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Chicago International Salsa Congress

North America / USA / Chicago

Mission of the Chicago International Salsa Congress

The mission of the Chicago International Salsa Congress is to unite cultures and generations, engender leadership through empowerment opportunities in its showcase and to keep alive the history of the many cultures collaboration in the creation and evolution of Latin and Afro-Caribbean music and dance.

The Chicago International Salsa Congress is brought to you by a special group of dedicated individuals whose energy, skills, passion and perseverance unite to bring you the number one Latin Music and Dance event in the Midwest!

In 2002 they produced the first Chicago International Salsa Congress (CISC) now in its 14th year. The CISC fosters personal awareness, develops leadership, creativity and inspires highest performance by providing emerging artists an opportunity to learn from and perform with professional artists in the congress showcase.

Schedule: Chicago International Salsa Congress

Día	Horario	Actividad
Jueves 2/9/17	3:00 PM – 11:30 PM	Onsite Registration opens
	7:30 PM	Rueda Summit
	8:30 PM – 9:30 PM	Opening Night! Meet & Greet the STARS of the 2017 CISC
	9:30 PM – 10:30 PM	Dance Showcase
	10:30 PM – 3:00 AM	CISC Concert Series featuring Carpacho y Su Super Combo!
Viernes 2/10/17	9:00 AM – 4:30 PM	Onsite Registration
	9:30 AM – 3:30 PM	Workshops
	4:00 PM – 5:30 PM	Emerging Artist Showcase / Chicago Midwest Salsa & Bachata Open Competition (Elimination)
	5:30 PM – 7:30 PM	Youth Performance Challenge w/Natasha Silva
	6:00 PM – 8:00 PM	Kizomba Bootcamp with Philippe & Upa Danca
	6:30 PM – 11:30 PM	Onsite Registration
	8:00 PM – 10:00 PM	Dance Showcase
	10:30 PM – 3:00 AM	CISC Concert Series: Tromboranga / Bachata Ballroom / Kizomba Party!
Sábado 2/11/17	9:00 AM – 4:30 PM	Onsite Registration
	9:30 AM – 3:30 PM	Workshops
	4:00 PM – 5:30 PM	Emerging Artist Showcase
	5:30 PM – 7:30 PM	Youth Performance Challenge w/Natasha Silva
	6:30 PM – 11:30 PM	Onsite Registration
	8:00 PM – 10:00 PM	Dance Showcase
	10:30 PM – 3:00 AM	CISC Concert Series: Jimmy Bosch with Yoko, La Japonesa Salsera! / Bachata & Kizomba
Domingo 2/12/17	9:00 AM – 4:30 PM	Onsite Registration
	9:30 AM – 3:30 PM	Workshops
	12:00 PM – 2:00 PM	Youth Performance Challenge w/Natasha Silva
	4:00 PM – 5:30 PM	Emerging Artist Showcase / Chicago Midwest Salsa & Bachata Open (Finals)
	6:30 PM – 11:30 PM	Onsite Registration
	8:00 PM – 10:00 PM	Dance Showcase
	10:30 PM – 3:00 AM	CISC Concert Series: Herman Olivera with Nelson Gonzalez / Bachata & Kizomba

Photo 1: Chicago International Salsa Congress

INSTRUCTORS

Enjoy 3 days of over 70 workshops covering Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced levels of dance styles, movement and musicality. The instructors are from American and European continent to don’t stop dancing.

PERFORMERS

The CISC produces seven Dance Showcases to excite your senses and inspire your creativity. Featuring world-class dancers from near and far, you will be captivated as we unleash their talents on the stage. The shows include our Matinee Emerging Artists Showcases at 4:00PM and World Class Dance Spectacular at 8:00PM featuring national and international performers.

LIVE MUSIC

CICS will present an unforgettable dancing experience in an elegant Grand Ballroom where Latin Music’s top artists and salseros connect. Enjoy four nights of non-stop dancing on our spacious dance floor until 3:00 AM to the hottest sounds of yesterday and today. The Chicago International Salsa Congress Concert Series is unmatched in celebrating Latin Music’s timeless presence in honoring the legendary pioneers while inviting a forward vision as new, young artists take up the torch and carry it forward.

Photo 2: Chicago International Salsa Congress

TROMBORANGA SALSA ORCHESTRA

As part of the new generation of independent latin orchestras, Tromboranga is the pure essence of “Salsa Dura”. Tromboranga’s spicy ingredients are the trombones sound, solid and strong percussion, and they recover the essence of “soneos” (voice improvisation among the chorus). With influences from the salsa music from the 60s and 70s, maintaining a raw, strong and a very danceable sound.

His original songs like “Humildad”, “Palo pa la campana”, “Amigo el ratón”, “Adios que te vaya bien”, talks about stories that can describe the life of any of us, and they have become number one in Latin radios and dance floors worldwide. Tromboranga is made up of musicians from the Caribbean and Europe, all residents of Barcelona, Spain.

JIMMY BOSCH

(18 October 1959, Jersey City, New Jersey), known also “El Trombón Criollo”, is a trombonist, composer and producer of Afro-Cuban jazz, salsa and Cuban music.

At thirteen he was already part of different local bands of Latin music. At age 18, while studying classical music at Rutgers University, he meets Manny Oquendo and joins his band. He plays with Manny Oquendo about two decades; then comes to work with Marc Anthony. In 1996 he created his own band, “Los Masters”, with whom he recorded two albums. He has his own record label, JRGR Records.

Photo 3: Chicago International Salsa Congress

YOKO LA JAPONESA SALSERA

Born in Osaka, Japan, Yoko Mimata began her artistic career at the age of fifteen as a vocalist in a rock band her native Osaka. Las Estrellas, a salsa band composed of former members of the famous Japanese orchestra “Orquesta de la Luz”, invited Yoko to join them as lead vocalist.

Subsequently, in 1997, settled in the Big Apple, city in that began to venture into the salsero environment. Her great debut took place at the Salsa Congress in New York in 2006, where she performed with the orchestra Chino Nuñez and Friends. Later she became the lead vocalist and participated in the recording of the second album by Chino Nuñez, “Dr. Salsa”; In which she sings duet with Ray Sepulveda “Hoy les cantamos”.

NELSON GONZÁLEZ

(Born May 30, 1948) is a Puerto Rican tres player. He specializes in the Cuban tres, and only occasionally plays the Puerto Rican tres (similar to the cuatro). He is a prolific session musician and has been a member of renowned salsa ensembles such as Fania All-Stars, Orchestra Harlow and Típica 73. He has authored a book on the tres guitar method published by Mel Bay. Together with Pancho Amat and Papi Oviedo he is considered one of the most influential modern tres players.

Photo 4: Chicago International Salsa Congress

HERMAN OLIVERA

He is a salsa singer from Newark, New Jersey. Born to Puerto Rican parents, he began his career in New York City where he earned his reputation as a “sonero,” that is, an expert in the demanding art of lyric extemporization. In a genre overrun by pop-oriented singers, Herman’s musicality and mastery in this regard garnered him the sobriquet of “El Sonero del Siglo XXI”. Today Herman counts among the most in-demand and hardworking salsa singers around. His voice literally permeates the sound of hard-hitting salsa from the 1980s to the present-with album credits with the likes of Tito Puente and Eddie Palmieri, among many others where he has contributed to the continued vitality and development of the sonero tradition.

DJS

The fifteen DJs at this year’s congress will definitely get your feet, hips, shoulders, and everything else grooving on the dance floor with the best Salsa, Mambo, Cha Cha Cha on the planet!!!

VENUE INFORMATION

HYATT REGENCY O’HARE is just 5 minutes from O’Hare airport with a free shuttle. Easy access by train or car. Beautifully appointed guest rooms, great amenities and nearby shopping and dining make this a perfect getaway for your CISC weekend.

Photo 5: Chicago International Salsa Congress

Ricardo Vega and Karen Forcano

Latin America / Argentina /

Ricardo Vega and Karen Forcano. Salsa dancers and instructors of Latin dances.

Karen Forcano is originally from Argentina and took her first steps into the dance world at an early age, largely due to the influence of her mother, who was a ballet dancer. At 6 years of age, she began with ballet lessons and then at age 7 she was introduced to the exciting world of salsa and merengue, which would now be known as the start of her professional career.

Ricardo Vega is from Chile and began dancing ballet when he was only 7 years old. Although much of his influence came from his grandparents, who were tango dancers, Ricardo’s experience in dance included the styles of ballet, contemporary, jazz, as well as many others.

Karen and Ricardo met when they were 9 years old but their start in the professional/competitive world of salsa began in 2009. Since that time, they have been conquering championships as a couple, both on and off the dance floor.

Jorge Duran

Europe / Germany

Interview to Jorge Duran & his Jalea de Mambo

Now settled in Europe, venezuelan vibraphonist Jorge Duran is leading Jalea de Mambo band which mix musicians from different nationalities recovering the swing and mambo of the 50s with the smart flavor of the New York Palladium, the famous Broadway dance-hall, and the color of the best Latin Jazz that can be heard in Europe right now. Its characteristic vibraphone sound makes this band a unique and raw example in the current music panorama.

Recently documentary “We Like It Like That” has been released worldwide http://latinboogaloo.com/ emphasizing that cultural revolution where boogaloo, mambo, among other genres, were considered the so-called “Latin Soul” creating that cultural movement which day by day takes more strength everywhere.

1) Jorge, tell us a little bit about your background, your roots, and your musical influences.

Well, I started playing Latin American percussion in Venezuela (Caracas) having the chance to share with great musicians beside studying with amazing percussion players but my degree was focus in composition. Then I begun to play jazz vibraphone and it took me a few years to play again Latin American Music although here I am ready to give my very best.

2) How did you come to the idea of Jalea de Mambo?

The idea of Jalea de Mambo came to me long time ago (10 years ago or more) when I first heard the album Cal Tjader Modern Mambo Quintet, quite old album indeed (1955). That record change everything for me and blew my mind up focus then on mambo, latin jazz and what so called “Latin Soul”.

3) Mambo, Boogaloo, what many people called “Latin Soul” was a revolution during the 50s. Do you think that nowadays these genres could reach something similar?

I really think everything is possible if you work hard, I’m not trying to make a revolution my idea is that every single person come to see us playing, enjoying magic music, having a great time. Obviously that “revolution” happened once but its essence has come along the years in all musicians who play caribbean rhythms. Nowadays, this genre is getting popular again but honestly I believe it has never lost validation.

Photo of Jorge Durán and his band members in the music world

4) What are your feelings coming from Venezuela performing in Europe and worldwide? Is the musical movement opened and active enough over there?

My feeling is that in Europe we, musicians, have more opportunities to show our culture and most of the people here are opened enough to hear or see our projects.

Beyond Europe is quite the same because I have Heard about concerts with more tan 100.000 audiences in Arab Countries, for instance. It simply means that latin and caribbean music “hook” people hearts so they enjoy it full.

5) Now that you are settled in Europe tell us a bit more about your projects and expectations.

I’m living in Germany now and it is a huge challenge for me as it is a real different culture and language but my idea is to spread the Latin American culture and music not only in Europe but worldwide. We are living very tough moments at this very moment and firmly believe that músic and culture are more needed than ever because music tame the beasts, as people usually say, and that’s what we need now, I mean, peace, calm and mainly love.

Photo of Jorge Durán and his team at the live concert

6) Looking for these goals, are you working on your own or you are supported by a company, agency or similar.

Now I have the great pleasure to say that I’m not alone in this business because Cat 7 Production is my new family and they are really focused in spreading my music to reach more people. I think this is the idea, music is a language we need to be heard as I said before.

7) Finally Jorge, let’s share a message for all your fans beside colleagues who work hard to achieve similar goals you are looking for.

Well, I’m always very grateful when some one takes time to send emails or messages after watching us in a concert, I love it and love fans who give me strenght to keep doing what my heart says. My humbly advice to all musicians who have an idea or project is that never stop making music because everything is possible in life and the real power is inside us. This is one of more beautiful and hard profession but sure worth it!

Latin America / February 2026

February 2026 – FESTIVALS

Festival de la Salsa 2026

Feb 26 / Mar 01, 2026

Club 500 – Palmares
Calle 12 entre Calzada 7/ 3ra Vedado
La Habana 10400, Cuba

€ 110

DIRECTORY OF NIGHTCLUBS
ARGENTINA	ARUBA	BELIZE
BOLIVIA	BRAZIL	CHILE
COLOMBIA	COSTA RICA	CUBA
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC	ECUADOR	GUATEMALA
MEXICO	PANAMA	PERU
PUERTO RICO	VENEZUELA

Musician and entrepreneur of Latin origin Jorge Torres talks about his band and his company

American multi-instrumentalist and entrepreneur of Puerto Rican descent Jorge Torres had a conversation recently with us about his musical origins, his company Jimmy Jorge Entertainment, his band, and his work with music today. In International Salsa Magazine, we are more than happy to interview him and learn what he has to tell us.

Jorge Torres and his conga — Musician and entrepreneur Jorge Torres next to his conga

Jorge’s beginnings in music in his native Chicago

Jorge said that when he was very young, his mother got a large stereo system that included a record player and radio where she listened to all kinds of music. His brother had a copy album “Che Che Cole” by Willie Colon and a cowbell he used to play constantly, making it the first instrument he heard in his childhood.

In the fifth grade in Philadelphia, he became interested in learning to play the guitar, but at that time his school did not offer guitar programs, but violin. So he decided to try the violin, but only played it during that year. In the eighth grade, he returned to Chicago to live with his father following the death of his mother, and his interest turned to steel drums, which he also referred to as Caribbean drums.

He spent another year playing this instrument until he reached high school and moved back to Philadelphia to live with his brother, which is when he changed his mind again and started loving the trumpet and the conga. He was so passionate about the latter that he bought his own conga, which he still has to this day. Then, other musician friends taught him how to play it, and the rest is history.

Early professional career

His learning to play the conga was the beginning of his life as a professional musician, and he played for various groups such as La Orquesta Cupey, Orquesta La Precaución, and Orquesta La Opinión, among others. During this time, Jorge learned to play many other instruments such as bongos and timbales. His teacher was Mikie Rivera, renowned Puerto Rican singer-songwriter and trova and jazz guitarist, who met with the young man and other musicians in the cellar of a friend’s house to mentor them and work with them.

These meetings aroused in him the idea of creating his own band in the future because of all that Rivera taught him about the music biz, and he wanted to put that knowledge into practice as soon as possible.

Jimmy Jorge and The Latin Jazz Expenses

Jorge’s band started as a small jazz group, but he did not want to settle for that. At some point, he was interested in having an orchestra with four wind instruments, three singers, piano, bass, bongos, timbales, and congas. That is how Jimmy Jorge and The Latin Jazz Express project arose.

This project started as a six-member Latin jazz band in 1995, but has managed to grow to the point that it has about 12 members and plays many other musical genres, although salsa is still very present in its repertoire.

Jorge Torres and the band — Jorge Torres and the rest of Jimmy Jorge and The Latin Express

Through hard work, Jimmy Jorge and The Latin Jazz Express have managed to position itself in the industry until they became the house band on the radio station called “La Mega 1310 AM” for some time and have played at all kinds of events such as The Puerto Rican Parade, La Feria del Barrio, Penn’s Landing’s Hispanic Fest, among others.

Some of the current members of the band are Peruvian singer Joseito Rivera, Puerto Rican singer Lia Montalvo, Dominican singer Hugo Tavares, conguero Edwin “Papo Buda,” percussionist Orlando Santana, and trombonist Edgar Salias.

Jimmy Jorge Entertainment

When Jorge began performing with American orchestras, he noticed that some of them, in addition to their musicians, also had dancers and DJs who were part of the orchestra and the show. The inclusion of these professionals in concerts seemed like a phenomenal idea to him and wanted to put it into practice for his own project, so he took advantage of the contact he had made with singers, DJs, photographers, dancers, and dance teachers to recruit them for his own shows in the future.

So, he began asking for phone numbers in order to build a network of artists he could count on in case he needed their services. Today, he has a large catalog of options for every type of show, making Jimmy Jorge Entertainment one of the most important Latin entertainment companies in Philadelphia today.