Search Results for: Latin dance

Eduardo Paim: The Father of Kizomba

Eduardo Paim, the creator of the musical genre called Kizomba, is well-cherished in the Latin Dance community for being one of the most influential musicians in Latin music history. He is internationally renowned as the godfather of Kizomba music.

Born in Angola in the 1980s, Kizomba music is a blend of Kilapanga, Semba, and Angolan Merengue. Semba is the traditional Angolan music. As compared to Semba, Kizomba has a more sensuous rhythm. It’s slower and more romantic than Semba. As the principal language of Angola is Portuguese, therefore Kizomba songs are mostly sung in Portuguese. Coming from the Bantu term “Kimbundu”, Kizomba means fiesta or party. The forefathers of Kizomba are Eduardo Paim and his band SOS that he founded in 1982.

Eduardo Paim

Though it was the album “Luanda minha banda” Eduardo Paim made his successful debut with, his real breakthrough is considered “Do kaiaia” which was his second recording in 1992.

This album exceeded 50,000 copies. Later on, he released the album “Kambuengo” which was a great success too. “Ka-Ne-La” “Rosa baila” and “Chindu a tempo” are still on the top of the list of his popular songs.

The father of Kizomba, Eduardo Paim, calls himself “the precursor of Kizomba”. According to him, it was in the early 80s that the process of creating Kizomba started. There were two groups, namely SOS and Afro Sound Star (ASS). The use of kilapanda (type of music and dance from Angola. It is related to semba and kizomba, two other popular genres of Angolan music) as a reference style by the group Afro Sound Star inspired him a lot. Moreover, traditional African music such as Semba also contributed to his inspiration for the development of a new music genre. Today, kizomba is danced worldwide.

Just like everything else in this world, Eduardo Paim also had his ups and downs in his journey to music. Having said that, a time came when his schedule was just reduced to one show per year from six shows a month! At this point, he dreamed to build up his own record studio, and started working for it. And yes, he succeeded in earning a name as a producer in Angolan music industry. He named his studio “EP Studios”. Being a producer, he supported many Angolan singers of the new generation. With his release of the album “Maruva na taca” he made his comeback to the music industry in 2006.

Eduardo Paim with Paulo Flores

Though it was the album “Luanda minha banda” Eduardo Paim made his successful debut with, his real breakthrough is considered “Do kaiaia” which was his second recording in 1992. This album exceeded 50,000 copies. Later on, he released the album “Kambuengo” which was a great success too. “Ka-Ne-La”, “Rosa baila”, and “Chindu a tempo” are still on the top of the list of his popular songs.

Many musicians of the new generation of Angolan music participated in his album “Maruva na Taca”. Yuri da Cunha, Nancy Vieira, Paulo Flores, Big Boss, and Bonga are to name a few. He also released his new cd “Etu mu dietu” a long period after “Maruva na taca”. You can keep yourself updated about his shows and releases by subscribing to Eduardo Paim Official Channel on YouTube.

Eduardo Paim, the father of Kizomba, has given birth to such a music genre that knows no borders. Known for having a sensuous, slow, and insistent rhythm, Kizomba is danced not just in Angola but also in other African countries and in USA and Europe as well. Moreover, Kizomba is also gaining a lot of fame in China, especially in cities such as Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Beijing.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXO-PNPuF1K6eNSed203RMQ

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Festivals in June 2023, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand

Spring in Europe

The next beginning of rest in summer, pleasant temperatures at night and heat during the day, the work of the year has its rewards in holidays and is traveling, knowing places and people, cultures and languages and all this leads us to have fun as a couple or alone and thus meet nice people with whom to share, and at this point we want to captivate you by enjoying tropical dances, commonly called Latin music, as it is Salsa, Bachata, Kizomba among other variables are sensual and exotic rhythms in many cases, that make us experience pleasant bodily and sensory, for this incredible experience we have festivals in the European continent and Asia with some ease of transport according to our budgets but if we want to go further let’s not forget the beautiful beaches and active life of New Zealand very few hours by plane

This month of June we have festivals in the following countries and do not forget that next month comes Tempo Latino, a festival like no other, about which I will be informing you.

Germany Cologne Salsa Congress Jun 02 2023 – Jun 04 2023 Hurth, Germany http://colognesalsacongress.com/en/
Spain Estilos Unidos Dance Festival Jun 02 2023 – Jun 04 2023 La Zenia, Alicante, Spain https://estilosunidos.com/
Latin Dance Festival & WTP European Meeting Summer Edition Jun 02 2023 – Jun 04 2023 Lloret de Mar, Spain https://www.facebook.com/LatinDanceFestivalWTP
CROACIA Summer Sensual Days Jun 05 2023 – Jun 12 2023 Rovinj, Croatia https://www.summersensual.com/
Croatian Summer Salsa Festival 2023 Jun 12 2023 – Jun 19 2023 Rovinj, Croatia https://www.crosalsafestival.com/
NEW ZEALAND NZ Salsa Congress Jun 02 2023 – Jun 04 2023 Wellington , New Zealand https://www.nzsalsacongress.co.nz/
FRANCE Kizomba Gala Challenge Festival Jun 08 2023 – Jun 12 2023 Saint Herblain, France https://www.facebook.com/events/555875292933107
PORTUGAL Estrutura Kizomba Summer Festival Jun 15 2023 – Jun 18 2023 Chaves, Portugal https://www.estruturakizomba.com/en
Aquae Flaviae International Congress Jun 16 2023 – Jun 18 2023 Chaves, Portugal https://www.facebook.com/events/452697403072900
KOREA Jeju Latin Culture Festival Jun 22 2023 – Jun 25 2023 Jeju-si, South Korea http://www.jejulcf.com/
MALAYSIA Afro Latin Fest Asia Jun 23 2023 – Jun 25 2023 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia https://www.alfa-asia.net/
ROMANIA Carpathian Latino Fest Jun 24 2023 – Jun 26 2023 Ramnicu Valcea, Romania https://www.facebook.com/events/661474741321475

Anya Katsevman: “You have the dream, I have the tools”

USA - New York - New York

When we refer to Anya Katsevman, the first word that comes to mind is: passion! And that is the only way we could explain that a woman has so much strength, dedication and dedication in different facets of her life.

Anya Katsevman is not only a dancer and choreographer, but also a motivational coach and dream builder. In addition, it has its own line of dance dresses and costumes. An unstoppable woman!

Anya Katsevman by Franklin Liranzo — Anya Katsevman Courtesy of Franklin Liranzo

A native of Kiev, Ukraine, Anya and her family immigrated to the United States when she was 8 years old. She is the younger sister of award-winning Latin dancer Eugene Katsevman. She lives in New York.

She also holds numerous titles in salsa. Among them, she is a two-time World Champion as well as the San Francisco International Salsa Congress and New York Salsa Congress Champion.

Anya Katsevman is a maker of champions

This is precisely the distinctive mark of Anya Katsevman , that ability to make each dancer, each artist, each dreamer discover in himself his potential to succeed, his style and make the most of his abilities.

She believes that “the art of dance requires much physical ability, exposure and practice. The art of dance is also developing your own voice and getting to know the artist behind the athlete that makes the dancer”

A wonderful career

“Queen of Salsa” Anya Katsevman is a two-time World Salsa Champion, coach and choreographer to more than a dozen world champions, noted costume designer, respected salsa congress circuit judge and advocate for international Latin dance who has transformed the sport during her more than 25-year career.

Renowned for her unique coaching methods, Anya’s style blends multiple cultures and dance forms: her eastern European upbringing and the appreciation for Latin dance culture that she developed in the United States; and her ballroom and salsa backgrounds. She demands rigor, discipline and excellence, and uses her understanding of anatomy, physiology and movement while encouraging freedom of expression to turn her students into the top dancers in the world.

Anya trains and choreographs for “Dancing with the Stars Costa Rica” principal dancer Lucia Jimenez (2020 World Bachata, Chacha and Salsa Champion), “America’s Got Talent” stars Harold Rancano and Regan Hirose (9-time World Bachata Champions), the Huracan Dance Company (2019 World Team Salsa Champions), the stars of Quebec’s  Revolucion Adriano Leropoli and Samantha Scali (2017 World Salsa Champions), principal dancers in Carmen to Havana and Back Isabelle Freiberger and Hunter Houde and the USA World Games Olympic salsa team.

Always successful and sharing her knowledge

As a competitor and performer, Anya has won more than 20 world titles including the 2009 and 2010 Salsa World Championships. She is also the 2008 North American Salsa Champion, a two-time San Francisco Open Salsa Champion, two-time New York Congress Salsa Champion, Puerto Rico Open Salsa Champion and La Classique Du Quebec Champion. Anya has starred in touring shows “Burn the Floor ” on Broadway and ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars, in addition to numerous other television productions, stage shows, movies, and showcases in the U.S. She has performed with El Gran Combo, Gilberto Santa Rosa and “The Mambo King” Eddie Torres, and for President Barack Obama.

Anya Katsevman - dancers — Anya Katsevman – dancers

Anya is an ambassador for salsa, helping to expand its popularity worldwide. She believes connection is one of the most important aspects of the human experience, and dance is the best medium to explore how we connect with each other and ourselves. Anya has expanded her dance instruction to include GoDeeper, which she co-founded in 2019 to provide monthly movement classes, individual coaching sessions, and group workshops to promote professional growth and self discovery.

Meet this talented woman

International Salsa Magazine had the pleasure of interviewing Anya recently and invites you to learn a little more about this magnificent artist.

International Salsa Magazine (ISM): How did you discover your passion for Latin Dance?

Anya Katsevman (AK): My brother is a professional ballroom dancer

I started to dance ballroom in 1995 following his footsteps I competed in the international Latin category world wide in 2007 I was teaching in a dance studio in Manhattan and they did a lot of salsa that’s where I was introduced to social dancing I fell in love with the idea that dance is accessible to all people and doesn’t have to be competitive from there my love for salsa turned in to a career choice I decided to study Latin social dance and became a two time world salsa champion for me it was a passion to spread the beauty of dance through teaching as much as performing that did the trick.

ISM: Have you had any obstacle in your professional life? How could you overcome them?

AK: I think when your career is long enough you will probably have many obstacles to overcome and your passion for your craft and the reason you do it is usually stronger than the obstacle in front of you that gives you the drive to overcome it it is hard to narrow specifics down because I’ve had so many my competitive dance partner lived 3000 miles away from me when we won the worlds in 2010 and I just made the commitment to work hard and travel pick up the slack where needed and get the job done regardless I think that was the formula in every struggle.

ISM: What is the achievement that has made you most proud?

AK: I am most proud of all of my students accomplishments I am of course extremely proud and honored to be a world champion but for me the pleasure of having developed other world champion’s especially those who started learning from me from scratch makes me extremely proud beyond all measures I am also very proud of how individual and independent all of my students are the variety and diversity of their dancing makes me really happy.

ISM: In the path of entrepreneurship, how did you manage to find the strategy to grow your business? What are the skills you consider an entrepreneur must have to achieve success?

AK: Honestly I believe success comes from genuine passion and desire it is easy for us to study a successful person after the fact and say which moves appeared strategic but I believe who ever is on their way working toward that goal should do it because they are passionate about each step not because of the end result my business grows because I am committed to my craft and doing it at my best capacity.

I am genuinely passionate about my dance quality my students growth and the subjects I am teaching I study the Industry I watch for what’s missing I ask what contribution would be of most value this doesn’t feel like hard work to me it is my passion my genuine interest and the rest flows when I feel I am doing something strategic or because it’s good for my brand or etc it doesn’t flow the same way feels forced and isn’t as successful so I try to only go with my own flow current interest and most passionate desires.

ISM: Could you give us some advice to maintain discipline, even in complex situations?

AK: Absolutely discipline is hard for anyone when it feels needed and forced so I always try to flip the mindset if I have to do something I’m bored of or am avoiding because it’s hard or tedious I always find something to be excited about instead whether it is dreaming of what the task will do for me or adding something Sensory I enjoy to the task like my favorite sounds smells or visuals or including a friend in the process.

If you focus on what you do like about it it’s much easier to do it. Also discipline is really only hard at first pretty quickly it becomes a habit so if you put more disciplined things in to practice it will all feel like a habitual part of your day and you’ll start to enjoy it and feeling accomplished.

ISM: What would you say to all those young dancers who want to achieve a dream?

AK: They do come true!!!!!

Dream more!!!! Everything is possible want it bad enough to work for it but don’t be afraid to dream those wild dreams if it wasn’t possible you wouldn’t have had the dream in the first place.

Eva Gordillo, psychologist by profession and director Salseros Academy

Eva Gordillo: The so-called Cuban style is the original way of dancing “casino” or “rueda de casino”.

The first steps of this dance were developed in the sports casino in Havana and other dance halls in the Cuban capital at the end of the 1950s, hence its name in Cuba: “–“, as it was originally called “El baile del casino”.

In Barquisimeto, the musical capital of Venezuela, the dancers of Afro-Caribbean rhythms have a place to develop, improve and learn skills with the help of professionals, who achieve the integration of its participants, creating an atmosphere of great joy for all ages.

In this sense, our special guest in Salsa Escrita “La Columna Salsera de Barquisimeto”, through International Salsa Magazine, www.salsamundi.com, is Eva Gordillo, psychologist by profession and director of the dance academy “Salseros Academy”.

Dancers of Salseros Academy Dance Academy

Eva has been a passionate dancer since the age of 13 and today, with only 22 years old, she has toured most of the dance schools in the twilight city and some outside the state of Lara, projecting and developing herself as an instructor of proven hierarchy and reliability.

Welcome Eva to the only salsa magazine in the world, International Salsa Magazine and Salsa Escrita. Thank you, Professor Carlos, for giving me the opportunity to be present in your prestigious salsa column, which is already recognized in my country, the Caribbean, the United States and Europe, thus supporting the entire existing salsa movement in Venezuela.

Eva Gordillo and Members of the Salseros Academy dance academy

Eva, how and when did the idea of having your own dance academy come up? Friend Carlos, on November 26, 2018, I started and materialized my great dream, my own academy and together with my colleagues and friends, Eleazar Hernandez and Manuel Gamez, we started this adventure, from which today, we are harvesting many fruits and we feel extremely happy with this project and grateful, mainly with God, because everything is thanks to Him.

Excellent, very good friend, by the way, what kind of dances do you develop and teach in “Salseros Academy”? In our academy we give group and personalized classes, for all ages, conditions and levels. Our strength is Latin rhythms, especially Salsa, as our name indicates.

We focus on their different dance ramifications, such as New York style mambo, Salsa en Linea or Los Angeles style, Cuban Timba en Linea and En Rueda or “Salsa Casino”. Amiga Eva, in addition to salsa, do you teach other dance rhythms? Indeed Carlos, in addition we teach some Cuban music derivatives such as the chachachá, pachanga and boogaloo.

We are also projecting ourselves strongly with the bachata and its variants, as well as other Latin genres, such as merengue, among others.

During a visit to the headquarters of “Salseros Academy” in the city of Barquisimeto, by the Latin American correspondent team of International Salsa Magazine, we were able to see the excellent, comfortable and spacious facilities, located on Carrera 16 between Calle 61 and Avenida Rotaria, where Eva is accompanied by four experienced instructors specialized in different dance styles. The attendance and registration of participants is massive, given the proven quality and recognized throughout the city of Barquisimeto.

Friend Eva Gordillo, do you also have other projects at a musical and danceable level? That’s right teacher, at present we are heading to be producers of salsa events, thus promoting the Latin dance movement in our state Lara.

By the way, last year we had the pleasure of carrying out an event called “La Gran Gala de la Salsa” (The Great Salsa Gala), on the occasion of the celebration of the 1st anniversary of our academy, in which the dancers were able to enjoy the “Kadencia Latina” and “Jossy y su Banda” orchestras. Digital platforms and contacts for those interested in dancing at Salseros Academy? Friend Carlos, they are: Instagram: @salserosacademy, @evacarolgz, Whatsapp: 0424-5697908, Facebook: Grupo Salseros.

On behalf of the academy, my team and students, we would like to thank you for your support and projection of our work through your column “Salsa Escrita” in International Salsa Magazine. We wish you success and blessings to continue driving the Venezuelan salsa movement.

By Carlos Colmenares, ISM Journalist Correspondents, Barquisimeto, Venezuela

The world congress you were waiting for is in Spain

Salsa returns to Spain in April, after the successful Congress in 2022, this year it was decided to hold the Salsa Spain World Congress in a new city, Valencia. The entire event will take place very close to the sea, and will be full of great artists in different fields of this tropical genre, along with demonstrations of other genres. Know all the details in the following lines.

Valencia receives the Salsa Spain World Congress

Valencia is a charming and welcoming city with a beautiful Mediterranean climate. Modern architecture mixes with ancient art, the city’s history and culture, to offer visitors a unique destination. The beaches, museums, parks, and festivals contribute to its vibrant cultural scene.

The City of Arts and Sciences is the pride of Valencia. Here, you can explore historic temples or ultra-modern buildings, surrounded by gardens paved with colorful mosaics. This Spanish city also offers numerous culinary options, from traditional tapas to excellent restaurants serving modern Spanish and international cuisine.

And it is precisely this destination that has been chosen to host the Salsa Spain World Congress 2023. The Salsa Spain World Congress is an annual salsa dance festival that is expected to take place every year in Spain. The event highlights the main styles and trends of salsa dedicated to professional dancers, dance enthusiasts, musicians and followers of the genre.

Last year the festival attracted hundreds of attendees who enjoyed spectacular dance shows, master classes, hands-on workshops, musical showcases, and some well-organized competitions. This colorful event will have a program dedicated to salsa and other tropical rhythms.

From April 14 to 16, Valencia will open its doors to all those professionals, and lovers of Latin dance to enjoy everything that the Salsa Spain World Congress will offer. All the events will take place at the Hotel Versus Gandía Palace, a beautiful brand new hotel, whose facilities are only 100 meters from Playa Gandía.

Great artists will highlight each activity

There are many artists confirmed for this great congress and there are still many who are confirming their participation. There will also be incredible performances by the following DJs, who will further elevate the party mood.

Regarding programming, the following information is handled, but is subject to change:

THURSDAY (a pre-party is not included):

23h – 24h Workshop
00h – 04h Part

FRIDAY:

15h – 20h Workshops
11:30h Doors Open
24h – 1:30h Shows
01h – 06h Party

SATURDAY:

11 – 14h Workshops
14h – 20h Workshops
Doors Opening 11pm
23:30h – 1h Shows
1:30 – 06h Party

SUNDAY:

11 – 14h Workshops
17h – 20h Pool Party
22h – 23:30h Night workshop
23:30h. – 04h Party

To know the price of the tickets, which will depend on what kind of ticket you are looking for, and in what condition you go, you can check the prices on the LaSalsaDelBaile portal. They also make available a WhatsApp number, and an email for any questions or doubts: [email protected].