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Search Results for: Latin Music

La Topa Tolondra & its Salsa with Criterion – Colombia

Latin America / Colombia / Cali

Something magical happens in a unique space in Cali – Colombia: Topa Tolondra

La Topa Tolondra & its Salsa with Criterion ¨ A magical place in a unique space in Santiago de Cali¨

Because what matters is the music and its only and great protagonist “la salsa” a whole universe of happy individuals united by the melody, and all this happens because the salsa is tattooed in the hearts of many caleños and visitors to the area who It becomes evident on the dance floor, where you can find that visiting salsa public from all over the world that dances professionally, there are also those who dance well and those who don’t dance, but who doesn’t give a damn? “nothing”.

Those who are stung or guilla of dancers, those who go in sandals, those who go with tennis, those who go with heels, those who go elegant, those who go relaxed, the dreadlocks with long hair, those with afros, the gentleman and the lady, the chickens, the urban cyclists and even the rockers… and the list is endless because what matters is the music and its only and great protagonist “salsa”

“Lovers of Salsa and Bolero romantics attend weekly without age limits” To the rhythm of the Charanga, the Pachanga, the Boogaloo, the Guajira and the Son Cubano, it is enjoyed every night at the Topa Tolondra. Something unique happens in that magical place and that is that everyone forgets what they will say and they enjoy it from start to finish. In addition, local and international artists such as:

Esteban Copete y su Kintelo Paci co, Habana con Cola, Los Hermanos Lebrón, Clandestina Orquesta, Africali, Ebano y Marl, Bailatino, La Negramenta, Bobby Valentín and among others. For special dates ¬these and events such as Halloween that is approaching are organized. In “La Topa” as it is already known in Cali, sounds resound that arrived in the city between the 50s and 70s, where Salsa shapes the body and bolero its spirit, and going a little deeper we also perceive inclusive energies.

“Having fun is the only requirement to attend” “The Environment” For an unforgettable night you need two halves. The first is a table, chairs, water and drinks. And the second, and perhaps the most important: music and hit.

In Topa Tolondra there is plenty of space for gozadera, to sit down, to toast. Time does not run and there is no decache… “La Música” Here they marry the old guard of Los Hermanos Lebrón, Ángel Canales, La Sonora Ponceña, Frankie Dante and La Flamboyán.

The curatorship of its owner Carlos Ospina, its disc jockey and owner, is to learn it. It is not at all about impressing, it is about knowing how to find the subject at the right time.

¨Variety¨ Mondays are for foreigners. On Tuesdays there is a cinema-forum space and separate classes that are included with the 3 for 1 promotion (for every 3 Salsa songs, one bolero). Wednesdays are the best dancers in the city, Thursdays are dedicated to live salsa.

Finally, Fridays and Saturdays are reserved for these traditional Topa. “To Many Degrees” If your hair is long, bring something to tie it up with. If you are wearing a long-sleeved shirt, roll up the sleeves. If you are one of those people who is not used to consuming water, be prepared to drink what has not been drunk in a year. In La Topa you feel the harsh heat, so it is necessary to establish breaks to go outside to cool off “the heat outside will seem cool to you.”

For a round night, the ideal combination is beer, brandy and water, in dosed sips. Does the temperature exhaust? Yes, but it doesn’t matter if the song that is playing touches your ¬bras and reaches your heart. If you don’t know La Topa Tolondra, be sure to go and if you want to get a clearer idea before visiting, visit their fan page on Facebook www.facebook.com/Latopabar but don’t stay intrigued! Location of La Topa Tolondra. Cl. 5 #13-7, Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia Telephone: +57 323 5972646

Samba The dance that wakes up Carnival in Brazil 

Latin America / Brasil 

“The samba” The dance that wakes up Carnival in Brazil 

Despite the fact that carnivals are known worldwide for their costumes and samba parties, none is as good as the carnival that takes place in Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, especially in the Sambadrome, known for being one of the largest open-air spaces in the city. city ​​where one can hold big events.

The Brazilian Carnival or the Carioca Carnival is a great event where Brazilians and tourists meet to dance and see the great festivals offered by the different dance academies and/or samba studios where the evaluation of each one will depend on the rhythm, participation, costumes and the originality of the parade.

Samba dancers at the carnival
Samba dancers at the carnival

Samba is the national music of Brazil, which has Afro-Brazilian origin of 2 times 4 times but the beginning was specifically in Angola before reaching Brazil; It currently has a style that has currently received many fusions and is very varied.

To learn to dance it, one begins with the progressive basic movement that consists of the normal basic step and the lateral basic step (left and right, front and back), then the whisk step that consists of the variation of the lateral basic step and instead of carrying the other foot next to the leading foot, you will take it backwards if you want to know all the details of this step visit the following page (https://es.wikihow.com/bailar-samba), the next step is the stationary walk of samba where the person who performs it in a closed position holding the partner with both hands, unlike the position explained at the beginning; the arms should be extended.

The leader will have his left leg extended behind him, while the follower will have the same position but with his right leg behind him, the inside leg will be the one that stabilizes him and in this way the couple will not move and will stay in one place.

The samba walk is the displacement that is carried out in a very similar way to the stationary one, but in a walking position; it is very similar to the closed one, but it forms an open “V”; the left side of the leader and the right side of the follower should be slightly turned outwards so that the opposite sides of both are next to each other. To perform this move, start with your outside leg diagonally behind your inside stabilizer leg.

One of the secrets so that the movement reflects the essence of this music is the “rebote” between one step and another, there must be a fluid transition that engages the whole body and to achieve this it is possible to think that we are constantly stepping on different objects that appear in our way and that we quickly try to lift our foot so as not to break them. It is very important that this bounce is expressed with the whole body, and not just with the legs.

Among the recommendations to perform an effective and great dance is concentration and looking forward over the shoulders of your partner.

Among the many benefits that dances give, Samba has certain privileges not only physically but also psychologically.

  • On a physical level:
    • Strengthens the legs, as it tones them since the movements are very fast and continuous.
    • Flat stomach, since in the dance they must have the abdominals contracted and the body stretched.
    • Slims the hip for extensive movements.
  • On a psychological level: it releases stress since the person plays sports by practicing it, in such a way that it helps the body to release tension, resulting in fun and relaxation.
Steps to dance samba
Steps to dance samba

Now that we know more about samba and its influence on carnival at an international level, can we say that it is a single style? Well, no… Did you know that the “Carnival” differs in the different ways in which it is carried out or developed in each city?

It is true that there are many traits in common, such as their origins and motivations. One of the most attractive characteristics in Brazil is that it takes place in the open air, which means that the visitor has a more active participation at a lower cost and can dance and enjoy the shows and/or shows that take place during the marches.

by the academies with their dancers wearing their best costumes and Samba steps as well as the allegorical cars and also the public can enjoy and see the electric trios (they are musical groups that travel the city in equipped trucks playing music) at street parties river; and not only in “Rio” it is celebrated but it can be found in Recife and Olinda, in Salvador de Bahía, the city where Samba was born – Florianópolis, among others.

These cities have an architectural beauty that seduces the visitor and transports them historically both historically and culturally.

If you want to have your own experience, do not miss the next carnival in Brazil 2020 that will take place from February 21 to 26, you can buy your tickets here https://www.carnavales-brasil.com/rio-brasil/carnaval /tickets-tickets/dates-2020/buy .

Pablo Padin born in Manhattan, New York

North America / United States / New York 

Pablo Padin born in Manhattan, New York. I grew up with a pair of Timbales at home

I was born in Manhattan, New York on December 1, 1969.  My parents Pablo and Haydee Padin moved from Puerto Rico to New York in 1968. My father played Timbales with local salsa groups at the time, so I grew up with a pair of Timbales at home.

My father started teaching me how to play at a very young age.  We moved to LA. , California in 1978 and I started playing drums in the school band and in the community drill teams as well.

I (Pablo Padin) got my first private drum set lesson at the age of 9 at a music school in Hollywood California.

Pablo Padin in concert
Pablo Padin in concert

At the age of 15, I (Pablo Padin) started playing my first steady gig in a salsa band with my father at a nightclub in Marina Del Rey, California.

In 1989 we moved to Puerto Rico so I started studying music at the Interamerican University in San German, PR. At the university I studied with the musicians that were playing with all the big salsa and merengue groups of that time.

So at that point in time I started playing with famous salsa singers such as Roberto Lugo, Nino Segarra, Hector Tricoche, Domingo Quiñones and Johnny Rivera.

At the same time I started doing studio work as well. In 1996 I got the call to play with Gilberto SantaRosa and did that gig for 15 years. It was with Gilberto that I hooked up with piano player, arranger and producer Jose Lugo.

Jose started using me on all of his studio productions. I have won 6 Latin Grammys and 2 American Grammys on recordings and productions of artists such as: Millie Quezada, Elvis Crespo, Grupo Mania, Gilberto SantaRosa and Tito El Bambino.

Pablo Padin singing
Pablo Padin singing

At that point in my career I started recording and playing concerts with artist such as Puerto Rican Power, Pedro Brull, Yomo Toro & Willie Colón, Andy Montañez, Ismael Miranda, Tito Nieves, Cheo Feliciano, Rafael De Jesus, Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz, Bobby Valentín, Marvin Santiago, Cano Estremera, Victor Manuelle, Ruben Blades, Ray De La Paz, Jose Alberto ”El Canario” Lalo Rodriguez, Truko Y Zaperoko, DLG, Isaac Delgado, Herman Oliveras, Edwin Colón Zayas and many others.

To this date I’ve been working with Jose Lugo’s Guasabara Combo, in which our first cd was nominated for the Latin Grammy.

We are working on our third cd now that will include two original compositions of mine. I’m super exited, humbled and thankful for all the great experiences that I’ve lived and for the ones that are yet to come, Thank You God!!!!!

Hansel & Raul celebrate the New Year in a concert in California

North America/ United States / California

Hansel & Raul celebrate the New Year with an awesome concert in California

The Charanga Ambassadors in the world will say goodbye to 2019 presenting the most select of their repertoire of the great hits

Hansel & Raul in concert
Hansel & Raul in concert

Date: Tuesday, December 31st

General Admission: 7:00PM

Cocktail Hour: 7:00PM – 8:00PM

Dinner: 8:00PM

Price: $120 (Adult) / $ 60 (Children under 12)

Venue: Crowne Plaza Los Angeles – Commerce Casino. 6121 East Telegraph Road, Commerce, CA 90040

The Charanga´s Legends will share all their talent with their fans for this last day of the year. This exceptional duo with 35 years of trajectory, time transgressor, continue to fill places to a full house in South America and the main cities of the United States, and this December 31, 2019, is the turn of Commerce city in Los Angeles County in California.

Hansel & Raul will be accompanied for the third time by Mr. Carlos Navarro orchestra, Son and Clave. This complicity of unique and singular talents has been joined in the different cities of the California State since the 90s, achieving the resounding success in each of their performances.

This duo formed in the Miami city in 1984 is still the Ambassadors of “La Charanga” with 330 recorded singles, six gold records and four platinum records for sales made, in addition to two Grammy awards with the album “Encore” in 1978.

Hansel & Raul
Hansel & Raul

Hansel & Raul, borne in Cuba, enjoy all their biggest hits summarized in their more than three decades of artistic career as a duo, and it’s for that the public will always have the last word when choosing the songs that they most prefer of these fantastic legends, but don’t worry, because Hansel assured us that their classics such as “Soy”, “María Teresa y Danilo”, “Ella”, “Ayer”, “Se me Nota”, and “Balancea mi Corazón” (songwriter  Venezuelan, Yordano) among many others, will be present in this show of one hour and forty-five minutes.

But wait, here’s still more! If you want to enjoy these Legends with the harmonic concept originating from the island “La Charanga” in advance and you aren’t here this month nor next in the United States, don’t perturb, because Hansel & Raul will be visiting Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador in a Small tour of South America, returning in December for the “New Year´s Eve 2020” event in the United States.

“LA CHARANGA IS MY FAVORITE MUSIC …

… IT’S VERY NICE AND LIGHT…

… AND IT IS THE TYPICAL MUSIC OF CUBA.”

Hansel E. Martínez

Event Details:

http://www.HANSELYRAUL.com

Social Channel:

https://www.facebook.com/pg/HANSELYRAUL/

https://www.facebook.com/events/crown-plaza-hotel-and-casino/new-years-eve-2020-the-great-gatsby-presents-hansel-raul/271515257093512/

Know the connections of tropical dances

Latin America / Venezuela /Caracas

Tropical Dances:

Did you know that people have several ways of communicating?

Oral communication is what we normally use to communicate in such a way to establish and maintain personal relationships, and to show not only words and express emotions and/or feelings, body communication is used, which can be said in a few words that it is a form creatively expressing through gestures, eye contact, poses, and arm and leg movements; turning this form of communication into something more intimate and accurate without the need for the use of words.

Salsa dancers

In social activities, one of the most popular is dancing, where body communication is very important since the couple or group needs to know certain signs that indicate “when” or “how”, in order to perform the steps and how. As a result, the success of said interpretation will test the quality, maturity and growth of the dancers in the rhythms they dance.

dancers dancing in a club tropical
dancers dancing in a club tropical

Of course, it should be noted that each musical genre has its own rules, especially in the counting of steps in music, which gives grace, stability and rhythm to the dancers in the song played either in a musical event and is of vital importance not only for a casual event but for a competition. For this reason, it is important to know the steps and turns to perform and have excellent body communication (especially if it is as a couple) to know what they are going to do.

dancers dancing salsa, bachata and other tropical dances

In Latin rhythms, this type of communication is really important, otherwise the grace of the dance is lost. Among the most important Latin rhythms that are essential and/or significant are:

  • Salsa: a Latin tropical rhythm that, although it was born in Cuba due to the mixture of “Guaracha”, “Son”, “Mambo”, “Cha Cha Chá” with a unique style, through time several types emerged ( Salsa Cubana, Salsa en Linea, Salsa Casino, Salsa New York or Mambo style, Salsa Cali style, Salsa Puerto Rican and Venezuelan sauce). In this dance it is very important to pay attention to the look, the hands and arms (the latter in the case of the man since with him he dominates and/or controls the woman in the dance and she must interpret what the next movement is) to thus being able to perform either a simple step or a few laps, of which there is a great variety of them.
  • Bachata: is a danceable musical genre originating in the Dominican Republic, within what is called urban folklore. It is considered a derivative of the rhythmic bolero, with influences from other styles such as the Cuban son and merengue. This dance has great sensuality like the rest of the Caribbean rhythms, where it requires an unbeatable appearance on the part of the dancers when performing it, where that connection with the couple is important so that it can impress the public.
  • Merengue: is a dance music genre originated in the Dominican Republic at the end of the 19th century. It is very popular throughout the American continent, where it is considered, along with salsa, as one of the great dance musical genres that distinguish the Latin American genre.
  • Kizomba: a very sensual rhythm that emerged in Angola, which resulted from the mixture of 3 cultures (Angolan colony, Portuguese colony and part of Cape Verde “Brazil” as well as the French Caribbean of Martinique and Guadeloupe.). In this rhythm, the connection of the couple, especially the woman, is of vital importance, since the movement of the hips is slow and sensual, as are their steps. Did you know that many people have the prejudice that it is a very sensual dance, however, it is as sensual as you want to project it, in the same way it happens with Bachata and Merengue, they can be as sensual as you want to project them or as normal how you want to do it.”

So, if you want to give life, grace, elegance and popularity to your dance, keep in mind, keep in mind these characteristics and how you manage to synchronize with your partner and show your spectators either in a personal party, competition, event and/or or congress, whether national or international, which is a true dance.

dancers pre-performing tropical dances
dancers pre-performing tropical dances
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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.