March 30, 2005 -- Salsero de Cuna

Dear Rose: I have noticed that none of the feedbacks I have sent you are posted. I don’t know if you select the comments and who those are coming from.

One thing I can assure you is that I grew up in Havana and that I have found some of the postings in your page, by visitors and so called dancers, totally misleading and erroneous. Like the guy from NYC who claims that Salsa was born in New York. I have never come across to such an ignorant statement. I would not have posted his statements, for your site is visited daily by people who know the history of Salsa. That New Yorker, whether Latino or not, knows about the history of Salsa as much as a monkey knows about literature. His statements are ridiculously offensive, not only to the intelligence, but the love we real salseros feel for the Cuban music. Keep in mind that eating rice, beans, and fried plantain along does not make a Latino. The Latinity works from inside the individual.

Also, the lady, who is an instructor, who claims that Rueda is an ancient dance, is also misleading. Rueda de Casino (for its actual name) is the product of the Guaracheros de Regla, leaded by Jorgito Alfaro, one of the top soloists of that Cuban famous Comparsa, at the restaurant club of Patricio Lumumba in Miramar, Havana. Group dance and rueda dance are two different animals altogether. And she makes reference to a wealth of information she had apparently gathered throughout her academic years, to pretend to support her theory. Obviously, she knows about the history of Cuban music as much as the same monkey aforementioned.

Others make claims criticizing us Cubans for defending titleship to Salsa. We invented it, so whose credit is it? We feel pleased that the world is dancing our music, but I have yet to see a non-Cuban dancing with the feelings we do. To begin with, the good Salsa has several musical ingredients and only those who know how to dance to each one of those ingredients, are actually to be said that they are salseando. I’ve been to several places and seen good dancers, but the only places where I have seen real salseros are San José, Los Cazadores, Hotel Plaza, El Turquino, San Francisco de Paula, Virgen del Camino, Pogolotti, etc. And all these places are no where else but in Havana.

I will recommend that that so many people who sit at their PCs to write things they have no clue about, listen to what Roberto Torres, Sonora Matancera’s singer, has to say about the history of the Cuban music. I will also recommend that they view some videos of Los Muñquitos de Matanzas, Juán Bacallao, dancer of Orchestra Aragón, Chano Pozo, Beny Moré, Castellano, Pio Leyva, Pacho Alonso, Celeste Mendoza, or simply just ask a Cuban and watch how we dance. They may learn something. Sincerely, Guarachero

Dear Guarachero, thanks for all your feedback, and presently the Dear TOsalsa and Discussion Forums are updated manually by me when I have some spare time. Hopefully soon, we will have our message board up and everyone can post to their hearts' content on a daily basis.

It would be almost impossible for us to decide who's right or wrong when posting, and even if the information may not be correct; it's definitely an insight on human nature to see how people react in these forums. Sincerely, Rose

March 29, 2005 --
Hey Wandy. The song that you are looking for is actually called " el gran varon by Willie Colon " very intense song. Simon is the name of the boy through out the song. Dj Julio Cezar

March 2, 2005 -- Salsa Song
I am looking for the artist and title of a salsa song. I thought it was called "Simone" but I could not find a salsa song by that title. The song goes through a serious of events in a son's life, one of them being his father rejecting him for when he discovers his son is gay. It ends with the son on his death bed in a hospital dying of AIDS. Can you help? Thanks. Wandy

" Ven empecemos de nuevo, olvidando el pasado, no te vuelvo fallar. Se que a ves te he fallado, pero soy ser humano , me debes perdonar"

"Me repineto haberte enganado, haberte quitado la felicidad, otro amor come el tuyo me vida, no vuelvo, encontrarlo. Entantalo mi vida, quiero estar a tu lado....

If u know who sings this or what its called please let me know Thanks Arlene

I love this tune, but am having great difficulty in locating a recording. Any info that might locate an album would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks, Rob

Dear Rob, did you do a search on the music websites, such as descarga.com? Rose

best regards, Stefan from far, far away :-)

Dear Stefan, for NY, go to salsanewyork.com, Rose

I'm looking for the English (and Spanish) lyrics to FRUKO Y SUS TESOS-- Bamboleo En El Mar.

Do you know of a site where I can find this? Or do you know what they are? It would be much appreciated. Thanks so much. --Michelle

March 8, 2005 -- Merengue Hits

What do you think are the top 10 merengue songs to dance to? Carlos

The best answer I can think of is that you may want to learn Cuban dances through the use of your natural senses.

And to illustrate this I can offer the following facts:

I am originally from Cuba. Born in Matanzas, the home of the Muñequitos, and raised in San Miguel and Pogolotti in Havana. Danced with Comparsas in Havana, and choreographed several 15th Birthdays throughout Havana. I was first exposed to dance, about 7 years of age, at the corner of my street town competing with other kids to gain nickel competition with the music from the turntable. Drunkards paid 5 cents to the best dancer. I won many times The Cuban music is to be absorbed through the skin. That is, you must allow it to enter you body and let it guide your moves. Cuban music is like any language, you learn the culture and context behind it, and then you let it bleed though your skin.

I can recommend you to listen strictly to Cuban music. It is very rich with many rhythms, such as Cha Cha Chá, Guaguancó, Rumba, Columbia, Son, Guaracha, Palo Mayombe, Likumí, Arará, Abakuá, Conga, etc. That’s why people wanted to call it salsa. Once you learn how to identify each type of dance, you’ll be able to shock Latin Girls.

It is not hard. Just listen to Cuban music. And whenever you see a Cuban man dancing, look at his feet and observe that when there is a good salsa playing, he will dedicate his steps to each one of the type of dances I just mentioned. Salsa is not what many people think (style, acrobatics, 1-2-3-4 steps, nor any of that non-sense), Cuban dance is about feelings. It works from inside out.

Take it from me. At age of 54, I can go to any salsa party and I will dance all night. Follow my recommendations and you’ll see how those girls come to you to ask you for a dance. Don’t let anyone fool you. Salsa is about desire, feelings, and ear. Technique has nothing to do with it. -- Gilberto

March 3, 2005 -- getting lyrics to a song

HI MY NAME IS NICOLE I WOULD LIKE TO GET A SONG OR TWO TRSANSLATE INTO ENGLISH. I DON'T UNDERSTAND SPANISH BUT I ENJOY LISTING TO MUSIC.SO CAN I GET YOLANDA PEREZ , DADDY YANKEE,AND I DON'T KNOW THE NAME OF THE CD BUT IT IS A KIDS CD IN SPANISH. SO I HAVE TO GO TO CLASS NOW SO HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON. -- Nicole

Dear Nicole, just go to www.freetranslation.com , type or paste the spanish lyrics in there and you'll get the English translation -- that's what I do to save me time. Rose

I believe Max could be talking about the Cuban song "La Bola" (Album: Manolín: Para mi gente" by Manuel González, aka "El médico de la Salsa". I suggest he check out: www.timba.com/artists/awards. "La Bola" was voted the #2 "Best Timba Dance Song of All Time".

Leo, the songj is called just that, “Baila con la punta del pie”. It’s a Cuban song. It was voted the #9 “Best Timba Dance Song of All Time” (I suppose Timba as in “Timbales”) by www.timba.com/artists/awards. Aura

February 8, 2005 -- Video on your website

Good evening. I was looking at the video clip of Frankie Martinez dancing and I was wondering if you ever found the name of that song that is playing? If so, would you mind sharing the name? Thanks. Josh Rojas

Dear Josh, this would have to be one of the most-asked music questions on this site! It's amazing to see how you can get hooked on a song just from watching a videoclip... It's Me Prendeste Velas by Oscar D'Leon. Rose

Thanks for any advice you can give me! I love your site. Danielle

Dear Danielle, the short answer is -- I hope you haven't signed up with them as it sounds like highway robbery to me... Shop around with various salsa dance schools before signing up; and learn how to dance first before making the commitment to learn to become a teacher. And if you become a student first and take dance classes, you're first set of lessons maybe only cost you $75 to $150 for a minumum of 6-8 weeks! Please read our Beginner's Guide to Salsa... Rose

January 19, 2005 -- Salsa Dancing in Waterloo, Ontario on Thursday Nights

The Flying Dog in Waterloo, Ontario has a Latin Night every Thursday: The Flying Dog 341 Marsland Drive, Waterloo, 519-886-7777, Open Tues to Saturdays 4.00 p.m. to close, Thursdays is Latin night, 8.00 p.m. to 2.00 a.m., DJ, (70% Latin & 30% Top 40 mix) Free 1 hour Lesson at 8:30 pm NO COVER ALL NIGHT

I live in Vancouver and was contemplating going to the Salsa Vancouver
school with Susanna Domingues. It just seems a little long (6 weeks). Tx for your help! -- Robbie

Dear Anon, son is just another description for the type of salsa music. Rose

Or if the topic is improper salsa instruction you guys should at least name a salsa teacher, that way they could respond and explain the way they teach, but when you mention teachers we do not know what teachers, when you mention dancers we do not know what dancers, etc and when you mentioned that a Cuban invented the Mambo you did not said if it was Prado, Orestes or Rodriguez.

All the discussions come down to the same: no Cuban =not good, learned in North America=not authentic, Canadians=don’t know the real deal. Ball-room=forbidden. It is entertaining but predictable.

Who cares if salsa came from wherever, or cultural claims on products, tell a Brazilian that Soccer came from England, and therefore he is ought to know about the English soccer and that he sucks because he is not English or because he learned to play in Brazil, or tell a Canadian that hockey was invented in the USA, or tell Michael Jordan that basket ball is Canadian or tell the Beatles that Rock & Roll is American, or tell a Cuban that baseball came from the USA. They will all slap you in the forehead.

By the way, I have been to Cuba, I have seen Cuban salsa dancing, I had a Cuban girlfriend named Iris, ok, ok that is too much information.

P.S You didn’t like the movie hero? Papacito

I can speak Spanish but have trouble with the grammar and verb usage – I learned Spanish by hearing it, not through a class. I find it difficult to find the right class for my, so I’m trying the private teacher route.

Thank you – any direction you can give me would be most appreciated -- Sonia

Dear Sonia, why not check the yellow pages, schools and newspapers... Rose

January 5, 2005 - My Last Message

Papacito, You say that I would probably say cigars are from Cuba and the best and authentic ones are Cuban, because I may the same argument for Cuban salsa dancing. You made some jokes that I would probably blame SARS on LA or Ballroom dancing (which by the way wasn't as funny as you think).

For those who didn't read my last e-mail, I just said Casino is form of dance, and naturally casino rueda should be danced dancing casino. That is all I said. But your analogy is really good, because it is showing that you are looking at it all wrong.

Cigars are products. Maybe the problem is that you look at salsa dancing as a product. I see salsa dancing as something cultural, something that has tradition and a history, not something bought and sold on the world market. But many people see salsa dancing as just a fast food product, just getting their quick fix, meeting girls, and having instant moment of excitement.

But this has something to do with the gobalization and watering down of world culture, which probably you are not interested in. After all, someone will say, "Just dance!" or "It is just salsa." There is nothing wrong with this attitude. People are ENTITLED NOT to think about the history and culture, and just have fun.

I love when people don't care about the correct way to dance and feel the music, and just do what comes naturally to them, and have good time. But people in Canada do not do that. They have to take lessons, they must have a partner, must spin a lot, etc. They do not question their instructors or what they are taught, because the instructors become their friends, and everybody who goes to salsa congresses dance and think the same way (most often children have the same political views as their parents, more out of familial bond rather than reasoned analysis.)

It is the classic case, of "they" against "us". Cuban salsa dancing is not popular in North America, therefore, it must not be good, or those people are fanatics. It is like when I told a guy that there is great Chinese movie that he has to see. He asked me if I liked Martial Arts. I told him it wasn't a martial arts movie, and the title was Unknown Pleasures. He said he never heard of it, so it musnt't be good and recommended the Chinese movies Hero and House of the Flying Daggers. I am no socialist, and I am what you might consider conservative, but what a unflinching belief in the perfectionism in capitalism to bring the best in culture to popularity.

Another point: people do make cultural claims on products. Most people think pizza comes from Italy. Have you asked an Italian what he thinks of the pizza in Toronto? He probably tell you that authentic pizza comes from Italy. Good old Napoli. And he will probably tell you the pizza in Canada is not really Italian. Or have you ever asked a Chinese person what they think about most of the food that passes for Chinese food in Toronto. They will tell you it is not authentic. They will tell you Chinese fortune cookies do not come from China, and that they are an American invention. Are they being unreasonable or they lunatics?

I haven't been going through the salsa debates as much as before, so I haven't seen the experts "tearing up" (as Rose puts it) the argument that salsa is from Cuba. Most of the people who are criticize me are criticizing my person or what they preceive as my person, rather than my arguments.

For example, papacito, you never said anything about me saying that Cuban cross bodies are for Casino Rueda. You just perceive I am wrong, because you think I do not respect everyone or everything, probably because you sense I am being unfair, because I am not politically correct. I find this particularly alarming from people who have never gone to Cuba, never seen Cuban salsa dancing or the people who say they are salseros who have never studied with a legitimate Cuban salsa teacher. If Rose had gone to Cuba and studied with a respected Cuban salsa teacher (forget the Cuban touristy, cabaret teachers), maybe I could respect what she says about Cuban dancing or the origins of salsa music or dance.

Just a few years ago, Rose or people around her were saying Cuban dancing was the "cumbia" step and had no cross body leads. But all the people around her, the great salsa teachers she has met, her salsa friends have influenced and probably would not make her an impartial observer.

Here are my last points (I really mean it), which will make you a lot of you happy out there. These are things which I find refutable and I want people to address.

1) Most Latin American people who grew up in Latin America, think salsa music and dance come from Latin America. Even Puerto Ricans think salsa comes from Puerto Rico. And most Latin American people prefer Latin American style dancing to North American salsa styles. And the fact that people keep writing saying salsa is from Cuba or Latin dance styles have something special attests to this fact.

2) Mambo by all accounts is Cuban music. Somebody said it came from Haiti with two sisters. Okay, whatever. But the mambo that went to New York was from Cuba. -- Chincub