Why is salsa?
Congrats on having the patience to host such a lively site!

I read you saying Mambo is making a comeback in Toronto over the last 3 years. Where? That's the place I want to find.

All the dance studios I have checked that are really "Into Latin" are only "Into Salsa". And only into "break on 1" salsa. And I don't want a real ballroom-y latin dance studio, I'm out to have some fun dancing with my wife, work that rhythm, and that's about it.
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When I was a young kid a while ago, 60's mostly, my dad would came back from business trips with weird albums you never saw locally.
Latin, Calypso, New Orleans, all with a lot of the same arresting rhythms, oddly! I was fascinated by it then, now I recognize "Iko Iko", 2nd line, had the exact same "rumba clave" as anything from Cuba. That crossbreed-ing was strong, but it didn't seem to wash North at all!
Later in life with grown kids, my wife and I never really danced, we were in the "flail your arms" generation. Then the Buena Vista Social Club movie, and we decided it was time. So far we did:
- A few community center dance lessons, mambo etc.
- Some bit of wallflower club reconnaisance,
- and the last Salsa "event", the Argonaut "Latin Night" Jun 16.

Had fun, but I'm already starting to question the scene.
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2 questions:
- a provocative question for some expert interested in the history, ** warning, relates to "on 2", but from the rhythm side, not the style side** - where to find mambo rhythm in TO today.

1st the provocation:
I find the music I'm hearing DJ's play as the evening "heats up", buries the clave and the complex rhythms to a surprising extent. The Salsa basic dance step they teach is less syncopated than my community center version mambo, IMO!

Yes, the advanced dance styles are very very, sharp... very very impressive, but I don't think it's what I want.
Afrocuban rhythm was a melding of European "March" beat with old 12/8 and 6/8 african drum syncopations, the evidence is really interesting on it's own -- my site suggestion!

Today, has Salsa hit the turning point, where the European March beats out the afrocuban syncopations? Did it start in the 70's and 80's when Fania records marketed "Salsa" as a new dance in NY? To sell it as a new thing to kids, maybe they encouraged breaking with historical latin dance too much?
At first glance around, that looks like what's happened. If a TO dance teacher is "really into Latin", they are only into Salsa!?! And this Salsa is a non-mambo beat, "break on 1"? And maybe that the break is forced, because this new Salsa does not fit with traditional Latin rhythm?
Might seem funny for me, a "new dancer" to have the gall to suggest that... but IMO if you're not breaking on two, like mambo, like chacha, like bolero, like rumba, like all the ancestor dances.... you're doing a European march rhythm.
I was tapping my school pens to that beat before most of today's Salseros were born, and you need to be thumping those offbeats, that's the whole point, trust me. Can dance be that different from whacking pens on the desk? <grin>
No thanks, I don't want a "dirty foxtrot". There, somebody ought to want to respond to that... <grin>
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2nd, how to find what I *think* I want <grin>... Is there such a thing as a school that teaches a salsa that breaks on 2, mambo style... and fits together teaching in all that stuff, bolero (I gotta have more bolero, I like it even more than salsa), mambo, chacha.
One of the Latin night teachers (Stephanie?) explained the Eddie Torres style as the 4 of the mambo 2-3-4 gets dragged out til it's the 1 of the next bar, and you are still breaking on 2 (at least that's the light bulb that turned on when she showed it, hope that's what she meant!). That sounds like the style that Salsa should follow to me, to fit with its syncopated roots. So although I can't do it yet except for a basic step, I vote for on-2!

Maybe it's just the whole cuban dance package I'm after, period. Does anybody teach that around here? Regards, Richard.

Hi there Rose!!!
I am originally from the Philippines but I call Dallas, TX my home. Super Mario is a good friend of mine. He stays at my house in Greensboro, NC when he comes to visit!! He has a HUGE influence in the way I dance. I like the reaction the women give me when I do the Super Mario moves!! hoo hoo!! I like it!!

I have been dancing salsa for about 1 year and 3 months and I love it. My first convention was in Washington, DC. LA was my second and I had a blast. There were lots of great danc-ers. The performers had wonderful outfits (two that I recall are a little revealing) and they did PERFORM!!!

I don't like to sound negative, but here are some of the things that hopefully Albert Torres will improve for the next congress. These observations are shared by the people I spoke with at the West Coast Congress in LA. Space for dancing was a problem. The congress has outgrown Hollywood Park Casino. A new place is needed. Because of the dance space, problem dancers dance floor etiquette went out the window! I got hit so many times by dancers that just threw the woman across in my direction or by turning into me without watching their space. The set-up to watch the show was not organized properly. They had a few rows in front of the stage and about 30-50 rows on the SIDE of the stage. I would say only a few hundred got to enjoy the show and there were 3-4 thousand salseros and guests combined. The space for the workshops was inadequate. The instructors themselves were very frustrated especially Johnny Vasquez. Albert needs to address this BIG problem. People from all over the world are there for the performances and for the workshops and most didn't get to enjoy either to the fullest and this is a shame! If Albert doesn't address any of these concerns more people will shy away from the West Coast Congress.

I visit your site for the overall content. I like the fact that you have a section for songs/cds to buy. I don't speak Spanish so this is helpful to me.

When are you going to post Alex's response? I run into his type and I laugh because for a white boy I dance salsa the way "I" feel it and surpris-ingly I get compliments from a lot of latinos!! The one's just like him are on the sidelines boiling with envy.
Have a wonderful day!!
Musthavsalsa "John"

Dear Piquantemama, We just got some updated info from another Reader on May 22...

TLN Latinfest 2001
Paramount Canada's Wonderland
July 8, 2001
TLN Carnival -Toronto
Ontario Place
August 12, 2001

I always look to www.tosalsa.com for information about the latest events here in Toronto, so keep up the good work you guys. Love your site! -- FSM

March 24/01
Do you know of any salsa fitness classes, they have them all over the place in the states, but here in toronto it is hard to find one. If you could let me know about any aerobics classes in toronto that are done to latin music, that would be great. Thank you so much, MARIA

City without Salsa
Dear TOsalsa, I would like to say that I love your site and I'm a loyal fan of Rose's weekly articles. The reason that I am sending an e-mail is because recently I visited a friend in Kitchner Ontario and as any usual Salsa Freak I searched out for Salsa Clubs. I could not believe the verdict, no Salsa scene whatsoever. I myself have been dancing for ten years and I need my quick fix no matter where I am. Honestly what is the matter with these people? I check out their club scene and was disgusted by every place I went to. I requested a Salsa song and after an hour of complaining I got my wish. No one seemed to know how to dance. I wanted to shoot these people. I wanted a dance partner and as I gazed around I noticed someone trying to attempt the 123 beat. He was the closest thing to a Salsero and I was on my last nerve dying to dance. I approached this little butterball and asked if he could Salsa. In a little harsh voice I received a " yes ", and we began to dance. My little butterball had no idea how to stay on beat.
Desperately Yours, Dee

Hi, I went to a Latin dance club in another city and saw salsa. I loved it! The problem is I am a woman of size and though I am pretty and a good dancer, no one will ever ask me to dance. So I have no opportunity to learn salsa. Though it might sound impossible to think I can learn salsa without a partner, I want to try so that at least I can dance to the music in my own home. Is there a website that explains the basic moves? Also of the Salsa video's which do you recommend? The area I live in , Mobile, Alabama, has no group salsa instruction and I cannot afford private instruction. I appreciate any advice you can offer. Thank you. Kelly

I was interested in ordering videos on-line which teach salsa moves both for couples and individual shines. I'm looking for something at an intermediate to an advanced level. Can you recommend any specific ones I could check out or instructors I should look for. Thank you.

Salsa Fanatic in Calgary

Just wanted to say how much I love this site. I am a beginner and I know this site will propel me into the world of salsa much faster than if I was on my own. I am looking forward to your partner search feature. Please add it soon!!! Thank you T.O. Salsa, Raisa

Hi! I am new to TOsalsa.com! I learned Salsa when I was living in Warsaw last year (there is a big following there) and even headed to The Havana Club in Vienna for Christmas (incredible bar with amazing dancers!). Being new to the scene here, having no partner and not knowing any others who love to dance Salsa, I am not sure how to get involved in Toronto's scene. Are the workshops open to individuals without partners?? Is there any place I can find out any more info.? Thanks!! Kathy

February 6, 2001 (L. Brito)
I appreciated very much Nicole DaSilva's article on the different styles of Salsa dancing. It was intelligent and well informed. It is true on a social level, Cuban dancing is not very demanding technically. Most Cubans and Latins are very much against formal lessons unlike here. But still it is very difficult for outsiders to move their hips like these street dancers. There are different styles of dancing within Cuba also. It speaks of the depth and variety of dance in Cuba. There are dancing schools and this type of dancing is very technically demanding. But the dance industry is not as developed as it is here.

We do the "mambo" step in Cuban dancing but we usually do it in a Guapea, when the man does a reverse "mambo" step and pushes off with the hands. The turns in the "mambo" step here (where you make a full right turn when your left foot is in front) has always seemed awkward to me. We do it differently. We make the girl walk more to the side and then turn. We do all all our turns more to the side and the guy walks more when the girl is turning. Our turns are more slanted and more looped than the vertical turns in other styles. It is true, we like "spaghetti" arms. Since we don't have the resistance in the arms to force the woman to turn we have to guide them more. We usually make shapes with our arms before leading the woman into a turn. We usually lead her arm down, then slightly opposite to the way she is going to turn, then lead her into the turn. Of course, we do have resistance but it is down rather than up, in rather than to the side. For many people, we seem to pull our partners into cross body leads. That's why many consider Cuban style dancing too macho, it doesn't let the woman to express herself. And when we push off each other, we REALLY push off each other.

February 2, 2001

Definition of Semi-Pro status...

Semi-Pro: one or both competitors has performed or taught or has assisted a salsa instructor without being paid. One or both competitors is or has been part of a salsa dance company but has not been paid.

"Reading the definition of Semi-Pro for the Berlin competition has brought to mind some questions.

I am frequently asked in clubs if I am an instructor as I often 'teach' a move on the floor. I do not find this disruptive to the dance and nor does my partner at the time. I am teaching for free. Occasionally I teach outside the club environment (at home or in other type dance clubs or to friends in our houses). When in classes in England I often was asked by the instructor to help out with a particular student, either less or more advanced than the bulk of the class. Occasionally I would then be offered the next class for free due to my assistance. None of this was ever planned in advance and was aimed at helping the class as a whole. I have also taken part in several demonstrations, both in the street as part of public demon-strations, street parades (festival type) and in bars/danceclubs to promote salsa or specific salsa clubs. So far I have broken three of the points in the 'definition' but still consider myself an amateur. Many salseros will find themselves in similar positions. Definitions can be a funny thing. I would appreciate some clarification."Thanks, Bemused

"Hi TOsalsa! This is the first newsletter I've received from you because I happened to actually look at my Bulk Mail box at Hotmail. I've been on your mailing list for about 2 months and wondered why I never received anything. Now I know why -- for some reason your e-mails show up as bulk and not regular e-mails. Is that happening to others as well, are your efforts being deleted with no effort at all?" Eric

"Can someone please briefly explain the difference between LA styling, Cuban style, New York Style, etc. I've just recently re-entered the dance scene and am a bit confused about all the different styles that have cropped up. Thanks." -- Old-Timer

Thanks for providing the vehicle to express opinions about Salsa. Your web site is a virtual community for salsaholics.

It truly brings people who share a common passion for salsa (at all levels) together. I think by expressing our opinions constructively, we can all learn from one another. That's how we become better dancers and maybe, better people.

I've contact the Prime Minister's Office and have nominated you for a newly created post... Canada's Salsa Ambassador to the United Nations. :) The world would be a better place if everybody could Salsa. -- Mario

Dear Readers: Does anyone know of any instructors in Mississauga, Oakville or Burlington and any new or existing clubs in those areas also that you could recommend?