will give a free salsa lesson starting at 8:30pm.

For full details and to RSVP please check out the special event page here on the San Diego Salsa and Latin Dancing Meetup group. If you have additional questions feel free to contact me on Twitter @RitmoBello.

Don’t forget to bring your canned goods and see you all at 8pm this Wednesday November 4^th at Café Sevilla!

As many of you already know, I have a YouTube channel for Ritmo Bello that highlights some of the great dancing we see here in San Diego.  What you may not know, though, is that you can now access these videos directly from the Ritmo Bello Website.

You’ll see on the right hand side of this website a small player that cycles through the videos on the Ritmo Bello YouTube channel.  Let me know what you think (@reply me on Twitter at @ritmobello) and I hope you enjoy all the videos.

As any salsa dancer will tell you, it’s ten times better dancing to live music as compared to recorded music.  The obvious reason for this is that the salsa dancer can really connect with the energy, enthusiasm, and excitement of the live entertainer as the performance goes on.

Johnny Polanco and his group La Conjunto Amistad are a prime example of how great live salsa music is to the dancer and listener alike.  With years of experience in the salsa music world, Johnny Polanco is a rare gem that plays frequently in the Southern California area.  I had a chance to talk with Johnny Polanco before his upcoming performance at Anthology night club this Saturday October 17 and learned that if something is to be done, you ‘DO IT WITH SALSA!’  I hope you enjoy the interview which follows below.

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Ritmo Bello: Johnny, thanks for taking the time to address the Ritmo Bello dance community. Let’s begin.  What would you say is the main focus of your salsa music?

Johnny Polanco: Hi John. The main focus of my music are two reasons.  One is to make everyone dance.  Secondly is to give the listener a great visual through our performances.  Everyone listens to CD’s.  But it’s a lot different when you actually see it “live”.  The listener can actually feel and absorb the music.  It becomes more versatile.  And the most important issue about a “live” performance is that the number can be stretched out a little longer, thus letting the band be more creative.  Especially during the solos.

Tito Puente once told me, “Live tells no lie”.  AND THAT’S SO TRUE.  In this age of recording and digital “Pro Tools” you can do wonders in the recording studio.  But you can “clean it up live”!

Ritmo Bello: What are the origins of your salsa music career?

Johnny Polanco: My career begin in the Bronx, New York City.  I performed with various bands, in the earlier days, but the first known band I played with was with JOHNNY PACHECO and PETE “EL CONDE” RODRIGUEZ.  I was 17 years old.

Ritmo Bello: Why did you choose La Conjunto Amistad for your band name?

Johnny Polanco: I choose Conjunto Amistad because the band was composed of all of my friends.

Ritmo Bello: What types of influences have impacted how you’ve created your salsa music?

Johnny Polanco: The conjunto music of ARSENIO RODRIGUEZ, who is one of the most well known Cuban tres guitar players.  Also the BIG 3 bands of the fifties that consisted of TITO PUENTE, TITO RODRIGUEZ and MACHITO.  The sounds of trio music like LOS PONCHOS and TRIO MATAMOROS also played a role.

And believe it or not,  the music of the big band era featuring FRANK SINATRA, TONY BENNETT, JOE WILLIAMS, SARAH VAUGHN and many others from that era were so musically rich for me to listen.

Ritmo Bello: How and where do you find inspiration for creating new salsa songs?

Johnny Polanco: The inspirations come to me in spurts.  That’s why I always  try to have something to write notes or my cell phone to record the moments.  My song feature all different types of topics.  If you listen to my latest CD, “AMISTAD PARA EL MUNDO ENTERO” you will see the many topics.

Ritmo Bello: What has your experience been like working with Dimelo Records?

Johnny Polanco: My experiences with Dimelo Records has been an enjoyable one and something that I wish I would have done years ago.  Nissim Baly is a great guy and is very  business savvy in the direction that the recording industry has been heading.  He possesses very strong marketing skills and that has contributed immensely in the success of the bands under his label.  Not to mention his assistant Valerie Guzman.  She is definitely on the ball at the office.

Ritmo Bello: Can you tell me a little about your CD’s that you’ve released to date?

Johnny Polanco: Absolutely.  Amistad Para El Mundo Entero is my best production yet.  It has 14 original, never recorded numbers.  It features some of the best  musicians in Salsa music today such as RAY DE LA PAZ,  FRANKIE VASQUEZ,  AZUQUITA, FRANKIE MORALES, JIMMY BOSCH, ARTIE WEBB, NINO JESUS and others.  The production was great.  It took a while but I’m very happy with it.  I also put on it, my version of ”Happy Birthday”.  It has been very popular in all the clubs.

Ritmo Bello: Are there current plans for new CD releases coming up soon?

Johnny Polanco: The last CD has only been out for 9 months and DIMELO RECORDS is going to release it on their label soon.  My next CD is going to be recorded live on a venue to be announced later.  I feel that this will really capture the true sound of the band.

Ritmo Bello: I’ve noticed that there are a number of videos on YouTube showcasing your salsa music.  How has YouTube and other types of social media like Facebook and Twitter helped you gain more exposure worldwide?

Johnny Polanco: It truly has.  My music has reached places throughout the world that I haven’t traveled to yet.  We have had the pleasure of working with Albert Torres, who has been my personal manager for 15 years.  And he is helping create and participate at all these Salsa Congresses world wide.  These types of social medias have been a blessing.  Also non commercial radio has played an important part also.  They play everyones music and we are very blessed to have Canto Tropical and Alma Del Barrio here in Los Angeles.

Ritmo Bello: What are some of your best memories from your performances? Are there any in particular that stand out in your mind?

Johnny Polanco: Oh GOD, there are so many because each of those have left me with something unique.  Such as performing for our new L.A. Philharmonic conductor from Venezuela, Gustavo Dumadel a couple of weeks ago at the Hollywood Bowl. He is the first Hispanic to lead this great orchestra.  Working with Prince in Las Vegas was great too.  He is an extraordinary musician.  Doing the 2007 Playboy Jazz Festival., the 50th Anniversary of the Grand Prix in Macau.  Doing our Mayor’s Inaugural Ball.  And the many Salsa Congresses throughout the world such as in Spain,  Toronto,  Japan, New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Vancouver etc.

Ritmo Bello: I’ve seen you perform in San Diego in the past. How often do you make it down to San Diego and when can we expect to see you again in America’s Finest City?

Johnny Polanco: I don’t perform as much as I like but I will be performing Sat Oct 17th at Anthology.  This is the premier venue to perform in San Diego.  It is such a  beautiful supper club with great sound, food and hospitality.  I am so looking forward to it!

Ritmo Bello: What advice can you give to up and coming salsa singers?

Johnny Polanco: The best advice is to listen to the old stuff from the early years. Especially from the 70’s.  All those guys are now salsa legends now.  PERIOD.  I had the pleasure of working with many of them.  Their sonero’s and deliveries are unmatched.  Any vocalist after that era will tell you that they were influenced by them.  If they don’t admit it, they are just plain lying.

Ritmo Bello: Is there anything else you’d like to share that I haven’t covered so far?

Johnny Polanco: You covered many of the issues that are important to me.  But the final thing I would like to say is to please support live entertainment.  It take an enormous commitment for someone to get musicians together and form a band.  And a lot of work to get music and the administrative side of it in getting booked.  It’s not easy.  But we do it to spread the music, make you feel good, help you meet new friends, dance to great songs, see musicians do what we do best and let’s face it guys.  The most beautiful women in the world are dancing to salsa and waiting for you.  So if you guys aren’t Salsa dancing,  you better get some lessons because you are DEFINITELY missing out.  Most clubs offer lessons. So you have no excuse.  Ever wonder where your best friends at?  He is at a salsa club dancing away with the girl of your dreams Ha, Ha.

Ritmo Bello: Do you have contact information in case anyone from the Ritmo Bello audience wants to contact you?

Johnny Polanco: Yes.  My website is www.johnnypolanco.net Also we have a hotline where you can find out where we are at on a weekly basis at 562-220-4929.

Ritmo Bello: Johnny, thank you so much for your time and I hope to attend some of your salsa performances in the near future.

Johnny Polanco: It has been a pleasure and hope to see everyone at Anthology this week.  As I always say, ”DO IT WITH SALSA”.  Gracias.

PBS tonight aired the first part of a two part series called “Latin Music USA” that gives a very good overview of not just salsa but all Latin music.  Covering everything from Latin Jazz to Latin Pop, the series does an excellent job of explaining the roots and influences that created the wonderful music we all enjoy today.

The second part of the series airs on October 19th at 9pm ET/PT and if you missed the first part you can see it on the PBS website:  http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/latinmusicusa/

Also check out the viewing guides, one in English and another in Spanish.

Thanks to PBS for putting together a great documentary!

The  3rd Annual San Diego Salsa Festival has come and gone but there remains the great memories of performances, dancing, and meeting new friends.

The videos that appear here give but a glimpse of some of the great dancers that performed during this year’s festival.  If you want to see all the videos from the Festival check out the Ritmo Bello YouTube channel.  Hope you enjoy the videos!

1^st Wednesdays of the Month with Meetup.com is coming up again this week and with it a great opportunity to meet new people here in San Diego.  This time the event is FREE to attend too!

The monthly event held at Café Sevilla is a great way to break the ice with new people in a safe and friendly environment. This month we are going back to basics and having a simple Meetup event without any overarching theme. Roman Castro Photography, a sponsor for our Meetup group, will be on hand at 8pm to take pictures of the event.  As an added bonus, Café Sevilla eliminated the cover charge for Wednesday so now it will be FREE to attend!

For those of you unfamiliar with Café Sevilla, the venue is known for its great Spanish Cuisine and as a great salsa dance venue.

The event is open to everyone so feel free to come alone or bring any friends. We’ll meet downstairs at 8pm in the VIP area of club that will be reserved for our group.  Just look for the Meetup.com signs.  Valerie will give a free salsa lesson starting at 8:30pm.

For full details and to RSVP please check out the special event page here on the San Diego Salsa and Latin Dancing Meetup group.

See you all at 8pm this Wednesday October 7^th at Café Sevilla!

Over the last few years, San Diego has experienced a surge of interest with the dance known as bachata.  Indeed, many clubs in San Diego now cater to this dance exclusively by hosting bachata nights and playing music for this growing group.  Amidst these changes a number of individuals have emerged to help San Diego move further into this genre.  One of those leaders is Anthony Umina who has taken it upon himself to spread the gospel of bachata dancing here in San Diego.  I had a great opportunity to meet with him and talk with him about these changes concerning bachata.  I hope you enjoy the interview below.

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Ritmo Bello: Anthony, thanks for agreeing to sit down for an interview. Let’s begin. Originally you began as a salsa dancer and found your way into bachata dancing.  How did you go about making that transition?

Anthony Umina:  Thank you for having me and expressing interest in Bachatamante Dance Co.  Yes, I began salsa dancing in Fall of 2006 and slowly started social dancing bachata at the clubs near the end of 2008.  It’s funny, because before that I had heard bachata played at different socials and clubs in the Bay Area, but never really knew what it was or how to dance it.  I actually remember a specific incident where I told the DJ (DJ Jazzy Jez - aka Jesse) who is a good friend of mine, that he was playing too much bachata, nobody knew how to dance it, and it wasn’t any good!  I’ll always remember his response to me, “Dude, You don’t even know.  Just wait, Bachata is going to be the next BIG craze.”  Little did I know, he was SO right!  Within a year after that incident I took my first bachata class with Nestor Manuelian at the 2008 West Coast Salsa Congress in Los Angeles, CA. At first I thought it was alright and it was just another dance and another 8 count of steps.  It wasn’t until I was exposed to wide spread Bachata Scene in Sydney, Australia did I realize how beautiful the dance actually was.  From my experience, Sydney’s Bachata Scene was almost equivalent to Salsa in terms of popularity and performance teams!  It was then that I wanted to experience more bachata and grow as a dancer.  I kept it to social dancing while I was living in the Bay Area (San Jose, CA) , but after my move back to Los Angeles in November of 2008 I met an amazing couple who had their own Bachata Team.  Jorge Contreras and Leslie Ferreira welcomed me in to their “Bachata Caliente” family with open arms!  After dancing with them for a few months and performing at the San Francisco Bachata Festival I was asked to partner with the world renowned Josie Neglia and conduct workshops at the 1st Annual California Bachata Congress.  And the rest is history!!

Ritmo Bello: I understand that you developed your dance skills in the Bay Area.  Could you share with me what that experience was like?

Anthony Umina: Yes, San Jose to be exact.  I was first introduced to “Latin” dance at San Jose State University.  I took a curriculum class there for the sole purpose of covering one of my GE area’s.  My very first dance teacher ever was the wonderful Joelle Maletis.  I ended up falling in LOVE with it and I started going to all of the classes in my spare time.  One of the best parts of the class, which I believe is the biggest aspect that sparked my interest, was the “field trips” we had to go to for homework.  Joelle sent us to local clubs and studios to take outside lessons.  After being with Joelle for about a year I joined Pretty Boys and Girls (aka PB&G) with the infamous Ricardo and Michelle!  I was on their training team “Rising Stars” for about 8 months and at the culmination of that season they offered me a spot on the Pro Team!  I was so honored to have danced with world class dancers.  PB&G won the 1st Annual ESPN World Salsa Championships in the Team Division.  My level of dancing progressed exponentially training with them.  What also played a big part was the social dancing.  The Bay Area has an amazing social dancing salsa scene.  The median level of dancers as a whole is way up there!  There are many trained dancers there and it’s a great place to learn because you’re constantly being challenged.

Ritmo Bello: I’ve heard that along with relocating to San Diego you also now co-direct at the popular Deseo Dance Co.  How did you go about meeting Serena Cuevas and agreeing to become co-director with her?

Anthony Umina: Well just like the rest of the world I had known OF Serena for quite some time, but never really met her.  It wasn’t until one night at Prospect when a friend of mine introduced us and told her to dance with me!  We ended up dancing the next 4 songs in a row! Then we met again on Wednesday at La Jolla Marriott and that’s when she dropped the question!  She asked if I would be interested in moving down to San Diego to be her partner and Co-Directing Deseo with her or at least commuting down once or twice a week for rehearsals.  I was extremely flattered by her offer and that is an understatement.  Immediately, I told her I was interested and that we could definitely talk more about it.  By that next week I was living in San Diego!!!  And it has been one of the best decisions of my life thus far and I am so grateful for Serena giving me this wonderful opportunity. I have been truly blessed with all of the people in my life and how far my endeavors have taken me.  When everything falls into place so smoothly and perfectly you can only be assured that they’re meant to be!

Ritmo Bello: Given that you’re focusing more on bachata dance now, what is it about the dance that sets it apart from other Latin dances like salsa or cha cha cha for you?

Anthony Umina: Well, the main and most obvious difference I would have to say is the music.  It has a very distinct and noticeable arrangement.  With some of the same instruments such as the piano, bongos, congas, bass, and clave’ the addition of an amplified guitar is a huge difference.  The way the bongos are played in bachata allows for more syncopation.  While salsa, cha-cha, and merengue can be danced sensual nothing can compare to the connection of bachata.   With all the body and hip movement that can be incorporated into bachata it is very easy to dance with great musicality.  It also feels really nice when you can connect with another human being so well and be able to lead somebody with any part of your body, whether it be your hands, hips, knees, feet, shoulders, chest, etc.! You really “Dance as one” when you dance bachata.  The difference in terms of music is that bachata is played in an 8 count where the split is 4/4 and the 4 and 8 holds are replaced with a tap of the foot and “pop” of the hip, if you will.  Now, although bachata is typically danced side-to-side it is also danced in a circular motion and can essentially travel in any direction you wish as long as you are stepping on the correct counts.  As we continue to push the boundaries of bachata and create new styles, hits, steps, and moves there will always be different ways to dance bachata.  Dominican, Moderna, Urbana, Tango, and Traditional are all different styles that are danced nowadays.

Ritmo Bello: I heard that you are creating San Diego’s first 100% bachata dance focused dance troupe.  What can you share with the Ritmo Bello readers about this endeavor and what we can all expect?

Anthony Umina: YUP! 100% Bachata Team!  I wanted to move down here to spread the fire, passion, and bachata craze. It started when Serena put me in contact with Evelio from Rumba Entertainment and our first conversation must have lasted almost 3 hours!  Evelio and I threw around a lot of ideas and that’s when I decided to make my move full-time and more permanent, instead of just once or twice a week for Deseo practices.  As stated before, I danced with Bachata Caliente in Los Angeles and I absolutely loved everything they were doing with their team, performances, and traveling.  It felt really good to have a tight-knit group that shared the same passion and interest.  I thought it would be cool to create something like that of my own and with San Diego having an untapped bachata market it made my decision easy. Now, as for what San Diego can expect…there will be a new breed and expansion of Bachata dancing.  With mixes of Moderna, Domincan, and Urban, Bachatamante will create its own unique style and contribute to the already vastly growing bachata World.  We will have training and performance teams that will be required to learn choreography, timing, technique, and body movements.  Performing is always an option and not a requirement.  We welcome people that want to become better dancers, but feel group classes can only get them so far, and privates are way too expensive!  It is open level progressive so we don’t turn anybody away that wants to learn the Domincan dance of bachata.  No experience or training necessary! For those that have a goal of performing and traveling, Bachatamante is already booked and confirmed for a few of the Bachata Congress’/Festivals around the world!  San Diego Bachatero’s are very quickly getting put on the map and this is only the beginning!

Ritmo Bello: I know that you’ve been involved in a number of competitions for both salsa and bachata.  Could you share some of your best memories from these competitions?

Anthony Umina: Actually, to tell you the truth, I have only been in 2 official competitions in my life! Other than 2 or 3 Jack and Jill’s I have entered in to at small clubs my very first competition was with Espie Hernandez from Laguna Rhythm.  I met Espie one night at Stevens Steakhouse and 2 weeks later we competed on Television at the Conga Room Latin Dance Champs! We qualified and progressed to the semi-finals, but were eliminated in the first week.  My 2^nd competition was with Serena Cuevas and again, with only 2-3 weeks of preparation we found ourselves competing at the 1^st Annual Mayan World Bachata Championship Finals where we ended up taking home 2^nd place!  I would say my favorite memory thus far was coming off the stage at the Mayan knowing that we nailed it!  It had been our best performance yet, and it was so exhilarating having the entire Mayan crowd in front of us.   Serena and I showed up with the mindset just to do our best and just have fun!  I wanted to feel no pressure and I think it eased into us very well.  Taking 2^nd place next to Christian Oviedo and Alien Ramirez was an honor, but at the same time it was a bit bittersweet because a lot of the competition were good friends and peers of mine, many of whom I really look up to and admire.  So it was a bit difficult to take in.  Healthy and fun competition is always good though!

Ritmo Bello: Do you think bachata music is going to outgrow salsa dancing in popularity?

Anthony Umina: I wouldn’t say bachata will outgrow or replace salsa in any means, but it is definitely becoming much more popular all over the globe. Slowly, but surely people are transitioning and learning bachata in addition to their salsa, cha-cha, merengue etc.  For the beginners, I believe bachata is much more distinct and predominant with timing and hits that it makes it easy to dance when first starting out.  Not to mention that the speed of bachata is much slower, which makes it less difficult for those with 2 left feet. So, I can see how appealing it would be to beginners and maintain a steady growth.

Ritmo Bello: What advice can you give to people that are new to bachata dancing?

Anthony Umina: Listen to the Music!  And work those hips and shoulders! You really got to loosen them up.  It’s a dance of sensuality and one way for me to express sensuality with someone is through body movement and not only worrying about myself, but connecting your body movements to compliment your partners. Like I mentioned before, “Dance TOGETHER” literally, it’s like your bodies are glued together and are on the same heartbeat! Other than that I think bachata is much easier to adapt to than a few of the other Latin dances.

Ritmo Bello: Do you have contact information in case anyone from the Ritmo
Bello audience wants to contact you?

Anthony Umina:  Yes, email is best.

Email: a.umina@gmail.com.  Feel free to shoot me an email so you can be added to our weekly newsletter list for new information each week.  Also….INTRODUCTORY RATE IF YOU SIGN UP BEFORE OCTOBER 4TH LOCK IN YOUR DISCOUNTED RATE NOW! Please email for more info.”

Cell: 626.251.6623

Our Home studio is Dance for 2 in Clairmont Mesa at 7528 Clairemont Mesa Drive where we host our weekly bachata classes from 3:00pm -5:00pm EVERY Sunday! =) Come on by!

Also, Please visit  www.rumbaentertainment.com for all your San Diego Salsa Needs!

Ritmo Bello: Anthony, Thank you so much for your time and good luck with you bachata dance plans for San Diego.

Anthony Umina: Thank you for sharing the interest and allowing me this opportunity to share a bit of my story and background with others.  Hope to see you and your readers out on the dance floor soon!

Local San Diego salsa dancers Christina Santana and Pepe Alvarez were recently highlighted on national television as part of their appearance on “So You Think You Can Dance.”  Here is the YouTube video of the pair during the audition for the show.

Ritmo Bello congratulates Christina Santana on moving on to the next step for competing in the show!

Welcome to everyone attending the San Diego Salsa Festival! The Festival kicks off this Thursday night with the Festival Pre-Party and visitors from all over the world will be here in San Diego to share in their love of the dance.

I’ve received many emails from visiting attendees and based on my many communications with those visitors I decided to write up this post listing some handy resources here in San Diego.

First, a good starting point for interacting with the local San Diego salsa scene is the San Diego Salsa and Latin Dancing Meetup Group. Along with RSVP pages listed for some of the major events associated with the festival (such as Opening Night Festivities), the group is a good way to meet local dancers and interact with them. Make sure to take advantage of the message board system to network with other dancers during the Festival.

If you are looking for more general information about San Diego a good resource is the San Diego Conventions & Visitors Bureau website. You’ll find information ranging from good places to eat around town to useful ways to get around.

Of course, make sure to check Ritmo Bello for updates regarding the actual festival this week. If anyone visiting has any questions feel free to contact me too. You can find me on twitter as well at http://twitter.com/RitmoBello to follow updates regarding the Festival.

See you all at the 3rd Annual San Diego Salsa Festival!

The San Diego Salsa Festival is upon us (starts Thursday September 17, 2009) and I have some more updates to the schedule of events.  The most notable change is the addition of a special pool party that will take place Saturday September 19th.

The salsa pool party will include a fully stocked bar, SDSF D.J.’s playing the best salsa music poolside & contest giveaways. Don’t forget your swim suits if you are attending the San Diego Salsa Festival. For more information about the San Diego Salsa Festival Pool party make sure to check out the info page on the official San Diego Salsa Festival website.

See you all at the 3^rd Annual San Diego Salsa Festival!

The San Diego Salsa Festival is coming up next week and I wanted to make sure you all had the updated schedule of events for the weekend.  Don’t forget that everything starts with the Festival Pre-Party on Thursday September 17th.  See you at the San Diego Salsa Festival!

If you’ve been a part of the salsa and Latin jazz music scene for a while I have no doubt you’d recognize Tito Puente.  Known throughout the world as “El Rey” (the King) of the timbales and “The King of Latin Music,”  Tito Puente left an incredible legacy of Latin jazz and mambo music.

Following in his father’s footsteps, Tito Puente Jr. continues that great musical tradition and brings new life to Latin jazz and mambo today.  Tito Puente Jr. will be performing live in San Diego on September 5th at Anthology in downtown’s Little Italy district.  Ritmo Bello was fortunate enough to connect with Tito Puente Jr. before his upcoming San Diego show and talk with him a bit about him being the standard bearer of Latin jazz royalty.

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Ritmo Bello: Tito Puente Jr., thanks for taking time to the talk to the Ritmo Bello readers about yourself and your music.  Let’s begin with a question I’m sure you get all the time.  How has being the son of the famous Tito Puente affected your decision to pursue a musical career for yourself?

Tito Puente Jr.: Music was always a part of me growing up, but by choice - my father never forced it on me. Of course, being my father’s son poses challenges in the sense that it’s next to impossible to follow or match such an incredible talent, so I’m very clear that my mission is not to try and compete, it’s simply to entertain audiences and carry the torch of my father’s music to a new generation of people.

Ritmo Bello: When and how did you begin your own musical career?

Tito Puente Jr.: I started in the mid 1980’s surrounding myself with all types of music growing up in New York City, where there were so  many influences. Professionally I started on the trap drum kit when I was 16 years of age, working in different nightclubs in Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens.

Ritmo Bello: It’s clear that you are often compared to your father, Tito Puente and his musical style.  For those unfamiliar with Tito Puente can you explain how you might be similar and different to his legacy?

Tito Puente Jr.:  I think of course one blatant similarity is that I look a lot like him! I seem to have a connection with older fans that were fans of his and to younger ones as well. I have a certain quirkiness about me when I’m performing that people seem to enjoy. I dance and sing like my father did when he was younger in the 1950s, but I give it a modern edge, like a taste of Latino classic and urban mixed up with cha cha and mambo…

Ritmo Bello: How and where do you find inspiration for creating new music?

Tito Puente Jr.:  My father taught me to always surround myself with creative people, as they will serve as inspiration…it works.

Ritmo Bello:     I know that you have collaborated and performed with many notable artists in the salsa and Latin jazz world.  What are your most memorable performances that you’ve had over the course of your career?

Tito Puente Jr.: Well, I’ve been fortunate to have many: Ricky Martin, Gloria Estefan, Celia Cruz and José Feliciano come to mind. But I think the most influential would have been with my father himself – being on stage together.

Ritmo Bello:   Can you tell me a little about the albums that you’ve released to date?

Tito Puente Jr.:  I’ve had three major label releases to date but the most exciting is my new album coming out next month entitled “Got Mambo?”. It’s a really exciting project where I step up my game with original material and some great guest artists like Jon Secada and others.

Ritmo Bello:    Are there current plans for new CD releases coming up soon?

Tito Puente Jr.:  “Got Mambo?” is scheduled for a late October release, along with a new music video, tour and the whole internet promotion scene.

Ritmo Bello: I know that you, like your father, are a master at percussion and in particular the timbales.  What is it about this particular instrument that excites you the most?  Are there other instruments that you feel comfortable performing with as well?

Tito Puente Jr.:  I have to correct you - I am a student of percussion, not at all a master percussionist. I would hope through practice and time I could be. My father was a “master.”

Timbales have a distinct sound in all aspects of music plus it gives an engine to any song. I also enjoy piano and bass.

Ritmo Bello:   On a side note, I know that you’ve expanded into different enterprises including acting as the official spokesperson for Havanera Co., a clothing line I absolutely love to wear myself.   How has this and other experiences outside of your music affected your musical career?

Tito Puente Jr.:  In today’s world attaching yourself to a brand is important. I like to be a part of certain brands which can help bring our Latin music to the masses. The consumer is looking for more now. Branding and endorsing certain products and items has helped me bring my music to other parts of the globe.

Ritmo Bello:   My first contact with you was via Twitter and I was impressed to find you using the medium to reach out to your fans.  How has social media like Twitter and Facebook impacted how you interact with your fan base?

Tito Puente Jr.:  Amazing how Twitter and Facebook has gotten me directly in touch with the fans. It’s the new millennium of marketing and promotion for any artist out there. And yes it’s really me responding to you!!!

Ritmo Bello:   Although I know that you perform great music, do you ever get an opportunity to dance to salsa or Latin music as well?

Tito Puente Jr.:  I do, at home in front of my kids because that way I will look silly for them and not the rest of the world. I have great rhythm in my blood but it doesn’t seem to travel to my feet that well.

Ritmo Bello:    I’ve heard that you’ve also given back to the community in a number of ways.  Can you share with me some of the fundraising events you’ve supported?

Tito Puente Jr.:  The cancer, leukemia, diabetes and AIDS foundations are the ones closest to my heart since I have people and personal friends who have these horrible diseases. I love animals as well so give back wherever I can for them.

Ritmo Bello:   Is there anything else you’d like to share with the San Diego salsa and Latin dance community that we haven’t covered yet?

Tito Puente Jr.:  Get ready to mambo and cha cha the night away on September 5^th at Anthology…and bring your dancing shoes!

Ritmo Bello:  Do you have contact information in case anyone from the Ritmo Bello audience wants to contact you?

Tito Puente Jr.:  www.facebook.com/titopuentejr

www.myspace.com/titopuentejr

www.titopuentejr.net

www.twitter.com/titopuentejr

Ritmo Bello: Tito Puente Jr., it has been an honor to talk to you today.  On behalf of the San Diego salsa dance community and Ritmo Bello thank you for your time!

Tito Puente Jr.:  Muchas gracias and thank you to all the Tito Puente fans and the new Tito Puente, Jr. fans…I’m looking forward to seeing everyone!

Ritmo Bello congratulates Angelica Romero as the winner of the Ritmo Bello “My Salsa Story” contest!  Her entry was chosen out of a number of great submissions and exemplifies the impact salsa dancing can have in a person’s life.   As the winner Angelica receives a FREE Full Event Pass (a $220 value) to the upcoming San Diego Salsa Festival including all the shows, workshops, and events that will be held there.  On behalf of Ritmo Bello I’d like to thank everyone who submitted their entries, there were many heartwarming stories that were shared.

Below is the article that Angelica submitted to win the pass.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

John

Ritmo Bello

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My Salsa Story - Angelica Romero

As a child in Colombia I can remember music had always been a part of my household.  I have memories of my parents holding dinner parties at their house and Latin music was always on the background.  One of the predominant types of music was salsa; I remember the beat of the drums and the horns and just wanting to sway to the music.  Most of this changed when my family decided to make the US our new home.  The music somehow or other did not follow us.  The focus was now on trying to survive in a new environment and unfortunately music was not a priority.

Growing up in suburbs of LA I was immersed in so many different Latin cultures and music; once in a while I would hear that salsa rhythms and beats and I just remember noticing that I was swaying to the music.  But yet I was not making a conscious effort to learn it and immerse myself in it.  I knew that the art form of dance was something that I was good at and that I wanted to explore.  So I danced and performed in high school and college, yet the type of dance that I was attracted to was ballet, jazz, modern dance and traditional ballroom.  When I had opportunities to visit my family in Colombia I realized that all my younger cousins grew up around salsa, they knew the famous songs, the most popular singers and watching them move was just amazing.  I knew that somehow or other that passion had to also be running through my veins, I just had to find it & let it out.

The few times that we would have a social gathering where salsa was being played my Mother would try to get me out there and teach me, for some reason I just was not into it.  I felt that I just could not move like that, how can my hips move that way?  I knew what it was like to move to a waltz or to do pirouettes from ballet class- but having to move your body to that type of music; I just did not get it.

Well eventually time flew and I reached adulthood and then salsa came into my life once again through friends.  I loved listening to it, I loved the stories that the song was telling, love the passion that you felt while listening to it- it seemed that you just got lost in the song and you became part of it.  Once I realized that the music had such a profound feeling over me I was determined to learn it and be able to move with it.  So I started taking salsa group classes about 8 years ago and stuck with it for about a couple of months. Although I had fun I felt uncomfortable doing it, I did not understand the hip movement and the timing of the feet.  I kept thinking that after so many years of dance why was I having such a hard time getting this and also shouldn’t I be a natural at this, after all I am Colombian.  Well I let all of these insecurities take a hold of me and I quit.

Time passed and salsa was in and out of my life in short spurts, but yet I really did still love listening to the music and would find myself tapping my feet and swaying my hips whenever I would hear a song.  A couple of friends introduced salsa to me once again in the spring of this year and I figured that this must be the opportunity that I had been looking for.  I finally for some reason felt ready to take this on once more and hopefully commit to it; so I decided to join the San Diego Salsa and Latin Dancing Meetup group.  Well it has been 4 months and I am completely hooked on salsa, I love it.  I consider myself a beginner that is thirsty to continually learn more about this beautiful art form.  I have been regularly taking group classes at one of our local dance studios and have been progressing very nicely.  For some reason I feel that my hips finally woke up after all of those years.  I try to go out dancing three to four times a week and have had the opportunity to visit many of the great salsa venues here in San Diego.  I love salsa because honestly I have FUN dancing it; I love the music, the movement, the passion and the way that you can express yourself through movement with your partner.  Because of all of this I would like to continue dancing for as long as my body will allow it.  It would be great to perform again and I like having the opportunity to meet more people that share in this passion. 

I am looking forward to my first ever Salsa Festival and the fact that it is being held here in San Diego, I am thrilled to be part of it.  I would like to take part of the different workshops and to learn from different instructors that may have their own style.  I now know that salsa will continue to be part of my life and am glad to finally be a true American Colombian salsa dancer.

As many of you know, the  3rd Annual San Diego Salsa Festival is coming up September 17th-20th and with it great opportunities to interact with the world of salsa dancing.

The San Diego Salsa Festival will feature world renowned performers, great workshop instruction from many of those performing, entertaining dancing to live music and some of the best DJ’s in the industry.

As a Festival Promotional Partner, Ritmo Bello has 1 Full Event pass (a $220 value) to give out to one lucky reader.  The Full Evening/Day pass gives you access to shows, competitions, & social Dancing - including the Pre-Party.  We are going to give away the Full Event pass to someone who can share their best “Salsa Dance Story” i.e. how salsa dancing has changed their life.

To enter into this competition we are simply asking for our readers to:

1.  Share your salsa dance story in 600 -1000 words (What attracted you to salsa, your initial experiences learning salsa, funny stories about you learning salsa, etc.).  If you want you can also include a YouTube video clip about yourself explaining your experiences as well (your article will get better consideration if you have it in writing and supplement it with a video).

2.  Explain how salsa dancing has been an important part of your life.

3.  and share with us why you should receive the Full Event pass.

Along with winning the Full Event pass, the winning article will appear in a special post on Ritmo Bello recognizing the winner.

Please submit entries to Ritmo Bello (bello_jf@ritmobello.com) before 3pm on August 28th, 2009 and use the header “My Salsa Dance Story - YOUR NAME HERE.” Also, please include your contact information at the end of your submission so we can contact you if you are the winner and the YouTube Video link you’ve created.   The winner will be announced the first week of September on Ritmo Bello and the San Diego Salsa and Latin Dancing Meetup Group.

Good luck and we look forward to reading about your salsa dance experiences!

1^st Wednesday’s of the Month with Meetup.com at Café Sevilla is coming up September 2nd and you are invited to attend!

Last month our group met for Tapas and drinks upstairs at Café Sevilla before going to the salsa club for lessons and the live band. For those of you unfamiliar with Café Sevilla, the venue is known for its great Spanish Cuisine and as a great salsa dance venue. The photos, taken by Roman Castro Photography (a Sponsor for our Meetup group), give a glimpse of the great people that attended and the fun time we had.  This month we are having a DRESS IN RED theme where we encourage our members to wear any red shirts, skirts, dresses, shoes, etc to identify members of our group at the club.

We plan to meet DOWNSTAIRS at 8pm to take advantage of the free lesson offered by Valerie at the club. If you don’t take the salsa lesson you are invited to join us in our special VIP area of the club set up for Meetup.com members.

The event is open to everyone!  Bring your friends or come alone to meet some great people.  We’ll be there by 8pm.

Since we gets lots of people that attend these events we ask for a RSVP ahead of time. To do so please access the RSVP page here and you will find all the information you need to find our group that night. You can also find out more about Meetup.com here.

Thanks and hope to meet you at our 1^st Wednesday of the Month event at Café Sevilla!

With the summer of 2009 almost over, Café Sevilla is taking the opportunity to host another “Sevilla on the Bay” Yacht party!

For everyone that went to the first Café Sevilla boat party earlier this summer, you know that the event draws a large group of people ready to party. This time Café Sevilla is doing some different things that are important to note.

First, Café Sevilla has secured a larger yacht called the “Inspiration” that holds 1,000 people and is 30,000 square feet. Secondly, the party will have an “All White Party” theme where everyone is encouraged to wear any white pants, shirts, skirts, dresses, etc in celebration of the end of summer 2009.

There will be 3 floors of music ranging from a live Salsa band, hip hop, and live Spanish guitarists. Along with the music there will be free salsa dance lessons, photographers, and a special cigar lounge sponsored by Excalibur Cigars.

Along with all these attractions Café Sevilla is also hosting complimentary tapas and providing 5 fully stocked bars for your enjoyment.

Ritmo Bello and the San Diego Salsa and Latin Dancing Meetup Group are helping to sponsor this event and we will have a special table set up at the event (look for the Meetup.com signs on the first floor of the yacht). To find out more information and to RSVP with our group for the event please visit this event page (Click here to go there!)

Thanks to Café Sevilla for organizing another great event and see you at the “Sevilla on the Bay” Yacht party!

Salsa dancing is truly an international phenomenon.  Although the majority of salsa dance songs are in Spanish, the actual dance is enjoyed all over the world by all types of people.  A friend of mine named Tarrence is lucky enough to travel all over the world and he’s shared stories of the great salsa dancing he’s found in places like China and Japan.  He introduced me to Eiko Tanaka, an accomplished salsa dancer that lives in Japan and we talked about salsa dancing’s effect on the country.  I hope you enjoy the interview!

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Ritmo Bello: Eiko, thanks for agreeing to sit down for an interview. Let’s begin. Many people in the United States don’t realize that salsa dancing is really popular in Japan. What is the salsa dance scene like where you live in Japan?

Eiko Tanaka: Hello, it is my pleasure and thank you so much for having me.

With regards to the salsa scene in Japan, I don’t know the exact figure, but I have noticed that the salsa population has grown quite a bit within the past 10 years. Many people have visited the US to take salsa classes to study and partly due to the increase of salsa Congresses around the world, I think people have become aware of the spread of salsa in an international scale.

Ritmo Bello: I understand that you learned salsa dancing outside of Japan. What was your first contact with salsa dancing? How has salsa dancing affected your life?

Eiko Tanaka: My first contact with salsa was in Cuba.  I particularly liked the traditional Cuban son dance and music but I also liked the Cuban “casino” which I believe what people refer to it as  ”Cuban salsa”.  I enjoy all styles of salsa and it really gives me a lot of joy.

Ritmo Bello: I know that you manage a dance company now in Japan. What are the origins of your dance company? Is there a story to how it was formed? Do you perform at any of the Salsa Congresses or festivals?

Eiko Tanaka:  My dance group is an all female show dance group. My choreography is based on ballet, contemporary, afro-cuban as well as Cuban popular dance, all of which I learned at the dance school of “Tropicana” night club in Havana, Cuba.  I also incorporate salsa movements and steps. I have performed in many festivals and Congresses including the Japan Salsa Congress and the LA (West Coast) Salsa Congress. I will be performing at the Japan Salsa Congress this year.

Ritmo Bello: For someone like myself that has never been to Japan what can you share with readers about the best way of finding out about salsa dance events happening in Japan?

Eiko Tanaka: Yes there are many salsa events every month, and as far as Tokyo is concerned there is the Salsa Hotline Night which is a salsa event that takes place every month and in June 2009 marked the 139th event.  Almost all the groups that perform in the Japan Salsa Congress and other Congresses  participate in this event to showcase their performance.  And of course in addition to that, there are many events at various salsa clubs.

Ritmo Bello: What has been your best memory from your salsa dance experiences?

Eiko Tanaka: My best memory would have to be when I danced at the stage of Tropicana show .  Established in 1939, Tropicana used to be the playground for the rich and famous before the revolution, and it became known as the most attractive, luxurious nightclub in the world.   Al Capone hung out there, Carmen Miranda, Josephine Baker and Nat King Cole performed there. Today the place is one of Cuba`s main tourist attraction. To me it is such a magical place and feel incredibly lucky to have had the experience.

Ritmo Bello: I know you actually conducted professional photography while in Cuba as well. Can you tell our Ritmo Bello readers a little bit about that time?

Eiko Tanaka: Yes. I lived in Cuba from 1998-2000.  I met this photographer called Raul Corrales who was one of the most respected photographers in Cuba. He had been the official photographer of Fidel Castro for few years and also had documented Cuba during the revolutionary era as well as taken photos of people like Che Guevara and Ernest Hemingway. He has given me many valuable advices on photography and I developed and printed all my photos in the dark room I made in the bathroom. My interest was in capturing the life of the Cuban people but I mainly took photographs of Tropicana dancers backstage. I am actually planning to publish a black and white photography this year.

Ritmo Bello: Do you have any plans of visiting San Diego, California in the near future?

Eiko Tanaka: I would love to visit San Diego one day. If I have the opportunity to participate in LA Congress I will stop by San Diego.

Ritmo Bello:  What advice can you give to people that are new to salsa dancing?

Eiko Tanaka: It’s a beautiful and fun dance form so just enjoy it! It’s important to feel the music and not get too caught up in the technique.

Ritmo Bello: Do you have contact information in case anyone from the Ritmo Bello audience wants to contact you?

Eiko Tanaka: Yes people can email me at eikotropicana@yahoo.co.jp. I also have a web site www.eikotropicana.com

Ritmo Bello: Eiko, Thank you so much for your time and I hope to travel to Japan sometime to salsa dance with you!

Eiko Tanaka: Thank you so much and I hope you will visit us one day !!

August is here in San Diego and along with the hot weather there are plenty of salsa and Latin dancing events in America’s Finest City to attend.

Puerto Rican band La Sonora Ponceña will be making a stop in San Diego as part of their 55^th Anniversary West Coast Tour.  Montuno Productions, in collaboration with Rivera Entertainment, is bringing this great band to us in Mid August at the Omni Hotel in the Gaslamp Quarter.  The concert will take place in the beautiful ballroom of the Omni San Diego hotel.

Ritmo Bello and the San Diego Salsa and Latin Dancing Meetup Group will be going to the concert and you can find out all the information about the concert at the RSVP page (Click here to go there!)

See you at the La Sonora Ponceña concert!

The Colombian/Peruvian Salsa Festival is this Sunday August 2^nd! Hosted by Rumba Entertainment, the event enters its second year bringing us 3 live bands (Ritmo Peru, Grupo Mi Tierra, and Mambo Salvaje) in this all ages event. Dance shows begin at 7pm. The festival will be a good opportunity to learn about the music and culture of Colombia and Peru. I’ve included these two YouTube videos here to give you more information about the two countries:

For more information about the Colombian/Peruvian Salsa Festival check out the info page set up at the San Diego Salsa and Latin Dancing Meetup Group.

That’s right! Puerto Rican powerhouse El Gran Combo is coming to San Diego! Brought to us again from the same folks that brought us Victor Manuelle and Gilberto Santa Rosa (Blue Agave Nightclub ), this concert is going to be an absolute must to attend.

Why? El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico is quintessential Puerto Rican salsa and one of the best salsa music bands ever to come from Puerto Rico. A virtual institution in Puerto Rico, the group has played for four decades with its 13 piece ensemble. The group is so important to Puerto Rican identity in the salsa world that the Puerto Rican Senate officially named them “Ambassadors of Our Music” to the rest of the world.

I’ve included YouTube videos here in this post of their best and well known songs, Brujeria at the beginning and Un Verano en Nueva York below:

Ritmo Bello and the San Diego Salsa and Latin Dancing Meetup Group will be going to the concert with an RSVP page set up for you to access more info about the event (PLEASE CLICK HERE TO BE TAKEN THERE!)

Thanks to Blue Agave Nightclub for bringing another great salsa concert to San Diego!

Believe it or not, September is not that far away and with it comes the 3^rd Annual San Diego Salsa Festival!

As it gets closer to the event (September 17^th – 20^th), I’ll be writing about things that may be of interest to those attending. Here are some of the things we already know about the upcoming San Diego Salsa Festival:

1. September 17^th there will be a Pre-Party w/ Victor and Burju and Ana and Joel From Boston. This should be a fun way to jump start the rest of the weekend.

2. A number of D.J.’s are committed to spin including D.J. Robby LA, D.J. Sugar Philly,  D.J.Carlos Miranda LA & D.J. Lobo LA with more to be confirmed.

3. There will be 2 Dance Rooms For Evening Social Dancing.

4. Over 50 Performers from around the nation will be showcasing their talent.

5. There will be over 40 Workshops from beginner to advanced and specialized classes such as Zumba, Afro Cuban, Rumba, and Samba.

6. All night dancing!

7. Jack N Jill Competitions.

8. Hotel Rooms only $115 a night ( All Inclusive )

You can still purchase full event passes and I’d urge you all to get yours before they sell out. I already did!

Make sure to check Ritmo Bello for more updates about this great upcoming event!