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Europe

Everything you need to know about tarraxa

Tarraxa in Europe

It is amazing the number of African genres that have gained strength at this time. This can be seen in this in the huge amount of events that include these rhythms in Europe, which speaks of an important evolution in the musical ear of those who often did not listen to these styles. 

One of those many rhythms is tarraxa, which has begun to play a leading role in dance classes taught in the Old Continent. These classes have managed to gather a large public and very interested in learning to dance genres different from those that they tend to listen to. 

What is tarraxa? 

tarraxa and traditional kizomba
interracial couple dancing tarraxa

Many people define tarraxa as a very modern way of dancing kizomba, in which the corporal expressions and the rapport between the members of the couple are the two most important details in the dance. This dance is full of sensuality and feelings, something that is not seen very often in more traditional versions of kizomba. 

One of the major complications of traditional kizomba is the excessive softness and slowness of many of its rhythms, so the dancers simply do not know how to proceed sometimes. This is also the reason why many would find this African genre a bit boring and choose to look for other styles that are a little more cheerful and lively. Here is where other slightly more intense modalities come to life, such as tarraxa or batida. 

When listening to songs based on this dance, it is possible to realize that the rhythm is very marked, allowing the dancers to have more flow and security in their movements. This and other new versions of kizomba derived from the need to try something different, modern and much more intense. Not everyone tastes calm and tranquility in the same way! 

Expension of tarraxa through Europe and other latitudes 

Tarraxa in the Old Continent
Couple dancing tarraxa closely

As already mentioned, tarraxa is closely related to kizomba, while many have dared to say that the first is nothing more than a more modern version of the second. Well, kizomba originates in Angola with the mixture of a rhythm known as semba with another one called kilipanda. If we have already said that tarraxa was born as a consequence of the modernization of kizomba, that means that we can conclude that tarraxa is also of Angolan origin. This makes its voyage around the world even more interesting. 

After kizomba arrived in Europe through Portugal and other countries, this well-known genre has been intermingled with other more local rhythms as a consequence of the adaptation of the rhythms to the ears of its new audience. This resulted in the creation of new variants such as tarraxa, passada, saida, ventoinha, and so on. 

The specific case of tarraxa is not very different from that of other musical styles from Africa. It has simply undergone modifications of all kinds to the point at which it resulted in what is now. Nowadays, it is one of the most present genres in events held in Europe and other parts of the world. 

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What makes sensual bachata so popular

Why sensual bachata is popular

With the passage of time, music has undergone such a big transformation that it looks no longer as what it was a few decades ago. Just as new musical genres with very modern rhythms have emerged lately, the old ones have continuously adapted to consumers’ changing tastes of this era. Such is the case of bachata, which has progressively succumbing to the sensual fashion that has spread to a good part of current genres. 

Nowadays sensual bachata has gone on to become one of the favorite musical styles for both young and not so young. The best proof of this is that each day there are more radio stations and nightclubs that include in their repertory this music to appeal to the public who support it. 

What has made sensual bachata become so famous? 

This genre from the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico has always stood out for its waste of romanticism and sensuality, which has made it very famous in the rest of the world. One of the most important characteristics of bachata is the deep connection that should exist between the members of the dance couple in order to infect the audience with magnificent energy and an intimacy out of this world. 

Sensual bachata has become one of the favorite variants for most people, which has expanded enormously thanks to a large number of dancers who have dedicated themselves to seeking new horizons and setting aside traditional styles from previous years. This style has had plenty of promoters, which was the reason it has become so popular in a pretty quick period of time. 

The role of women in sensual bachata 

Why sensual bachata is so popular
Young couple dancing sensual bachata

Without any doubt, women have acquired a leading role in bachata in recent years as it is the female part of the dance that performs the most sensual movements of the choreography. On top of this, there are a more or less intense touch of eroticism and a very vivid interpretation of the music to give the result that the dancers are looking for. After professional dancers started adding these ingredients to their choreographies, there was the emergence of a set of rhythms that reinvented itself and won the support of the public. 

One of the reasons why sensual bachata has gained so much popularity lately is the role played by women during the dance. 

This genre shows us a woman who should be able to take advantage of all her femininity and be very sure of herself at all times. Every part of her body must move to the rhythm of the music without neglecting the load of eroticism needed at any time. 

The best of all this is that every day there are more and more women who want to bring out this sensual side that all women have, so they choose to enroll in dance classes where they are taught to dance these types of rhythms in a professional manner or not so much. A large part of these classes is aligned toward learning delicate body movements, cadence, and much more. 

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From Italy Albert Giorgio Giovanni DJ. Lindo Salsa and Bachata

Albert Giorgio Giovanni Fiorentu Dj Lindo is an Italian and Latin music producer (Salsa and Bachata).

Albert Giorgio Giovanni Fiorentu aka Albert Lindo or DJ. Lindo is an Italian DJ. and producer of Latin music (Salsa and Bachata).

Born in Udine, Italy in 1989, he started his career as a dancer in 1997.

In 2008 he graduated as a dance teacher.  In 2011 he moved to Austria (until today) and in 2014 he started working as a dance teacher at the school Conny & Dado in Graz.

In the same year he started his career as a DJ and in 2017 as a producer.

Dj Lindo is an Italian DJ and producer of Latin music (Salsa and Bachata).
Albert Giorgio Giovanni Fiorentu to Dj Lindo producer of Latin music (Salsa and Bachata).

In 2019 (after the first 2 unfortunate productions) the first world production “The Phantom” is released, helped by the pianist and composer Marco Ronca.

In 2020 he obtained his second diploma as a dance teacher and also launched his new single “No Te Detengas” always with Marco and in collaboration with several recognized artists.

Between the end of 2020 and the beginning of 2021, 4 new productions will be ready, a bachata and three salsas (a romantic salsa, a hard salsa and a Cuban salsa) with the collaboration of many recognized artists.

Currently Dj Lindo is part of the record label located in Milan (Italy) Alosibla Music Group and Downbridge Publishing, which each year presents the famous compilation.

Albert Giorgio Giovanni Fiorentu aka Albert Lindo or Dj Lindo is an Italian DJ and producer of Latin music (Salsa and Bachata)
Italian DJ and Latin music producer (Salsa and Bachata)

“SALSA IT”

Did you know the origin of the DJ…

The 9th of March is World DJ Day, thanks to the initiative of the ‘Worl DJ Fund’ and the NGO ‘Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy’. But, do you really know the history of these music mixing artists?

For 16 years this day has been celebrated as a tribute to this sector of music that is so in vogue in our time, which take advantage of his ‘birthday’ to donate what they charge these days to charitable causes.

The initiative was carried out in 2002 by the ‘Worl DJ Fund’ and the NGO ‘Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy’, and has been active for over a decade. But the history of the DJs has a few more years.

For those who still do not know what is behind the acronym DJ, a ‘disc jockey’ is a musician who creates, selects and plays before an audience music of his own or composed by other artists. There are several types, including radio and club DJs.

The first DJ in history

It was Ron Diggins, a British radio engineer who in 1947 built the famous Diggola
Ron Diggins first ever DJ

It was Ron Diggins, a British radio engineer who in 1947 built the famous Diggola, considered the first “mixing table” in the history of music. This home-made portable table included two turntables, lights, microphones, an amplifier and a dozen speakers. And it was made on a coffin wood base.

If we mention Ron Diggins, many of us won’t know who I’m talking about, because this British and radio engineer is considered the first DJ in history.

Many others before Diggins moved in with their records and equipment to cheer on the soldiers but he was the creator of “La Digolla”.

He himself built the first mixer in 1945, although it wasn’t until 1947 that the invention became official.

It was a portable table made of wood, worthy of any party room, it included two plates, lights, microphones, an amplifier and a dozen speakers.

As a curiosity, the wood with which Diggins made the first mixing table in history was casket wood.

Six weeks was the time it took the engineer to build the famous portable table.

Ron Diggins’ dream was to travel all over the UK with his van and “La Digolla”, so he could play his favorite songs.

This pioneer during his professional career was severely criticized by countless musicians who did not approve that the DJ would mix songs without their consent.

Diggins retired in 1995 after playing at 20,000 parties.

In his hard beginnings, traveling kilometers and full of criticism, he would never imagine what he had done, he had invented a profession. A job that would be paid for, more than he could have thought.

The first Disc Jockey in history, died at the age of 90 and in his long life he made 6 “Diggiolas” Some of them were auctioned off at more than $40,000.

“I haven’t invented anything, I just put the same things to a different use, that’s all.

On his 90th birthday, the first disc jockey confessed that, when he started to tour cities and towns with his invention, he received hundreds of criticisms from musicians who did not approve of him mixing their songs without their consent. Diggins retired in 1995 after playing at 20,000 parties.

The big DJ explosion

In the 60s and 70s, with the expansion of the discotheques in Europe and the USA, the creation of a specific technology for this figure of the music began, like the mixer ‘CMA-10-2DL mixer’. It was also the time of the birth of ‘hip-hop’ and ‘disco’ music.

In the 80’s we get the first big names, considered cult DJs, as Larry Levan who played in the ‘Paradise Garage’ in New York, or Frankie Knuckles, with its mixtures of ‘disco’ and ‘synth pop’ led to music ‘house’ in the ‘Warehouse Club’ in Chicago. At the same time, in Detroit, techno was born.

They were years of great impact for the DJs, who saw the birth of their first magazine specifically for professionals, the ‘DJ Times’ in 1988 and held for the first time an exclusive event for DJs of electronic music dance, the ‘Winter Music Conference’ in 85 in Florida.

The DJs of the digital era

The arrival of the ‘rave’ movement in the 90s radically changed the image of DJs and these artists began to project themselves as superstars or ‘Diva DJs’ who establish particular sounds and brands.

These new ‘DJs’ have arrived to our days, taking advantage of the technological innovations of the digital era, and there we have famous names such as the French David Guetta, Armin Van Buuren, Tiesto or Bob Sinclar, who travel the world with their mixes.

Source: https://culturizando.com/

 

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What zouk is and how its origin was

Zouk and its origins

It is incredible to see how far certain rhythms and dances from all over the world have become popular in Europe.  One of them has been zouk, which can be defined as a pretty fast musical style which is traced directly back to the French Antilles, mostly on the islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique.

Zouk was viewed as only one sensual dance practiced by African slaves in the less favored areas of the continent at the turn of the 21st century.

In fact, some think that this genre originated in Cape Verde and spread throughout the Caribbean thanks to the slaves were moved into that part of the world. 

As can be seen, the history of zouk is not very different from that of many rhythms of this type that were exported all over the world from Africa. As well as other genres, zouk was merged with other local styles to get as a result a set of sounds that is more relevant than ever. 

How is the origin of zouk? 

Two people dancing zouk with a dark background
Two people dancing zouk with a dark background

According to the earliest records of the word zouk, it was the band Kassav that made this term popular during the 80’s decade, which means happiness or move with force. Supposedly, the rhythm was introduced by a large group of Haitian musicians in the above-mentioned decade. 

Since the 90’s decade, zouk began to diminish in popularity, but this rough patch did not last too long. When it arrived in Latin America, more specifically in Brazil, the genre started to mingle with local sounds and to adapt to the many shadesof lambada. That was the reason why zouk began to be known as lambada zouk, French lambada, among other nice monikers. 

So great was the rapport between zouk and lambada that they gave rise to a whole new mix known as lambazouk. While both rhythms appear to have separate origins, the truth is that these two genres have much more in common than you think. 

How to dance zouk 

Zouk and African slaves
Two people while dancing zouk

Officially, zouk has three different rhythms and one of its greatest characteristics is that it is always performed by couples while both members move in a very smooth and sensual way. It is possible to dance it with a lot of closeness or almost no physical contact on the part of the man and the woman. 

The man has a lead role in this dance and it is he is the one who leads the woman in order to keep up without losing balance at no time. It is the man who must propose all movements and steps that his female counterpart will reproduce on the dance floor. Everything depends on the boy the dance being varied, creative, and respectful of the essence of zouk in each step. 

All the woman has to do is allow the man to take control and follow his directions to the letter. Anyway, she needs to be very attentive to her back positioning and work hard on her style to achieve graceful and delicate movements. 

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Tune to the Bachatakiz Live Festival on Facebook Live

Bachatakiz: Current situation with regard to the pandemic

It is undeniable that the world has changed for a few months because of the sanitary situation resulting from Covid-19 and it may not be the same in a really long time. There have been many consequences arising from the pandemic caused by this new virus and one of them was the inability to perform concerts or massive events at the possibility of spreading it among the attendees. 

All this has caused many artists, singers, and dancers to adapt to new circumstances in order to survive in the competitive entertainment business. One of the means through which this has been possible is the use of social networks that have served as a springboard to continue to provide artistic content without the public having to be on site. This was unthinkable a few years back, but now it is a reality that permits no debate. 

At this point in the year, it is very common to see personalities of all kinds from the entertainment world maintaining contact with their followers in a virtual way to keep their interest. In fact, platforms have been introduced to upload or stream content, so only those who pay for it can enjoy it. 

Bachatakiz Live Festival

Bachatakiz Festival and other rhythms
logo of the Bachatakiz Live Festival with lots of information

One of those many events that will be carried online is the Bachatakiz Live Festival, which will be broadcast on Facebook Live next week. This festival will be the best proof that there are no impediments to people enjoying good music in any circumstance, even if it is unfavorable. 

This first edition of the Bachatakiz Live Festival offers viewers the presence of 10 great bachata and kizomba artists from all over France. In the same way, these artists will squander their talent with a good number of musical genres such as bachata, kizomba, afrohouse, urbankiz, among others. 

It is noteworthly that all these genres are becoming more and more present in musical events held in the Old Continent, telling of a genuine interest from Europeans in knowing much more about African culture and everything that derives from it. Well, this wonderful festival offers them a great opportunity to learn how to dance these cherry rhythms. 

Guests at the event: 

 – Kriss et Aurélie (La roche sur Yon) 

 – Alexandre et Jessica (Nantes) 

 – Mickaël et Malaury (Angoulême) 

 – Miguel Fossati (Nantes) 

 – Emmanuel Landry (Nantes) 

 – Laure Inglèse (Lyon) 

 – Moh Abchi (Nantes) 

 Inscription 

The Bachatakiz Live Festival in November 2020
Timetable of the Bachatakiz Live Festival with all its activities

 As we already mentioned, there are many methods for monetizing online events and generating income thanks to them. In this case, each one interested in enjoying the festival must pay a price of 10 euros. 

In this way, it is possible to click on the link that redirects to the private Facebook group where the event will be broadcast. Without a doubt, it is a revolutionary form of keeping safe and protected from the spread of Covid-19 and the health risks that this entails. 

This pandemic has come to make a really big difference for us and it is up to us to adapt or succumb to it. Fortunately, we have a good number of tools that enable us to make progress under the most difficult of circumstances. You have to make the most of them as much as possible. 

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International Salsa Magazine (ISM) is a monthly publication about Salsa activities around the world, that has been publishing since 2007. It is a world network of volunteers coordinated by ISM Magazine. We are working to strengthen all the events by working together.