1^st Wednesday’s of the Month with Meetup.com at Café Sevilla is coming up August 5^th and with it another great opportunity to connect with local San Diego dancers.

Last month our group started meeting earlier to share Tapas starting at 7pm and we will again be doing so downstairs at Café Sevilla. The venue is known for its great Spanish Cuisine and as we saw last month sharing this simple meal is a great way to meet other people. The pictures here show some of the folks that came for the Tapas portion of the event and I posted their reactions here so you could get a sense of how they enjoyed the night.

Of course the main focus of the night is salsa dancing and for those arriving before 8:30pm you can 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.  Look for the Meetup signs (see the picture below) to find us.

The event is open to everyone!

Bring your friends and come at 7pm. 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.

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

If you are a fan of the “Dancing with the Stars” TV show you are in for a treat.  Here in San Diego at the historic Starlight Theatre in Balboa Park there will be a limited engagement showing of “The New Mambo Kings.”

“The New Mambo Kings” is an exciting musical revue that blends Latin American culture through the art of dance, voice, and music.  The show will feature lots of different Latin music styles including Salsa, Merengue, Cumbia, Cha-Cha-Cha, Samba, Tango, Rumba, Paso Doble and Boleros.  It will also have flashy dance numbers and a good amount of singing both in English and in Spanish.

Starlight Theatre’s new Guest Artistic Director, Carlos Mendoza, along with his brother Mauricio Mendoza hope to reach out to everyone from all walks of life with their show.  The brothers have a long history in the performing arts, appearing in popular movies and shows like “Blow” starring Johnny Depp (see the Youtube video below).  I think the show will be a great way to experience the full range of Latin American music and dances in a way that is energetic and riveting.  If you’ve been one of the people glued to the TV watching “Dancing with the Stars” this will be a great show for you too.

The San Diego Salsa and Latin Dancing Meetup Group will be attending the July 31st performance and you are invited to attend this show as well.  To find out more information about how to obtain tickets please visit the RSVP page (click here!) on the San Diego Salsa and Latin Dancing Meetup Group.  Come out and support a great performing arts revue here in San Diego!

If you are like me I’m sure that when you travel you have one thing on your mind, salsa dancing.  Okay, maybe not but in all reality it is probably something that may cross your mind and you might want to take advantage of in another city.

Over the last couple of months I’ve been using Twitter (see the video above for a short overview)  to learn about the salsa dance scene in different places ranging from New York to Croatia.  Some of the folks I’ve met through Twitter that are into salsa dancing like me include Becoming a Salsero (Walter De Rooij), Dena from VidaSalsera, and DimeloRecords. Through my use of Twitter I now have a better sense of what to expect when I travel to different cities in terms of salsa dancing.   I also have people to meet up with when I visit.

Here in San Diego there are lots of people in the salsa dance scene who are using Twitter as well.  Some of them include Addicted2Salsa’s Anthony Persaud, Cafe Sevilla, A Time to Dance Studio, and Manny Cepeda.

Try using Twitter and Twitter Search to find others interested in salsa dancing.  Don’t forget to add Ritmo Bello to your follow list on Twitter!

Like most people in the world, I’ve been following the death and aftermath of Michael Jackson’s passing last week.  It’s been interesting to see all the tributes and retrospects regarding his life.

A reader sent me a link to this YouTube video and I thought it would serve as a great tribute to his life’s work.  Although there is not much salsa dancing in the video at all, the beat of the song is set to a salsa rhythm.  I hope you enjoy it…

Michael Jackson 1958 -2009

Believe it or not July is fast approaching and with it comes another First Wednesday of the Month with Meetup.com event!  The San Diego Salsa and Latin Dancing Meetup Group is doing something a little different this time and we will be meeting earlier in the night (7pm) to share some Spanish tapas.   Cafe Sevilla is well known for it’s great Spanish Cuisine (check out this review of the food) and the sharing of tapas between our group members will help encourage great conversation so you can meet your fellow dancers.  After sharing tapas we’ll already be in the club area downstairs so you can either take the free lesson at 8:30pm or go to the VIP area that is set aside for Meetup.com members.

The event is open really to anyone interested in Spanish food and salsa dancing but I’d encourage you to RSVP ahead of time as we tend to get lots of people who attend the First Wednesday of the Month events at Cafe Sevilla.  You can access the RSVP page here.

Hope to see you all at the upcoming First Wednesday of the Month on July 1st!

The San Diego Salsa and Latin Dancing Meetup Group is looking for a few good sponsors!  Sponsorships are a great way for businesses, organizations or brands to support local meetup groups, while getting exposure to active, local members.

Some ways that you could possibly help our group as a sponsor include:

*  Paying money to support our meetup.
*  Supply samples to distribute to our members.
*  Offer free or discounted services to our members
*  Give discounts or coupons on products to our members

So far we’ve partnered with a number of great businesses and as a thank you to those organizations I wanted to highlight some of them here:

Unus

Unus is a web developer dedicated to helping businesses grow through online solutions. Open communication and no pressure sales are their mantra and they pride themselves in providing a great experience driven by excellent customer service. Unus has over 20 years of experience and they are not your typical techies. Every project is important to them, regardless of size. (Case in point, they did a pretty good job with my own website Ritmo Bello!)

e.K Clothing

e.K. Clothing / Dancewear is an online shop devoted exclusively to offering the latest in Latin dance apparel and clubwear. Many of the clothes in their store are Salsa & Mambo inspired styles however they also carry flower hair clips, asymmetrical skirts, flare pants, and halter dresses that are great for Ballroom, Swing, Tango, Jazz and Flamenco fashion.

Gabellini Dance Shoes

Gabellini Dance Shoes are created by dancers with the utmost comfort in mind and the most original, fashionable looks of the day. The shoes are designed by Giancarlo Gabellini and I can tell you from personal experience that the shoes are awesome for dancing as I own a pair myself.

If you are interested in finding out more information about sponsoring the San Diego Salsa and Latin Dancing Meetup Group check out this link ( http://www.meetup.com/san-diego-salsa-and-latin-dancing/suggestion/sponsor/)   and send me a message. Thanks!

Not too long ago I wrote about a producer looking to screen his film “El Duque de la Bachata” here in San Diego.  I’m happy to report that he found a venue to screen his film this weekend.

The film will be screening at a San Diego Salsa and Latin Dancing Assistant Organizers home.  To find out more information about the film screening and how to attend please visit the RSVP page set up on The San Diego Salsa and Latin Dancing Meetup website.

See you at the film screening!

The San Diego Salsa Festival will be coming here in September and there are some important things to let you all know about NOW.

First, the organizers for the event are currently selling the full event passes for a reduced price.  Prices are slated to go up next week.  If you already know for sure that you will be attending you should purchase your full event pass now to lock in the current low price.  I’ve already secured my own full event passes and if the event is anything like it has been the past this event may sell out!

Also, if you are part of a dance team or a dance director here locally in San Diego you should secure your team’s spot at the San Diego Salsa Festival today by emailing the organizers of the event.  As most of you already know this event is one of the best ways to let local folks and those visiting San Diego learn more about your dance companies.

I’ll be writing more about the San Diego Salsa Festival over the next couple of months so keep checking Ritmo Bello for more information.

Ritmo Bello: Every dancer has a story about how they first found salsa dancing and how they first started to dance.  Can you tell me a little about how you came in contact with salsa dancing?

Serena Cuevas: I was 11 years old and my dad had shown me the basic…”1,2,3… 5,6,7…”. Without counts, just “back, together, forward, together”. It was so fun for me but I wanted more! My mom had been taking private Ballroom lessons and so she starting bringing me along. I watched and loved it even more! I starting taking over my mom’s private lessons and performing locally in studio shows. I knew this was it for me.

Ritmo Bello: As one of San Diego’s newer dance companies what are the main goals you want to accomplish as an organization?

Serena Cuevas: Being on successful teams I’ve learned a lot about the way goals are met. I have grown so much with Majesty in Motion. David and Jen have done an amazing  job with their company and I believe I have a lot to do if I’m heading that route. I definitely admire what it takes to be a successful director and work towards that.

First, of course come my teammates; for my teams and company as a whole I plan on building them as dancers AND athletes. It’s important not to forget that what we do takes a toll on our bodies and recovery from injury means not being able to pursue your passion. In the future, I’d like Deseo to be an athletic representation of Salsa.

Ritmo Bello: What types of teams do you currently have in formation and where do they compete?

Serena Cuevas: Deseo is not a competing team by any means; we enjoy dancing for expressive and passionate purposes. I have 3 teams right now: Deseo Ladies (Advanced Ladies Styling), Deseo Lumbre (Beginner Partnering), and Deseo (Advanced Partnering).

Ritmo Bello: If someone is interested in joining your dance team what advice can you give them?  Do they have to have prior dance experience?

Serena Cuevas: Call me and we will set up a private audition. They take about 30 min and we can schedule them anytime. Let me know soon as my schedule is often full. You do not need prior experience for the group classes but for all teams, yes, knowledge of On2 dancing is strongly recommended.

Ritmo Bello: Recently you’ve gained some great exposure from your work in the Gatorade G2 commercial with Serena Williams.  How did you become involved in this project with Gatorade?

Serena Cuevas: They contacted me actually. It was a surprise and I did not believe it at first but one call and email after another, then a competition in LA and before I knew it, I won the ‘Search for the Next Serena’ for the G2 campaign competition! It was unreal and amazing at the same time.

Ritmo Bello: Will we be seeing you in future Gatorade commercials or maybe even other types of productions?

Serena Cuevas: Yes. I believe Gatorade still has a few plans in the works for me. Also, I was recently contacted by a producer working with an amazing director and choreographer for an upcoming movie to release in 2010. Very exciting although nothing is in stone. I will keep you posted as soon as I am allowed!

Ritmo Bello: In your opinion, what’s the best aspect of being a salsa dancer in San Diego today?

Serena Cuevas: The diversity! All the dance companies specialize in something different and there is so much opportunity to grow! Students have a ton of choices for clubs, teams, shows, training, etc. Very cool.

Ritmo Bello: What do you like the most about being a professional salsa dancer?

Serena Cuevas: I love loving what I do. Performing is by far my favorite feeling, but training dancers and seeing the progression is unbelievable!

Ritmo Bello: Anything else you’d like to share with the general public?

Serena Cuevas: Yes! Saturday June 6th I am hosting an amazing workshop/fundraiser for my baby neice Gia! I have created an event where all the directors in San Diego have a class to teach and with cross promotion and this amazing line-up I believe this day will really benefit both SD and baby Gia! You can read her story on our homepage : www.DeseoDance.com . She really needs us San Diego! (Special Note: To Find out more information about the event and RSVP for it check out the event page on the San Diego Salsa and Latin Dancing Meetup Group.)

Ritmo Bello: How can the Ritmo Bello audience reach you if they want to find out more information about you and Deseo Dance?

Serena Cuevas: Please go to www.DeseoDance.com anytime and email me if you have any questions.

Ritmo Bello: Serena Cuevas on behalf of Ritmo Bello and the San Diego salsa community thank you for all you do to promote salsa dancing!

Serena Cuevas: Thank you for supporting us! Salsa lives on because of how much we all contribute. Thank you John!

Cafe Sevilla is one of the best places to dance salsa here in San Diego.  Over the years the venue has done a great job of providing a quality nightclub experience to those looking for salsa in the Gaslamp Quarter.  

Well, our favorite venue is celebrating 22 years of great memories on June 26th and they’ve decided to go all out for the occasion!

Cafe Sevilla, both the nightclub and restaurant, are hosting a special evening to commemorate their 22 years of bringing quality entertainment to San Diego.  The event will feature a boat gala on a Lord Hornblower Yacht with capacity for up to 500 people.  Cafe Sevilla will be hosting different areas of music on the yacht including a special area for those who want to dance to salsa and other Latin dances.  

The San Diego Salsa and Latin Dancing Meetup Group will be in attendance at this event and we’ve set up a special RSVP page for those interested in coming with the group.  Here is the link where you can find out more information about the boat gala:

http://www.meetup.com/san-diego-salsa-and-latin-dancing/calendar/10506815/

We’ll see you all on June 26th at the Sevilla on the Bay boat party!

Over the last few months Cafe Sevilla has made a real effort to accomodate new and veteran salsa dancers alike.  In particular,  the club has hosted its 1st Wednesday of the Month with Meetup.com nights regularly and given all levels of dancers a forum to meet face to face with other dancers BEFORE the dancing begins.

This upcoming June 3rd’s event will have a special twist as the club is asking everyone to come for a DRESS IN RED PARTY.  

If you have a red dress, red shirt, red skirts, red shoes, etc. this is the night to wear them!  

As always, The San Diego Salsa and Latin Dancing Meetup Group will have a special VIP area set up from 9pm to 10pm before the band begins playing and the dancing commences.  This event is simply a great way to meet other dancers, chat a little, and make connections before everyone goes off to the dance floor.

To find out more information about this event please visit the EVENT PAGE at the San Diego Salsa and Latin Dancing Meetup Group (CLICK HERE PLEASE).

See you in RED on Wednesday June 3rd!

San Diego is known in the salsa world as a place where the dance is really expanding and constantly growing. Much of this expansion is due in large part because of the efforts of a local dance studio, A Time To Dance Studio.  The owners of A Time To Dance Studio, Angel and Tulane, have been hard at work bringing great events like the San Diego Salsa Jam and the annual San Diego Salsa Festival here to San Diego.  I had a great opportunity to talk with Angel and Tulane about their efforts to spread salsa dancing both locally and worldwide.  I hope you all enjoy the interview!

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Ritmo Bello:   Angel and Tulane Rivera thank you both for taking time out of your schedules to address the Ritmo Bello audience.  San Diego is a unique place for salsa dancing as seen by the different types of dance companies here locally.  What makes A Time To Dance Studio unique in the San Diego salsa dance scene?

A Time To Dance Studio:  Thanks for taking the time to interview us and to your audience for their support and dedication to Latin music and dance. Lets see… What makes us different?… We actually never really thought about what makes us different from other studios and or companies. We make it a point to keep our focus geared on what we have to do and never look to see what others are doing or not doing. We think of new ideas, classes, and programs and if they work and make sense we implement them. We also have a combined 20 + years of experience and are the only studio that we know of in San Diego with 2 locations. We love what we do and our goal is to continue to offer the best instruction and service in San Diego. We go one day at a time and take great pride in customer service and training our instructors to the best of our ability. We try our best to ensure our classes are fun, exciting, and technique orientated.  We also offer drop in courses as well as 6 week progressive courses in salsa to increase learning curves and consistency for students (The salsa courses have been amazing success for us). We also host studio parties, promote salsa clubs and special events to give our students a place to practice and socially interact with others in the salsa scene. Beyond salsa we offer Belly Dance, Burlesque Jazz, Samba, Afro-Cuban, and Fitness based classes taught by other highly trained dance instructors. Our studio is a friendly, relaxed, cozy but professional family atmosphere that can easily be felt the moment you walk in. We have great plans for the future and God willing we’ll be able to see them through… whether or not it’s in dance is up to HIM…

Ritmo Bello:   I always like to learn how people first find and become involved in salsa dancing.  Can you tell me each a little about how you each began dancing salsa? 

A Time To Dance Studio: I began dancing salsa in 2001 (I was 20 at the time with absolutely no dance experience) and Tulane started dancing at the early age of 7 (She trained in International Ballroom) in London England. I started dancing to actually meet new people since I was new to San Diego (Navy for 4 years). Tulane started dancing as a creative outlet and to stay out of trouble : ) . She left London at 15 and I left Chicago when I was 18. At 20 I decided to take private dance lessons at a downtown dance studio, then named Dance With Me Academy (This is probably the place where everyone that’s a veteran now started - Good times). Thats when I met Tulane… She was assigned as my dance instructor… I wanted to learn salsa but somehow got temporarily converted to ballroom for about 3 months. Although it was great training we started to focus on Salsa more as time went on. Through the months I got better (Tulane has always been a phenomenal dancer and choreographer) and before I knew it we formed Salsa Suave Dance Company, then San Diego’s 2nd dance company. We danced together socially and I began to get approached by students asking me if I taught. I decided to drop out of an officer program through the navy to pursue a new life… Thats pretty much how we both started in a nutshell. 2 people from 2 different countries that left home at an early age seeking something new. Salsa dance brought us together and we haven’t stopped since : ) 

Ritmo Bello: That is a great story!  What motivated you to create A Time To Dance Studio?

A Time To Dance Studio: As we got busier and busier we had to move from studio to studio to accommodate the demand of students. It was a headache at times… moving always meant losing clients no matter how good you were… That was one of the determining factors of why we started our own studio. However our main motivation came out of a dance ministry that Tulane started at our church. It was a fun hip hop / salsa youth ministry called “A Time To Dance. The name was inspired from the Bible… Ecclesiastes 3:4… our pastor had always encouraged us and instilled the vision that we would one day own our own studio. Long story short… an opportunity arose to open a dance studio and we followed our faith and dreams to what we have today. We decided to keep A Time To Dance since it was originally inspired through our ministry and our Faith. Owning a dance studio has always been one of Tulane’s goals & dreams… I’m grateful that I was able to be a part of it… I never really thought I’d be dancing, teaching, and an owner of dance studios, ( I always wanted to fly Fighter Jets ) but its been great! Owning studios has taught us so much… Great sacrifice, huge responsibilities and a lot of character building trials and tribulations… Well worth it.

Ritmo Bello:  I understand that you have 15 professional dancers, choreographers, and teachers that work with you at A Time to Dance Studios? Do they all focus on salsa dance?

A Time To Dance Studio: Not all… We hire instructors that are professionals at their genre of dance. We try to focus on what we are good at and offer classes that help inspire health, fitness & a good time. We do however train our in house dancers in salsa, cha cha, and ballroom for our different array of clients and invite guest instructors/coaches to give their expertise and advice on specific dances at times. We are also a certified ISTD dance studio and assist our instructors to certify once a year as well. We offer hip hop, belly dance, afro cuban, samba, and fitness class such as Zumba, Dance Fitness, and some pilates classes. We do our best to offer great, energetic, & fun classes throughout the week and offer competitive prices to keep people coming back for more… We also started our own student salsa dance team… Doing very well… They should be ready to perform again in a couple of months. 

Ritmo Bello:  I’ve heard from your students that you employ a unique teaching method called “inter-related system” instruction.  What is that all about and how does this impact your student’s learning of the dance?

A Time To Dance Studio: It allows our students to learn dances that relate to one another. Our goal is to interchangeably relate dances which in turn allows the student to remember the mechanics easier. This system has allowed our students to advance much quicker, learn various dances faster, and retain the material more effectively. It’s a style that we have incorporated over the years that has worked wonders when applied. We’re still working on some other teaching methods and will be instituted once we decide to open more studios in the future.

Ritmo Bello: As Assistant Organizers of the San Diego Salsa and Latin Dancing Meetup Group I know that you help organize many great events here in San Diego such as your studio parties and the San Diego Salsa Jam.  What do these events offer to somebody brand new to salsa dancing?

A Time To Dance Studio: Ya… Our desire to organize events started to happen after 2005. This was the year Tulane and I traveled to 4 different countries performing, teaching, and choreographing. Although it was fun traveling, teaching abroad, and seeing different countries, it really didn’t stick with us. We didn’t really see the benefit of traveling all the time and from a business standpoint at the time it didn’t make sense for us. Tulane and I like business… Running, creating, and being behind the scenes. My analogy is like an actor becoming a director… Why act forever when you can direct… A lot harder work, more sacrifice, extremely high risk both financially and physically but the benefits are far greater in the long run. It’s not for everyone but it was for us… Being in the drivers seat allows us to offer events, workshops, and festivals with our vision in mind. Our goal is to continue to offer excellent events for the new dancer and the veteran alike… Many venues come and go so we’re always on the look out… Our goal with events that we produce is to offer fun, exciting, and professional atmospheres with the best latin music and dancing around…  Local clubs and events also give new dancers a chance to see what they potentially can obtain… Gives them a visual goal and motivates students to get better. Check us out online… www.sandiegosalsajam.com- www.atimetodance.com - www.sandiegosalsafestival.com  to join us at our next class and or event.

Ritmo Bello: The San Diego Salsa Festival is coming up again in September of this year and I know that you are hard at work preparing for this great event with Albert Torres.  Can you explain who Albert Torres is and what the San Diego Salsa Festival is all about to those new to salsa dancing?

A Time To Dance Studio: Albert Torres is the world’s most successful and foremost recognized promoter of Latin Music and Dance. He also promotes and produces the WORLD SALSA CONGRESS in Los Angeles, coming up in May. The San Diego Salsa Festival/Congress is an event that brings talent from across the country and abroad to San Diego, Ca. The goal is to give the San Diego community a taste of the talented instructors and performers outside of the San Diego salsa community. Its now in its 3rd year and getting better. This year’s event is going to showcase great dancers and Live Music ( Something we’ve been trying to emphasize at our Salsa Jams) like never before. The event will consist of Workshops all day Saturday and Sunday, Live Professional Dance Shows each night, and social dancing Thursday thru Sunday til 3-4 in the morning. Pretty much a salsa dancer and latin music lovers dream. We’ll have vendors selling shoes, and dance apparel as well as live music on Friday and Saturday night. Check us out online www.sandiegosalsafestival.com - you can purchase your tickets and make hotel reservations online today!

Ritmo Bello: In your opinions, what makes salsa dancing such a great activity to pursue?

A Time To Dance Studio: It’s the only form of dance in our experience that we’ve found in every city and country we’ve visited. It’s a great way to meet new people, get into shape, and has no cultural or racial barriers. Everyone dances salsa even if they can’t understand the words… The music just pulsates through the dancers and moves us… It’s a great way to pursue a healthy social life and have fun. Who knows… You may even find your life partner as I did : ) …. Maybe not… 

Ritmo Bello: The San Diego salsa scene has seen many changes over the years.  What trends do you see taking hold for the future of salsa dancing in San Diego?

A Time To Dance Studio: Like anything else… it takes many years to cultivate the ground for longevity… San Diego has come a long way and is still growing… Still has a lot of room to grow and develop which is great & exciting. Our last Salsa Jam is an example of that growth… Not a lot of veteran dancers or instructors out… but wow… There were a lot of new faces that I have never seen before… So many newbies to the salsa scene that love salsa and especially live music. This is what we see as being the next trend… A new wave of dancers and live music. Live music is something that has room for tremendous growth… I’m talking about live concerts with big names - Cheo Feliciano, Spanish Harlem, El Gran Combo, etc… I just hope San Diego and the scene can support these events no matter who promotes them… Without the music and supporting the musicians we wouldn’t have the music we love today!

Ritmo Bello: Is there anything else you’d like to share with dance community? 

A Time To Dance Studio: Try to support as many venues as possible… Whoever promotes them… It’s hard work and high risk promoting live events, clubs, and festivals. Keep dancing and always have fun doing it… 

Ritmo Bello: The Ritmo Bello audience may want to contact you regarding some of the topics discussed here.  How can members reach you for further information?

A Time To Dance Studio: You can reach us at any of the following websites: www.atimetodance.com - info@atimetodance.com - 619-297-6401 -  www.sandiegosalsafestival.com  - info@sandiegosalsafestival.com

Ritmo Bello:  Angel and Tulane, on behalf of Ritmo Bello and the San Diego salsa community thank you for all you do to promote salsa here in San Diego and around the world.

A Time To Dance Studio: It was our pleasure… And thank you for interviewing us… You do an outstanding job keeping the latin music and dance scene informed and going strong…

I wanted to let you all know about an upcoming film that will hopefully be screening here in San Diego.

El Duque de la Bachata is the story of Joan Soriano, a Bachata Musician from the Dominican Republic.  The documentary follows his struggles to reach his goal of a releasing a hit CD and success as a musician. The story is also unique as it shows how his family is affected and involved in this musician’s life.

The film documents Joan’s bachata and merengue career, giving us all an in depth look at what rising artists must go through to make it big.   Joan has been featured on the Rough Guide to the Bachata and on the documentary Santo Domingo Blues as well as performed and recorded with big name bachata musicians such as Joe Veras and Zacarias Ferreira. However, at 35 he still has not had his own hit and is feeling the pressure now to make it big more than ever. Within the last few years, a music producer named Benjamin de Menil from IASO Records has begun recording a CD of Joan’s music and is now moving toward the CD’s completion with high hopes that it will be a hit.  El Duque de la Bachata is full of  great music, Dominican culture, and intimate portraits.

The film is produced and directed by Adam Taub.  Mr. Taub is looking to screen the film here in San Diego from June 17th to the 27th and is looking for venues to host a question and answer session, screening, and possible bachata dancing event.  If you can help you can contact Mr. Taub here.  Thanks to Mr. Taub for producing this great film!

Our friends over at TANGOCENTRIC are hosting a unique event here in San Diego.  

The TANGOCENTRIC Dance Project will have a special lecture/workshop on how Tango and Shakespeare fit together so perfectly.

Alex Sandie, President of the San Diego Shakespeare Society, will share his unique expertise in the area of theatre. Passion, love, and betrayal will be the focus of “Shakespeare and Tango.”

This program is open to all levels of dancers and dance enthusiasts.

For more information please check out the RSVP page at the San Diego Salsa and Latin Dancing Meetup Group. 

San Diego has a new dance venue for salsa dancers!  

Mambo Nights at Pasquale Del Mar opened recently and offers to San Diego dancers a new North County option.  The club received rave reviews from all who attended it’s grand opening and the buzz is still going regarding this beautiful venue . 

As with most Salsa venues there are lessons early on in the night and our friends over at Salsa Inferno are instructing at this new locale.  Below is a video of Tony and his group performing at another San Diego Salsa and Latin Dancing Meetup.com event:

Lessons start early at 8:30pm but the club opens at 7:30 and stays open late!

For more information about this new club (including address) please visit the RSVP page on the San Diego Salsa and Latin Dancing Meetup Group website!  

Thanks to Tony and Salsa Inferno for giving us a new salsa dance venue!!!

I love listening to live salsa music when I go out to dance.  I especially love being able to listen to salsa bands that have women as the lead singers since there seems to be a dearth of these bands.  Indeed, it seems like there are not many salsa bands that feature singers similar to those like the late Celia Cruz.

You can imagine how happy I was to find out about Choco Orta.   Choco Orta, an established salsa “Sonera” from Puerto Rico, has been gaining in popularity for her unique salsa compositions and great performance energy.  I recently sat down with Choco Orta to find out more about her music and how she is keeping women salsa singers at the forefront of the music genre.  Enjoy!

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Ritmo Bello: Choco Orta, thank you for taking time to let the Ritmo Bello audience learn more about you and your music.  I wanted to start out with a basic question that I ask anyone I interview, namely what is the main focus of your music? 
 
Choco Orta:  First of all Mr. Bello, thank you so much for interviewing me. I appreciate your supporting my latest musical project which is titled “Ahora Mismo…Choco Orta“. I love to sing from the heart, to touch the essence of my audience’s soul.  That’s really what motivates me.  
 
Ritmo Bello: When and how did you begin your singing career? 
 
Choco Orta:  I took singing classes with Darisabel Isales, non-professionally when I was in the sixth grade.  I sang at my graduation in 1973, and later in 1980 with the Salsa Fever Orchestra.  In 2001, I was asked to be part of the Banco Popular Raices CD which featured Willie Sotelo & La Mundial Orchestra, Willie Rosario and Mr.Gilberto Santarosa. 

 
Ritmo Bello:  How did you get the nickname “Choco Orta” for your professional stage name?
  
Choco Orta: When I was studying dance, a student asked me if it was okay for him to call me Chocolate for the color of my skin, and I agreed.

Ritmo Bello: I understand that you are often compared to Celia Cruz and her style of singing.  For those unfamiliar with Celia can you explain how you might be similar and different to her legacy?
 
Choco Orta: Because of her commitment to Latin music, her feelings about the Salsa genre, her strong and mesmerizing impact on stage.  Because, like her, I would love to live the rest of my life as a sonera and die singing.

Ritmo Bello:  What types of influences have impacted how you’ve created your salsa music?
   
Choco Orta: Coming from a family of humble means who lived in a barrio located in Santurce, Puerto Rico, gave me the opportunity to express through music what I was living everyday.  I was literally surrounded by music, and this environment gave me the chance to practice everyday — everywhere.  Be it on a neighborhood street corner where my friends and I sang our hearts out to the seductive beats of typical percussion instruments like the congas, bongos, clave and guiro; or in the privacy of my parent’s living room where I would continue to sing daily with passion and pride.  

Ritmo Bello:   I’ve heard the term “Sonera” used to describe you.  For those unfamiliar with this term can you explain what this means?
 
Choco Orta: As I understand it, a Sonera is someone who improvises verses to tell a story through singing. Soneando, as it is commonly called, is a creative vehicle used to embellish the message of a story without compromising its essence.  This type of singing is as old as the hills.  It’s a beautiful component of the Latino culture which will never go out of style, and it holds a very special place in my heart.  For it allows me to reach my audience on yet another level.

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

Choco Orta: Life gives me the inspiration I need to compose songs.  I am inspired by its beauty and challenges.  Life is the motivational force behind my creativity, for it is a song in and of itself.  Breathing, walking, talking.  It all plays a role in what I say and how I say it.  

Ritmo Bello:  Where have you performed? 
 
Choco Orta: I have performed in many places around the world.  For example, at the Center of Fine Arts in Puerto Rico; The National Theater in the Dominican Republic; more than 12 cities in Colombia, including Cali, Buena Ventura, Tulua, Manizalez.  I have also performed in France at a Club called Hammou as well as in Nice and in Spain in Leganes, Madrid and Castellón de la Plana.  I have also shared a stage with Oscar de Leon, Celia Cruz, Pete el Conde and José Alberto “El Canario” at New York City’s Madison Square Garden.  At S.O.B.’s, El Copacabana, the Latin Quarter, Hostos Community College, Lehman College, Orchard Beach in New York, Virginia Beach, Houston, Albany, St Thomas, and now in September of this year I will perform in the UK.
  
Ritmo Bello:  Can you tell me a little about the albums that you’ve released to date? 
  
Choco Orta: I have recorded with Salsa Fever, Tony Mapeye, Tribute to Vieques, El Chino, Willie Sotelo, Willie Rosario, Choco Sentimiento y Sabor, Choco La Reina del Sabor, and my recent cd that Mr. Gilberto Santarosa has produced for me and is titled  ”Ahora Mismo….Choco Orta”.  

“Ahora Mismo..Choco Orta” is comprised of several very danceable tunes.  It is a great piece or art which pays tribute to the female Salsa singers of the past four decades: Celia Cruz, La Lupe and Graciela. 
   
Ritmo Bello:  Are there current plans for new CD releases coming up soon? 
 
Choco Orta: At the moment I am working on promoting my new CD.  I have a media tour in Puerto Rico that I will be doing the first two weeks in May.  I am also planning to promote my cd in Miami, and it is being promoted in New York and other parts of the country as we speak.  On the 22nd of May in Los Angeles, California, I will be performing at the Radisson Hotel at the biggest Salsa Congress in the United States, with Gilberto Santarosa and Jose El Canario.  Albert Torres and Tito Ortos are producing the event.

Ritmo Bello:   I know that you have collaborated and performed with many notable artists in the salsa world.  What was your most memorable performance that you’ve had over the course of your career?
  
Choco Orta: Singing with Andy Montañez, Sammy Ayala, Yomo Toro, La India, Tommy Olivencia’s Orchestra, Cheo Feliciano, Victor Manuelle, Tite Curet Alonso.  Once I was in a jam session with Mr. Tito Puente, Nick Marrero, Chocolate Armenteros and Joe Santiago which was awesome.  I also performed with Mr. Gilberto Santarosa at a Salsa Congress in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  The opportunity to perform with all of these wonderful artists has truly been unforgettable.  However, singing with La Reina de la Salsa, Ms. Celia Cruz, as well as Oscar de Leon, and Jose Alberto El Canario at Madison Square Garden was another experience that will stay with me forever.

  
Ritmo Bello:  Do you have any plans to travel to the West Coast soon, possibly San Diego? 
 
Choco Orta: Yes.  As I mentioned earlier, I will be in LA for the Salsa Congress on the 22nd of May, sharing a stage with Gilberto Santarosa and Jose Alberto El Canario.  Another dream come true for me.  I hope to perform in San Diego before the end of the year.  
  
Ritmo Bello:  Do you have contact information in case anyone from the Ritmo Bello audience wants to contact you?   

Choco Orta: Yes.  They can contact me at my MySpace Page, or by dialing my office number during business hours which is 917-334-6481.

Ritmo Bello: Choco Orta, thank you for your time today.  I hope I can attend one of your performances in the near future. 
 
Choco Orta:   Looking forward to it.  Thank you once again for your time Mr. Bello.  It was an absolute pleasure.  

Hard to believe another month has gone by but it’s time again for Meetup.com night at Cafe Sevilla!  For those of you that missed our previous meetups, this upcoming event on Wednesday May 6th will be a great opportunity to meet other local dancers.

The great thing about this particular event is that we meetup BEFORE the general dancing begins. (The group meets from 9 to 10pm in the VIP section of the club).  This allows you to talk with other dancers, share some drinks, and get to know others before everyone runs off to dance salsa for the rest of the night.  

This event is open to everyone but is especially geared for those new to salsa in San Diego.  I’ve found that the event is helpful for anyone that is trying to “get into” the salsa scene as it connects you with dancers of all levels. 

To find out more information about this event check out the RSVP page on the San Diego Salsa and Latin Dancing Meetup page (click here!)

See you Wednesday at Cafe Sevilla!

Meetup.com is the umbrella organization that helps me to do that.  Meetup.com HQ sent out this video to let other organizers know about some cool things that they are doing around the world.  In this video one of Meetup.com’s representatives talks about how the organization is helping in Iraq.  

Check it out and see you at one of our local San Diego and Latin Dancing Meetup Group events!

It’s not surprising to see new dances grow in popularity.  Indeed, many of the Latin dances we enjoy today such as salsa have roots in other dance traditions that were once more common.  

Over the last few months I’ve noticed a lot of new Youtube videos showcasing a fairly recent dance called Kizomba.  Credited by many as coming from Angola, the music and dance also has connections with Portugal as many of the songs are sung in Portuguese.  When you see the videos here you’ll notice that some of the movements are similar to other Latin-style dances such as tango, samba, and merengue.  

So far I haven’t seen this type of music hit the San Diego dance scene, but I would not be surprised if took hold here.  For now we can watch the spread of this music and dance worlwide and await its debut in America’s Finest City.

This last week I read a great article by Don Baarns, The Unlikely Salsero, regarding proper grooming habits for men that go out salsa dancing.  Indeed, I think he does a good job in the article by describing common problems with some men that go salsa dancing who fail to take care of simple things like cutting their nails, using deordorant, and even brushing their teeth!  

Aside from the most obvious things like mints and deodorant, I’ve seen many people in the salsa scene here in San Diego take an extra shirt (some people tend to sweat ALOT and women generally do not like to touch a sweaty back), a handkerchief (helps if you want to clean up in between dancers), and even talcum powder. Each person is different so the items you may bring will vary.  It’s true that sometimes you can get lucky and go to a place that has a bathroom attendant who can provide many of these items for a small fee, but it’s best not to rely on this.

In my own experience, I’ve found that its best to have prepared some basic items before going out to dance.  I never go out to dance without bringing a handkerchief, lip balm, and of course some sort of mints.  The best ones out there in my opinion are the Listerine sprays that fit nicely in your pocket.

What things do you do to prepare for dancing?  What makes up your Salsa and Latin dance grooming routine? What are some of your dance “horror” stories regarding dancing hygiene?    Share your thoughts here with a comment.  

Click HERE check out their great selection of salsa wear starting at only $29.99!

From time to time I leave San Diego to enjoy Salsa and Latin dance in other communities, so I was happy to get a message from our friend J.C. Ospina (LatinFire Productions) about an upcoming event.

On May 3rd the 7th annual “Mi Son Cubana Festival” will be held in San Dimas and will be a great way to get out and enjoy Cuban culture for a day.  The event will run from 10:00am to 7:00pm at night and boasts lots of Cuban music and food.

If you need a break from San Diego salsa dancing head up to Los Angeles for this great event…

Just wanted to send out a quick thank you to everyone who helps support Ritmo Bello through your contributions and readership.  We wish you all a happy and safe Easter holiday weekend.

God Bless,

John

 

There are a number of salsa dance companies here in San Diego, California and while most of these companies are similar in many respects, there is always something unique about each one. This is especially true for Ooh La La Dance Company.  Under the direction of Salsa Susie (a.k.a Susie Nguyen), this local dance company has pioneered new directions in professional dance through a fusion of salsa and burlesque dance styles.  I sat down with Salsa Susie recently to talk a little bit about her experiences as a professional dancer and how she is pursuing her dreams through salsa dance.

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Ritmo Bello: Susie, thanks for agreeing to sit down for an interview.  Let’s begin.  I’ve been hearing a lot lately about your dance company here in San Diego. What would you say is the main focus of your dance company?

Ooh La La Dance Company: Thank you John.  It’s definitely an exciting time for Ooh La La Dance Company.  I am approaching my 1 Year Anniversary and I am so blessed & love how Ooh La La has become a Dancing Empire for dancers & aspiring dancers to call home.  The #1 focus of Ooh La La Dance Company is make every dancer’s dream come true.  My dreams have transpired into reality with Ooh La La Dance Company so I want salseros, dancers, average everyday people learn how to dance/perform & have a fabulous time doing it!  Music is every dancer’s diet & dance feeds our soul.  I am 100% committed and invested in teaching all my students whether they are beginners, advanced, young or old to dance, perform, compete, travel and create unforgettable memories in the process.    We are having our 1 Year Anniversary coming up on Saturday, April 25th, 2009.  It’s open to all ages!  We are celebrating by having Ooh La La’s 50 dancers perform at the showcase!  I’m having my 6-7 year Salsa Girls perform, my 10-12 year Dare Dance Kids perform, the Hot Tamales, Cosabellas, with guest dance teams such as Alma Latina Salsa Dance Company, Body Poets Breakdancers, DOC Hip Hop Dance Crew, and Sininho Samba come perform.  The shows are in 2 Acts.  Group Lessons Starts at 5pm-5:45pm by Salsa Susie.  First Act starts at 6:30pm.  Second Act starts at 7:15pm.  Jack & Jill contest with $100 First Place Winners by Audience Applause.  Salsa Dancing till 10pm.  $10 admission fee goes towards fundraising money for our team’s costumes.  The event will be held at FIREHOUSE LA JOLLA YMCA 7877 Herschel Avenue in La Jolla, CA 92037.  We hope everybody comes to celebrate & support us!

Ritmo Bello: What are the origins of your dance company?  Is there a story to how it was formed? 

Ooh La La Dance Company: I started dancing at 14 years old.  I began with stunts, lifts & tricks, cheerleading, hip hop and dancing on my high school & college dance teams.  I always had dreams to be a fulltime dancer.  I fell in love with teaching because I too started off with 2 left feet and therefore am very kind & patient to beginners.  I could never afford classes so I would always watch & learn.  I was self-taught and self-made until my hard work & talent started to shine and then I started to receive scholarships to take classes from amazing dance teachers.  I started teaching & choreographing at age 15 and now I have accumulated over 16 years of experience in teaching, performing, dancing, competing, and choreography.  I fell in love with Salsa Dancing in 2003 when I learned from Francisco Vasquez and Alex Da Silva and other salseros in Los Angeles.  I have been addicted since!  Salsa Dancing & Burlesque Dancing consume my life!  I quit my 6 figure salary sales job in March of 2008 and took my 4-Person dance company to Bora Bora, French Polynesia on an all expense paid tour to kick off the birth of Ooh La La Dance Company the right way!  We rocked it like the Rich & Famous!  I am a world citizen & traveler starting my world travels at the age of 18 so I have accumulated a wealth of networks and contacts worldwide in exotic destinations.  I travel the globe in high heels and have been fortunate enough to bring other cultures into my life.  Traveling extensively through 35 countries, I dreamt of having a job that combined my two passions in life: Dance & Travel into one fabulous job.  I received my Bachelors in International Business & minor in Spanish & Finance so I possess the know-how to manage, direct & grow a thriving business.  To my dismay all my ideas have worked out and it was a leap of faith to quit my job and pursue dancing full time, but I haven’t looked back since.  The number of countries will surpass 40 by the end of this year when I bring Ooh La La Dance Company on tour through Australia and Asia. 

Ritmo Bello:  Unlike other traditional salsa groups I noticed that you picked a very unique group name.  Why did you choose Ooh La La for your name?

Ooh La La Dance Company:  Ooh La La!  This sassy phrase just rolls off your tongue and our dancing & style just makes people want to say Ooh La La so I just named my company, Ooh La La Dance Company! Ooh La La Dance Company uses a fusion of Salsa, Latin Ballroom, Burlesque, Lifts & Tricks, Samba, and Hip Hop to differentiate us in the marketplace.  I try to think very outside the box and am unconventional with my Dance Company from the music I choose to the choreography I put together, to utilizing everybody’s talent to make a contribution to the dance productions we put on.  We are Ooh La La.  However, under La La there are 2 different dance entities:  The Hot Tamales & Cosabellas.  The Hot Tamales are the Men & Ladies Performance Salsa Dance Team.  Cosabellas are my Burlesque-Salsa Ladies Performance Dance Teams.  Ooh La La is growing in numbers so after our 1 Year Anniversary Showcase & Social, I am creating 2 new teams:  The Hot Tamales Amateurs and Cosabellas Amateurs.       

Ritmo Bello: What type of salsa dancing does your group perform?  What types of influences have impacted how you dance salsa?

Ooh La La Dance Company:  Ooh La La is definitely flashy with our lifts & Tricks that we incorporate into our salsa dancing.  I like to come up with patterns that look big & pretty. I learned in LA where they hit on the downbeat 1 when they dance salsa so I love making a sharp statement when I dance.  I also lived in Spain, Costa Rica & Brazil so I have studied and dance Samba, Flamanco & Salsa at these different countries so I always add these styles and flavor into our dancing.  Also, I am a big fan of Burlesque Dancing.  I love the Pussycat Dolls so I wanted to make sure I came up with the idea of fusing Salsa with Burlesque Dancing as an Ooh La La Trademark.  Ooh La La also has more risque costumes than the tradicional salsa costumes.  I love fashion & I want my dancers to always look HOT!  I love using cutting-edge music for my choreography.  I don’t always use salsa although I love all my salsa music.  I like to switch it up and whatever has a great catchy beat, I mix the music & then I dance to interpret the music! 

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

Ooh La La Dance Company:  My main focus is to teach everybody.  We tend to have a younger age Group.  My youngest salsa dancers are 6 years old.  My oldest salsa dancer might have been 87!  The Hot Tamales range from ages 15-35.  My Cosabellas Ladies team tend to be in the age Group of 30!  Thirties are the new Twenties!  Ha!  Ha!

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

Ooh La La Dance Company:  We are always accepting new dancers whether its for only 1 group lesson or if they want to join a dance team.  There are no auditions.  I can teach anybody.  All it takes is patience, kindess and a little bit of love in what you do!  I am creating 2 new Dance Teams at the end of April if anybody is interested, they may contact me, Susie at 805.252.6900 cell or visit my website at www.OohLaLaDanceCompany.com.  Both Hot Tamales team meet every Wednesdays from 7pm-10pm at the FIREHOUSE YMCA LA JOLLA at 7877 Herschel Avenue LA Jolla, CA 92037.  Cosabellas Pro meet every Thursdays from 7-10pm.  Hot Tamales Beginners will meet every Fridays from 8pm-9pm in addition to the Wednesday practice.  Cosabellas Amateur will meet every Fridays from 9-10:30pm.  Dues are $75 per month.  If you are on the Cosabellas, you can join the Hot Tamales for free at no additional charge. 

Ritmo Bello:  I know that you mentioned earlier that you have personally have traveled all over the world for dancing salsa.  Could you share with the Ritmo Bello audience some of the locales where Ooh La La Dance Company will perform? 

Ooh La La Dance Company:  Ooh La La Dance Company started off at the Exclusive Hotel Bora Bora in Bora Bora, French Polynesia.  We are going to Turks & Caicos to perform in May 2008 for 10 days.  We are confirmed & going to The Great Barrier Reefs to perform in October of 2009.  Bali, Indonesia in October of 2009.  Phuket, Thailand in November 2009.  I am also negotiating to perform in Greece, Morocco and Montenegro for next summer 2010.  Its going to be exciting & my dancers and I have become such great friends.  I negotiate that all expenses are paid for so my dancers just have to go on a vacation for free.   They get to be in 4 to 5 star Hotels, all meals, drinks & local activities are paid for when they go.  It really is a one in a Lifetime experience.  The bill when I left Bora Bora was $50,000 per Dancer after being there for a month & a half.  The bill was all taken care of.with no questions asked!  Ooh La La is really so lucky.  It really pays off to have an strong awesome network of people around the world.  

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?

Ooh La La Dance Company:  I wouldn’t categorize myself as a Celebrity.  I just go for it.  Competing, performing, teaching….all of these activities make you a better dancer.  I’m still improving as a dancer and performer just like everybody else is.  We are having alot of fun dancing & being together.  It’s fabulous & glamourous being in the spotlight.  Every dancer loves to be center stage.  I’m humbled by nice and inspiring messages when people give me & my dancers compliments.  It’s my motivation to keep dancing & do what I’m doing. 

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

Ooh La La Dance Company:  Anybody can contact me directly at:

Susie Nguyen “Salsa Susie”

805.252.6900 cell

858.488.6900 studio

www.OohLaLaDanceCompany.com

www.SalsaSusie.com

dance@susienguyen.com or

info@OohLaLaDanceCompany.com

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

Ooh La La Dance Company:  Thank you so much John for this oppurtunity to sit down with you & share with you all of what Ooh La La Dance Company has to offer & share our story!  We appreciate it! 

I was on YouTube and found this Gatorade G2 commercial where she shares the spotlight with Serena Williams, the world famous tennis player.  It’s great that salsa dancing is profiled in a commercial like this and given recognition as a sport.  Thanks to Serena Cuevas for spreading salsa in a new way!