November 7, 2002

World War II and the WSF

We will post any constructive feedback from our readers.

October 31, 2002 -- World Salsa Federation -- a scam?

Normally, I don't like to post this type of negativity as it just makes the salsa community look bad, but then again sometimes it's a wake-up call for those of you who are just too trusting, and then again, there are always two sides to every story; and the world is not perfect.

Is the truth finally out about an incorporated company which asks you to pay to certify you as a salsa instructor? I don't know them or have any dealings with them, so I can't state an opinion about an organization I have no experience with; so for those of you who have asked about salsa certification or the World Salsa Federation, it seems many dancers are now feeling the need to speak out about this organization; and I have to give credit to Jacira of Salsapower.com for publicly stating her own opinion for the salsa world to view and judge for themselves, and it seems everyone's waiting for a rebuttal from WSF.

If the whole story is true, it's also sad to see that a Calgary salsa team who went down there and probably practiced many hours to try and win this event to only come out with $300 US (when it was advertised that there was over $10,000 US in cash and prizes). Check it out, "The World Salsa Fraud - Buyer Beware" by Jaciro Castro, cofounder of Salsapower, some dancer feedback, and the subsequent discussion on various messageboards, Salsero Corner and Salserosweb. The word on this spreading like wildfire and I even had trouble trying to get a link and reading the posts on Salserocorner because the site was so busy... then there's Salsafix.com's light-hearted but great journal-istic digging of how "World War II" got started... and why is it World War II, well if you were around a few years ago, we had World War I in the salsa community. Salseras and Salseros, can we finally say this will be the final war... in the end, there are no victors... and eventually, most let bygones be bygones and agree to disagree. Rose Knows

The Responses....

November 6, 2002 -- Salsa Syllabus = Salsa Fraud

Greetings! I have come across an excellent review of Mr. Issac Altman's "World Salsa Competition" in Miami this past weekend:

http://www.salsapower.com/editorials/wsf.htm

After reading this article I am even more convinced that the World Salsa Federation is one large scam.

SALSA CANNOT BE BROKEN DOWN AND PUT INTO A SYLLABUS! It is NOT Ballroom!

Salsa is a free-form type of dance, similar to Hip-Hop dancing, it is based on feeling, on having soul, on being spontaneous and creative, and MOST important, on having an
absolute love for SALSA MUSIC!

Salsa dancing is interpretive, we salseros and salseros dance to the music.

I suggest that the lifeless, mechanical and prancy style of ballroom "salsa" of the World Salsa Fraud be flushed down the toilet where it belongs!

Good riddance to this Charlattan organization! Diego

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November 6, 2002 -- World Salsa Fraud (2?)

Apparently some of your fellow Canadians are also unhappy-- read on -- Saul:


WSF=WORLD SALSA FRAUD!!

This is one of those times where I wish I hadn't been right....

As most of you know SalsaRica went to compete in in Miami this past weekend for the "World Salsa Federation's - World Salsa Championships" put on by Mr. Isaac Altman. SalsaRica came in First Place (by default) because there were no other groups there to compete against them!

Isaac does not have a good reputation amongst most legitimate salsa dancers I've talked to, and his "federation" is nothing but an example of his 'ballroom mentality', trying to put a leash on soulful, creative, from-the-heart salsa and turning it into prancy syllabus-salsa. (something that THIS amateur salsera NEVER wants to see happen)

Long story short (for now) - the competition SalsaRica went to was a joke, and it's a shame that our dancers had to learn about WSF the hard way.

The event was poorly organized and the competitions were poorly judged. I was told by one member of SR that one of the requirements for competitors was that they had to consistently dance salsa on the One - and two out of three couples who placed in the top 3 didn't even do that! ....

I hope that if there was one good thing that this experience brought with it (aside from partying in Miami) it's that even the 'professionals' or so called 'all-stars' in our City have learned that even amateurs can have something valuable to teach if they're willing to listen.

(oh, - and that karma can be a real *****)

Let no sincere salsero be fooled again by "WSF"..... more on Calgary Salsa

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November 7, 2002 -- World War 2 - WSF

I guess technically Diego's response is mine - because I wrote it! It's amazing how many web pages have my tiny article posted...wow -- this WSF thing is bigger than even I thought it would be.

There are some good points made by Rumbero on my website's message board....

But I do believe in karma - so that will take care of WSF for good.

Has anyone here had any personal experience with Issac or WSF?

Heidy of Calgary Salsa

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Related Link: Salsa Syllabus/Standards