Canadians in Club Mayan Competition
Rose, It may be incorrect to suggest that Ana, Orville, Sonia, and Moris are the first to represent Canada at the competition. I don't know about past years but Ashkan and Gina are from Canada. I know that they probably live and work in LA (maybe?) but their country of origin is Canada. Josue

Dear Josue, in a way, you may be right (but I probably might have heard something by now as I do know some dancers who live in LA); but this is the first year that I've heard of any Canadians competing, and sorry, maybe I should have been more specific by stating it was on the professional level, especially as I have no idea where the Canadian Amateur couple is from. For all we know, they could have just moved down to LA from Canada OR they were originally born in Canada but are now US citizens. But I don't think this should take away from Ana, Orville, Sonia and Moris' representation of Canada on the professional level -- do you? Rose Knows

Dear Rose, I want to begin salsa. I live close to Yonge & Eglinton Area, could you email me where is the closest location for me to go? Thanks, Leila.

Dear Leila, the closest place would be Berlin's on Tuesdays with Jennifer and Giovanni; and Martha Hicks Dance School (where the post office is on Yonge across from Berlin's), usually United Salseros teaches in there on different days. I would suggest that you go to our instructors page and check out all the instructors to find out their location and times. Have fun learning -- Rose Knows

salsa aerobics video
Hi Rose & Ziv, first I want to compliment you on a GREAT site. I think it's changed/improved a lot since I saw it last year. My question is this. I do workouts at home using videos and I'd like to find a salsa aerobics video. Do you know where I can look? I'd really appreciate your help, Bridget

Dear Bridget, I'm not very familiar with the range of salsa aerobic videos in today's market. I would suggest doing a search in www.google.com and see what comes up. I would also suggest being very careful about the video you choose to ensure it's someone in the world salsa scene as you may not like the salsa moves they use if they are just commercial videomakers, such as Kathy Smith. Her moves were not typical of today's salsa scene, but it really depends on what you're looking for. If it's movement to salsa music for an alternative cardio workout and you don't care what you're moving to, then this doesn't apply. Rose Knows

quote of the month
Hi guys, Very weird coincidence that you would choose that quote for this month cause I was trying to explain it to a close friend last friday. Unfortunatly, it is one of the least respected way of life in the salsa world and it has hurt a lot of people. I think it should be a new goal of ours to try to live more by it. Thanks, Renee

Any Cubans out there?
Did anyone get any information about Valdimir at the Spanish
center? Is he in Cuba? Is he still teaching at the Spanish
Center? Does anybody know of any other places where they teach Casino in Toronto? Or any other any other Cuban salsa instructors in Toronto. Viva Cuba y Colombia !! Daniel

new club
Hello, I discovered a new Latin club. It's called "6 pyramids" and it is located on Dundas St West (near Dovercourt). It is very fun, and has free dance lessons beginning at 10pm on Saturdays with Sarita -- Andrea. PS - I really like your website!

Hi, I just want to say that your website is one of the best out there anywhere! Keep the good work up! Sincerely, Danny T

The name and artist of this song...
Hi, I just have a quick question (and by the way, great site!!)... There's a bachata that is always played at clubs that it basically the spanish version of "My all" By Mariah Carey. Do you have any idea what its called and who it's by? Thank you so much (I've been trying to figure it out for months now!!) -- Monica

Dear Monica, now that's an easy answer, it's "Mi Todo" by Dominicanada.

Bouncer at Babaluu Complaint # 2
I have just read the comment about that one bouncer in Babaluu. My homegirls and I have experienced a similar incident where one of my girls forgot her ID. We are regulars there but we could not get past this one puto who wouldn't let any of us in (the rest of us had our ID) to find the people we know inside. Then two other timid girls from New York who took a cab there did not have their ID either. He wouldn't even let these poor tourists in. Then he starts letting a heap of people, some very young looking, into the club right by us. We got my homegirls ID delivered and finally went in - but what a pr--k!!! This guy looks French, looks like a rock, very ugly - for any of you who care to know and offer some of your attitude to compliment his own. We don't need losers like this working for our Salsero Clubs !!!Que rubio feo de mierda!!! Anon

El Rancho
El Rancho is great on Thursdays! It doesn't get extremely packed so people don't step on your toes as much and you're able to show off all your sexy moves! :) Julia

Dear Cati, I don't have the lyrics, but I would suggest doing a search on www.google.com, and you might get lucky... Rose

Help with the name of a song
Hi rose, if you go to this site: http://www.babaluu.com/
there's a song that get's played at the site can you please help me figure it out i've been trying to e-mail their site several times but they never reply back, so I know rose knows so tell me the name and artist of that awesome song -- Oswald

Dear Oswald, sorry, but Rose doesn't always know, but she always tries to help out... I listened to the song, but it didn't strike a cord at all from the singer or the music. Usually, I have an amazing memory for the song if I love to dance to it, I may not always remember who plays it or the name, but it didn't even rank as a "nibble". I suggest you talk to DJ Alvaro C -- maybe he can shed some light since he lives and breathes this stuff and DJ's there on Wednesday -- Rose "who doesn't always" Know

PS Thanks goodness I didn't give that name to myself, that name was thanks to "Dennis" who thought I should have my own "corner" to write about salsa to my heart's content as I seemed to always know what was going on (or so he thought...)

Vladimir and casino
This after seeing the Casino/Rueda thread. I am interested in checking out Vladimir as a teacher... anyone know how to get in touch. He doesn't seem to advertise or list himself anywhere... tx Artie

New to the Site
Hi Rose, Visited the TOSalsa site this week for the very first time.
The site is awesome. An excellent resource and very informative. Keep up the good work. Carl

I've only been dancing for a year now, and I just love it!! I have learned so much just from watching, and Felix has taught me a lot as well.

Let's see, what can I say about Sunday afternoon/night... (feel free to post it if you want!). It was an incredibly fun day.. the workshops were fun, enthusiastic and well taught. We've learned some awesome new moves and can't wait to try them out here in London!!! Watching the dancers (both amateur and professional) was a real treat...wow...can they move!!! We'll be watching your website for any upcoming events, and you can bet we'll be there!! Thanks again!! Talk to you soon Rose!! Susan

Dear Cati, I don't have the lyrics, but I would suggest doing a search on www.google.com, and you might get lucky... Rose

We had a great time yesterday and it was amazing to watch some of those dancers!! We'll keep checking your web site, so I'm sure we'll see you again very soon! Thanks again, Susan (and Felix, Ximena and Andrew)--the crew from London!!!

Lyrics
I wanted to request the lyrics to the new song by Monchy y Alexandra...I believe the song is called "Te queiro igual que ayer". If you have the lyrics or could direct me to a site that might have the lyrics I would really appreciate it. Thank you for your time, Cati

Dear Cati, I don't have the lyrics, but I would suggest doing a search on www.google.com, and you might get lucky... Rose

Toronto salsa in may
My friend and I (salseras) plan to visit Toronto, possibly Memorial Day Weekend May 24-27. Are there any salsa events planned then, since we need to plan now. Thanks. Ann

Dear Ann, it's a little early to know everything that's happening in May, so I suggest you check the events and club listings closer to the time you want to visit, along with the home page as we do post many last minute parties under "What's Happening" -- Rose

Dear Debra, it's funny you should mention it, but these are some of the ideas we already have for future releases when we find some time in our insanely busy schedule as this site is only done in our spare time. Thanks for writing in and sharing your thoughts. Rose

Dear Lena, Toronto is still predominantely on 1, but many of the hardcore dancers and performers can also dance on 2 or prefer to dance on 2 now. In fact, many of the New York dancers who have visited are pleasantly surprised at the level of our on 2 dancers, especially since we've only picked it up in the last few years.

Dear Angelina, that is a tough question. You are right, there is very little information out there, I would suggest surfing through my photo gallery to see the types of clothing many dancers are wearing today, depending on whether you're talking about general social dancing or performance level dancing. For the past, unfortunately I can't really help you, you may want to try and contact Eddie Torres or Angel Rodriguez in NYC, along with Izzy Sanabria who may be able to help answer that question as they are some of the pioneers of the New York Salsa Scene.

Dear Sam, welcome to Toronto, you should check out my club hangouts (which lists the most popular clubs that salsa dancers like to go to each day), and for events, check out the events section or the "What's Happening" section on the home page for all the last minute salsa parties. All of these links are on our home page near the top.

I used to love to go to Berlin--the classes are great. Attention Berlin management: Play alot more salsa and maybe the dancers will sweat and drink more! (We will still pay cover you know) - Frank

two left feet lawyer
This is in response to the toronto sun article about salsa dancing. I haven't read the article but from the little that I got from TOsalsa is that this lawyer is mad because he is a bad dancer! So therefore he complains that he can't dance because of the instructors? Excuse me! buddy I have been dancing for a year now so I am fairly new and I know for a fact that in order to be good at salsa it takes commitment and time and not giving up after four tries. This guy is complaining because he cannot dance well unless you are superman you will not pick up salsa within just a few classes. He questions his intellectual approach to salsa? what is he talkin about? dancing salsa is feeling the music in your mind body and soul first! then you will be able to dance properly or at least decently. And the other thing is he is a jelous man he sees how good the advanced students are and he wishes he could be like them he is frustrated that he is not like them. Well he should remember that even the best salsa dancers make mistakes and need practicing he should also remember to become good at salsa requires years of commitment and pratice and not just going to a few classes thinking that you will come out the salsa king of toronto! I call this the salsa king illness I have seen this many many times people complain to the instructor that they are not learning anything becuase they want to become toronto salsaking after one class lol I know the rest of you have seen this before.
-- Zerg

Hi Rose, I read your comments about The Star's editorial on salsa for the Sunday edition. I was really pissed off at their lack of attention to detail and I wanted to share with you the letter that I wrote to them.
.......................................
Dear Staff,
This type of blunder is unacceptable and it disgusts me that Koehl's comments were published on a paper as widely read as the Toronto Star. I have not read the article and I would like a copy of it if you can e-mail it back to me.

Albert Koehl, whoever he is and your publishing of this article affects the salsa community much more profoundly than you realize. If you want to do an article on salsa in the city I suggest your people do the legwork take some classes themselves and really invest some time and money on understanding the craft themselves, before having a sub-standard writer make comments about subject matter he has obviously not enough background in.
One of your staff members should take classes for at least a year,
go to clubs at least 4 nights a week, and take some workshops with out of town salsa instructors that come here as special event classes.

By publishing that piece you perpetuate the idea that salsa is just some ghetto street dance, that really doesn't require a lot of effort to learn. After *4* lessons you let Koehl make 'very' public comments about a craft he has no idea about. I have personally been dancing for more than a year and I would never venture my pen on a piece of paper to make a comment about the salsa scene. There's just too much to know. The fact that a sub-standard novice publishes that kind of writing illustrates how the STAR views the latin-dance scene. You guys obviously didn't send your best people for this job...?!

Did no one read over that piece - or did the myriad of staff members at THE STAR place the column with the crossword and lottery results. The amount of attention or the lack thereof shows a great disrespect to the salsa community and I'm pissed off at the level of professionalism, and attention given to that piece.

Give me a break.... Anne Hewitt didn't notice the embargo label on the picture? Well, I guess not it's just an article about salsa anyways... I guess if i watch a couple hours on that crappy Parliament Hill channel you'll let me write some articles on politics too?

Please reply with an email where I can apply for a position as a journalist at the Star -- Erik

Salsa lyrics
"Devorame otra vez" is by Lalo Rodriguez, it has never been interpreted by Eddie Santiago, research www.cdnow.com type the name of the song and see it for yourself. I know that there is a couple of people that had told you the same. Thank you for your time. Norberto

Dear Norberto, thanks for the writing in, and yes, I've been told that a couple of times, but with the amount of updates I do on the site, I usually try to pick a few sections at a time to update, or else I could spend eons on different sections, and my music section hasn't been touched on inawhile due to all the other pressing deadlines or events that are happening as we speak. I haven't forgotten about this, and I'm glad people are caring enough about the music to write in and correct me -- that's what this section is all about... networking, caring and sharing... Rose