Search Results for: Salsa music

Live The Salsero Rhythm In Asia

Thailand and Hong Kong are the two countries on the Asian continent that begin January with the sound of Salsa

couple dancing to Ritmo Salsero in Asia in Samui — Thailand and Hong Kong are the first two countries to start January to the Salsa rhythm

2022 starts in Asia to the Salsero rhythm with Dance Classes and a Festival. Thailand (located in Southeast Asia) is the first country to hold a Latin music festival after two years of cessation of social events due to the pandemic. Also, Hong Kong does its part, announcing the new season of Salsa Classes from the first week of this month. So don’t wait any longer and keep reading to find out the details of each event related to Latin music.

Koh Samui Latin Festival (4th Sensual Edition)

Couple dressed in colorful clothing dancing at Koh Samui Latin Festival — Koh Samui Latin Festival starts on January 13th from 9 AM

Koh Samui is the third largest island in Thailand. It has beautiful beaches and is located on the southern coast of the country. In this main island destination, the Koh Samui Latin Festival will take place in its fourth sensual edition at the Resort & Hotel Fair House Beach.

This one-of-a-kind festival with Latin morning beach parties (Four days), nightly training camps, workshops (from 10 AM to 5 PM), social dances, and themed shows (starting at 11 PM) with professional DJs will begin on Thursday, January 13th from 9 AM and will end on Sunday, January 16th at 4 PM.

The dance floor for the entire festival is 2,700 square feet. The large living room is equipped with air conditioning, a light system, and a quality sound system.

The beach parties at sunset will also take place at the Fair House Beach Resort & Hotel between 5 PM and 8 PM specifically at the “Sea Paint Beach Bar” near the beach with DJs playing the international hits of Salsa, Bachata, and Kizomba hits in the chill-out style.

The price for the four days of the festival is $ 75 (Full Pass) and includes an official festival t-shirt, access to all workshops (excluding training camps), entry to the three theme and beach parties, the Jack & Jill, and the shows.

The event venue, Fair House Beach Resort & Hotel is located on a hillside right next to Koh Samui’s Chaweng Noi Beach. Within the vicinity of the hotel, you will find a wide range of shops, numerous restaurants, cafes, bars, and other entertainment places.

Venue: Fair House Beach Resort & Hotel. Koh samui 124-124 / 1-2 Moo 3 Tambon Bophut, Amphur Koh Samui Suratthani 84320, Thailand

Salsa After Work

Couple dancing salsa with masks — End your workday dancing Salsa in the company of Dance With Style on Mondays and Wednesdays at Rula Live and Fire ‘N’

For eight years (2014) the Rula Live bar has delivered its premises to Salsa every Monday from 8 PM with free Salsa classes at all levels with Dance With Style. This Monday, January 3rd at 8:30 PM is the start of Afro-Caribbean dance lessons from beginners to advanced dancers. Then, the dance floor is open between 9 PM and 1:30 AM. Rula Live is at 58-62 D’aguilar Street, Lan Kwai Fong, Central, Hong Kong on the ground floor.

You can access this Latin event wearing masks throughout the party and hand sanitizers are available in different areas of the establishment. The dress code is elegant, so T-shirts, shorts, sportswear, and flip-flops are prohibited. Admission is also free but you must consume at least two drinks to enjoy the free Salsa classes.

You Can Also Read The Interview With Nora Suzuki

Dance With Style is a Hong Kong dance, events, and entertainment company that stands out from its competitors by offering high-quality Salsa, Bachata, and Salsa Cubana instruction for all ages.

This company also brings Latin Vibes Salsa / Bachata Party every Wednesday at Bar / Restaurant Fire ‘N’ located at Shop #2, ground floor, cosmos building, 8 – 11, Lan Kwai Fong, Central, Hong Kong.

Admission is free and you have the right to a Bachata class at no cost. DJ Javed will mainly play Salsa Romántica with a mix of Bachata, Merengue, and other Latin rhythms from 8:30 PM to 1:30 AM.

Every Wednesday night after work you will enjoy a lot of Latin music in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, and if you are hungry you can enjoy its Thai menu. You must wear a mask at all times (except when eating / drinking) and sanitize your hands regularly. The dress code is elegant and lessons start on January 5th.

News “En Clave”

Latest News of the Salsa Movement in Spain

artist dressed in light blue suit and white hat playing the trumpet — News “En Clave”! The most recent ISM section in 2022

This 2022 we come with more strength, new ideas, and recharged. In this first edition, we released a new section titled News “En Clave”. A space dedicated to the collection and promotion of the best shows, concerts, books, and the latest news from the Salsero environment & Latin rhythms in Europe and Asia.

Spain is one of the old-world countries that begin January 2022 with the best Salseros and Bachateros events. Here we will tell you each one En Clave so that you don’t miss out on going to one.

News “En Clave” In Spain

Luis Alberto Díaz "El Negri" playing the piano in the sound rehearsal — Cuban Pianist – Luis Alberto Díaz “El Negri”

We open the section to the northeast of Spain with La casa de Cuba in Barcelona, El Sabor Cubano BCN. This Nightclub offers live music, Cuban Salsa, International Salsa, Bachata, and urban rhythms with DJs, it also has Salsa and Bachata instructors who give free lessons for beginners at 9:30 PM every Thursday and Sunday. The virtuous pianist Luis Alberto Díaz “El Negri” together with singer “Changui” will be playing the best songs of traditional Cuban music this Thursday, January 6^th, and Sunday, January 9^th, for two and a half hours. This will be one of the first live Salsa evenings that you can enjoy starting the New Year. El Sabor Cubano BCN opens its doors from 7:00 PM to 12:30 AM at Francisco Giner 32 Street, 08012, Barcelona. Have a memorable moment in this nightclub with a good atmosphere, friendly and impeccable service, and an authentic Cuban mojito. You find more details on their official social network.

We are still in Barcelona, and this time we walk through the Diobar Restaurant / Nightclub. This Greek restaurant has enabled a musical space every Thursday for Salsa and Rueda Casino classes. The duration of Salsa Thursdays is almost five continuous hours organized as follows: one hour of Cuban Salsa class and the next one in Rueda Casino, followed by the AfroCuban Jam Sessions live (open to all musicians). Starting at 9:15 PM there is a class for dancers of Intermediate / Advanced level with which they will acquire new skills for mastering individual steps, the couple turns, and Rueda figures. The cost does not exceed € 5, and the closest date is Thursday, January 6, 2022. A novel proposal to enjoy Salsa in the musical space of the Dionisos Born restaurant located at Marqués de la Argentera, 27 (ground floor) 08003 Barcelona, Spain.

colorful Cuban Party art at Matisse Club — Cuban Party begins January 12th at Matisse Club

We now jump to the east coast towards Valencia, and we run into the Matisse Club. We tell you that in this place of exhibition of events and culture they offer every Sunday the Cuban Party event, live Cuban music with AR-Latin (directly from the Caribbean island) playing Salsa, Latin Jazz, Son, and Bachata. This one-hour live show begins at 8:30 PM. Then you will enjoy six hours of Latin Quarter Session with DJ Sergio Falomir. Admission is € 10 and begins on Sunday, January 12th at the Sala Matisse. Enjoy a Latin music atmosphere with the Cuban Party event every Sunday of the month at Matisse Club located at Campoamor Street, 60, 46022, Valencia.

And the last News “En Clave” that I bring you is the Latin Dance classes in Salason in the northwest of the country at Lirio Street, 30 Cangas Do Morrazo, 36940, Galicia. This culture platform is designed for the reception of musical performances with exceptional acoustics and cutting-edge technology. Salason is a building structured in three independent but complementary environments at the same time. Salsa and Bachata classes will begin on Tuesday, January 25th, from 7:30 PM to 11:00 PM.

The Objectives of these Cuban-style Salsa and Rueda Casino classes, as well as the traditional Bachata lessons, are fun and disconnection to the routine with the rhythm of Latin music. Also, it improves coordination and body expression coupled with the new relationships that are established between people with similar pleasures.

On Tuesdays, there are two groups for intermediate students: The Salsa class starts at 8 PM while the Bachata group starts at 8:30 PM.

Thursdays are classes for beginners and have two times of choice: 8 PM and 9:30 PM. For more information, venture to visit its official website

You Can Also Read: Everything You Always Wanted To Know About La Macumba

We continue with Bachata…

group of people dancing at the Bachata Sensual World Congress — Bachata Sensual World Congress 2022 will be held in Girona

We start with one of the main congresses to be held the second weekend of this month (Friday 7th – Monday 10th) in Girona, a city located in the region of Catalonia, mainly known for its exuberant architecture of medieval origin and the historic Barri Vell neighborhood.

The Bachata Sensual World Congress (BSWC) brings great quality Bachata Sensual workshops with more than 16 qualified instructors of this Dominican rhythm and leading Salsa professionals worldwide. There will be live shows with more than 16 couples on stage and famous night parties during the three days of the event.

Girona becomes the international city of the Dominican melody with Bachata Sensual World Congress 2022

BSWC will take place at the Evenia Olympic Palace Hotel, Avinguda Del Rieral, 55 17310 Lloret De Mar, Girona. Tickets (Full Pass) range from € 140 and the event begins the first day at two in the afternoon ending on Monday, January 10th at five in the morning.

We continue, and it is the turn of the Winter Bachata Festival 2022. The particularity of this festival is that it will have night workshops with social dances, the instructors are mostly local, more than one continuous hour of shows, and a closing party. The musicalization throughout the weekend will be in charge of DJ Miguelón, DJ Salva, and DJ Yago in a shared room with the rhythms of Bachata and Salsa. Obtaining Full Pass tickets (€ 40) can be obtained through teachers or promoters and different payment methods by clicking here. Remember that Winter Bachata Festival begins on Friday, January 21st, and ends on Sunday, 23rd, also returns for the fifth time to the Spanish municipality of Cullera at the Hotel Cullera Holiday, at Av. el Racó, 27 Cullera, Valencia.

Now we finish our trip in the center of the country, specifically in Madrid. During the first weekend of the month, the Magic Bachata Weekend event will take place with all the established biosafety measures: temperature measurement, Hydro-alcoholic Gel, and Mask (during the three days). Magic Bachata Weekend will begin on Friday, January 7th, and will end on Sunday, 9th. This weekend full of Bachata will feature 18 pairs of instructors of the genre conducting workshops, shows, and late-night Latin parties. You can get tickets online at La Salsa del Baile and the price at the door ranges from € 60. The venue will be the Hotel Eurostars Madrid Foro, Ronda de Europa, 1, 28760 Tres Cantos.

Not-so-well-known Latin percussion instruments

Some lesser-known percussion instruments

After so many centuries of history, Latin music has undergone any number of transformations and mixes that have made it into the wonder that it is today. In the result, percussion instruments play a critical role and many of them are widely known by fans of Latin rhythms, including those who do not have a great deal of expertise on the issue. The thing is that many of these implements are not so well known to people, so let us mention a few of them with their main characteristics.

Arará

The Arará drums are named after a Cuban ethnic group that is mainly based in Havana and the province of Matanzas. In turn, they descend from other ethnic groups that had similar practices and today almost all their temples are located in Matanzas.

At present, these drums are still used in the rituals of these cults. They are of various sizes and types, but a common characteristic they share is that they are all unimenbranophone and open without exception. One of the things that most identifies them is the presence of ritual marks made to differentiate them.

This is an arará drum — One of the many types of arará drum

Rain stick

This percussion instrument consists of a long tube inside which you can find seeds and bamboo sticks, which form a helicoid extended throughout the whole instrument. When this stick is moved, the seeds hit its walls and the sound produced is very similar to that of the falling rain, a characteristic of which it receives its name.

It is believed that it originated during the age of indigenous peoples in South America such as the Panatahuas, the Quitos, the Mexicas, among many others. On the other hand, it is worth noting the appearance of evidence to suggest that they may have come from pre-Inca cultures originating in the Peruvian coast and the Andes Mountain Range.

Although the tools used in its manufacture vary from one cultural tradition to another, the most common material is cactus, whose spines must be dried, ground and reintroduced.

This is a rain stick — A wooden rain stick

Güira

This is a Dominican percussion instrument that is part of the idiophones. Although it has come to be popular in other places, it is in the Dominican Republic where it originated and became so famous that it is even considered as a national heritage. For many, it has a strong resemblance to the bangaño, but it is very different from this one, since it has a manufacturing process in which metal predominates.

In these times, it is very common to see it being used as an important part of musical genres such as bachata and merengue, although it is most likely fans have no idea about its existence.

Marimbula

The marimbula consists of a set of metal plates that attach to a resonance box and whose main purpose is to produce sounds. It is an idiophone instrument that holds a striking resemblance to the sanza, which originated in Africa many centuries ago and arrived to the American continent from the hand of the slaves, who already brought their own traditions from their places of origin.

As to its current use, it serves as an accompaniment to all kinds of musical groups in their shows, whether we are talking about rural or urban environments. However, it should be noted that its use has also spread to religious ceremonies and cults of various kinds.

If you want more info about this topic: The seeds of capacho give the sound to maracas

Rubén Blades’ National Tour

Review of Rubén Blades’ National Tour

The Ruben Blades concert at Oakland’s Paramount Theatre on Saturday, November 20th was sensational! The anticipation of the packed intergenerational crowd to his first visit In 18 years was at a high peak.

Rubén Blades while singing — Rubén Blades while performing

Blades wowed the audience with a stunning performance backed by bassist Roberto Delgado’s dynamic Big Band.

Rubén Blades and his orchestra — Rubén Blades and Roberto Delgado’s Big Band

Ruben’s powerful voice was as crystal clear as when he started his career with Ray Barretto back in 1974.

Rubén Blades' great voice — Rubén Blades’ voice was incredible

Latin Grammy for Salswing!

His set list was a retrospective into his vast and deep repertoire that included his big hits, crowd favorites, esoteric song choices and selections from his Latin Grammy award winning album Salswing!

Rubén's stage — The lighting environment on stage was amazing and varied

The musicianship that accompanied Blades was top notch as Roberto Delgado’s crack band were tight, explosive and swinging!

Ruben's band — The performance of Roberto Delgado’ band was very appropriate for the show

The visuals projected on the huge screen above Ruben were imaginative displaying photo tributes to Hector Lavoe as well as to recently deceased Latin music giants and clever animation that was the backdrop for songs.