Events

12th edition of the distinguished Salsero and tourist Festival of Venezuela

Latin America / Venezuela / Caracas

Venezuela land of salsa by nature year after year offers us a space dedicated to this beautiful dance, mainly framed in the presentation of the talent of more than 150 dance schools registered as diffusers of Salsa in this country and an expected visit of guests and foreign public. will make the so named Venezuela es Latina an event to remember. With 12 years of successful editions, it invites us not to one more edition, it calls us to enjoy 4 nights and 3 days of multiple activities, best of all, nights of great social parties.

Venezuela es Latina XII Festival - Flyer — Venezuela es Latina XII Festival – Flyer

Venezuela is Latina, an event with more than 11 years of experience, organizes for this 2018 edition a festival full of workshops, seminars, forums, certifications, bootcamp, shows, competitions and good local tourism, the ideal space for everyone who wants to meet one of the most emblematic tourist and salsa lands in the world, the famous Venezuela.

This 12 installment gives us a cycle of more than 20 hours of classes and training cycles distributed in workshops, seminars and Bootcamp on days dedicated to the professional training of dancers or dancers, as well as instruction for visitors, novices and / or dance fans.

We will be able to delight ourselves with the knowledge of the best instructors from Colombia, Ecuador, Cuba, Venezuela among other countries that remain to be confirmed, with workshops of the most sought-after disciplines, added to this 3 high-caliber seminars of theoretical and practical content that seeks to certify participants.

For the general public, Bootcamps are offered guided by the organizing academy, the Son Rumbero school, which for 2 years has brought this famous practice to the festival, giving attendees the opportunity to do a cycle of classes that ends when they appear on stage. along with the best dancers of the moment on the main night of the festival.

For lovers of good music, there will be a meeting of salsa and timba fans or collectors, where we can enjoy the best musical themes, acquire good music, together with 3 nights of parties and social dancing to share with all attendees, framed in nights of enjoyment and sharing between dancers and sympathizers of these great rhythms at the hands of the best guest DJs.

Stage of the Venezuela es Latina XII Festival

For those who wish to visit this great event, the organizing committee has distributed all-inclusive packages for Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, Chile, Argentina, Central America, North America and Europe, with 5, 4 and 3 star hotels adapted to each need. In the same way, free packages are offered for promoters, directors or group managers who visit the festival.

Everything is ready for the 12th edition of this festival, the city of San Cristobal – Táchira State will offer us the best spaces to enjoy 4 days of great Latin things, a city 30 minutes from the border with Colombia in Cúcuta that speeds up access from the south. Dare to be part of this great festival, for more information, contact through social networks: @vzlaeslatina on Instagram and Facebook. Telephones: +573114061366 / +584126142562.

Grazy Tango Festival 2018

Europe / Austria / Graz

Grazy Tango Festival 2018 – 08 Mar 2018 – 11 Mar 2018

The elegance of Argentinian Tango is here to conquer the heart of Europe with the March edition of Crazy Tango Festival 2018! This is the third edition of this amazing Tango Festival in the beautiful city of Graz/Austria and each time attracts more national and international dancers. Participants will love the friendly atmosphere, the high quality workshops in air-conditioned rooms with wooden floors and the wonderful Milongas with superb music!

Maestros 2018:

Maja & Marko (Croatia)
Germán & Eva (Argentina & Denmark)
Boris & Chris (Argentina & England)

Tango DJs 2018:

DJ Pablo
DJ Germán
DJ Veronika
DJ Vlado
DJ Đurđina

Maja Petrović & Marko Miljević started dancing Tango in Zagreb, Croatia in 2002 in a small group of enthusiasts curious about this “new” dance. Only five years later they began giving regular lessons at the Tango Argentino Zagreb Dance School. Their first and most influential teachers were Pablo Rodríguez and Noelia Hurtado. Later they continued to study with Noelia and Carlitos Espinoza.

Maja and Marko - Grazy Tango Festival 2018 — Maja and Marko – Grazy Tango Festival 2018

In 2014 they started to work with Tango professionally, holding workshops and performing all over Europe. In 2015 they had their debut in North America at Bailongo Tango Festival in Montréal, Canada.

Germán Cuestas started dancing when he was a teenager, and since then dedicated his life to music and Tango. He has a degree as a music school teacher and now uses this knowledge in his work as a Tango dancer.

He also has been a Tango DJ for many years and is the organizer of El Motivo Tango (a Milonga in Villa Malcolm’s club, Buenos Aires) and has taught in various Milongas and schools in Buenos Aires.Now he is based in Denmark, teaches and performs with Eva Lehrmann, around Europe, Russia and Argentina.

Eva and German dancing tango - Grazy Tango Festival 2018 — Eva and German dancing tango – Grazy Tango Festival 2018

Eva Lehrman has been dancing different styles of dances most of her life, however it wasn’t until she met the Argentine Tango that she dedicated herself to dancing professionally. She travelled to Buenos Aires, where she soon started working in El Esquinazo, a newly opened Tango school, where she taught Tango and Yoga and there she also met Germàn. Today she mainly works in Copenhagen being an instructor, a DJ and a performer. She still spends a big part of her time in Buenos Aires, where she is part of a team who organizes Tango holidays.

Boris and Chris work to harmonize their distinct and varied backgrounds of dance training, biomechanics, and Tango to create their dance. The fundamental element of their Tango is “el abrazo”’ and the connection between two dancers. It enables them to communicate in an unspoken language that unites you to your partner, your partner’s body to yours.

They believe that even if two bodies are standing still in space, their embrace continues moving within and between them. In her experience of studying many other disciplines, Chris believes that this is what makes Tango so special, so unique and so rewarding, “alongside the technical details, the complexity of the steps and the music, in no other dance style have I experienced this sensation where dancers search for such a deep connection with their partner”.

Boris and Chris - Grazy Tango Festival 2018 — Boris and Chris – Grazy Tango Festival 2018

Using knowledge and understanding of the body, their teaching method focuses on how to use the bodies to create movement and then how to transmit and receive this information through the embrace. Alongside steps and techniques, they will give you tools, foundations, and concepts that can be applied within your entire Tango world to discover different ways of moving.

Location

All the workshops will take place in the four air-conditioned halls of the dance school on approximately 450 m². You will also find a lobby with a cozy bar and comfortable chairs, as well as some cloak & changing rooms. Wooden floors are dancers’ paradise and the bar will take care for your refreshments!

Gravity does not allow very much floating, but sometimes in your life you come to a place, where the laws of gravity do not apply any more. This place will give you a pleasurable experience, which will put you at ease and which transfers you into an unforgettable experience. The place where we just can relax and let your soul get some rest.

The panorama hall presents itself with a glazing from the bottom to the top and offers an unbelievable view over the city of Graz. It is one of the most popular event locations of the “Schlossberg”, the well-known landmark of Graz. Together with the stage hall it covers 250m2 of wooden dancefloors so that dancers can experience a most memorable evening.

Am Schlossberg 7

A-8010 Graz

Tel.: +43 (0) 316 84 00 00

[email protected]

Körösistraße 81

A-8010 Graz

Further information at https://www.facebook.com/events/1666219917013457/

The legacy of El Palladium lives on, as demonstrated by ‘Mambo Fantasy’

The legacy On Saturday, January 18, 2025, the Tropicoro Club at the Fairmont El San Juan Hotel in Puerto Rico was decked out to celebrate the music of Tito Rodríguez; led by his heir, Tito Rodriguez Jr., and El Caballero de la Salsa: Gilbertito Santa Rosa on vocals and the characteristic marquee of “El Inolvidable”. The show was part of ‘Mambo Fantasy’, a duel between the legacy of Tito Puente and that of Tito Rodríguez, two of the Kings of mambo during the golden age of big bands.

Humberto Ramirez, Herman Olivera, Tito Rodriguez jr. y Gilberto SantaRosa en Mambo Fantasy

The dance concert featured the musical power of the big orchestras, responsible for placing Latin music among the favorites of the dancing public. It was a must remember that the history of what was the era of mambo was strengthened in the emblematic New York halls, among which “El Palladium” stood out. To do so, the dance corps of Tito Ortos and Tamara Livolsi was accompanied by the nonagenarian Mambo Mike, engaging in an energetic choreography that the trio executed to perfection.

The legacy of Tito Puente resonated under the musical direction of the trumpeter, arranger, composer and producer Humberto Ramírez, with Hermán Olivera and Michelle Brava as the singers in charge of interpreting Puente’s repertoire.

Michelle La Brava 'Mambo Fantasy' en Puerto Rico — Michelle La Brava ‘Mambo Fantasy’ en Puerto Rico

Rodríguez’s legacy was carried out by the union between the timbalero, arranger, composer, producer and orchestra director, heir to the musicality and the name of one of our greatest musical glories -Tito Rodríguez, Jr.- and one of the greatest stars of contemporary music -Gilberto Santa Rosa. The group was composed of: Gerardo Rivas on the tumbadoras, Pete Perignon on the bongos, Mako Pérez and Genaro “Ginno” Ramírez on the chorus, Luis Marín on the piano, Johnny Torres on the bass; Freddie Miranda, Josué Urbina, Saviel Cartagena and Francisco “Pacman” Cruz on the saxophones; Georgie Torres and Anthony “Nony” Rosado on the trombones; with Rolando Alejandro, Pedro Marcano, Kevin Ibáñez and Becky Zambrana on the trumpets. And since legacies are significant, it should not be overlooked that the three percussionists of this group are children of musicians.

Orquesta 'Mambo Fantasy' en Puerto Rico — Orquesta ‘Mambo Fantasy’ en Puerto Rico

The repertoire, which included “Mama Güela,” “A los Muchachos de Belén,” “Vuela la paloma,” the bolero “Me faltabas tú,” “Baranga,” “Bon sueno,” “Yambú,” “Avísale a mi contrario,” “El agua de Belén,” “Óyeme Antonia,” “Estoy como nunca,” and the surprising intervention of the tumbador singer Johnny Rivero, the bolero “Tómame ya,” “El que se fue,” and “Abarriba cumbiaremos,” made it clear that the musical complexity of the golden age of mambo remains alive. The Gentleman of Salsa gave a lecture on his expertise in the most Tito Rodríguez-like dance that has ever been seen and heard, imprinting his interpretive style on the songs of “El Inolvidable,” while demonstrating his mastery of the dance, sliding across the stage using Rodríguez’s best steps.

Herman Olivera 'Mambo Fantasy' en Puerto Rico — Herman Olivera ‘Mambo Fantasy’ en Puerto Rico

Evidently, the participation of El Caballero de la Salsa was inspired by the musical perfection of “El Inolvidable”, achieving an impeccable performance. Through the magic that Santa Rosa brought to the concert, Tito Rodríguez, Jr. managed to connect with the Puerto Rican public that follows his father’s music. For our part, we are grateful for the invitation of the work team responsible for the success of ‘Mambo Fantasy’, while we remain awaiting the next show that manages to bring together these greats of mambo.

Also Read: Bella Martinez, the irreverent Salsa writer

Salsa at its best, led by the leader of La Puertorriqueña: Don Perignon

The most recent production of the Bailable Víspera de Reyes, which was instituted in 1987 by the timbalero and band leader known in the salsa scene as Don Perignon, was quite an event. Thirty-eight years ago, ‘La Puertorriqueña’ was still known as ‘Compañeros y amigos’.

El líder de La Puertorriqueña, Don Perignon

However, the dance that fulfills a promise made by Perignon to kings has continued to be celebrated beyond the names with which Perignon has identified his band over time.

Each year, the show brings with it a box of surprises. In addition to what is promised during the promotion, the salsa public that comes to the traditional gala knows that anything can happen there. This year, the stage showcased great artists in addition to the luxurious closing that gave us the night by way of El Caballero de la Salsa, Gilberto Santa Rosa performing the emblematic song by Johnny Ortiz, ‘Tu música popular’.

Ángel Martínez, Efraín Hernández, Don Perignon y Miguel Aponte

In this edition, held on January 5, 2025, the concert was started by the successor of the Perignon dynasty, also a percussionist, Pete Perignon; flanked by vocalists Ricardo Rodríguez in the more melodic songs and Julio López in the heavier numbers. López got the first turn at the microphone with ‘Azúcar pa’ un amarga’o’, followed by Rodríguez in the key of ‘Cuéntame tu historia’.

According to Pete himself, he invited Jorge Yadiel Santos to silence rumors regarding the singer’s departure from his orchestra. With the vocal power that characterizes him, the now soloist closed the presentation of the first orchestra of the night; performing ‘Baila’ and ‘Gotita caído en clave’.

Cuto Soto, Gamalier González, Rafy Torres, Pedro Marcano, Carlos __Coamito__ Martínez, Jr., Ángel Segarra y Humberto Ramírez

The group led by Pete Perignon and his timbal offered a great performance with master musicians of the present generation. These were: Jean Carlos Camuñas on the tumbadoras, Carlos Pagán on the bongó, Reynaldo Burgos on the piano, Jorge Rivera on the bass; Víctor Ambert and Jahaziel García on the trumpets; Darnell Febres and César Javier Ayala on the trombones, and Víctor “Yuca” Maldonado on the baritone saxophone.

La Mulenze kept the crowd on the dance floor, with the first song of their repertoire being ‘La sala pa’l baile’, performed by Rafy Andino. The vocal front was completed by Rafy Cruz and Alex Ojeda. The bassist, director of the orchestra of eternal youth, Edwin Morales led his boys, as he affectionately refers to his musicians; Among them were Emanuel Navarro on the tumbadoras, Robert Watts on the timbal, Alberto Muriel on the bongo, Manolo Navarro on the piano, Carlos “Coamito” Martínez, Jr. and Abdel Rivera on the trumpets; in addition to Willie Torres Ortiz and Heity Morales Nogueras on the trombones. The golden touch was offered to those present during the interpretation of the song “Mala paga”, written by our Moncho Rivera, when the Venezuelan master musician and sonero Marcial Istúriz took on the task of accompanying Rafy Andino on the soneos, shortly after Rafy confessed to being a great admirer of one of the greatest exponents of the salsa sound in Venezuela.

Henry Santiago, Joe González, Rico Walker, Marcial Istúriz, Hermán Olivera, Jerry Rivas, Pichie Pérez, Josué Rosado y Pedro Brull

Before starting his presentation, the star of the annual gala, Don Perignon marked and conducted the orchestra to play ‘Happy Birthday’ in honor of the evening’s host, also Z-93 announcer: Néstor Galán, “El Búho”. The timbalero conducted the orchestra, which was reinforced for the evening with guest musicians. The group in its Bailable Víspera de Reyes 2025 version was composed of: Charlie Padilla on the tumbadoras, Miguel Aponte on the bongó, Ángel Martínez on percussion (güiro), Luis Marín on the piano, Efraín Hernández on the bass; Cuto Soto, Gamalier González and Rafy Torres on the trombones; in addition to Pedro Marcano, Carlos “Coamito” Martínez, Jr., Ángel Segarra and Humberto Ramírez on the trumpets. For the vocal front, Perignon called on: Henry Santiago, Pedro Brull, Joe González, Pichie Pérez, Josué Rosado, Jerry Rivas, Rico Walker, Marcial Istúriz, Hermán Olivera and Gilberto Santa Rosa.

The repertoire took the followers of La Puertorriqueña on a historic tour that demonstrated the variety of songs and voices that come together in a salsa key with the cadence and flavor that Perignon manages to give to each project he leads. Joe González performed ‘Ciudad, ciudad’, Pedro Brull excelled singing ‘Represento’, Pichie Pérez was in charge of vocalizing ‘Como mangó’, Josué Rosado visited to sing ‘Cantándole al amor’, Jerry Rivas was in charge of ‘El pin pin’, Rico Walker shined with ‘Que vengan rumberos’, followed by Marcial Istúriz and a masterful interpretation of ‘La familia’ and Hermán Olivera with his spectacular ‘Ritmo Bembé’.

Marcial Istúriz comparte micrófono con Hermán Olivera

La Puertorriqueña was born in 1988 near the promise of Kings, which happens every January 5. The dance of January 5, 2025, which was held at the Sheraton in San Juan, Puerto Rico and was dedicated to trombonist Toñito Vázquez (RIP) showed that the promise of Reyes by Don Perignon -who is the leader of a generation of musicians- established more than three decades ago, remains valid. The participation of El Caballero de la Salsa recreated the beginning of his career, together with his first musical director: Don Perignon. That brotherhood between Gilberto and Perín, like the promise of Reyes, also remains valid. For our part, we will continue in salsa thanks to the call of the leader of La Puertorriqueña.

Also Read: Don Perignon and La Puertorriqueña are prides of Puerto Rico

Songoyó the perfect idea Experimental Cuban Son Group with its own style

Songoyó is an experimental musical group of the Cuban son genre with a particular style, since it fuses many musical rhythms, born on the initiative of Professor John “Goyo” Useche, on November 11, 2021 in La Victoria, Aragua State, Venezuela.

In order to unite Victorian musicians and start putting together songs by the remembered Madera Group, icon of the Caracas parish of San Agustín in Marín, and thus present themselves at the Guataca Salsera, which takes place every December 31 at the Madera 15 court, located in the Las Mercedes urbanization of the same town.

The idea immediately begins to take shape and that is when Professor John “Goyo” decides to communicate his project to Shinaury Rojas, a personal friend of many years, who at that time was based in Argentina, then informs the poet guitarist Rafael Pérez who was in Brazil and knew by reference of salsa groups via the web. Communication was fluid and accepted, regardless of the distance. John, Rafael and Shinaury embody everything that Songoyó is today.

It should be noted that the first name of the Victorian group was Son Madera 15, due to the loyalty that is maintained with the Madera 15 foundation, then it was changed to Sabor Madera 15 and finally they decided to name it “Songoyó” as the definitive name.

Songoyó is an experimental musical group of the Cuban son genre.

The communication was continuous and they immediately began to organize the activities that had to be carried out to group the musicians who were willing to belong to the group, musicians were contacted by phone and in person, finally the interested parties were grouped and the rehearsals began in an accelerated manner at Professor John’s house, to fulfill the main objective which was the presentation at the Guataca Salsera at the end of the year, in that 2021.

From that moment until the present, there have been many musicians who have passed through the son group, including the young music teacher Willian Herrera who is assigned the task of directing the group, the rehearsals are given and four songs are put together that were played at the Guataca Salsera achieving total success in said presentation causing the acceptance and applause of all those present.

Our Sonero Machado Noel the indigenous salsa singer and our General Manager John Goyo

By January 2022, the creator of the group calls the musicians and proposes to continue the project, achieving the acceptance of all. In the following months they contacted maestro Fael Alvarado, an expert musician who knows the TRES very well, the base instrument of the Cuban son, who agreed to join the project and professor William Herrera gave the musical direction to maestro Fael.

In February of that same year, the second presentation was made before a large audience at the Juventud de la Victoria festivities on Paseo La Juventud and Songoyó was again liked by the public.

The rehearsals continued, and it was maestro Fael himself as musical director, who proposed to everyone to create their own style with songs that belonged to the group and to have a unique sound in order to accept more contracts from then on.

In January 2024, the recording of the first and unpublished production of Songoyó “EL NEGRITO BEMBA” began under the creation and pen of the poet Rafael Pérez and the general recording direction of maestro Fael, in the recording studio “Fael Alvarado” in San Mateo, Aragua State. This recording was a huge success and can be found on various digital platforms, Its release took place in January 2025, with a great acceptance.

From that moment on, the group began to be sold and promoted for public and private events inside and outside Venezuela.

Currently, there are 8 musicians that make up the group: Norberto Machado, güiro voice, Noel Machado, clave voice and percussion direction, Rafael Pérez, maracas voice, Alexis Tovar, tres, Edwin González, bass, Jonhy Vergara, tumbadoras, Fael Alvarado, tres, piano, violin and musical director, and John Goyo, bongo and general direction.

“SONGOYÓ, THEY ARE AS WE ARE”

For hiring, contact Professor Useche by phone at

+58 424-3212762

Instagram: Songoyo

Facebook: Songoyo

Research and Writing Source:

Djane. Shina Rojas

Also Read: Cuban Son is one of the most popular musical styles in Cuba and Kiki Valera is one of its greatest exponents.