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The role of La Cita Bar in the Californian nightlife

Let’s go to La Cita!

La Cita Bar is one of those places whose atmosphere does not leave anyone indifferent does not pass under the table in the California nightlife, which already has many choices of all kinds for anyone who wants to spend an unforgettable evening in good company. However, La Cita Bar has a special charm that any visitor to Los Angeles should try just once during his trip.   

When reviewing pictures of areas inside the bar, it is simple to see that it is a very colorful and spacious place with all kinds of lights, but it is always small for the sheer number of people who constantly visit it to see if what they have been told about this nightclub is true or if this is just gossip. It is just that the bar’s reputation speaks for itself and how! If what is sought is the best energy from the hand of good music and excellent drinks, without any doubt, this is the best choice. 

This is La Cita Bar
Facade of La Cita Bar

When we review, in detail, the schedule of which this place is composed, we almost immediately realize that the owners and publicists are extremely disciplined with the weekly planning that they will offer to future clients every night. Depending on the day of the week, those interested can attend according to the activities that most appeal to them and might sound fun. 

Schedule and themed nights

Every day, the interior of the premises operates from 10 am to 9 pm. Monday through Friday, the terrace is open from 4 pm to 9 pm. On Fridays, the venue offers the Angry Hour, which is entirely dedicated to hardcore punk rock and bands playing this peculiar genre. On Saturdays, there is an afternoon delight, which is animated by musicians Calixto and Jimmy James. 

Of course, there may be days when there are cumbia, salsa, merengue and bolero themed nights accompanied by the talent of invited artists, who will be in charge of adding music to the atmosphere. Considering that there is not s specific day for these themed nights, La Cita Bar’s social networks will be the ones to announce events planned in the future and the artists involved, mainly its official Facebook.   

The interior of the bar
The interior of La Cita Bar

When we look though the wide catalogue of artists who have endowed this bar with their appreciated presence, we can note that its team truly takes pains to get the best and to offer it to its distinguished clientele. Among those, we can mention Spaguetti Cumbia, Reyna Tropical, DJ Ricky Guapo, DJ Pump Police, DJ Paw and many others.   

With respect to the opinions issued by many of the customers through certain platforms, the best features of the place are its energy and music, but they are not the only thing drawing in the crowd that always comes here. The cheapness of most of the drinks offered is also a very strong point in favor of the club, as this gives anyone the option of having a good time between drinks regardless of their economic situation. 

Even some who no longer frequent the place due to the remoteness or moving to another city remember with nostalgia the fun they had there and the excellent attention offered by the La Cita Bar team. 

El Patio
El Patio is the area where people dance

Link to its official website: lacitabar.com

ISM interviews Héctor Cuevas and his Son Borojol Orchestra.

Dominican Republic where the traditional music is merengue expands to diverse musical rhythms such as bachata, rap, salsa, among others, and this time we had the opportunity to present 2 great musicians (both cousins) called Héctor and Cuso Cuevas , who have joined their talents and experiences in music to found the Orchestra who baptized it “Son Borojol” in March 2015, which is characterized by being a different and very tropical band, its name derives from a tribute to that popular sector because there the genre of son has always been danced.

Héctor Cuevas, was born in the Dominican Republic and lived a season in the USA, from the age of 13 and 14 he began his musical life with Johnny Ventura learning and working in the USA with respect to music, he was also in Caracas, Venezuela, Miami where He was musician for Hansel and Raul in the 80s.

 

In the “Son Borojol” Orchestra he is integrating a musical group that has several members from other countries apart from Dominicans and he mentions that the vast majority are Venezuelans, among them Cesar Augusto Anuel better known as Albondiga, a great trombonist, arranger, composer and musical director of the Latin dimension. He said he was very happy with the coupling of the members of the orchestra, who at each party give their best, showing their talents to please the dancing public.

Son Borojol Orchestra
Son Borojol Orchestra live

The orchestra is composed of experienced musicians who have the peculiarity of having 3 violins (which are from the symphony), trumpeters and other instruments which manage to make a difference in quality and sound, when playing either Cumbia, Merengue, Son , Guaracha, Charanga, Traditional Salsa (La sonora matacera style, jhonny pacheco, Roberto faz)

He comments that once they had a contract with a Latin music label, where Hector wanted it to be pure salsa but they wanted a compilation of different Latin rhythms (merengue, salsa among others) but the most important thing is that the music was from Son Borojol and not from other artists, for a time they were counting on the support of maestro Sony Ovalle (who passed away on December 13, 2020).

The experience that Son Borojol has, in addition to its members, is added the great career he has had in various orchestras with his cousin and renowned bassist Cuso Cuevas (he also died in 2020), who worked with Félix del Rosario, Joseito Mateo, Jhonny Ventura, Santa Cecilia among others. For his part, Héctor Cuevas, played with the orchestras of Hansel and Raul, Jhonny Pacheco, Primitivo Santos and others in the United States.

With this project, the Son Borojol Orchestra has the objective that the public can enjoy different musical genres such as cumbia, danzones, salsa, boleros, Latin jazz and of course the son, a rhythm that every day continues to penetrate more and more in taste. popular of young people; since normally the more adult people who dance are montuno, habanero, bolero and son.

But apart from this particular objective, they have the following as their main idea:

“Our goal is to conclude some songs in the portfolio and prepare to travel to the United States, where they already want to get to know the orchestra, but for that we continue to rehearse hard, because we want to stay for many years to make our people happy every weekend and at private parties. How we are doing it ”, he expressed.

Hector Cuevas
Hector Cuevas selfie

Héctor Cuevas, who is currently the musical director, once commented… “In those trips that I took to the Dominican Republic, I always had the idea of ​​forming an orchestra of my own, since I have the experience because I had The Boston Latin Band, I met with my cousin Cuso Cuevas and we invited other proven musicians and today Son Borojol, it is a reality that continues to rise every day and our presentations speak for themselves, because we try every day to improve in quality, sound and interpretation ”.

Although he currently conducts the orchestra alone, he continues on in honor of his cousin Cuso Cuevas; During the Covid 19 pandemic, they took advantage of this time when all the events were canceled and the closure to record their new musical themes so that when the events opened they were ready for everything that came to them in the future; At least now in 2021 they began to open clubs and other venues, mobilizing dynamic activity in the country, of course with a much shorter work period than before or opening much earlier to take advantage of the regulatory time given by the government ( flexible quarantine)

Hector and Cuso Cuevas - Charanson
Photo of directors Hector and Cuso Cuevas

Currently they have many television offers and live events on the beaches of the country, and when everything is normalized with the pandemic, make their musical tour that was planned in 2020 to different countries of the world And as the penultimate stop in the USA and finally in the Dominican Republic .

A message to his viewers in this interview was the following: “That they take care of themselves, that they always have friends in their hearts and many blessings, and if they have a goal to follow that they do not deviate and always continue forward … nothing stops me and I keep moving forward and that’s what makes you feel good and reach that goal and don’t look back … ”

 

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ISM: Carine and Rafael, 8th World Salsa Champions

Meet the dance representatives of Brazil:

Carine and Rafael, 8th World Salsa Champions

Brazil, the country known for its tropics and its excellence in dancing Samba worldwide, especially dancing in popular festivals and its carnival every year, but that’s not all, at the level of salsa rhythm we have 2 important representatives that we were able to interview in This month, which are: Carine Morais and Rafael Barros, are great salsa dancers who represented their country in a great variety of dance competitions, where they became the Salsa champions 8 times in a row, these competitions are the that they conquered:

  1. World Salsa Open Brasil (2009/2010)
  2. Rey Castro Salsa Competition (2010/2011)
  3. World Salsa Open / Puerto Rico (2010, 2012, 2013)
  4. Six Degrees / Toronto (2012)
  5. World Latin Dance Cup / USA (2013, 2014, 2016)
  6. World Salsa Championship / USA (2016)

Each of them has its story, where we will start with:

Rafael Barros:

Photo by Rafael Barros
Photo – Rafael Barros

Who was born in Fortaleza, Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil; He tells us that he liked dancing from a very young age and practiced thanks to family festivals and from the age of 14 he decided to enter a dance school to improve himself and have more contact with this art, resulting in Forró already teaching at 18 , Samba, Bolero and other rhythms. His first contact with salsa took place in 2004 through a study group: the Salseira Rebellion.

Starting in 2005, she made her first trip to the São Paulo capital with the group she was part of to study and perform in one of the most important dance congresses in the country at that time: the Latin Culture Week. Two years later, he moved to São Paulo to join Cia. Phoenix and, at age 21, was third at the Salsa Open Brasil.

Carine Morais:

Photo by Carine Morais
Carine Morais – Photo

She was also born in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil, dance was part of her life since she was a child since she enjoyed it as if it were a game, at the age of 13 she began her ballroom dance studies and a year later already She was teaching as a teacher, and in 2003 she traveled with a dance group to Spain where she participated in two seasons of a Brazilian music show.However, her first direct contact with Salsa took place in a study group in Ceará and had a Paulo Burracha as his first partner; As time passed, he acquired quality, ingenuity and dedication which began to attract attention and from 2006 Carine traveled to Rio de Janeiro by invitation to improve her samba de gafieira and funkeado, but she always continued studying and training in salsa and in 2007 she won with his partner Paulo Burracha the Brazilian stage of the Salsa Open.

In September 2008, she began her victorious partnership with Rafael Barros and together they won 8 world titles, in addition to becoming one of the greatest references in world dance, Carine Morais, along with her new partner Rafael Barros, who have already traveled to more than 35 countries with the aim of teaching and acting. Not to mention the various invitations to be a judge at the main world dance championships and the various participations in television programs.

Carine Morais hanging out with Rafael Barros
On stage Carine Morais going around with Rafael Barros

For almost 12 years of collaboration between Rafael and Carine, they emphasize that it is not only about perfecting the technique and musicality in dance but also its harmony. And they did not remain in being professional dancers, but they are also professors and choreographers in demand in various congresses nationally and internationally, reaching more than 300 participations in congresses distributed in more than 35 countries, among them are: Argentina, Italy, Guatemala, Uruguay , Chile, Australia, Portugal, Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Suriname, Puerto Rico, Canada, Turkey, India, Panama, Bolivia, Costa Rica, China, Canary Islands, Thailand, Spain, Lebanon, Ecuador, Bulgaria, Austria, Singapore, the United States, Germany, France, Greece and Switzerland; And these not only stay there, it is worth mentioning that they have had numerous participations in television programs, both entertainment and journalistic, in Brazilian and international stations, among them: TV Globo Fantástico, Encontro com Fátima Bernardes, Globo Esporte, Programa do Jô , Rede Record, among other outstanding appearances.

Carine and Rafael 8th championships
Flyer of Carine and Rafael 8th championships

For almost five years they maintained the Carine & Rafael Dance School unit in São Paulo, Brazil, which ended its activities in 2020 due to the Covid 19 pandemic, but since April 2021 they began to give online and face-to-face classes in compliance with the measures of security. They comment that for seven years they have been organizers of the largest Brazilian championship and ballroom dance project: the Brasil Latin Open, which you can have more information through on their Facebook and Instagram page through @brasillatinopen.

Thanks to this great feat that this dance couple did, they have placed Brazil at the center of the World Salsa, making Brazil a very important country regarding ballroom dancing.

If you want to contact these great artists, you can do so through:

  • WebSite: https://www.carineyrafael.com
  • Facebook e Instagram: @carineyrafael
  • Twitter: @Carineerafael
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDUg6yjWAfxzar7v5zWnlcA?view_as=subscriber

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4 Salsa Books You Can Read In One Week

Spanish Author Saúl Delhom Immerses Us Into The World Of Salsa In Four Simple Illustrated Texts

Ficcionario Salsero and El Antimanual de la Salsa by Saúl Delhom
El Antimanual Para Bailar Salsa. Episodio I: El Social was published in November 2019 and contains 73 pages

The computer engineer, illustrator and dancer, Saúl Delhom, recreates the culture of Salsa in an exclusive selection of four short books that are easy to understand, a substantial exploration of the representatives of the genre, and an enjoyable reading that you can finish in a week.

The author of these different texts tells us quickly and with the characteristic Spanish humor about the skills, efforts, adaptability, and approach of Afro-Caribbean music.

With these books aimed at Salsa fans, you will get motivation, reflection, knowledge of history, tips, and advice on social dance based on real stories that will not allow you to get left behind in this competitive and fascinating world of Latin dance.

The four books on Salsa by Valencia-born Saúl Delhom will make you learn the most relevant data of the Salsa industry in a fast and exceptional way.

En Clave

En clave is one of the books by the Valencia dancer with which he makes a chronological journey of Salsa through the lives of 77 women artists around the world. For this reason, you will find singers, instrumentalists, composers, and directors of the genre from Croatia, Denmark, Spain, France, the United Kingdom, Japan, Puerto Rico, the United States, Cuba, and Venezuela, just to mention a few countries.

En Clave is structured by a timeline dating from 1877 to 1995, separated by decades. So in the first instance, you will read the biography of an artist who is probably the source of inspiration for another. Then, you will come across a connection diagram as visual support and contribution of extra information that will provide you with emotional ties, teachers, professionals, and collaborations between members of the industry.

Likewise, you will find at the end of each biography the title of a song along with a printed code that you can scan through your smartphone that will link you directly to the Spotify digital platform to listen to it.

And finally, you will observe a second timeline with the exhibition as a frame of reference for contemporary male singers and groups and the exact date of the incursion and musical performance of the artist reviewed for that moment.

“In short, for this book, I have opted for that general vision of the term Salsa… This has also allowed me to include interpreters of traditional Cuban music, to travel back in time making prominent women visible, and to the future including generations of artists who merge, and they reinterpret. For that reason, you will find exponents of the Trova, Danzón, Danzonete, the Cuban point, Guajira, or Latin Jazz. ” Excerpt from the En Clave book.

Remember that you need to read this book because…

“More Salsas are known with female names than female names in the Salsa”. Saúl Delhom

El Antimanual Para Bailar Salsa: Episode I. The social

El antimanual para bailar Salsa is an ironic and humorous illustrated guide on how to successfully overcome a social dance of this Latin rhyme on a dance floor.

In this first book by Saúl, you will find answers to common questions of beginning dancers, such as: Should the girl be dragged to the floor? Is it better to dance only with your partner? Is doing many figures the best to stand out? Do I have to know all the songs of memory to be a real Salsero? Is criticizing other couples a national sport? Who moves my drink from here?

Delhom tells us that his intention in creating this project was initially purely personal and without any commercial intention, but due to its success and the liking of the experience acquired, he decided to write an extension of this book with a few extra chapters and face a second different book.

 Ficcionario Salsero. 50 New Words Explained For Normal People

The Ficcionario Salsero is a dictionary of 50 words invented by the author.

These simple words with minimal modifications in the union of two of them or the exchange of one or two letters make the meaning vary entirely, creating a new terminology in salsa slang.

To do this, Saúl Delhom developed an advanced algorithm that allowed him to generate each new term, which in the writer’s words, that should already exist today.

In addition, in the last pages of the Ficcionario, you will find a story about the events that take place in a Salsa Congress and in which these new words are used as an example and that make you actively get involved in this fascinating world.

It should be noted that the style and method applied to the illustrations here are different from those applied previously.

 Trivial Salsero

Finally, there is the Trivial Salsero, a Salsa cultural enrichment book. Its base consists of 360 questions that join a playlist of 160 songs.

In the questions related to a hit, for example: According to a song from El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, what city do you recommend living in summer to have fun with charm and beauty? You will have the information about the correct answer and bring you the exact time within the song through a mark on the digital link to listen to it on Spotify.

Trivial Salsero also includes a system to choose pages randomly without the need for dice or cards.

And is that if you consider yourself a real Salsero you should already know the answers to any of these questions that appear in this book and that I leave you here below as a preamble to what you will find in its internal pages:

  1. With what instrument is the artist Noro Morales associated?
  2. What discipline did Celia Cruz leave to dedicate herself to music?
  3. What nickname has the artist Charlie Palmieri received?
  4. What is the meaning of the word Segundo of the artist Compay Segundo?

“I’ll tell you a little personal anecdote… The first time I tried a Salsa class was in a pub called Cachao. At that time, I had no idea who was the legendary double bass player Israel López “Cachao”. I believed that it was an invented word or the name of some island. Years later, I not only know his story thanks to dancing and the controversial term Salsa, but I have ended up writing a book in which appears his sister Coralia López, much less known”. Saúl Delhom

Saúl Delhom dancing
Saul Delhom

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Enjoy Salsa In The New Zealand Winter

With Hanmer Salsa Winter Fest 2021

The longest and continuous annual event of Afro-Caribbean music in New Zealand since 1995 brings this year dancers from all over the country for you to enjoy moving to the rhythm of Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, Cha-Cha, Kizomba, and Zouk in the snow. Join this festival even if you are a dance professional or a beginner, you will always have something that suits you.

Hanmer Salsa Winter Fest 2021 is an event for the whole family!

Couple dancing at Hanmer Salsa Winter Fest 2021
Latin Party Ticket (Online): $30 or $40 at the door

According to the authorities, New Zealand continues in the Level 2 category concerning the Covid-19 pandemic, which means that dancing as a couple is allowed as part of active recreation and is classified as a sport.

At alert level 2, the contact is possible:

  • Keeping track of peers
  • Constant hygiene of hands and surfaces
  • Using the masks (Optional)
  • Also, you can dance with only one partner if you choose not to be part of the rotation. (Swapping pairs in classes)

This year Hanmer Salsa Winter Fest presents ten Workshops:

Greydis (Cuba) dancing in the hanmer Salsa
Instructor for Salsa workshops: Greydis (Cuba)

Afro-Cuban – Palo: Recommended for all those who want to learn the Afro-Cuban roots. It is open to all levels. (Palo Monte belongs to the West African region of the Congo and is part of the Bantú religion).

Cuban Salsa Casino Partnerwork & Rueda Intro: The Cuban style will be worked in pairs and Rueda. In the Rueda style, a man (leader) turns instructions, and everyone executes the specific movements while exchanging pairs. Level: Intermediate. Duration: 60 minutes.

Afro Cuban – Oggun: This workshop will be held on Saturday at 10 AM, and that is ideal to continue learning about Afro-Cuban roots. Dancers of any level can access it. (Oggun: is a god of the Yoruba religion).

The Cuban Salsa Shines: It is recommended for dancers of intermediate and advanced levels. Here you will improve your footwork in the Cuban style.

Cuban Salsa Casino Partnerwork & Rueda: Workshop dedicated to improving your dance technique as a couple and in Rueda. If you have not practiced it for years, I recommend doing the  Cuban SalsaCasino Partnerwork & Rueda Intro workshop first.

In addition to these five Salsa workshops, you can also learn to dance Kizomba and Bachata. The Bachata workshops include partner work and mergers with Sensual Bachata, while the kizomba workshops will be focused on improving transitions.

​​Maybe You Would Like To Read: 7 Signs That You Should Attend A Festival

On Friday night, the Salsa parties and other Latin rhythms begin on a large dance floor and with an incredible sound system. The DJs in charge will be DJ Reuben and DJ Dave. Time: 9 PM – 12 AM. During this party, at approximately 10:30 PM, the dance animation will enter. A fun solo dance style like Zumba. Get ready to have fun and meet new friends here.

Information to access the Hanmer Salsa Winter Fest

For the first day, you must arrive 5 to 15 minutes earlier than the stipulated time to obtain the bracelet that will guarantee your priority entry to any of the workshops.

If you are one of those with a single entry, don’t worry, you can access the class if any member of the full access entries is not on time. Payment will be made on the same day of the workshop.

There is no set limit for people to enter for the late-night Latin parties. The passes will be available online until a week before the event.

Date: Friday, August 27th – Saturday, August 28th

Address: Hanmer Memorial Hall. 1 Jollies Pass Rd, Hanmer Springs. New Zealand

These Data May Interest You:

Thermal pool with snow around
In Hanmer Spring, you can enjoy the snow while relaxing in the thermal pools
  1. Hanmer Springs is a small town in the Canterbury region of the South Island of New Zealand. Winter in this country runs from June to August.
  2. At this premier alpine spa destination in New Zealand, you will find a complex of Thermal Pools, as well as new pools, and incredible attractions.
  3. Taking a bus or driving is recommended if you want to save a little. It is an average trip of 1.5 to 2 hours.
  4. Hanmer Springs Village is located a 90-minute drive from Christchurch International Airport. If you want to take the tour, you will travel through the hills of the wine country, the rugged coastal route, and the picturesque mountain pass, if you come from the west coast.

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