Search Results for: Música Latina

Yma América

Yma América “Every time I go out to play, to sing, I show my training and above all I put the name of Venezuela up and without speaking much.”

Yma América, she reaffirms that; We have done a good job, making our Latin music and culture known.

The trace that many Venezuelan artists, who have decided to settle abroad, are leaving behind is passing through the world, because they distinguish themselves by their achievements and place the name of Venezuela in a big way, making their fellow citizens proud of their successes, such is the case of Yma América Martínez, born in Caracas and based in Germany for almost 30 years.

With a musical vein that he inherited from his parents who points us out, they were the fundamental pillar in his training and career, and why not, for having grown up in one of the most musical parishes in Caracas, the San Agustín del Sur neighborhood, Marín sector, from where great characters have come out including his uncle the choreographer and dancer Carlos Enrique Orta (+), who traveled with his dance company, “Coreoarte” great stages throughout the world.

His musical beginnings were with a group created by his father “Los group created by his father “Los Azulitos Juveniles” where he sang aguinaldos with his sisters and neighbors, and then entered the San Agustín Choir at Don Pedro School “Fe y Alegría”.

(Yma América) She received her academic preparation at the “José Ángel Lamas” School of Music and the “Simón Bolívar” National and Youth Orchestra, to continue her cello studies in Paris at the “Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris” and song and composition at the CODARTS of the World Conservatory of Music in Rotterdam.

Yma América is a singer, musician, songwriter, arranger, plays the violoncello and the cuatro. It’s clear and powerful voice makes it very popular throughout Europe. He has worked with different groups; Kimbiza, Latin Sampling, Francisco Zumaqué, Connecting Latina, Mirta & The Goalgetters, Duo Ymaya, Cubop City Big Band, among others. He has participated in major jazz and classical music festivals, such as the Ruhr Guitar Festival, the North Sea Jazz Festival, the RuhrTriennale, the MusikTriennale Köln and the Elblandfestspiele. In 2004 his record made her the winner of the international competition “Voice and Guitar” in Saarbrücken – Germany, obtaining the first prize with the Colombian guitarist Andrés Mendoza Villamil.

Another relevant fact in the life of this artist can be seen in the song “Play it”, a song that he composed and sang for the commercial of the Bacardi company, which became a success in the summer of 1998 and 2000. He participated in the musical “King of The Lions” with WDR Big Band in the main role of Lilipuz’s children’s concert “Die schlaue Mama Sambona”; and has performed more than 30 times with the production “Adventure Weltumrundung” of the Fly & Help Foundation.

She has on her shoulders the responsibility of a great project that he has in Germany and wishes to perform in his native country, to make music with percussion for deaf people called “FEEL SOUNDS”, due to this proposal in 2010 he was awarded La Disability Policy of the Cologne Innovation Award (KIB).

He assures us that; “The language of music is the same throughout the planet,” with this phrase we enter to discover the virtues, dreams and desires of the interviewee.

How is Yma América defined?

“It is not easy to answer this, but I think I am a very patient and calm person, I would say too much. I do not give myself a bad life, fortunately I have done what I wanted, thanks to the support of my parents and family in general”. “I am a character who, thanks to the gods, things and opportunities have been offered to me, some have taken advantage of them, some have not, there are some that I have not realized in time that they have been there waiting for me and I have lost.

But I can say that I have lived my life, with the ups, downs, good and bad, without involving anyone and thus I have been leading and learning.”

Part of his training was obtained through the Conservatory of Music “José Ángel Lamas” and the National and Youth Orchestra “Simón Bolívar”

What do you thank and how he gives back his training with them?

“I thank you for part of my training as the musician that I am, because the other part I owe to my family and my people where I come from.” “-Retribute-“, I think that every time I go out to play, to sing, I show my training and above all I put the name of Venezuela up and without speaking much”.

What do you think of the phrase “Nobody is a Prophet in his Land”?

“-Sincerely do not know what you mean-“. “I don’t think I would have started singing professionally if I had stayed in Venezuela. I was quiet there, I played Violoncello in the National and Youth Orchestra of Venezuela, I played and made substitutions for cellists in the Philharmonic Orchestra of Venezuela and in the Municipal Orchestra of Caracas, I sang solo of vacilón in each party and family celebration, and Actually I was very calm in my house. ”

“I don’t think I’m a” prophet “where I am, I always do my best and people value it and often criticize it, of course.”

Why did you choose Germany and not another Latin American country? How many years have you lived in German Colony?

“I left Caracas in 1986 to Paris-France, thanks to my grandmother working in a wealthy family home and they offered to help a family member to study abroad, specifically in France because they had relatives there. First my uncle Carlos Enrique Orta – Choreographer-dancer with a lot of international professional career – left, many years before and then I wanted to “take the floor” after a while ”.

“Actually I wanted to study violoncello for 1 year in Paris and return to Venezuela, but at the end of my 1st year of study at the “Ècolle Normale de Musique de Paris”, they offered me to stay and I did not refuse. The last year of studies in Paris I did not have much money to live and in Köln-Germany lived the musicians of ‘COREOARTE’ (Dance company created by my uncle Carlos Enrique Orta with dancers and musicians of San Agustín), at that time I was leaving every weekend, on Fridays after school, from Paris to Köln and I returned on Monday at 6 am and arrived directly to classes in the afternoon.

I did that because we played; Renis Mendoza, Felipe “Mandingo” Rengifo, Charles Peñalver, Orlando “El Diablo” Blanco and I was in the street to collect some money and brighten the streets and faces of the Germans, and with that I could buy food for the whole week in Paris until the following Friday that I was returning to Köln … and so for many months until after finishing my studies, I decided to move to Köln and the first months I lived at the home of Renis Mendoza who shared his apartment with another ‘Coreoarte’ boy and then I got my room sharing an apartment with a German girl. ”

“I lived first in Paris from 1986 to 1990, 4 years and from 1990 to the present day in Köln, next year I am 30 years old based in Germany, I say “I have my bed in Köln “, because in reality I am almost never in my home, thanks to the music and the life that has given me so much ”

“I never thought, nor have I imagined living in another country in Latin America, I think that from here, I’m going to my house … Pa ‘Venezuela (to Venezuela)!”

How has been the receptivity of the German public with Latin rhythms, there was no resistance?

“At this moment there is a stagnation in the development of activities with Latin music, but in the same way there is more and more receptivity, I know we have done a good job, making our Latin music and culture known, there are several Salsa bands with German musicians, there are more and more dancers, more dance classes, many have understood the message and others interpret it to its wave but there is a lot of atmosphere and places with Latin music, with Dj of Salsa-Merengue and the crap they call Reggaeton music”.

“I must say that some years ago there were more Salsa orchestras with German musicians and there were more Salsa Festivals that unfortunately has been reduced by the phenomenon” Salsa Dj “I think and I am almost certain, because it is cheaper and people dance the same. That has done a lot of damage to live music. ”

What memories do you have of being under the baton of these great maestro Abreu, Aldermaro Romero, Carlos Riazuelo and Yehudi Menuhin?

“I don’t really remember at this moment any particular experience or directly with them. Although I had more contact with José Antonio Abreu, the experience was the same as with many of the ONJV members. But of all of them, the security with which they could dominate and control the amount of musicians an Orchestra has, and especially that in style and classical pieces, the feeling that is transmitted is that of the conductor and not that of the conductor musician or performer. Of course they were wonderful experiences. ”

How many compositions have you performed?

“Honestly, not many, about 12 but arrangements have been made, played and recorded, only 4.”

Your parents have been promoters of your career, how do you thank them?

-Chacha! –

“My parents are the reason for my profession, from them is that this Yma America that you are interviewing for my work has come out. Thanks to their way of being, their offspring, their education, I thank them for what I am and what I have done … My life. ”

Are you constantly growing anecdotes of your time at the “Normal School of Music in Paris” and the “Conservatory of World Music”?

“In Paris, I think, having to change the mentality of learning everything little by little and without hurry like in Venezuela, to the need to charge the “batteries” because here they do not wait, I have to go for it and comply daily, in addition to that that impelled me to learn the French language faster ”.

“And in Holland, going from being a student to being the singer of the Cubop City Big Band of the Prof. of the conservatory Martin Verdonk (percussion), Leslie López (bassist) and directed by the drummer Prof. Lucas van Merkwijk that was strong, especially at the beginning that it was to understand how they interpreted Latin music that is something other than Latin Jazz, there we started with Mambo of one, and as Leslie López was the bassist of Puerto Rico there was a balance and there we were learning and obtaining experiences all alike. ”

How do you feel about working alongside the Dutch percussionist and producer Lucas Van Merwijk and being the vocalist of the hit band “Cubop City Big Band”?

-Chévere! – assures us

“Working with Lucas and with those wonderful musicians, people with an extraordinary musical level, is very relaxed, zero stress, there we have all learned, failures and successes have gone hand in hand with everyone. Next year (2020), with CUBOP CITY Big Band we will be 25 years old together and surely something good will be done, something wonderful is being cooked, with maestro Edy Martínez – Colombian pianist, composer and arranger -, of course, also thanks to the Lucas’s wife, Roosje who does a great job, is the organizer/ manager of that crowd and all the tours. ”

Have you surrounded yourself and trained with musicians who, due to their quality and career, are considered the best, what do you think you still have to do?

“I have done and learned many things from life, both personally and musically, I believe and I know that I am missing a lot, now I have to do and learn.”

Hasn’t language been an obstacle?

“No, musically speaking, no, the language of music is the same on the entire planet.” “The French language I had to learn quickly because I came from Venezuela directly to the Conservatory of music, in Holland the classes are in English and I did not have to learn Dutch and the German language has been strong in other daily situations or life in general.”

In which festivals have you participated in both Europe and Venezuela?

– Oh! – “How many exactly I cannot tell you, but in these 30 years living in Germany and making music professionally there have been many, in almost all of Europe.”

There is a project with deaf people in Germany, which we hope can also be carried out in Venezuela. Tell us about that musical project and why did you decide that this topic should be precisely?

“TO FEEL (FEEL) – SOUNDS (SOUNDS), but as my name I put” FEEL SOUNDS “in view of the fact that the sense of touch is much more developed in deaf people and my work is based on making music with percussion, so that the vibration of sound is what they feel. ”

“It is a project that I have had in mind for many years, 1980, when I was studying” Hospitality and Tourism Administration “at the University College of Caracas and doing a field job in San José de Río Chico, at the end of my activity and visiting people, they gave me a party, drums and fulías until dawn, there were 5 drummers, dad and 4 children and in the end dad tells me that one of them was deaf. And the young man played very well, I never imagined he could be deaf, he played perfect and we even danced salsa. And from there I had the idea of working and teaching percussion to the deaf. ”

“After all that time, it was that in one of those turns that gives life, I had the courage and I started studying” German Sign Language “and I planned my workshops, I went to the deaf schools in Köln, many percussionist friends helped me Renis lent me his drums and plays with us each presentation at the end of the workshops, other friends lent me his rehearsal room to teach, my Sign Language teacher supported me looking for money to move on … and so…

This year I will be 10 years of having developed it here in Germany and the experience has been wonderful, every day I learn more and more of that world that I cannot imagine, but seeing everyone’s face when they feel the vibration of the sound when they play a drum – event listeners, people without hearing problems – that feeling is uniquely Fascinating! ”.

Working with children and adults with special conditions is a great challenge. What do you feel when you see that experience come true?

“I feel that I must move on, I have already been invited to several cities in Germany, the Netherlands and Poland and I want to continue doing it, take it to my country and fulfill my desire to develop it there, carry it out, execute it and make it known in my Venezuela.

Although several years ago I attended a conference held by FEVENSOR Federation of the Deaf of Venezuela, with the assistance of several Latin American countries, Spain and Australia, I made an exhibition and presentation of several deaf young people who attended, with the participation and collaboration of Naifer Hernández and Juan Carlos “El Indio”, Betancourt percussionists from San Agustín / Marín, but everything remained there. Of course, I must always be present in order to move forward, it is like that.

I lack the financial support because the program, project, the subjects, the desire, the yearning and the cravings are already there, but I keep moving and insisting, searching and “cursing” until I find the support itself. ”

What new projects are coming?

“We recently started with a new project for the Latin American Music Trio, from Mexico to Argentina, with Prof. Thomas Böttcher, German pianist, Renis Mendoza Venezuelan percussionist, also from San Agustín / Marín and I singing and playing Violoncello, we are in the preparations, making videos, propaganda, looking for program and composing, also in conversations and looking for an agency to sell it and move it forward. The 25th anniversary of Cubop City Big band next year, has finished looking for the musical program for those celebratory concerts. ”

“Continue with my musical project“ FEEL SOUNDS ”, teaching my classes and music workshops to groups of children, youth and deaf adults and from January 1st, start giving talks on this new proposal to students of” Education and Special Pedagogy “to keep moving forward with this and carry it forward until it reaches Venezuela and the entire world. ”

What does the San Agustin parish mean to you?

“It is the neighborhood where I was born, there is all my childhood and adolescence, I love it and I respect its inhabitants very much, besides there is my family whom I love with all my being, there have always been many valuable people, thanks to that work that artists have been doing and all that cultured and fighter generation that lives and has always maintained that training and information contact with the new generations. San Agustín is the good people who live there, the rest is everywhere in the world”.

Venezuela in one word?

“-MUSIC-” in capital letters.

Eiling Blanco Latin America Correspondent

The legacy of Leopoldo Pineda, the ambassador of the trombone in La Maquinaria Fania All Stars

The Dominican trombonist was part of Las Estrellas de Fania and stood out for his virtuosity on his instrument, as commented by musicians Joe de Jesús and Willie Álvarez.

Leopoldo Pineda, “Palma Sola” was born on May 8, 1939 in a small batey called Palma Sola, in Barahona, southern province, Dominican Republic.

El legado de Leopoldo Pineda, el embajador del trombón en La Maquinaria Fania All Stars

He passed away on June 27, 2019 in New York City. Due to his solvency on the instrument, Leopoldo was a participant in hundreds of salsa recordings for more than three decades.

At 80 years of age, Leopoldo Pineda, the Dominican trombonist who earned the respect of his colleagues in the most courageous years of salsa, has passed away.

A case of diabetes had undermined his health in recent years and the fatal outcome came on Thursday, June 27 in New York City.

In recent years, Pineda had been retired from musical activity, due to health problems and diabetes.

Willie Álvarez y Leopoldo Pineda (Foto Willie Álvarez)

He began at a very young age to seek out musical instruments. In his hometown, Pineda would often visit a neighbor’s house to watch him rehearse different instruments.

There he began his first lessons, learning to play trumpet and tambora.

He studied music at school for compulsory education and there he developed certain tropical rhythms.

In Barahona, there was a music school where Leopoldo graduated and later, because of his talent, he was referred to the National Conservatory of Music in Santo Domingo.

As he grew in knowledge, musically speaking, he learned to play several instruments, among them, the Saxophone and the Trombone, the latter being his weapon of choice for the rest of his life.

In his native Barahona, he was known as “Chanchito”, but it was at the Conservatory where the nickname “Palma Sola” was born, identifying him to his classmates by the name of the town where he was born.

After participating in various groups in the Republic, Leopoldo went to New York City and there he started playing with Tito Rodriguez’s orchestra in the 60’s.

He also recorded with Los Cachimbimbitos and Los Cachimbales.

He also recorded with Ismael Rivera’s Los Cachimbos and was producer of one of Milly Quesada’s first albums.

Musician Jimmy Bosch used to include Leopoldo Pineda in the select group of trombonists from whom he learned. Willie Colón, el Malo del Bronx, had emotional words for don Leo. Indeed, the Dominican Pineda is part of the glorious history of the best salsa, the one that was born in the neighborhood and that has deeply penetrated in this part of South America.

Alfredo de la Fe posted on his Facebook account: “Leopoldo Pineda, great musician, we played together with Típica 73 and Fania All Stars.

Lepoldo Pineda Trombonita de la Típica 73 y Fania All Stars

Then he began to walk the best paths of Salsa, being part of orchestras such as Típica 73, Orquesta Harlow, Willie Colón, Fania All Stars, Sar All Stars, Jose Mangual Jr, La Conquistadora, Jose Alberto “El Canario”, Rubén Blades, Orlando Watussi, Laba Sosseh, Monguito El Único and Héctor Lavoe, among others.

Fania Records

Mayito Rivera “El Poeta de la Rumba” was the distinctive voice of Los Van Van de Cuba

Mario ‘Mayito’ Rivera is, without a doubt, one of Cuba’s most outstanding contemporary singers.

For more than 20 years he was the distinctive voice and recognizable face of Cuba’s most famous musical group, Los Van Van.

Regardless of the musical genre he performs -rumba, son, salsa, bolero or timba, modern or traditional style, with strength and dynamism or with delicacy and tenderness, Mayito Rivera’s performances, with passages adorned with tremors and coloraturas, are always stellar.

Mario Enrique Rivera Godínez was born on January 19, 1966 in Pinar del Río, a province located in the westernmost part of Cuba and famous for its handmade Havana cigars.

It was there that ‘Mayito’ began his musical training as a child. Later, he moved to Havana, where he studied percussion at the renowned National School of Art (ENA), which he later extended with advanced studies at the Higher Institute of Art (ISA).

After completing his training, which lasted a total of 15 years, Mayito Rivera joined the musical ensemble of the well-known Cuban singer Albita Rodríguez.

Later, he played bass in the Moncada Group, a formation belonging to the Nueva Trova Cubana movement, whose renovating spirit is firmly rooted in traditional Cuban rhythms.

At the age of 26, Mayito was discovered by Juan Formell, the director of Los Van Van, an orchestra that by then had already become a legend. Initially hired to play bass and sing backing vocals, he soon established himself as the group’s lead vocalist.

Over the next 20 years, Mayito Rivera, more than any other musician, put his stamp on Los Van Van.

He burst onto the scene as the representative of a new generation of musicians, and his fresh style contributed to the group’s endurin Singer of the group’s countless salsa hits that were played in the discotheques, he has been nominated twice for a Grammy and won it once.

Mario ‘Mayito’ Rivera es, sin duda, uno de los cantantes contemporáneos más destacados de Cuba

At the same time, he was also working on other projects: in 1999 he released his first solo album, Pa’ bachatear.

Chappotín, in which he transports the past to our days with a brilliant interpretation of traditional Conjunto Chappotín songs.

But Mayito Rivera is not only a singer and percussionist. In 2005, he released Negrito Bailador, his second solo album, produced by the Timba label of the German music publisher Termidor, in which he performs only songs of his own composition.

The music, with a rumbero tinge, is fresh, lively and of timeless quality. Subsequently, Negrito bailador was marketed in the United States under the title Llegó la hora and was immediately nominated for a Grammy in the Best Salsa Album of the Year category.

Mayito Rivera is probably the most requested special guest by other Cuban orchestras; so much so, that in recent years he has sung with almost all of Cuba’s star casts.

Nor has his career suffered any interruptions since he left Los Van Van in 2011: currently, Mayito Rivera tours the whole world relentlessly, giving concerts in countries as diverse as the United States, Canada, Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Argentina, France, Germany, Denmark, Spain and Italy.

The great popularity and multiple talents of this ‘poet of rumba’ are reflected in his performances as guest singer for salsa greats such as Oscar D’Leon, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Issac Delgado, Adalberto Alvarez, Mayimbe, Son Como Son, Timba Live, Pupy y Los que Son Son, Charanga Latina, Havana D’Primera, Tumbao Habana and Elio Reve Jr, to name just a few.

In 2012, Mayito Rivera established himself as a permanent member of Los Soneros de Verdad, the most successful orchestra of the moment dedicated to son and its related rhythms, led by singer Luis Frank Arias.

Two sold-out world tours of three months each in Europe, Asia, Russia and the United States attest to the high quality and great interest in this amalgam of traditional son and the vocal artistry of Cuba’s most dynamic rumbero.

Mayito Durante más de 20 años fue la voz distintiva y el rostro reconocible del más famoso grupo musical cubano, Los Van Van

In 2014, the superstar will be touring with his own orchestra. But before that, from June to September 2013, he will give a series of concerts with Los Soneros de Verdad performing songs from his as yet unreleased album Alma de Sonero.

During this project he will return to his musical roots: son and rumba, bolero and guaguancó, both in their traditional interpretation and in their more modern variants.

The album Alma de sonero includes 11 tracks and will be released in September 2013 worldwide success.

The musicians include Alexander Abreu (Havana D’Primera) on trumpet, San Miguel Pérez on tres and Luis A. Chacón ‘Aspirina’ Bruzón on bongos and cajón.

Website: Mayito Rivera

The Conjunto Bailatino “La Resistencia Salsera” again “Antes los ojos del Mundo” and here, “No hay quinto malo”

On April 21, 1991, in Venezuela, Bailatino “La Resistencia Salsera” was founded.

The Bailatino Ensemble, was born as a need to revalue and revitalize the Caribbean musical heritage so diverse and original; a heritage that refuses to die because it is part of our Cultural Identities, that is to say, it does not obey the dictates of fashion, nor the whims of the record companies, but our sense of belonging and our pride for the cultural contribution we have given to the world.

Bailatino represents the Salsa Resistance, Salsa without Concessions; it expresses the influences of the best musical groups that interpret the “Salsa Dura”, but, with its own identity.

Bailatino Llegó... Con Todo!!! 2003 — Bailatino Llegó… Con Todo!!! 2003

The versatility, trajectory and professionalism of each of its members are known and recognized not only in the salsa world, but also in the wide range of Venezuelan music.

The musicians that make up Bailatino are constantly invited to accompany the best national and foreign orchestras that visit Venezuela; they are also requested in important international stages;

They have recorded different musical genres and are members of various Venezuelan orchestras. José “Cheo” Navarro, Marcial Istúriz, Edgar “Dolor” Quijada, Felipe Blanco, Johan Muñoz, Eliel Rivero, Alberto Crespo, José “Mortadelo” Soto, and Alexis Escobar (R.I.P) and replaced by Leo Pérez, make up a compendium of talent, knowledge and experiences whose result cannot be other than excellence and quality expressed in each of their interpretations.

Bailatino Llegó... Con Todo!!! 2005 — Bailatino Llegó… Con Todo!!! 2005

Bailatino is the result of national and international musical influences, such as: La Dimensión Latina, Federico y su Combo Latino, El Grupo Mango, La Salsa Mayor and Tabaco y sus Metales, just to mention a few Venezuelan groups; likewise, Eddie Palmieri, Charlie Palmieri, Grupo Libre, Grupo Experimental Newyorkino, Ricardo Ray, Sonora Ponceña, Fania All Star , Mon Rivera, among others.

In 1995, Bailatino debuted in the framework of the International Theater Festival of Caracas, coincidentally in the spaces that previously was one of the temples of salsa and dance, the now disappeared “Sabor Latino”, formerly called “La Pelota”, sacred contexts of salsa and the nightlife of Caracas.

Bailatino has become one of the most popular and requested groups by the legion of “rumberos” and “rumberas”; salsa men and women, true experts and connoisseurs in the matter.

La Resistencia 2008, Bailatino — La Resistencia 2008

Who organize throughout the year the best salsa parties in Caracas, promoted and spread by means of oral tradition or selling tickets in the famous “Tío Pepe” of Sabana Grande, in Caracas.

These CDs are dedicated to all of them, because with their encouragement we were able to make our dream come true.

Bailatino has also performed on various stages in our capital and internationally:

Museo de Bellas Artes, Corp. Group, Espacios Unión, Trasnocho Cultural del Paseo Las Mercedes; Banco Central de Venezuela, Colegio de Ingenieros, Colegio de Médicos, El Maní es Así; “El Rincón Caribeño (currently “Rumba Aché”), Hawai Kai, El Atrio, Centro de arte la Estancia, celebrated its tenth anniversary at Casa del Artista, Aula Magna, first Metropolitan Salsa Festival, Herman among others. Internationally Bailatino makes his first presentation at the Jorge Isaac theater in Cali Colombia, he was invited to the festival “Salsa al parque” in Bogota Colombia, in 2007 he travels to the city of Dax France for the festival “Toros y Salsa”, in 2008 he travels to Mexico and that same year he performed at the Salsa summer festival in Cali, in that city, he also performed at the prestigious Changó nightclub; in 2009 we were in Australia; all these presentations with resounding success and acceptance.

Bailatino is a network of alliances, solidarity and complicity between musicians, composers, arrangers and friends from different professions and trades, who have contributed their grain of sand so that the Bailatino project, once the proposal was approved by music lovers and dancers, would not remain only in multitudinous presentations and excellent comments from its heterogeneous audience that multiplies every day.

Bailatino, is musical memory transmitted from one generation to another, reinterpreted with all the care and respect that the great masters deserve, who have contributed to design the musical map of Latin America.

The Bailatino group vindicates, once again, the place of honor that Latin Music deserves, not only for the Caribbean, Andean and Afro-American countries; it is a proposal within the framework of a globalized society, but also in a historical moment in which our cultural identities have a great capital to contribute in this multicultural and multiethnic counterpoint that currently exists in the world, in diverse fields and of course in the musical plane.

Currently they are preparing their fifth production entitled “No hay quinto malo”, and at the same time they have released two excellent songs with the brand of “Bailatino”, “Lo mismo de siempre” from the pen of José “Cheo” Navarro and a masterful arrangement José Soto “Mortadelo” in the vocal part Edgar “Dolor” Quijada, the second song entitled “Salsero Soy” composition and arrangements by pianist Alberto Crespo in the voice of the talented young Francisco Rojas and as special guest in this production the Sonero del siglo XXI Herman Olivera performing the song “El que te ama” another excellent composition and arrangements by Alberto Crespo.

Bailatino y Herman Olivera el Sonero del Siglo XXI — Bailatino and Herman Olivera el Sonero del Siglo XXI

For next Friday May 5, 2023 from 8:00 PM they will be performing at the public works club of Maracay in Venezuela with the help of “Taylor Productions” celebrating their 28th anniversary, an event that promises for the public of Maracay since La Ciudad Jardín is their second home.

El Conjunto Bailatino “La Resistencia Salsera”

Carlos David Suarez

North America - USA - Texas - Houston

Carlos David Suarez, Professional dancer, choreographer, instructor and musician

Art has been in his veins since he was born, and Carlos David Suarez has cultivated his artistic gift, going far and traveling the world teaching and learning

He was born in Caracas, Venezuela, and grew up in the west of the city in the 23 de Enero, a well-known area to give birth and raise artists, athletes and talented people.

Carlos knew from a very young age that he wanted to be a musician (timbalero) … At 7 or 8 years old, his parents took him to the house of one of the best percussionists in Venezuela and from that moment he began his career in the art world.

Later, his mother could not take him to music classes anymore and unfortunately had to leave them aside, and continue with his primary studies. Although in one way or another, he was always connected with the stage and the dance. At school, he was part of plays, acts, traditional dances and everything related to the arts.

Years later, he started playing soccer, and soon realized that he was in love with the sport, and began training hard to thrive within teams.

One of his main strengths is discipline, so he applied it to both: art and sport. He came to play on good teams and was seen himself playing professionally outside of his native country.

“Yes, I always saw myself outside Venezuela, not because of any specific situation, but because as a child I saw myself traveling the world with music, art, or sports.”

Years later, when he was 14, his older brother took him to Imagenes Latinas, an incredible artistic dance school where he trained, and the only one he attended for at least 8 years. There he studied ballet, contemporary dance, jazz, hip hop, funky, Latin genres and above all; Salsa.

“I had great teachers who gave me the opportunity, seeing that desire to be a better artist every day, especially Arelis Guevara, owner and choreographer of the company”

After many efforts, sacrifices, study and, above all, hours after hours of rehearsals, Carlos become the first dancer of the professional company for three consecutive years. He traveled with the company to many national and international events, conferences and TV shows … South America, USA, Europe and Asia.

After his stay in the company, he decided to take other roads, take his own path and do new things. It was part of a ballet where he made musicals and all kinds of varied shows. He learned a lot about other disciplines such as tap, flamenco, nationalist dance, tango; and even a little acting.

He was in the ranks of this ballet for two years and then took his path as a soloist. For the first time, he had the opportunity to travel outside his country; to Miami.

“I was working on famous nightclub shows; then I went to Los Angeles to work with another dance company that I was in for a short time and then I went to Panama. ”

He worked for a short time in Panama; he returned for a short time to Venezuela, and moved to Casablanca, Morocco, where he worked in Salsa and Bachata shows. After two years, and to continue evolving in his artistic career, he decided to go to Europe. He arrived to the city of Amsterdam, Holland, where he was doing shows and workshops at congresses as a soloist.

Soon, he moved to Germany to pursue his dance training … He lived in Germany for two years, worked at various dance schools, and began to expand his horizons, making himself known at Salsa conferences throughout Germany, Europe and Africa. Then after another job offer, and pursuing more dreams and learning, he moved to Milano, Italy, where he lived for a couple of years and the opportunities to go to conferences and festivals were multiplying, giving classes and workshops in Europe, Africa and the United States.

At the time of this interview, Carlos is based in the United States completing art projects with other companies.

“I have had the joy of playing as a musician, and working with excellent companies, dancers, famous awards and great artists such as Juan Luis Guerra, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Pitbull, Chino & Nacho, El Gran Combo de PR, Los Adolescentes, among others. .. ”

Carlos Suárez continues to study, train and learn more and more from this career, which in his opinion is infinite to learn. He continues to work as an instructor, choreographer and dancer, doing shows at many festivals, giving his best at every step, respecting his work, image, integrity and ethics.

Get to know Carlos David Suarez more closely

International Salsa Magazine (ISM): Define in 5 lines, who is Carlos Suarez?

Carlos Suarez (CS):

A person who respects everyone, considering that we are equal, and each one has a different knowledge, talent and strength. A person who aspired, fought and achieved his dream of being an artist, despite all the experiences. Lover to be able to help and teach everyone. Someone who always gives all the support and love to his family and friends. Very disciplined with himself and with his students.

ISM: What do you enjoy most about your profession?

CS: Being able to get to know many countries, cultures, new people, and above all, being able to inspire others to believe in a discipline such as art.

ISM On what platforms and upcoming events (face-to-face and virtual we will see you)?

CS: To see me on platforms or social media, you can go to my Instagram: @casu__ or my Facebook page: CaSu – Dance & Beats. On these two platforms I always leave all my videos of classes, shows, workshops, musicals, etc. Right now due to the pandemic I do not have specific information on where I will be presenting myself, but if you follow me on the social media, you will know just when I know it.

ISM: How do you see yourself in 5 years?

CS: Good question …

I still see myself exercising my career as an artist and dedicating myself much more to music, which is one of the things that I’m most passionate about, and I haven’t had the opportunity to dedicate myself 100%. I see myself as an even more trained person and with much more knowledge, I also see myself dedicating love to a family and above all … I see myself being happy without hurting anyone.

ISM: What is your advice for those young people who, like you, are fighting for their dreams in the dance world?

CS: My advice is to never let anyone make fun of your dreams, nor do you make fun of the dreams of others … I believed, I bet on myself, and I won … I am the artist I wanted to be and I still have a long way to go, but all this does not come alone … It is a process that costs a lot, studying, preparing, always staying mentally and physically fit, learning languages so that they can defend themselves in the world and, above all, be people who love and respect their work … Art.