Search Results for: salsa

Argentina and its musical genres of origin and the tropics

Argentine musical genres and development to date with tropical genres

Each country has its essence with respect to what it represents above all in its culture, and in Latin America there is a great variety of musical genres and dances unlike Europe since during the colonization of the new world a mixture occurred not only at the level of races but also of culture, emerging a great variety of musical genres…

In this time we have Argentina, a country full of cultural diversity being the most interesting characteristic of this great South American country. It is a country where music is expressed with great style and elegance, especially at the level of dance, since its presentations are made in various places, including outdoors, especially in Buenos Aires (usually in summer).

Among the musical genres that stand out are:

Argentine Rock: it is the mix of rock and roll, blues, country & western, R&B, doo wop, boogie woogie and swing; It is characterized by having an outstanding and recognized Hispanic lyrics throughout Latin America thanks to the great popularity of the bands and artists that participated and reaped records in album sales and in attendance at recitals in the mid-1950s to date. (sample bands)

Tango: a musical and dance genre very characteristic of the Rio de la Plata region and its area of influence, but mainly of the cities of Buenos Aires (in Argentina) and Montevideo (in Uruguay). Their music and dance is very popular in Argentina and this expressive dance has strong European influences. It is danced as a couple where the dancers merge in a romantic embrace, showing their sensuality, passion and feeling in each step taken, leading it to become one of the most famous dances and musical genres in the world.

Cumbia: despite the fact that this rhythm from the Caribbean countries, particularly Colombia, has spread in several Latin American countries including that country, the cumbia and the different variants are part of the music called “tropical”, and in Argentina Cumbia Villera is a subgenre born in popular areas, born approximately in 1997. It emerged from the fusion with local rhythms such as chamamé and tango, due to its instrumental endowment; Another particular characteristic of Argentine cumbia is the inclusion of flamenco within its musicalization.

In Argentine there are folk rhythms:

Zamba: its name derives from the daughters of black slaves and aborigines, who were sought to seduce through dance, this genre is located in the central part of the country and is generally associated with the Argentine Pampas. It is danced in pairs where the man surrounds the woman’s shoulders with a handkerchief with the intention of seduction.

Carnavalito: this genre is located in the Andean region, north of Argentina, its music and dance make up a part of the Andean pre-Columbian culture, it has a festive and lively tone.

Chacarera: a dance native to the north-central part of the country, has a marked aboriginal influence where the Quichua language is manifested. With vehement and intense tones, it is used in regional Carnival dances and is danced by stamping and courting figures.

During the 50s in the USA (United States) several musical genres were called “Latin Rhythms” to differentiate them from African-Americans, among which are salsa, merengue, samba, bachata and bolero among the most known. You will say that this has to do with the musical genres mentioned above … because there is a great difference and history since each musical genre or dance has its own rules to perform them either on a musical or dance level, but when a mixture arises. from two or more musical genres, a new one more innovative, fun and with a taste to the population, like what happened with the Latin rhythms in that country.

Photo of some dancers — Tango dancers photos

Salsa is a contagious and fun rhythm most of all for the general population at the time of dancing it, since people enjoy a very lively music where they usually shine with the amount of turns to magically show themselves with their spectators and to achieve this you are born with it or you train with professionals in dance; this generally applies to all Latin and / or tropical rhythms.

It does not matter what genre this popular in each country, the important thing is the dedication, expression and that each person has when producing their musical theme or dance to the public, giving the native his personal touch to his music or dance, becoming more unique and not as generic as it is made in other countries.

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Why Is Rhythm & Vibes Dance Popular In London?

Dsantos Dance UK now Rhythm & Vibes Dance

Couple dancing — Rhythm & Vibes Dance Company received a donation from the Arts Council England for #CultureRecoveryFund

The majority of Europeans agree that social dancing is the most popular nightlife activity in London. In addition to that, if you bet on enjoying the astonishing movements of Afro-Latin rhythms, the connection between unknown people who have the same desire to learn dance, you keep in shape without realizing it and release endorphins that increase the state of well-being, then the joy and the passion are greater. Rhythm & Vibes Dance has this key to triumph with fun included, making this Latin and African dance academy the most popular for six years in this cosmopolitan city of the 21st century.This school recognized by the Arts Council of England in 2020 for its contribution to culture, each week (before the global pandemic) was like a festival with more than 4000 people participating in the events each year led by national and international professional instructors with years of experience that made the dance lessons unmatched.

Rhythm & Vibes Dance, formerly known as Dsantos Dance UK, is developing a program of Salsa, Bachata, Kizomba, and Semba that will be safe and entertaining for everyone, to respect the rules of social distancing due to the Covid 19 Pandemic. This program of activities will be being announced on its website SOON.

LATIN DANCE CLASSES AND PARTY IN RV DANCE

English woman dancing with afroamerican man — After the fun dance lessons, the Salsa and Bachata party begins

Rhythm & Vibes Dance Company (RV Dance) was established in 2015 by director and dancer Richard Voogt. “We strive to create a festive atmosphere at each event, celebrating great music and culture in the way we know it best … Through fun yet professional classes, we create a space that brings together an eclectic mix of people to speak and socialize easily. Whether people come simply to try something new or want to build a career in dance, we welcome everyone with the same passion and enthusiasm”. Richard Said.

At RV Dance they raise the profile of social dance by promoting health, development, community unity, and cultural awareness that go beyond the joys of dance.

With their professionally designed study plan, anyone will be saying goodbye to those “two left feet” in a short time. Salsa classes are open to people of all ages and abilities at three levels (beginners, intermediate, and advanced). Each lesson lasts one hour and immediately afterward the Latin party will begin, where you can enjoy practicing your new steps with good music.

Young couple dancing — In individual classes, you will get the full benefit of focus and attention

But now, how do you identify at what level you can start? It is easy in this academy. Students in Level 1 (The most important and fun level) are beginners or those who have taken lessons for six months or less, which means they have attended less than 30 Salsa classes. At this level every week, they will work on the fundamental steps of this rhythm and the basic concepts of dance, in addition to complementing each week 10 additional, well-known, and fun movements as a couple. Also, the instructor will keep you alert weekly by making you dance freestyle with what you have learned.

Level 2 is for those who have danced for more than six consecutive months. At this level, the Salsa teachers will challenge you to put your movements of the genre in combinations; besides, they will present you with ten complex combos of work in a couple. Here, a lot of fun awaits you and you can last on this journey to the depth of Salsa for up to a year and a half approximately.

Finally, for the more advanced students is Level 3, for the lady and gentleman, who have mastered the techniques of Salsa and have taken one or more classes of this rhythm a week for more than two years. This level presents the most defiant combinations of this Afro-Caribbean genre, as well as the finer points of style and body movement.

Additionally, at RV Dance you can also have private, professional, and fun Salsa, Bachata, Cha Cha, Merengue, Kizomba, Semba, Kuduro & Afrohouse classes. Each lesson style provides the time and space necessary for the nationally and internationally recognized teacher to focus on the main aspects of dance technique, skill, or understanding in which a person wishes to excel.

NORA SUZUKI

32 Years After Her Debut In Salsa

She broke paradigms in Latin and Asian music in the late ‘80s. She founded the most famous Salsa orchestra in Japan (La Orquesta De La Luz). She paved the way for new generations of artists. She is an institution of Afro-Caribbean music in oriental culture. A leading woman, dreamer, charismatic, and enthusiastic… This is how Nora Suzuki presents her story.

This famous artist originally from Nakano-ku (Tokyo) did not always want to be a singer, at first Nora was inclined towards professional dance taking ballet classes at three years old, however, by then this young singing promise already had an unmatched vocal talent that couldn’t go unnoticed years later.

Her aptitude for the arts comes from her family because her grandfather was a master of drums and singing, her parents, although they are not professionals, continue to be excellent singers, her cousin is a music teacher, her brother is a fan of the English band, The Beatles, and finally, her son León (named so in honor of Venezuelan Salsa singer, Oscar D’ León) loves Japanese popular music right now, nevertheless, Nora hopes that one day he will succeed her as Salsero. As you can see, music runs through the veins of this successful international singer.

In the last year of Takashima High School in Tokyo (Japan) Nora’s track record of success began to be carved out. She started in an amateur rock band as the lead vocalist and developed her interest in R&B music. She sang in the ATOM band during her undergraduate career at Nihon University art of college. By then, the band had a percussionist (ex-leader of the Orquesta De La Luz) who loved Salsa and suggested to Suzuki that she study that Latin musical genre.

Nora Suzuki signing autographs — “Gracias Salseros” was released on the music market on August 20, 2019

“When I was 21, I visited New York for sightseeing and watched Oscar D’ Leon’s live at the Salsa Club. I was very impressed at that time and fell in love with Salsa. After that, a Salsa band called Orquesta del Sol was playing live in Tokyo, so I went to see that band. I was impressed that even Japanese people can play Salsa, so I decided to form La Orquesta De La Luz”. Nora explained in detail the idea that came up to create this famous Japanese Salsa Orchestra in 1984 and already graduated from university for that year.

For Suzuki, currently based in Tokyo, the last year (2020) was a year of changes: most of her concerts were postponed or canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but they were still able to perform live, and after the summer, they made several performances in their home city and other adjacent regions.

In the near future, the concert tour of Nora and La Orquesta de la Luz in America and Europe is a fact, as well as the fusion of modern elements such as Reggaeton inside Salsa in their new record productions.

HER PATH THROUGH SPANISH

Nora outdoors — “I have never felt discriminated while touring Latin America. I think it’s great!” Nora

For Nora, not everything was easy when she began her career in Latin music. At first, it was difficult for her to speak Spanish due to the pronunciation of the consonants “R” and “L”. Since there isn’t distinction in the phonetics of both letters in the Japanese language, however, this successful singer never occurred to sing Salsa in another language. “I tried very hard to pronounce it right… Now I have original Salsa song with Japanese lyrics”. The artist commented.

This charismatic singer-songwriter on her path through Spanish first caught the sounds in the katakana alphabet. Then, she studied Spanish grammar in courses broadcast on television and radio.

The lyrics of her songs are composed by her using words she knows, reading dictionaries, and example sentences carefully. Once the lyrics are made, they are reviewed by one of her friends of Latin descent.

Now I can understand Spanish a lot. If you speak slowly, I can understand the rough meaning”.

NORA SUZUKI & LA ORQUESTA DE LA LUZ

This prestigious artist, who has captivated millions of people with her talent on three continents, was always persevering and disciplined. She formed La Orquesta De La Luz in the early ‘80s and later made a demo for their international performance. Three years later, with her savings, Nora toured three countries on the American continent: Panama, Puerto Rico, and New York.

Panama was the first country that set foot in search of being heard by Latinos. “I was very excited because I was able to appear on the radio and TV show, and the audience was very excited about my singing”. Nora commented.

Then she visited Puerto Rico and New York. Nora adds: “At first, I went to see Ralph Mercado, but unfortunately he didn’t listen to the demo tape. I was very depressed but didn’t want to give up, so I next met Richie Bonilla, and he was able to listen to the tape and could believe my story”.

Orquesta de la Luz in concert — “Some members understand Spanish a little, but most of them don’t speak it”. Nora Suzuki

After overcoming some obstacles, in 1989, they debuted as a world-famous Salsa band with their first concert tour in New York, thanks to the promotion of Bonilla, who currently continues to be her manager and the orchestra.

Eight years of resounding success on three continents and especially in Japan made each member of the band so popular that by 1997 it was impossible to match the schedule of each member, which caused the inevitable and regrettable breakup.

Five years later, specifically on January 16, 2002, Nora organized the World Peace Music Festival benefit concert due to the 911 incident in New York and return for the immense affection and support of Latinos in the United States. This concert was the catalyst for the reunion of La Orquesta de la Luz and by the beginning of 2021, the band has 23 countries already visited.

Recently, this famous star awarded the United Nations Peace Medal in 1993, together with the Orchestra, released the album “Gracias Salseros” in commemoration of their more than 30th anniversary. (This CD can be downloaded and listened to through the different digital platforms).

In the last 10 years, La Orquesta de la Luz has toured Japan twice and has participated in consecutive years in the Billboard Live in Tokyo and Osaka. You can also see them perform at local festivals, children’s schools, and through their official Facebook page with their live-streamed rehearsal videos that have a total of 9 000 000 views.

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Hicham Billouch and his Nour Marruecos Orchestra “Arabic music”

“Music for me is like oxygen, I cannot live without it and I will never forsake my passion “.

Hicham Billouch, Moroccan musician, seeks to explore new musical avenues and possibilities.

Billouch studied music at the Royal Conservatory in Marrakech and graduated as a pianist. He also plays the violin, the lute, the guitar and the sintir.

When he was a teenager, he started working in cabarets in Marrakech like Hotel Sahara Inn, Rotana, VIP Club and Hotel Le Semiramis in Casablanca.

In Morocco, he played along with singers like Ahmed Adawiyya from Egypt, Fares Karam from Lebanon, Mohamed Reda, Pinhas, and Badr Sultan from Morocco.

He also participated at the Mawazin Festival organized by the Government of Morocco and worked in the organization of musical events such as Green March Day.

"Music for me is like oxygen, I can't live without it and I will never give up my passion." — Hicham Billouch and his Orchestra Nour Morocco
Arabic Music

In France, he played with Maqam al Ushaq, which is a Moorish music group, at the Mediterranean Music Festival in Corsica and the International University Music Festival in Belfort Ville, France.

In Mexico he created Nour Marruecos, an Arabic music ensemble, with local musicians. Nour Marruecos has participated in international festivals such as Lerdantino (Durango), Festiva Toluca and Calimaya (Mexico State) and the Córdoba International Book Fair (Veracruz). He also played in the Lebanese Restaurant Adonis in Polanco. Mexico City.

In Mexico City, he organized a belly dance competition and also published a book with the Spanish translation of 40 Arabic songs.

Her record production includes 3 CDs: Salam, Qamar and Kalimat, with covers of Arab songs and her own compositions.

After moving to Mexico City, Maestro Hicham Billouch established the Arabic music ensemble Nour Marruecos with local musicians.

Gnawa music to be inscribed in 2019 on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Heritage of Humanity — Nour Morocco Orchestra Arabic music

The Orchestra

Nour Marruecos has participated in international festivals such as Lerdantino (Durango), Festiva Toluca and Calimaya (State of Mexico), the Córdoba International Book Fair (Veracruz) and the Arab Week organized by the Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas of México.

The ensemble has also represented Morocco in various cultural and official events organized by the Embassy of Morocco and in private events of the Arab, Lebanese and Jewish communities.

Fusion

Gnawa music, inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2019, is one of the most versatile, because its scales and rhythms have their roots in sub-Saharan Africa, so theyr are compatible with the pentatonic scales of blues and jazz.

That is why Hicham Billouch has merged the traditional instruments of Gnawa music such as the guembri, the outar and the qraqeb, with instruments from India such as the sitar, the tabla and with electronic music.

Arabic instruments

Arabic music has a long history of interaction with many musical styles in the world. Arabs people translated and evolved Greek texts and mastered musical theories.

In the pre-Islamic period, Arabic music consisted of singing poetry. As for the musical instruments, they were used in a manner that may accompany and savour the meaning of poetry.

Arabic instruments can be classified into three main types: string instruments, wind instruments and percussion instruments.

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Andrew Mark Mclaughlin is an author, composer, writer and professor of language

Andrew Mark Mclaughlin is a Canadian-born author, composer, writer, professor of language, and lover of Latin culture and music of Canadian origin. Born in Oshawa, Ontario in 1977, he reveals a special sensitivity from an early age.

He developed his teenage life between studies, sports and his first approach to music where he participated in a rock band called Trailerpark Cinderellas.

Being a teenager and on a vacation visit to the Dominican Republic in the bateyes to the rhythm of the cane cutting, he discovers the magic and rhythm of Latin music that will become one of his two great passions, the other, the spirit of public service accompanied by his delivery as a teacher.

First, he continued his studies at the University of Toronto, then at the University of Salamanca, Spain. And finally, at the Faculty of Education at York University.

In 2001, he started working as a professor of literature and language in Pickering, Ontario. That same year, he started composing and singing.

In 2006, with that permanent concern that characterizes him, he and Carmen Muñoz Franco founded Learning for Hope (Aprendiendo por la Esperanza), which is a non-profit organization, with the sole intention of working with educational communities in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, Cusco, Peru. The project operates to the present day.

The heart of the project is an educational center for boys and girls in orphanages, including victims of human trafficking.

In 2010, as an enlargement of the project, he arrived in El Salvador to work with the Agape Foundation, which does charity work throughout the country.

Thanks to this work, he met Rubén Flamenco, the director of Salsalvador Allstars, which is the most important salsa band in the country.

In honor of Geovanny Torres, a common friend who was suffering from a sad disease, Andrew composed his first song in Spanish, “Cúrame con Salsa”, a song that continues to be played on the radio stations of the country.

Due to the success of this song, the opportunity arises to play the song Terremoto with Giro Lopez, celebrated Puerto Rican salsa singer. Since then, with that energy, creativity and strength that characterize him, he has created more than a thousand songs ranging from salsa to cumbia including bachata and romantic ballad.

His mind and adventurous spirit have taken him out to many places where he has had the opportunity to meet many musicians, who are ambassadors of his creativity today, including Puerto Rico, Mexico, Bolivia, Peru, El Salvador, Chile and Colombia.