Salsa with Tito Garcia at Cafe Cocomo, salsa dance SF, San Francisco salsa dancing

MAMBO NIGHT WITH TITO GARCIA

Y SU ORQUESTRA INTERNACIONAL

LIVE SALSA WITH TITO GARCIA Y SU ORQUESTA INTERNACIONAL

this Saturday May 31st at Cafe Cocomo.

Doors open at 7:30pm
Salsa Lesson with Salsa by Jake at 8pm

DJ LUIS MEDINA FROM “KPFA RADIO” at 9pm

Cover Charge $20 at the door
COME EARLY AND RECIEVE A
COMPLEMENTARY DRINK TICKET BEFORE 10PM!

About Tito Garcia:

Ernesto “Tito” Garcia has been playing music professionally since 1971. During these last 20 or so years he has experienced the incredible and thoroughly inspiring evolution of the West Coast Salsa scene in the Bay Area. “Tito Garcia y su Orquesta Internacional” has taken full advantage of the multi-cultural or “international” array of musicians in this area and thus the name of “Internacional”. “Tito Garcia y su Orquesta Internacional” plays Salsa in the traditional format of the pioneers of this music and adds their own West Coast “tinge”.

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Women want men who can dance, salsa dancing SF, San Francisco salsa dance

THE MAGNETISM OF DANCING

Famous Male Dancers:

So just to give you some proof. Here are famous men who dance, that attract serious female attention. These guys can really move.

Fred Astaire
Elvis
Michael Jackson
Justin Timberlake
Usher
Ricki Martin

Grooming Tips for Men:

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Orchestra Baobab CD Release Party, salsa dance Oakland, SF salsa dancing

Orchestra Baobab CD Release Party at Yoshis

Yoshi’s Oakland 510 Embarcadero West Tel:(510)238-9200

June 7-9th

About Orquestra Baobab:

Formed in Dakar, Senegal in 1970 by saxophonist Baro N’Diaye and bassist Sidathe Ly, Orchestra Baobab quickly became one of the world’s most innovative and important musical ensembles. The group’s music resides where Afro-Cuban and Portuguese styles collide with Congolese rumba, highlife, calypso, and American soul. Dakar, one of the world’s great port cities, has been exposed to an array of cultural influences for centuries—African, European, Latin American, Islamic. Orchestra Baobab combines these influences, pioneering a sound that is at once local and global. Their Yoshi’s dates are the first of a month-long North American summer tour to support the release of their new CD Made in Dakar (World Circuit/Nonesuch), of which the New York Times has written: “There isn’t likely to be a more buoyant or affirmative-sounding release this year than Made in Dakar by the legendary Orchestra Baobab.”

For more information visit the website www.yoshis.com

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Avance at Cafe Cocomos Thursday, salsa dance SF, San Francisco salsa dancing

LIVE SALSA WITH AVANCE

650 INDIANA STREET, SAN FRANCISCO, CA. 415-824-6910

Thursday May 29th at Cafe Cocomo.

Doors open at 7:30pm
Salsa Lesson with Salsa by Jake at 8pm
DJ FAB FREDDY at 9pm
Cover Charge $12 at the door

About Avance:

This sizzling 12 piece salsa ensemble had been turning heads with the supurb musicianship and a front-line of vocalists that sing and dance like a Motown review. They blend the finest in traditional and “nuevo” salsa with a mix of contemporary rhythm and blues. Band leader Karl Perazzo, who records and tours with Carlos Santana, has also performed with such artists as Prince, Mariah Carey, and La Mafia, just to name a few. They guys are not to be missed!

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SalsaCrazySF.com: 5/27/08 Salsa Dance Weekly Video Cast

SalsaCrazySF.com continues it's weekly salsa dance podcast, covering all the salsa dancing news for the San Francisco Bay Area. This week, new swing sextet, street fairs, salsa dance crazyness and review of salsa dancing last weekend, and more…

Send news and feedback to: salsacrazy@salsacrazy.com

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World Salsa Championships Broadcast, salsa dance SF, San Francisco salsa news

World Salsa Championships Broadcast

For the first time in the history ESPN2 network will Broadcast World Salsa Championships. Broadcasts will begin May 27, 2008 at 9:00pm EST.

ORLANDO, Florida, May 27 - The Salsa Seven Inc., the company producing the World Salsa Championships for the ESPN television network, today announced that the TV channel will begin broadcasting the most anticipated dance competition of the year.

Broadcast of the 3rd Salsa World Championships, held last December at Walt Disney World’s(R) Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, Florida. Dancers from 34 countries compete at this major international competition, where they put their artistic skills to the test in the following categories: Salsa Group, Salsa Individual, and Salsa Group/Cabaret. The championship’s grand prize is $80,000. Contestants from Australia, Colombia, Mexico, United States, Puerto Rico and Venezuela will be defending their titles.

On ESPN2, available nationwide in the U.S. to more than 90 million homes.

Event broadcasts will begin Tuesday, May 27,at 9:00 p.m. EST (eastern standard time);6:00 p.m. Pacific time.

For the third consecutive year, the Third Annual Salsa World Championships have been produced by Rob Beiner, famed producer and winner of 12 Emmy Awards. Beiner has produced or directed more than 2,000 sports and Entertainment broadcasts for leading TV networks such as ABC Sports, CBS, NBC Sports, USA Network and ESPN. Beiner considers salsa competitions to be a new sport or “dance-sport”, due to the rigors of training and the skills the dancers must demonstrate in order to qualify for a world event he calls “the Salsa Olympics”.

For more information, go to: www.worldsalsachampionships.com

The 4th Annual World Salsa Championships will be celebrated at the Disney’s Wide World of Sports from December 3-6,2008.

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New Swing Sextet Wednesday May 28, salsa dance Berkeley, SF salsa dancing

The New Swing Sextet Wednesday May 28th

live at the Shattuck Down Low

2284 Shattuck Ave. Berkeley CA Tel:(510)548-1159

salsa Dance Lessons 8:30-9:30 Doors 8pm, $10 cover / $5 students

About the New Swing Sextet:

A Product of of New York City and the excitement  and Turbulence of the sixties, the new swing Sextet made it’s professional debut performing  in the singer bowl at the last New York worlds fair in 1965. The Band has been a popular and innovative exponent of latin Jazz, Salsa and pop music for nearly four decades

Composed of vocals, piano, vibes, bass and Latin percussion, the original New Swing broke up in the late seventies after successfully recording, touring and doing all the hot club dates that the New York metropolitan area had to offer. In recent years most of the groups core members have reunited and have been performing with Mambo Negro the highly popular Latin jazz ensemble, which performs regularly in and around the tri-state area. However, you can’t buy or replace 40 years of history, and on special occasions the band performs as the New Swing. The New Swing offers an established and respected name with a sound from another era, which has been perfectly preserved and bottled for another generation to enjoy.

The band was part of a young crop (and new breed of aspiring Latin musicians) who grew up in the greater New York Metropolitan tri-state area with its rich ethnic mix and diverse inner-city culture, while at the same time growing up surrounded by the Latin music explosion happening in the region.

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Double Header at Jellys Sunday, salsa dance SF, San Francisco salsa dancing

Double Header at Jelly’s Havana Cafe

Sunday May 25th

Featuring: Mazacote AND Anthony Blea Y Su Charanga w/ DJ Waltdigz

doors open at 4:00

Bands start at 5.00 cover $15

About Anthony Blea Y Su Charanga:

Combining the traditional Charanga instrumentation (violin, flute) with a driving horn section, Anthony Blea y su Charanga will satisfy any true music lover’s fantasy. Complimenting Anthony’s prodigious skills are the finest musicians to be had in the Bay-Area.

About Mazacote:

Mazacote is the hard-swinging, old-school salsa group led by legendary percussionist Louie Romero, who came to fans’ attention as the longtime timbales player for famed salsero “El Cantante” Hector Lavoe.  Based in San Francisco, Mazacote plays a crowd-pleasing, high-energy mixture of classic salsa favorites and original latin jazz tunes.

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N’Klabe Live at Roccapulco, salsa music San Francisco, SF salsa bands

N’klabe Live Saturday May 24th at Roccapulco

Tickets $35.00

3140 Mission Street, 94110, San Francisco,CA

Salsa Lesson at 8:30pm

Check out this young group at Roccapulco.  They are burning up the hearts of young latin women everywhere with their smooth salsa beats. N’Klabe comes directly from Puerto Rico, but they are quickly on the rise here in the states.  Don’t miss this performance.

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Salsa Team Dance Competition at Roccapulco, SF salsa dance, San Francisc salsa dancing

Read the Review

“Team Salsa Dance Competition at Roccapulco”

First of all, a warning - one of the competition organizers announced a sad news: if the group participation remains at such a dismal level as we’ve seen last year and does not increase to the level of a true competition – 5,6 groups or more – this event that has been a staple for Bay Area salseros will not survive beyond its 10^th year.

The turnout is consistently good, dancers like this type of gatherings where they can strut their stuff and watch their peers, where their efforts can be showcased and appreciated. It’s not like we lack salsa groups – their proliferation has been highjacking social dance scene for years. So what’s the explanation for such a poor participation? Fear of competition? Insecurity?

Well, whatever the reason, it’s up to us if we want to keep this yearly event. Most dancers are reluctant to get down to the nitty-gritty of business and organize something so if someone is willing to do it for us, the least we could do is show up. Here’s something group leaders need to chew on: your group members crave strutting their stuff so if you don’t want to lose them, you must give them that chance. Besides, you get exposure and attract students. We’ve got 2 more years to drum up the participation or this competition is history.

There were more 4 groups in professional division this year. 2 were from the same Salsamania “family”, but all the competitors were so close it made for an interesting spectacle. If you followed the Bay Area salsa scene and this competition in particular, you would notice how the dancers’ skills improved over the years.

The amateur division, in particular, is breathing on the backs of their pro competitors. Last year’s winners, Son de Mania, already transferred to the pro division and eventually their junior team, Proecto Mania, might follow in their elders’ footsteps. Out of 3 participating amateur groups they placed second, but mistakes were made and it was a close call between them and Con Afinke, third place winners, who were much better than last year.

The first place winners, Ricasensacion, “inherited” and capitalized on their pro team’s winning routine that catapulted Ricasalsa to the top a few years ago. The secret? Choice of playful and original music that allowed for creative interpretation and acting. Ricasensacion’s performance was not as strong and technique wasn’t perfect, but this is a perfect example how the right music, originality and choreography can set you apart from the crowd.

That point became even more obvious in pro team competition. Bay area salseros have (had?) a tendency to value technique over everything else. Ricasalsa’s interesting routines were underappreciated due to poor styling and presentation. These opinions were successfully challenged and raised a few eyebrows this year when Salsamania’s tight routine with strong accents did not bring them the first place in spite of nearly perfect technique. Instead, Ricasalsa’s interpretation of an old Jewish song Bei mir bist du schön written in the 30s and then recorded by Don Swan & His Orchestra & Jack Costanzo, took the prize. It was reminiscent of old mambo dance routines of that era. If only they added puffy sleeves…J

Moreover, creative thinking allows to showcase the groups’ abilities and hide deficiencies. Too hard to synchronize perfectly? Create a non-synchronized routine. Don’t give your dancers something they can’t handle, a simple creative dance without mistakes is better than terror on the performers’ faces running through the song and afraid to stumble.

Son de Mania’s performance was case in point and Afinkao, who improved their performance skills, beat them to the third place.

So, for the first time, both amateur and pro division trophies belong to the Ricasalsa family – at least, until next year.

Maya SalsaLoca
San Francisco

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SalsaCrazySF.com: Memorial Day Update

Memorial Day Salsa Dancing Update: Big News for Saturday and Sunday of Memorial day Weekend.

Salsa Dance San Francisco, SalsaCrazySF.com Memorial Day Update including Nklabe at Roccapulco, Sunday at Jellys Double Header, and SalsaCrazy Salsa Cruise information. Salsa Dancing San Francisco Salsa News Update.

And don’t forget, the SalsaCrazy cruise has just been announced, and you’d better move fast. It’s awesome! See it all at,
http://www.SalsaCruiseCrazy.com

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Julio Bravo at Cafe Cocomo, salsa dance SF, San Francisco salsa dance

Julio Bravo at Cafe Cocomo

Thursday May 22nd

Salsa classes by Jake every Thursday 8:00-9:30pm

SalsabyJake’s Salsa classes are taught with all dancing levels in mind, going into important detail about the patterns taught, and the means for making them easy to dance, and attractive to watch. Classes are kept “light” too, so that even those dancers struggling with new moves for the first time feel at ease and remember that dancing is for fun!

About Julio Bravo:

Julio Bravo y su Orquesta Salsabor has been together for over five years now. This group of dynamic musicians has created a flavor all its own. Beyond the talent of each individual member is a unique blend of vocal style unlike other salsa bands in the Bay Area. Performing contemporary salsa hits, Merengue, Boleros and traditional classics, as well as Latin Jazz is becoming the leading trend, with weekly performances in the Bay Area’s major events, private parties and grand opening presentations.

 

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Salsa Wednesdays at The Down Low Lounge, Salsa Dance San Francisco, salsa dancing Berkeley

Live Salsa Music, Wednesdays at the

Shattuck Down Low Lounge

2284 Shattuck Ave. , Berkeley CA Tel: (510)548-1159   Open every day 8pm-2am

The Shattuck Down Low features an eclectic mix of live music and djs including Funk, Soul, Hip Hop, Reggae, Salsa, International, Rock and Dance. You will find two full bars, couches & booths to lounge, tables to chat, a large 20×40 hardwood dance floor, the best sound system this side of the bay, designated VIP private party areas, an elegant setting and a pool table too!

Wednesdays | Live Salsa Bands
Beginner lessons from 8-8:45
Intermediate lessons from 8:45-9:30
$10 cover, $5 w/student ID
$4 margarita special

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Cha Cha Cha Wednesday at Albertos Night Club, salsa dancing San Francisco,

Cha Cha Cha with Pantea @ Albertos Night Club

One of the most popular Latin dances, the Cha Cha Cha is an elegant and rhythmical dance that comes from Cuba. It began as a variation of the Mambo called ‘triple Mambo’. It has a triple beat & this is why it’s named Cha Cha Cha.
It’s fun, energetic, sexy and flirtatious, easily distinguished from other dances by its “Cha Cha Cha” rhythm.

About Pantea

Pantea has been a dance instructor, choreographer, and performer since 1999. She offers weekly classes, workshops, and coaching to an ever-increasing Salsa community.

Pantea’s style of Salsa combines elegance and grace with playfulness. Her training came from the best Salsa performers/teachers in the world. Her teaching technique is based on a clear understanding of the roles of the leader and follower. With her extensive experience and training, and an excellent attention to detail, she offers some of the best Salsa instruction available.

ALBERTO’S NIGHT CLUB
736 W. Dana St. * Mountain View
(650) 968-3007
Classes 7:30pm - 9:00pm
9:00pm General Dancing
$10

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Health Benefits of Salsa Dancing

No Wonder Dancing Feels So Good……

Music and dancing has been a part of many different cultures for centuries. It is part of celebration and entertainment. And whether they knew it or not, way back when the dancing began, there are numerous amazing health benefits. Now that the American population is facing a major obesity epidemic, health benefits from dancing is something that should be taken a closer look at.

The Health Benefits of Salsa Dancing

Not only is dancing an exceptional way to let loose and have fun, but it also provides some terrific benefits for your health.

In fact, Mayo Clinic researchers reported that social dancing helps to:

* Reduce stress
* Increase energy
* Improve strength
* Increase muscle tone and coordination

Dancing

Dancing the night away can burn more calories per hour than riding a bike or swimming.

And whether you like to kick up your heals to hip hop, salsa or country, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute says that dancing can:

* Lower your risk of coronary heart disease
* Decrease blood pressure
* Help you manage your weight
* Strengthen the bones of your legs and hips

Dancing is a unique form of exercise because it provides the heart-healthy benefits of an aerobic exercise while also allowing you to engage in a social activity.

The amount of benefit you get from dancing depends on, like most exercises, the type of dancing you’re doing, how strenuous it is, the duration and your skill level.

Salsa Dancing

* Builds endurance and stamina
* Helps with weight loss
* Relieves stress
* Helps you release toxins via sweating
* May help lower blood pressure and improve cholesterol levels
* Can lead to a reduced heart rate over time

Dancing Off Those Calories

How many calories will you burn while dancing? That depends on the type of dancing. Here’s a range of some of the most popular varieties, based on a 150-pound person, per hour:

* Swing dancing: 235 calories/hour
* Ballroom dancing: 265
* Square dancing: 280
* Ballet: 300
* Belly dancing: 380
* Salsa dancing: 420+
* Aerobic dancing: 540+

Mental Benefits of Dancing

Dancing is a unique form of exercise because it provides the heart-healthy benefits of an aerobic exercise while also allowing you to engage in a social activity. This is especially stimulating to the mind, and one 21-year study published in the New England Journal of Medicine even found dancing can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia in the elderly.

In the study, participants over the age of 75 who engaged in reading, dancing and playing musical instruments and board games once a week had a 7 percent lower risk of dementia compared to those who did not. Those who engaged in these activities at least 11 days a month had a 63 percent lower risk!

Interestingly, dancing was the only physical activity out of 11 in the study that was associated with a lower risk of dementia. Said Joe Verghese, a neurologist at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and a lead researcher of the study, “This is perhaps because dance music engages the dancer’s mind.”

Verghese says dancing may be a triple benefit for the brain. Not only does the physical aspect of dancing increase blood flow to the brain, but also the social aspect of the activity leads to less stress, depression and loneliness. Further, dancing requires memorizing steps and working with a partner, both of which provide mental challenges that are crucial for brain health.

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Carnaval San Francisco 2008, salsa dance San Francisco, SF salsa dancing

Carnaval 2008 Sunday May 24th & 25th

It’s time for one of the city’s most spectacular traditions! Carnaval San Francisco showcases the very best of Latin American and Caribbean cultures and traditions with a diverse array of food, music, dance and artistry.
The Festival draws hundreds of thousands of people for two days of dancing Salsa, Samba, Reggae, Tango, Hip- Hop, Merengue, Calypso, Cha Cha Cha, Cumbia, and Mambo into the evening. Food vendors offer traditional delicacies, while others sell crafts native to the Carnaval countries of their heritage. Giant stages sparkle with continuous entertainment throughout the day.
On Sunday morning, May 25, the Carnaval Grand Parade starts at 9:30am. It begins on the corner of 24th and Bryant streets, where it will proceed west to Mission Street. From there, the parade heads north on Mission down to 17th Street, where it will turn east and flow into the festival area.

Carnaval Festival

Saturday May 24th 2008-8am to Sunday May 25th - 5pm

Carnaval Grande Parade

Sunday May 25th 2008, 9:30am - 1pm

For more information visit the website www.carnavalsf.com

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SalsaCrazySF.com Salsa Dance VideosCast, 5_20_08 SF Salsa

Edition: 5-20-08. Here it is, the San Francisco Salsa Dance Videocast for the week of 5-20-2008. What’s going on this week? Fro Glas Kat, to the Salsa Dance Troupe Competition, to the Carnaval Kick off, here’s the salsa dancing news ya’ need to know. Check it out! As always, submit news and feedback to: salsacrazy@salsacrazy.com

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Willy Tores & Marco Bermudez Cafe Cocomo, salsa dancing San Francisco, SF salsa dance

Cafe Cocomo is Proudly presents
Direct From New York
World Famous Grammy Award Winning Soneros
Willy Tores & Marco Bermudez
from the Spanish Harlem Orchestra!

Live at Café Cocomo

Saturday June 7th, 2008
Doors open at 7:30pm
a Salsa Dance Lesson with SalsaByJake at 8pm
DJ Ivette “La Coqui” Fuentes will be spinning your
favorite Salsa, Merengue, Bachata & Reggaeton
hits! Advance tickets are only $25 each

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Salsa Sunday w/ Avance at Jelly’s, salsa dancing San Francisco, SF salsa dance

Avance Live at Jelly’s Havana Cafe

Sunday May 18th

4:30 pm-9:00pm

Cover $10.00 21 and over

(AAH-VAAN-CEH) v. Ahead of contemporary thought; the act or process of moving forward.

This is just one of many descriptions used to define this new 13-piece salsa ensemble people have come to know as Avance. Led by Carlos Santana percussionist/musical director Karl Perazzo and co-founder/vocalist Armando Cordoba, and featuring four electrifying bilingual singers, a sizzling horn section and one of the best rhythm sections on the West Coast, Avance delivers a new and unique sound that crosses language barriers and ignites the dance floor. Hailing from Central America, vocalists Luis Morales, Jeff Cordoba, Jimmy Flores and Armando Cordoba bring their own individual style, enriching each song with its own personality. Their rich vocals and exhilarating dance show leave all audiences wanting more! Avance’s musical productions combine and fuse all different styles of salsa including Puerto Rican, Cuban and Colombian. Add R&B and pop to the mix, and you’ve got yourself a group with diversity and innovation, yet familiar to the ear and, more importantly, to the soul.

When you experience Avance you’re guaranteed three things: sizzle, style and, most of all, swing!

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Salsa Dance Fridays Jillian’s, Salsa dancing San Francisco, salsa events SF

Salsa Dancing Friday Night at Jillian’s Nightclub

San Francisco

Head over to Jillians Nightclub this friday for a great night of salsa dancing to kickstart the summer.  Jillians is normally a billiard sports bar, but they open thier doors for salsa dancers every Friday with a good size dance floor, good drinks, and bar food.

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