This July 4th weekend in the U.S. features two great salsa congresses.
The 6th annual Las Vegas Salsa Congress, promoted by (2006 Mayan team champions and 2006 top 5 finalist World Salsa Championships) Sin City Salseros in association with Albert Torres, is one of the premiere events on the west coast.
Nathan Strager, Oscar Coronado, and staff has again secured Fernando Sosa and Tropical Gem from Italy for the second year in a row. Legendary artist Adalberto Santiago is the featured artist for Saturday evening. Confirmed performers include Tito and Tamara from Puerto Rico, Marco Ferrigno from Italy, rising couple Jose Aguilar and Mariana Salinas and Alma Latina from Mexico, Rogelio Moreno and Salsabor y Cache, and Cristian Oviedo and Liz Lira.
We had lots of fun at the congress, with Joe Figueroa of Philadelphia's Living in Rhythm returning as a workshop instructor.
On the east coast, the Orlando Salsa Congress makes its return for the fourth year. Organized by Frank Fuentes of Born to Salsa, Michael Barbieri of Salsa Heat, and Jose Luis Gutierrez of Salsa Karibe, the event promises a great combination of parties, workshops, and performances. Confirmed artists include the Bronx's Yamulee, Boston's Masacote and Salsa y Control, Chicago's Urban Vibe, and Atlanta's Paso Fino.
Below is our high definition highlights video from the 2008 Las Vegas Salsa Congress.
Legendary artist, musician, performer, philanthropist, and icon Michael Jackson had died at the age of 50. To say that he is one of most important artists in the history of music is an understatement. Michael Jackson changed the fabric of music in his 40 years in the industry. He has influenced many of today's mainstream artists, as well as our own salsa scene's brightest stars and veterans such as Al Espinoza and Ismael Otero. Nuevotec's own staff has been known to break down and start popping, doing the backslides/moonwalk, and the robot, and sung Michael Jackson's many number one tracks. His legacy both in and out of music will never be forgotten.
Al Espinoza and his Liquid Silver Productions dance group (including members Guy, Cristina, Annalisa, Nathaniel, Banu, and Sean) performed their "Jackson 5 / Michael Jackson" routine at the 2009 Washington DC Salsa Congress. They performed to the songs, "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough", "The Love You Save", and "Dancing Machine".
We are less than a week away from the 5th annual Washington DC Salsa Congress. It's not too late to order your tickets for the event at the Hilton Crystal City Hotel in Arlington, VA from June 19-21.
Hosted by Shaka Brown and iMambo.tv, the congress features three days of parties, performances, and workshops.
Some of the artists slated to appear include Al Espinoza, Darlin Garcia, Ismael Otero and Shani Talmor, Melissa Rosado, and Iran Castillo.
Below is our HD highlights video from the 2008 event (you don't need to press the HD button).
Congratulations to dancer Jonathan Platero, who recently made the top 20 of the 5th season of So You Think You Can Dance (SYTYCD), a U.S. based reality dance competition show.
A former gymnast, Jonathan has performed individually and with the Orlando, Florida based dance company Salsa Heat. To our knowledge, Jonathan is the only dancer to place in the top 10 of the World Salsa Championships in three separate divisions (cabaret,on1,team) in addition to placing in the top 5 in four separate divisions of the World Salsa Federation competition, all before he turned 21. He also performed in High School Musical. Jonathan is now based in New York, where he also dances with Sekou McMiller.
Veteran musician Jimmy Bosch held his CD release party for his fourth album, “ˇA Million!”, at the Imperial Club (in association with Mike Pena & Marlon Mills) in New York on May 13. Please follow this link at Salsa-Central for an interview with the acclaimed musician. The CD is now available at Amazon and CDBaby..
Over the past three years, we have accumulated a large variety of videos, from interviews, highlights, social dances, and performances. We have been entertained by the likes of Al "Liquid Silver" Espinoza, Oliver Pineda and Luda Kroitor, Tropical Gem, Santo Rico, and many others. Each week (or two) we will profile a selection of videos, ranging from the very popular to the rarely seen.
This week we feature Grizel Del Valle, also known as Chachi or Gzell. A very talented dancer, Chachi is one of original members of both Caribbean Soul and Taima dance companies. Gifted with a beautiful voice, Chachi has appeared as a singer in shows such as "Havana After Dark" and other productions. She also was a cast member of "Celia Cruz - The Musical", and the Marc Anthony/Jennifer Lopez film "El Cantante"
Chachi with Raul Santiago at the 2006 New York Salsa Congress
Guillermo and Chachi at the 2008 Dancers Night Out
Sekou and Chachi at the 2008 Yesenia Dance Factory Opening
Caribbean Soul with Chachi at the 2004 Puerto Rico Salsa Congress
Raul and Chachi at 2006 House of Dance Christening
Nuevotec was on location for the New York Launch Party & Runway Show for Burju Shoes in late April. Burju Hurturk Perez, also of Hacha y Machete, invited colleagues, friends, and family to view her new line of shoes for dancers and the wedding market, in collaboration with Karina Jimenez of Something Blue NY. Among the models were Melissa Rosado, Duplessey Walker, Lori Perez, Stracy Diaz, Aurora Fiorentino Scerbo, and Karel Flores. Attendees included Yesenia Peralta, John Jay Lalama, Victor Mayovanex and Gretel Ramirez (Karisma Dance Company), Marlon Mills, Musician Gilberto "Pulpo" Colon, Jr., and Angel Justiano of the New Swing Sextet. Interview hosted by Davin Riley.
It's been a long time since we last did a highlights video. We're back!. Watch our highlights from the very successful Philly Jam 3, with snippets of Urban Vibe, Calle Luna, Lena Dance Company, Masacote, Fuzion Creativa, and Art in Motion, plus freestyle dancing, and interviews with Calle Luna, and Nick & Melissa Padin. Social dances include Joe and Vangie, Pablo and Magna, Louis and Kathleen (Urban Vibe), and Joel and Pierina.
Serena & Orlando at the 2007 World Salsa Championships
Serena Cuevas and Serena Williams - Everyday Athlete campaign
Congratulations to Serena Cuevas, a San Diego based dancer (founder of Deseo Dance Company) who is now costarring with number one tennis player Serena Williams in a new commercial campaign for Gatorade G2 sports drink, “Everyday Athletes”.
In 2007, Serena teamed up with San Diego’s premiere dance company, Majesty in Motion, and made a semifinals appearance in the team division of the World Salsa Championships.
Promoter and Performer Edwin Rivera held the 6th annual Dancers Night Out event in New York in March. This year honored Santo Rico's Tomas Guerrero. Edwin invited artists such as Caribbean Soul, Santo Rico, Proyecto Descarga, Heartbreak Boys, the Sweethearts, Shani's Girls, Latin Jazz Ensemble, and East Side Edition.
