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by Rose Knows, Toronto
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December
23, 2004 December 21, 2004 Salsa Christmas Countdown It's been an eventful month that's almost coming to a close; and just before most of the clubs shut down for Christmas... there's still three more nights of solid dancing you could be doing this week. Starting with Tuesdays at Babaluu with no cover and $5 drinks and tapas all night long. Wednesday at Lula Lounge, there's a new cuban band, "Cafe Cubano". As it was forwarded to me... "Celebrate Christmas Cuban style on the "Eve of the Eves," as Billy Bryans and Okokan introduce a brand new band in Toronto with five performers who just arrived from Cuba in September with Valentin Y los del Caribe. They have joined up with other great Toronto musicians to form "Cafe Cubano" an 8-10 piece band. The concept of the night is to share the Christmas spirit with music and dance. Many of Cafe Cubano's musicians do not have family in Toronto, yet they were happy to play on a date so close to Christmas so as to have a chance to celebrate with their many new friends. Salsa and more. This band also has a few merengue; bachata and cumbia tunes. Musicians
line-up: Yanni (Vocals), Jorge Betancourt (keyboard and musical director),
Aris ( Conga), Ranier and Alex (trumpets), Luis Celix (timbales), Junior
& Joel (Coros), Frank (Bass), and Biscaino (Bongo) December 17, 2004 8 days left until Christmas! Where has time gone... in two weeks, we'll be ringing in the New Year! And thank goodness, I've caught up on alot of my beauty sleep beforehand because this past week has been non-stop crazy-busy with work, dinner parties, getting together with friends and coordinating all the last minute details in preparation for Xmas and family gatherings. It's also been nice to go to the clubs and hang out and/or dance with all the dancers you haven't seen in a very long time and everyone's been in major dance party mode... What's been a real treat for me, was being able to dance with out-of-town guests and all the instructor-performer friends that I don't always see out regularly; and have a chance to see how they've developed or changed as dancers and how well I can adapt to their style or how well they adjust to my own interaction or interpretation of where I think they either want me to be or where my hand is for the next move or combination. It's been an exhilarating mixed bag of tricks or shall I say "conversations". If you recall from earlier observations of social dancing interaction, I did mention how important it was for both the leader and follower to pay attention to their partner and "react" to their every move. Some dancers you love to dance with because it's totally effortless (he leads and you follow no matter where you hands end up being placed for the next move); and you get to share in the joy of the dance; and express how you feel to that particular song you are listening to. Other dancers I enjoy dancing with because it's not about what moves you do, but just the sheer enjoyment of dancing to music we love -- so the intricate combinations become less important and it's all about sharing our love of the music through dance. And then there's the instructors who sometimes feel impelled to see how well you will follow all the crazy combinations they can throw at you. Sometimes, you're just totally on and execute it perfectly and sometimes you misinterpret what they want you to do; and mess it up. And then there's the dancers who forget about what dancing is all about, and all they seem to want to do is "show off" by trying moves that actually says "Look at Me" when all you really want to do is share your love of dancing. And there's another handful that lead so technically perfect that you know exactly where you should be and don't have to trip over their feet through the next combination. Click here to see the latest Top 10 from Miami! December
13, 2004 December 10, 2004 We Like to Party! Or shall I say Salsa? I've been out twice this past week and the energy has been smokin' on the dance floor... and more than likely because either you're almost finished school for the holidays, your workload is getting less, or just another reason to work off all those extra xmas party calories! Check out the bottom of the home page as you'll find a non-stop list of parties for your dancing pleasure. And for fun, I included a new Reader's Poll especially for dancers... What do you like Santa to bring you for Xmas? December
6, 2004
November
23, 2004 November 17, 2004 Shall We Salsa? Well, maybe the slump is slightly over in TO as more of the regulars are starting to go out again during the week and it seems it's usually the trend as the Congresses are slowing down now and as Christmas approaches, everyone wants to get out and spend time dancing and socializing with their friends. A rather interesting trend in the TO clubs is that we regularly have out-of-town dancers coming to our clubs and almost every week I get approached by one of these dancers introducing themselves, thanking me for providing the scoop on Toronto. It's hilarious to find the die-hards who actually read all the stories and feel they already know the Toronto salsa scene; and/or they comment how accurately I've described it. And back in April, I talked about "What Makes a Great Social Dancer". And for the past month or so, I felt I had lost my salsa groove and needed to find it back again... I found another outlet... just sit and watch some new dancers that just ooze their love of the dance and/or take the opportunity to have a dance with them. A girl was here from Calgary or Edmonton, she was a plus-size, but she could move and I loved watching her because you could tell she made every dance count; and had her own unique style. A good or bad trait, depending on the situation, is that I sense the vibe of the dancers around me, and that can motivate me or detract me from my upbeat salsa energy depending on whether I had a bad day or not. There is nothing worse than a night in the club where you sense the energy is low; and it doesn't help when the DJ just doesn't pick up on the vibe and doesn't energize the dancers with great music. BUT what motivates the DJ's to play great music to dance to... DJ Julio on Sunday was hit and miss, but Tuesday he was rocking and I couldn't leave as there are lots of regulars to dance with and the music was so totally on; and then I went back on Wednesday when DJ Carlitos was playing and he was playing all my classic favourites; and it was another hot night of dancing... November 15, 2004 Shall We Tango? By accident, while surfing, I found a webpage that has a clip of one of my favourite scenes in "Shall We Dance" featuring the new electronica Tango song that I can't stop listening to... Santa Maria by Gotan Project Click here to check out the clip -- it's not the whole dance scene, but it comes close... and this page to see all the clips... November 13, 2004 IF Dance Be the Food of Love... Then let us have more dance movies and shows... Outside of music, another source of inspiration are the shows and movies that remind me of what I love about dancing, how it makes me feel and then propels me back to the clubs to project my creative energy onto the dance floor. If you think of what dance is all about -- how about a cross-section between your artistic (creative) and physical (althletic) side -- mixed in with a love of music and a chance to connect with other. In other words, take a type of music you love, such as salsa or tango, learn steps so you can dance your own interpretation, while getting a workout and having a chance to socialize on a different level -- through physical connection. While reading the debates about the different styles of dance, it's fascinating to see what passion dancers have about dancing; and I'm no exception -- over the next week or so, I'll be posting my own review of Tango Flamenco, Shall We Dance and would like to start a new discussion about what makes a great dance movie. I try to see every dance movie that's ever been filmed, whether it's ballroom, hip hop, salsa or whatever -- as I find something in every movie that reminds me of how I got started in dancing or why dancing inspires me. Yes, in a dancer's opinion -- some are badly made, such as "Dirty Dancing 2" or "Dance with Me"; and then there's the ultimate classics, such as "Dirty Dancing", or the original Japanese version of "Shall We Dance" that dancers love to watch over and over. And then there's the dance shows that tour through Toronto; and they are a definite source of inspiration and a delight to watch as they marry the best of choreography, danceability, lighting and costumes to the utmost advantage. And interesting trend that I've noticed is a "modern update" to some of the typical styles of dancing. For example, in the salsa world, you have the various styles of salsa (ie LA, Cuban, New York on 2); but what happens when Al and Edie the Salsa Freak mixes hip hop and LA-style salsa -- you get a show-stopping new interpretation of how salsa could be danced which is uniquely theirs. In
Tango Flamenco, the show, they mixed traditional flamenco dancing to
the drama and intensity from their music and costumes and added the
steps of flamenco, and came up with a modern interpretation of flamenco
dancing that was art in motion. November 8, 2004 IF Salsa Be the Food of Love... (Part 1) Although I've been updating this site and still dancing once or twice a week since I got back from Brazil at the beginning of this year... what kept me interested for awhile was just going to the clubs as a regular dancer and just chilling out and socializing without a care in the world... but even that couldn't keep my interest in the local club scene as many of the old-time regulars have moved on (such as myself) to doing other non-salsa activities or are basically teaching, training dancers or gallavanting to other salsa congresses around the World... But one thing that keeps me coming back for more is finding time to find new and old salsa classics that I just can't live without... it's one of the few salsa passions that keep me going to the clubs and keeps my love of salsa dancing alive... One of the DJ's that many salsa regulars seems to gravitate to lately is DJ Julio who plays at Babaluu on Tuesday, Fridays, and Sunday. I've known him for over 5 years and this year he just blossomed into his own groove with the dancers; and thanks to him, and the variety of music he plays, I've heard new and old salsa classics; and been able to expand my love of the music. You know, it's those songs that you could just listen and eventually are itching to dance to over and over and get you back to the dance floor when all else fails... For the past few months, I've been working on a collection of new/old favourite songs which I'll publish soon, but one artist that he plays quite regularly (and you'll also hear DJ Carlitos playing some of these classics at Babaluu's when he's in the retro-Romantica mood) that very few salsa dancers seem to know or recognize is "Willy Chirino" -- he has one of those voices that can make you swoon (dance) once you mix his voice with the  right
melody... Tonight for some salsa inspiration, I decided to surf the Tower Records website and found names of 10 songs that you just have to have for your salsa collection... click here! This inspired me to start a new Salsa Music Page for all those favourite "Top 10 or whatever" Salsa Songs by all the classic new and old Salsa Bands and Soneros that you just can't get enough of. And feel free to add your own "Top 10 or more" of your favourite artist. November
6, 2004 November 1, 2004 A Ghoulish Weekend with an extra hour of sleep... click here for the pics... October 23, 2004 What's New... Just posted some more pix from Ziv from the Canada Salsa Congress from Thursday night's social dancing and other congress highlights. Also, to kick off events in 2005, I've just posted 3 more promotions... Two pairs of tickets to Peru Negro or Paco Pena at Massey Hall in Toronto in February 2005; and 3 chances to win a Salsa Congress Pass to the Montreal Salsa Convention in January, February and March 2005. And of course more Dear TOsalsa and Discussion Forum responses... October 18, 2004 More Updates... While I've spent some of my nights recuperating from the after-affects of the Canada Salsa Congress, many dancers have written in and I've just posted updates in Dear TOsalsa and lots of updates in the Discussion Forum... That's how I always know summer is officially over... when everyone gets back into web surfing and writing as the weather cools down... And for the music aficiandos who keep up with the salsa greats... a dancer just emailed me recently that Marvin Santiago, one of the last true Fania All Star soneros has just past away recently on October 6th, click here and click here to hear some of his songs... And finally three more Top Salsa Song Lists -- from Turkey, Brazil and Colombia! October
12, 2004 October
11, 2004 October 9, 2004 
Congress Update #2 As always, there's never enough hours in the day to do it all at a Salsa Congress, so it's either workshops, or spending time during the day with your friends or family over the holiday weekend. And already I have taken over 800 pictures with one more night to go... October 7, 2004 
Congress Update...If you weren't at Acrobat... you missed a h_ll of a party, and how lucky can David Melendez get in one night... It was jammed and there were 3 great salsa performances from Toronto -- Mambo Tribe Student Group, Latin Dance Theatre, and Rhythm Divas. And who was in the house besides the movers and shakers of Toronto... Frankie Martinez (NY), Super Mario (London) and DJ Henry Knowles. October
7, 2004 Canada Salsa Congress Winner: Ruben Zuniga October 4, 2004 What's New... It's less than 3 days to the start of the Canada Salsa Congress in Toronto, and everyone I know has been busy either preparing for it or just can't wait to mingle, see or dance with all the international dancers who are coming to town... This weekend was the start of an action-packed October, but unfortunately I was totally burnt out from other non-salsa commitments. So wassup? How about the pics from the Mambo Mosaic Fundraiser, thanks to Ziv... And some great feedback in Dear TOsalsa and of course more heated responses in Round 5 on Improper Salsa Instruction and Salsa Music Crisis in Toronto or in Canada... take your pick, let the games continue... Pssst... through the grapevine I heard that some DJ's are just itching to respond to the Salsa Music Crisis, so let's see how long they can hold it before they respond. Also, I've heard thru the grapevine that some dancers feel it's not right to post such a negative article... As I've always said, everyone has an opinion about what to post or not to post. It's a matter of personal opinion and I can't aim to please everyone... and isn't that what media is all about... It's interesting to see how some readers think it's relevant and others don't, and why... but in the end, it's just another opinion. September 29, 2004 Congratulations to our Afro Cuban Ticket Winners: Anna Tapia Yiya Huang September 29, 2004 A Salsa Tragedy? What do you think? Richard Chong wrote: "Mother danced as child died. Here is an event that ought to be aired -- Salsa mother danced her night away while her daughter died of neglect." click here for full story. Normally, I don't like to post these types of articles because I feel there's enough news from TV and the papers about the sadness in the world... but at the same time, it's a reminder that salsa can be an escape from the worries of life and in this case, it took a tragic turn for the worst. September 28, 2004 Here we go again Round 4... Check out more responses in the Discussion Forum on Improper Salsa Instruction, and a new article on Toronto Latin Clubs and Salsa Music Crisis in Toronto or in Canada... take your pick, let the games continue... and more Dear TOsalsa... September 18, 2004 The Calm before the Storm OR The Trials & Tribulations of Rose Knows (Part 1) With all my non-salsa commitments, it's been difficult to find time to write as often as I would like. This is the first summer in about 3 years where I didn't travel for salsa as I needed to take care of a backlog of non-salsa activities and revisit priorities. Many dancers or friends over the years have asked how I can keep up with so many activities or fit so much into my busy schedule; and there really is no secret except: 1. Setting up a weekly schedule for all the activities and priorities you need or want to include; 2. Coming up with a process that is time efficient and works; then 3. Applying it to everything you do. And when it becomes a habit, it's easy to move or add on extra projects or hobbies. But because I packed so much into my non-stop salsa lifestyle for the past 4 years (could it have been salsa burnout?); and after going to Brazil and really taking it easy -- this is the first year I can say I actually like sitting or walking around doing almost nothing, taking the time to enjoy the view or stand in one spot long enough to experience what's around me and taking one day at a time! But at the same time, I've also started spending time on other activities that have been put on the back burner, such as trying out new recipes or new food products, reading books on a variety of subjects, and have been trying to find ways to fit my old workout schedule back into my new work schedule. What's crazy is that because I've slowed it down, it's difficult to pack it all in as before and the salsa balance(?!?) I craved just isn't happening... so maybe this is the calm before the storm starts again... In the meantime, I've got lots of email in Dear TOsalsa, including a reader who wrote about the "Salsa Music Crisis in Toronto" and another email about "Improper Salsa Instruction in Toronto". I've also posted five more favourite song lists from around the World... Stay tuned for Part 2... September 10, 2004 The Rush before and after Labour Day... The last few weeks have been hectic and where does time fly when real life takes over... and you try to mix in and enjoy the last few days of "summer! And as a prelude to the Canada Salsa Congress, here's your last minute chance to win a Congress Pass for those who love to wait until the last minute to decide... click here! Check back soon for more updates on the inside scoops and the comings and goings in the Toronto/ Montreal Salsa Scene... August 26, 2004 Here we go again... Where did our summer go to... I can't believe it's less than two weeks until September hits... and what's new? Well, September will be relatively quiet, except that's usually when everyone decides to take dance classes OR for those of you who are itching to perform -- are getting ready for Toronto's Canada Salsa Congress! And then October is definitely going to be a busy time for salsa dancers as I've just posted a chance to win tickets to two more upcoming shows at Massey Hall! It's great to see Afro Cuban All Stars coming back to Toronto on October 2nd, (they are another amazing cuban band of musicians) with some great music you won't want to miss... Click here to win tickets and to find out where to check out all their great music through cyberspace! And for those of you who love Tango, there's a dance company touring from Spain on October 28th at Massey Hall, click here to win tickets to Tango Flamenco! Hopefully in the coming weeks, I'll be getting more information regarding this show.  And it's also less than two months away to Toronto's Canada Salsa Congress being hosted by Jennifer Aucoin (TO) and David Melandez (NYC)... If you want to bring back last year's memories, or this will be your first time attending, you may want to check out the pics from last year's photo galleries... 
Thursday's Party  Saturday Night Shows Sunday Night Shows And if I can squeeze in some extra time, maybe I'll finally have a chance to post some videoclips from last year...  And for those of you who love pictures, check out my Alegria Photo Gallery. August 21, 2004 One Consolation to NOT having the time to travel to Salsa Congresses this year... 
How about seeing Alegria two nights in a row? My head is still spinning
from the amazing talent of the artists at Cirque du Soleil and the amount
of detail it must take to make it entertaining for all ages throughout
the night, and the ingeniousness of including the audience in their performance
in various ways... Consider this my new research on how you can take the
art of performing to new heights and inspiration; and to have an opportunity
to explore a new creative passion that got started because of TOsalsa.com
-- the art of digital photography.On Wednesday, I grabbed at a last minute opportunity to be able to photograph the dress rehearsal of Alegria all night long to my heart's content; and was amazed to see that I got one of the best seats in the house -- front row center stage! This is normally reserved for VIP's who are willing to pay $220 a ticket for a full service evening with reserved parking spot, drinks and hors d'oeuvres in a private lounge area and more. Definitely a great spot to take lots of pictures and to appreciate the full effect of the performers upclose and to be inspired by the detail in their make-up and costumes -- especially as it was my very first time ever watching Cirque du Soleil. On Thursday, I went again to the Grand Opening of Alegria as a spectator and got to spend time studying and appreciating their talent from a different angle which made me appreciate the detail to trust and the amount of teamwork needed amongst performers in the same act, how much practice it would take to make it look effortless and how synchronized they must be so they don't injure one another and to every pulsing beat of Alegria's music. Although the total show was awe-inspiring and each and every one of the performers are so totally on in terms of acting and performing from the singers, to the clowns and the acts highlighted by various artists, my most favourite parts of the show in Part 1, Fast Track, which was a fabulously choreographed tumbling act which would have been impossible to capture on digital without flash due to their speed and agility; and Manipulation -- the lady with the ribbon and hoops. It is so much more exciting to see this live and in full costume and make-up versus what you would normally see in spectator sports such as the Olympics. Cirque du Soleil definitely took it to another level and we should be proud that this company is Canadian and now almost 20 years old! In the 2nd part, it would have to be the Contortionist who had every female in the audience cringing in disbelief that your body could bend that far backwards; and the Russian Bars due to the total trust needed by the artists to do flips in the air and expect their team members to move the bar to "catch them" when they land. And of course, who doesn't love the Aerial Act which takes strength, agility and trust amongst teammates -- not including the fact that you're 50? feet off the ground? More to follow soon when I post my 200+ pics, but in the meantime, I've updated my Dear TOsalsa page, got a new Top 10 Salsa List from Japan, and a new article about Bachata from a dancer in Atlanta... Enjoy! August 18, 2004 Mesmerized... 
What a night! Spent an hour from Bathurst and Lakeshore to try
and get a parking space in Ontario Place (normally a 10-15 min. drive
during regular hours); then just getting into the show before the media
booth almost closed during pouring rain and missing about 20 minutes of
the show. Then appeased by getting a front row center seat to the dress
rehearsal of Alegria and given the opportunity to take pictures to my
heart's content trying to get that perfect pose (over 200 pics) which
will be posted hopefully later this week. Then getting out early enough
to head over to Babaluu's to let out the creative energy I got from watching
artistry in motion; and then in total shock, bumping into an old salsa
friend who was my Salsa Congress buddy in the year 2000, Oren, who won
the Pro Competition at Berlin's 3 years ago at the front door of Babaluu's.
Then coming home to check the photo, and was so inspired by their performance
and the fact I got some great shots (without flash!) that I just couldn't
wait to give you a sneak peak of some of my best pics of the night...
Since it's getting late, I'll write more later this week, but if you want
to get truly inspired by their artistry, creativity and talent -- you
won't be disappointed by seeing this show live. The way they designed
the seating -- you can enjoy it whether you're close up or further away
as it's eyestrain when you have to look straight up to the trapeze artists.
But I have to admit that's small consolation to sitting front row centre
and being able to appreciate the beauty of their artistry and the attention
to detail in their costumes and makeup.Click here on this link to find out more about Alegria and Cirque du Soleil in Toronto at Ontario Place... Rose Knows Tip 1: If you decide to drive down to Ontario Place and park for $15 -- make sure you get there before 6:30 pm to beat the parking traffic and to ensure you're not late for the performance. Rose Knows Tip 2: If you're not heading out to the New York Salsa Congress this weekend, you can hang out with those who are left behind, and party with Oren at Acrobat on Friday (TBC), and definitely he'll be heading over to Left Bank on Sunday. Can't remember who Oren is, check out his videoclip from 2001... August
9, 2004 August
8, 2004 August 3 , 2004 Congratulations to our two winners for Umoja Brandi Row Lesley Lorrimer And if you want the full scoop of the Ibrahim Ferrer and Buena Vista Social Club, check out this detailed front row seat review by Christine Connelly. I challenged her with putting together her review of this concert, and got back more than I bargained for. July 21, 2004 Never a Dull Moment... OR So Much To Do, So Little Time... Since I've come up for a few seconds of air... and since real life has taken all my previous salsa summer hours -- even I can't believe how I ever fit it all in the past few years... as I start to reprioritize and balance real life and salsa life... What was my secret before? Maybe it was the non-stop salsa treadmill that just kept going and going and going... and once you started it was easy to just keep doing things that you could do with your eyes closed or as easy as breathing. Stay tuned for more updates... OR see you on a dance floor on the one or two nights I'm lucky to come up for air.... July 15, 2004 Another Hot Summer Weekend of Salsa -- Part 3! Congratulations to Jessie Franco and Alberto Malave who both won a pair of tickets to see Grupo Gale! This weekend is going to be another HOT weekend of salsa music and dance as it heats up with the Ritmo y Color Latin Festival at Harboufront with lots of free bands playing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. And for those of you who love Colombian Salsa Dura -- fans of Sonora Carruseles, Quinto Mayor and Grupo Gale under the direction of Diego Gale -- you don't want to miss seeing this band in action on Saturday! And Sunday will probably be the day all hardcore salseros will be hanging out at Harbourfront all day and pssst, you can check out Ana Machado, Albena Assis and Bong Gonzales doing a cuban show at 2 pm. And of course, how can we miss the infamous band, Azucar Negra from Cuba at 4:30 pm. July
12, 2004 Here's a fun way to add some spice to your life -- how about some temporary henna or colour tattoos! Fun in the Sun - 2003 / 2004
July
9, 2004 July 6, 2004 A TOsalsa Music and Dance Weekend Marathon? OR You Don't Have to Go to a Salsa Congress to Get Your Music Fix This Summer... If you haven't checked out "What's Happening" this coming weekend, then you really don't know what you're going to miss... Not only do we have our usual nights of dancing, but there's a few free latin music events you won't want to miss out on. Global Cafe World Music Festival in the Distillery District with over 20 free concerts, starting on July 7-11th. Toronto Street Festival with latin concerts at Yonge & Bloor from July 9-11th. And to make my life even crazier, add Ibrahim Ferrer and the Salsa Team Canada Fundraiser on July 10th. How's that for a salsa music and dance marathon! And that's only the beginning... it just keeps going and going until the end of the month... Pssst... and so does our Discussion Forum... Check out the Cuban Music Discussion... And don't forget to enter to win tickets to Grupo Gale or Umoja! July 3, 2004 Congratulations to our winners of a pair of tickets to see Ibrahim Ferrer Christine Connelly Loren Maisels July 1, 2004 Hot Salsa around the World As it was our country's birthday today, and since I had a chance to relax in front of the computer -- I obviously got into TOsalsa update mode, and cleaned up all the outstanding mail we've had in the past 6 weeks! It never ceases to amaze me how many people surf, love to write and debate on music and dance. And there's so much to read... Dear TOsalsa has lots of readers who are looking for music, a ballroom dancer who took exception to Vanessa's article about ballroom dancers judging dance competitions, a dancer who doesn't like how our DJ's mix our music, and a reader even wrote wondering if anyone EVER puts up lists of the Top 10 Songs of Current Music, instead of what was popular in the 70's. Hmmm... a novel idea? Probably not... but in many ways, you really have to do your own research to find out all the latest new releases coming out... In the Discussion Forum, readers have started to hotly debate about cuban music again! Another reader berates Heidy again! And the list goes on and on... And for those who love Top 10 Salsa Song Lists -- we have two more from Korea and another from Miami, Florida - click here! July
1, 2004 June
26, 2004 Jun
23, 2004 Jun 20, 2004 4 weeks of why Salsa in TO is THE place to be... If you haven't checked my "What's Happening" section on the bottom right of this page, then you're going to miss out on 4 weeks of hot salsa in Toronto! Jun 15, 2004 What a difference a few TOsalsa days make... Ahhh... as I try to stick to my New Year's Resolution of non-salsa stuff, this summer is proving to be a challenge as there's more to do everday... So after a long non-stop day of work after a fun night of dancing at Babaluu's, I get an email that Grupo Gale from Colombia (aka a variation of Sonora Carruseles and Quinto Mayor because of their leader, Diego Gale), will be giving a concert in Toronto on July 15th, and in Montreal on July 16th; and we will be offering free tickets on our site very soon. And as I start wondering why those dates look so familiar, I realize that it's also the same weekend for Ritmo y Color at Harbourfront Centre which is free for the public! And then on Friday, June 25th, if you decide not to go to the Oscar D'Leon concert, you can decide to mingle and dance on the UofT Boat Cruise. June 14, 2004 Salsa Springing Fast into Summer... How time flies... it's hard to believe a month has flown by since I had a salsa birthday hangover, and so much has happened since then... And with all the new article updates that I put together... we'll save my stories for later in the week... So check out all the latest articles or features that I've finally found some time to post... Vanesa Stay of Latin Energy's article on "What Dance Competitions should all be about" My four page, full-colour review of Terracotta Warriors Tica from LA's review of the West Coast Salsa Congress  And
I keep on forgetting to remind everyone, incl. TO that it would be cool
to sign this guestmap so we can see really how many dancers we have here
and around the World... June 8, 2004 Congratulations goes out to the following winners for a pair of tickets to Terracotta Warriors! Farid Peiravian Luz Lim June 7, 2004 What Makes the World Go Round... How about weddings, babies and music! Did you know... International News 
JLo and
Marc Anthony (one of my favourite all-time salsa singers) got married
this past weekend! And he's just launched a new latin album, Amar
Sin Mentiras (Loving without Lies) that features JLo as a singer!Local Toronto News Congratulations goes out to... Salsa Wedding Bells Giovanni Torres of Los Salsamanos and Talina who tied the knot last month! Arthur Redublo, General Manager of United Salseros, and Maple of Grupo Sabroso upcoming nuptials at the beginning of July! Ivy and Javier of oursalsathing.com at the end of July! New Salsa Mamas! Karen Trujillo who had a baby boy a few months ago! Elizabeth Sadowska of Rhythm & Motion who had a baby boy named Shawn Bradley Driedger born June 6 at 7:56 p.m. weighing 8 lbs. 9 oz. June
3, 2004
May 29, 2004
May
27, 2004 May 24, 2004 Music via the Net... And here's a great tip for those of you who love to listen to music and/or prefer to watch music videos at your computer (like me!) while doing boring paperwork or clean-up... Like many of us, you didn't start your life by listening or dancing to salsa, so here's a great site to catch up on all those songs you've missed while you're dancing in the salsa clubs 24/7! My favourite non-salsa music... R&B! And if you you ever watch some of the dancers' choreography, you'll notice that we have some of those dance moves incorporated into our styling or shines... check out Launch Music Videos And for those of you who want to learn about all the styles of latin music... check out this website which has alot of different free DJ stations that have different latin themes, including classic salsa from the 70's, modern salsa, Reggaeton, bachata, merengue and more! May 22, 2004 Toronto Music Scene is heating up for the Summer! Where does one start? Is it the fact that we seem to have more live latin bands playing regularly in Toronto than ever before? Or that they are finally starting to come out with their own CD's, such as Cache and Cassava? Or how about the fact that Oscar D'Leon is coming to town on June 25 and Ibrahim Ferrer on July 10. Win Tickets! And for music and dance lovers, you can win tickets to the following upcoming events... A Latin Percussion Workshop with Ralph Irizarry from NYC talking about the clave! Ralph Irizarry and Timbalaye Concert at Lula Lounge Or for those of you who love to dance on 2, a chance to win a Congress Pass to the NY/NJ Salsa Congress in October! And for your reading pleasure, you'll find some interesting responses about cuban music in Dear TOsalsa and in the Discussion Forum. And how could I forget the 5 new Top 10 lists of songs from a DJ in Guelph! May 19, 2004 TOsalsa or Not TOsalsa... That is my question... sigh... it's been a busy year so far with salsa ups and downs, ebb and flow, partially due to my real job and all the silly salsa politics that should have gone out with high school! And what's worse, it even affects the mood on the dance floor if you're a true hardcore salsaholic -- which is why I pick and choose what nights I should try and get my salsa fix. But yesterday, even though I thought I didn't have the energy to go out to the clubs... I did something I hadn't done in ages -- I hit two salsa events in one night! Partially thanks to my web-hubby Ziv who I convinced to be the chauffeur of the evening... First Stop was the invitation only event at Lula Lounge. In case you haven't heard... "This Is Lula is a joint project between Canada's Latin groove label: MRP Music Group, and Lula Lounge, home of Toronto’s global music scene. Conceived by Radamés Nieves of MRP Music Group who has been nurturing the Latin music scene in Canada for decades, This is Lula is a CD series that captures the energy and vibe that characterizes an evening at the already legendary Lula Lounge. Volume 1 of This is Lula is Caché's "Blended," an irresistible collection of New York-inspired Latin grooves. With its roots in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Colombia, Caché entices us with an old-school sound that is reminiscent of the old masters Tito Puente, Willy Colon and Ruben Blades. "Blended" was recorded live off the floor in a studio, in order to successfully capture the energy of their music, in the style of vintage 70's salsa recordings. Caché is the perfect group to launch the series This is Lula, as Caché formed at Lula Lounge and has continued to perform there almost weekly for the past two years." I
had been so indecisive about going out after a long non-stop day at
work that we arrived only in time to catch the last 20 minutes of Cache's
performance. As usual, they consistently give what the audience loves
to hear and dance to... and we stayed a little longer to say "Hi"
and catch up with the movers and shakers of the music industry that
I haven't seen in 1 or 2 years... May 14, 2004 Thank You -- I think?!? A Big Thank You to everyone who came out on Tuesday, May 11th at Babaluu's and joined me in the supposedly impromptu celebrations... From what I could remember of it... and what my friends all told me, it was a fun night of socializing and dancing as many salsa regulars -- new and old generation came out to party... Also a special Thank You to Ana Machado for teaching something a little different... and with lots of passion... And check out all the updates to Dear TOsalsa, 3 new Top 10 Salsa Song Lists and the Discussion Forum... May 10, 2004 Ah Finally! No, not the pics that I just posted... thanks to Arthur... Whose Butt is it Anyways? Ana Machado's Party "Butt" the great summer weather that finally arrived... and yes, all the more reason to wear skimpy clothing tomorow night and for the guys to dress GQ... So for the girls, it's easy... no different than possibly what you saw at Rene's Dare to Wear Party, or just your typical "provocative" club wear versus just wearing casual jeans or track pants, the more popular clubwear these days... But for the salsa boys... how do you define GQ? And no, it doesn't mean you have to wear a suit -- although I'm a sucker for a guy in a great suit... So, to help explain it to the salsa boys, I actually tried to surf the net for examples... and found these sites which may help you decide on what to wear... 1. I doubt I'll see any of this gear in the clubs on Tuesday night, but one can only wish (wink wink)... click here! 2. And to actually find a site with men's fashion... not! They just don't exist... so all I can say is, just look "good enough to eat" and all the salsa girls will be happy and so will my cameras. So for those of you who show up tomorrow night for the "action", it sounds like everyone's getting ready to party... and for those who can't make it, well, you can be sure there will be enough pics posted later on in the week... There was an article published last week on salsa in the Toronto Star, click here! May 3, 2004 Taurus Birthday Fever! Yikes! It's already May and we're already into full Taurus Salsa Bday Fever... Awhile back, I started a salsa birthday survey to see which sign was the most salsaholic, and to date, it is still Taurus (15), followed close by Scorpios and Leos (9 each), then Virgos (8) and Libra (7). And thanks to Arthur and Ziv, I've got over 100 pics of Rene's Dare to Wear Salsa Party. Unfortunately I couldn't make it as my head cold got the best of me this weekend as I was trying to recover from last week's frenzy. How did I get the pics so quickly? Well, it seems that no one was very camera-shy and Arthur and Ziv couldn't wait to send me the pics to show me what I missed... I also got emails and voicemails from various dance-friends that I was considered "missing in action" by many as it seems they were curious as to what I would "Dare to Wear"; and after viewing some of the pics, it seems I might have had a run for the money OR possibly outdone them all... After having a good laugh looking at what a great time everyone had, and of course regretting that I just wasn't well enough to attend; if I were giving out prizes, I would have to praise the following: 1. Roxanne and Allan -- the perfect S&M couple; 2. Michelle, Rene's wife, for having the perfect hair dressed all in black and with the appropriate boots; 3. Albena for her short red skirt, fishnets and boots; 4. Renee for wearing one of the few skanky outfits that was not black; and 5. Arthur for getting the dancers to pose the way I would want them to (although I might have been more creative) if I had the chance. But who gave Rene that skimpy black thong to wear over his pants!?! Hmmm... definitely a birthday theme tradition Rene should carry into next year (Dare to Wear -- not the underwear!) and possibly ensure more people get dressed up (especially the potential boy-toys)... And in case most of you are confused (thanks to Arthur), my Taurus Bday Bash isn't until next Tuesday, May 11th at Babaluu's, and the dress code calls for GQ for the boys, and Provocative for the Girls as I haven't had a salsa bday bash for a few years now as I was always out of town... so I'm ensuring there's salsa video footage and photos for my salsa archives; and Ana Machado has agreed to do a special Guaguanco dance class instead of her usual Beginner Salsa Class at 9 pm. There's no cover charge, Tapas are $5 until 11 pm, and the drinks are $5 all night long. What more can you ask for? And what will I be wearing? Well, you'll just have to be there to find out... April 25, 2004 What Makes a Great Social Dancer? OR "Salsa is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get" Wow, it was an interesting week of dancing as I was fighting a cold, and sometimes dancing helped and sometimes it didn't... and it was interesting talking to dancers this past week about how salsa can bring your mood up when you're either tired or feeling stressed when you think you will have a crappy night of dancing; and then sometimes it really doesn't work as an antidote. It's that unique combination of whether you get your fix while dancing that night, whether you feel a positive or negative energy from the club and its dancers, whether the DJ plays the right songs to get you in the mood to dance, and whether you feel you're connecting to the dancers; OR it's one of those nights that it doesn't matter who you're dancing with, how great the songs are, you seem to not be able to execute the moves the way you want them to or another way to describe it -- your body just doesn't seem to be "on fire" no matter how much you will your mind to it. Another subject I always like to remind dancers about, is connecting with your partner. Dancers who are perceptive can always feel your energy, such as whether you're in a mood to really dance, if you're one of those dancers who will only dance with your "preferred list" OR if you always pay attention to your partner. For the leader and the follower, it's important to pay attention -- not only to connect on a personal level with your love of the song, but to also not miss hand connections. This week we had a dancer in town from DC who's only been dancing about two years, dances on 1 or 2, and has already been to congresses and performed with performance groups; and he reminded me of alot of the things I've been analyzing over the past few months as to what makes a great social dancer. While having a couple of dances with him, you can feel how much he loves dancing and I used him as a comparison to some of the other dancers whom I consider great social dancers. To clarify, there are different levels of great social dancing -- from those who you love to watch and dance with, to those who are not into advanced turn patterns, but because they project their love of the music and pay the right amount of attention to their partner, you still have a great dance with them. I even have my own list of preferred partners with whom I prefer to dance to various styles of salsa songs, such as Romantica, super-fast songs or the classic 70's, if I get to choose my partner. While talking with him, he prefers to have a dance with dancers from all levels -- whether beginner, intermediate or advanced, on 1 or on 2. Brownie Point -- something I learned when I started to go out regularly social dancing. It gives you a gauge about your level of dance technique and you learn to improve from experience on how to "react" to whatever your partner is doing -- whether they know how to dance on time, what do you do when they don't have their hands in the right place for the next move, etc. Also, because he had his own unique style and showed his love of the music through his dancing, his dance style made an impression on me and inspired me to think more about what makes a great social dancer; and also reminding me that it's always great to have some "fresh blood" in the clubs from other cities to remind dancers that you can never stop learning about the style and technique of salsa dancing. On this subject, I know I've only skimmed a little piece and there will be more as I continue my research while social-dancing in the clubs. Stay tuned over the next few weeks as there's lots to post and write about as I find some time in my crazy schedule.
April 22, 2004 April 19, 2004 Your chance to Vote! OK, I just couldn't resist, and it's almost a tradition for me... I've just posted Reader's Polls for your favourite Top 3 Amateur and Professional Couples to win this Friday at Capitol Event Theatre... Let the games begin... or OH the pressure! It's going to be interesting to see how well you the readers will place the Top 3 in each category, if you are being totally honest! But then again, it all comes down to who has the best routine and the cleanest execution... Good Luck to all the competitors! Amateur - Professional April 18, 2004 Photo Salsa Mania... Yes, I've finally posted my pics... 1. The first Mambo Tribe Student Group Performance at Acrobat; 3. The photos from the Amateur and Professional Semi-Finals of the Toronto Salsa Competition at Acrobat; and 1. A surprise birthday party for Roxanne, a volunteer of United Salseros, who had her first salsa birthday here in Toronto -- we all wanted to make it a memorable night for her to remember... Enjoy! And about dancing in Toronto -- it's been an action jam-packed month full of nights where I needed to let loose and dance after a long, intense day at work; and now that the warmer weather is kicking in, more dancers are coming out. It kind of reminds me a little more of the old days a few years back... where there were usually more guys you know than girls out, so you got to dance non-stop almost all night long or as much as you wanted until you got your fix. And after getting that fix, you couldn't wait to experience another great night of dancing. It's been building up so much each week that finally at Acrobat this past Friday, the energy level of the room and the dancers was where it should be. This is one of my favourite times of the year for salsa dancing, when dancers at all levels come out to check out the competition and at the same time get energized and dance up a storm before and after the contest. And what makes these nights so memorable? Well, it's very rare these days to get all the more experienced dancers who used to go out regularly in one location; and when you do, it makes it a great night to see them in action or to have a dance with them. While some people seem to think that watching all these dancers are a turn-off. In the old days, if you were new to the salsa scene -- watching experienced or advanced dancers was a source of inspiration to the level you would like to aspire to. When you watch dancers in competition, you are seeing one side of their capabilities. In a social setting, when everyone's in a mood to really let loose -- that's when you see or get to experience some of the best dancing or some of the most playful. The ultimate level to achieve while dancing is being able to flirt, play and do whatever your heart fancies to the music with your partner while dancing salsa -- whether it's throwing in an exaggerated trick they don't expect, accidentally coming up with a new move, or just doing some basics with attitude for a few bars. But on the other side, there's the regular not-so-experienced dancers who also make my night enjoyable because you feel their love of the music while they dance -- it's not just about the moves. April 15, 2004 It was the Best of Times... It was the Worst of Times... Why is it the Best? Because when you decide to go out to the clubs with no expectations of enjoying yourself -- that is when you can have the Best of Times and you decide you can never give up your love of the dance and music; and I can't wait to write up those "things that make you go hmm..." when I have a little more time. What is it the Worst? When everything you ever dreamed about or believed gets shattered by negative people... not worth another thought in the bigger picture... but as a friendly reminder to everyone... "Keep salsa alive and never let it die... Remember to have at least one dance with someone you don't know -- one day they may be your own dance inspiration. And learn to work together -- that's the only way salsa will live on forever... " And yes, I still have to post the pics from the Amateur Semi-Finals on Tuesday, but here's who qualified in no particular order... Wayne and Ann Mike and Sharon Vanessa and Neilson Patsy and Les Diane and Leon Congratulations and good luck in the upcoming Finals... and this Friday, it's going to be an extremely busy night at Acrobat due to the Professional Semi-Finals... and the who's who will be there in full force, including me! April 12, 2004 For the love of music and dance... Yes, it's been awhile, as things have been super crazy-busy over the past few months at my real job; and what spare time I have for salsa during the week, I've been squeezing in some salsa night hours to replace the daytime gym hours I've missed; but sigh, it's not quite the same workout until I hit Babaluu's last Thursday night which was jam-packed due to the long Easter weekend. Imagine getting there before 10 pm, and standing, mingling and/or dancing almost non-stop for almost 5 hours! One of the few nights I could say I had to limp home in a long time! And as the weeks fly by, I didn't realize that my letters were also backed up... so check out some interesting emails in Dear TOsalsa. And in that pile, we also have three new Top 10 Song Lists: 1 - Salsa from Sydney, AU 2 - Bachata and Reggaeton from LA! And for those who love to surf music charts, you will enjoy this link: Latinosunidosonline.com And if you want to see an interesting latin jazz timeline, click here! April 1, 2004 Happy April Fools Day! This has been in the works for the past few months, and thanks to various instructors and dancers in the City of Toronto, I present to you a two-part special Dance Performance that you just can't miss out on... Now who says Toronto salsa dancers can't work together to have a little fun! And thanks to them, I even had fun editing and putting the clips together... March 30, 2004 Less thans 2 days to go... Don't forget to check out TOsalsa.com on April Fool's Day anytime after midnight on April 1st... as there will be a special 2 part video screening you won't want to miss... And who qualified for this week's preliminaries? Amateur Patsy and Les Vanessa and Nielsen Professional Bong and Ana Roberto and Marie-Josee Paul and Madelen And they've extended the preliminaries for one more week, so next Tuesday is your last chance to qualify. March 28, 2004 Spring into Salsa!?! It just seems like yesterday when I came back from sunny Brazil to a bitterly cold winter in Toronto... and now I can start to look forward to wearing all those skimpy little tops I brought back, along with some funky shoes (which were NOT made for dancing). And it's also hard to believe that in two weeks, TOsalsa will officially be 4 years old! Have I been writing and updating this site for that long?!? Well, if I can squeeze some extra time, I was planning to go back into my digi-photo gallery and pick out all my favourite pics from the past two years... but I would hate to think how many photos I would have to go through to pick my favourites as I have gone shutterbug-crazy in the past two years... and have easily taken over 3-4,000 photos. On some of the larger salsa congresses, I have posted 800-1,000 pics in the past -- so maybe that's an understatement. There's also a bunch of videoclips from various congresses I haven't had time to edit just yet, but in the meantime, I should have a special little treat ready and waiting for April Fool's Day... with a little help from some salseros. And before I forget to mention it, I've reposted the United Salseros column as some readers seemed to think United Salseros was in a feud with TOsalsa... that is not why I removed it. So I've reposted it with some revisions so I don't get any more harassment emails (not from United Salseros), but from other individuals which I can't name; nor do I have the time to waste arguing with such negative individuals. But on a more positive note, I am looking forward to dancing during the week and April is going to be a event-filled month. Just check out my What's Happening section on the right. March 25, 2004 Spring is here! Finally, everything's starting to warm up... and this week at Acrobat was no exception... Click here for the latest pics and there's plenty of room for more competitors... Amateur: Leon and Diane Wayne and Ann Professional: Roland and Gorete Remember, you can email or let us know in person, any updates, feedback or suggestions on what you would like to read. |
Highlights
of Toronto's Salsa 2004
Let's Show Our Support to Albert Torres!
Here's some