1. How did you feel about being part of the Show?

Abbey: It was one of the biggest thrills of my life without a doubt!

2. Would you do it again?

Abbey: Absolutely!

3. What would you change, if anything?
Abbey: I'd put the Mambo Mamas and The Papas in more numbers, of course! LOL.

4. How long have you been dancing? Is it your full-time job?

Abbey: Is it your full-time job? I've been dancing since I was 3 yrs old and mambo for 12 years. I work as an administrative assistant at Fred Astaire Dance Studio.

5. Who did you train with in the past?

Abbey: Eddie and Maria Torres

6. Do you have any other types of training (i.e. jazz) that you utilize in your
choreography?

Abbey: I did 10 years of tap and used to pop-lock and wave, but haven't incorporated it into any routines per se.

7. What was the background or inspiration for your piece?

Abbey: When I first started The Mambo Mamas in 1993, a guy I knew came to me and said, "I hope you won't be insulted but there's this song by Tito Puente called "Fat
Mama..." Well, as soon as he told me I knew we HAD to do it!!! I took it to 3 people who all said it was too slow until Stacy Lopez finally heard it and said, "This song is PERFECT for you girls."

8. Where do you see Mambo/Salsa in the next 10 years.

Abbey: I believe it will continue to develop to the point that you'll see mambo dance companies on the level of say Alvin Ailey or The Martha Graham Dance Co. Hopefully,
mambo dancers will be able to make a living at their craft and will be able to perform on a regular basis in dance theatres such as The Joyce Theatre or Lincoln Center in NYC.

9. To help Toronto and other dancers who learned to dance Salsa "on 1", can you give me your thoughts on why you prefer dancing "on 2".

Abbey: There is a completely different feel to dancing "on 2." Unfortunately, on 1 dancers can never understand this unless they give themselves between 3-6 months of
ONLY dancing on 2. This can be difficult in a place where it's hard to find on 2 partners. Once you finally "feel" the 2, you will know what we mamboheads are talking about. I have lots of fun dancing on 1 or 3 or 4, but there is something special about the feel of the 2 that you can only get through repetition until it becomes part of your SOUL.

10. Anything you'd like to add that I didn't think of.

Abbey: Being part of the original cast of Latin Madness was a great honor. Nelson and Carlos made a dream come true for themselves and for all of us!