More Random Stuff : Might Morphin’ Salsa Ranger.. [Updated]

As you know, we ended up going to Los Angeles (2007) West Coast Salsa Congress a couple of weeks ago. To my surprise, I ended up meeting someone that I 'knew' from my childhood. As you can already tell, I used to watch this show called the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers – old kid's tv show where these teenagers had special powers to do some ninja butt-kicking. Anyways, to my surprise at the salsa congress – the Black Power Ranger now does salsa! His name is Walter Jones (known as Zack in the MMPR). I got a chance to meet him and talk to him for a bit on the saturday night event.

Who would have imagined? Well after doing a little more research, it ends up being he is pretty big in the LA Salsa scene. Even so – they were the 2004 Mayan World Salsa Champions! Impressive! I have a deep respect for people who support salsa. And for an actor (celebrity) to also be very supportive of the salsa scene requires great praise from all of us. It more than what most do.

[Updated] You can see his mad ranger skills (aerials) here:

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Salsa a-la Cubana – A cuban style look at salsa

Now I found this interesting video on youtube that I really like a lot. We usually talk about Salsa/Mambo NY style salsa on most of these articles, and I thought it might be nice to show a good clip on how other salsa styles look like. Now, I have posted some videos previously on how cuban rueda salsa looks like – however this video is a better representation on how the Cuban-Salsa style partnering dynamic works. Most of the dance is very circular in comparison to regular salsa which is a slot-dance. Additionally the cuban-style of salsa integrates a lot of Casino rueda aspects as well as some cumbia aspects (specifically the back-to-back step). Anyways, since I'm in LA for the congress, I'll keep this article short – so enjoy the video:

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Juan Matos dancing with Bruju and Peralta – Same performance.

Found another great performance by another pair of great dancers. This is Yesenia Peralta (a great dancer to learn ladies' styling ) and of course Juan Matos. This is a performance for the Mediterranean Salsa Congress a while back ago. In the second video, it seems to be the same performance (with the same song) except with Bruju from Hacha y Machete dancing with Juan Matos at the Puerto Rican Salsa Congress. Can you spot the difference in style? (It is a subtle one). They both are great, but it is interesting to have two videos of the same song, same performance and with the same lead dancer (even though the second video seems to have a more 'recent' Juan Matos). 

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Now for some Ladies’ Salsa Styling…

I get asked a lot about putting more ladies styling videos. So, here we go.

Instead of posting regular social dancing videos, I searched for good 'workshop' clips for ladies' styling. Now, with that stated, the best way to learn styling is to really just sit down and pick your favorite dancers and just watch them dance. Analyze every second and count in the music with every body motion. Take a video that you like and replay it – over and over.. and over again… You should try and break down all the details and nuances of why you enjoy a particular styling.

The main tip I would give you ladies is to start with just a few motions and work your way up. Why? Well, what usually happens is that any female who is starting to add styling to her dance will try (sometimes) to add too much styling at once. The main thing to remember is that styling should never affect your partner and your lead's ability to lead. For example, if coming out of a crossbody lead with turn you raise your left hand in the air and it causes you to be off balance, that will affect your leads ability to perform his next pattern. If you feel that is happening, all you have to do is 'tone' down the styling. In the previous example, instead of lifting your hand high, maybe just lift it half way. After a while, moving that hand and knowing your balance will improve, letting you perform the styling with much more finesse. It all just takes time and practice. (I may have to add 'patience' too).

If you find other great ladies' styling videoclips – please add them to our videoclip library (you are helping me out ).

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It’s Official – Jennifer Lopez Loves Salsa too….

I guess Jennifer Lopez (Jlo) does not require an introduction. However, Albert Torres probably does. He is a HUGE salsa promoter around the world. I could almost say that he is in charge of most of the high profile salsa congresses around the world, for example, San Francisco Salsa Congress, LA Salsa Congress (West Coast), Chicago Salsa Congress…etc. Well, anyway, I really like this video because it shows that Jennifer Lopez (while a singer and an actress) can actually dance compared to other performers/singers out there. And to tell you the truth, she is smooth and can shake it. Of course it makes me jealous of her husband Marc Anthony. He has my name and a great salsa dancing wife (I hope they don't split up like the rest of hollywood). Regardless, seeing her dance and have fun makes me look forward to the Hector Lavoe Film much more. Man, hopefully I'll become famous some day and test my skills out with Jennifer too. Oh well, a salsero can still dream…

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Eddie Torres Dancers – Tribute to Tito Puente

Well, at some point in your salsa lifetime you will hear something about Eddie Torres dancers. I'm here to give you a taste of that background. For those who didn't know, Eddie Torres was the instructor who popularized On2 (the mambo-style On2) in New York. Additionally, he added a lot of more different styles (like pachanga) to his style of salsa. In this video you will see some older Eddie Torres dancers shaking everything they have. Now, why do I say 'older'? Well, because for some statistical and magical reason, most of Eddie Torres' performers now a days wear less clothing. Enjoy!

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Salsa Ruda for Two Couples – it is tougher than it looks.

I can attest that dancing rueda is no easy task – especially when there is no 'rueda' (which means 'wheel', or anything 'circular'). Really, the bigger the rueda, the easier it is because the less you have to travel, but just seeing the beginning of this video and seeing them try to switch partners in a rueda square reminds me of the times I tried to do it in a performance. Yep – the memories. This is a fun video I found of Cuban Style Salsa by Osbanis and Rafael over at a salsa even in Russia. (Yes, I was surpsied as well). I'm assuming they use salsa to stay warm.

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Salsa Etiquette: Hey mister, could you dance salsa…. with my friend?

It is not even funny how many times this has happened to me (and probably to most of you out there). It was funnier, that when I brought up this story jokingly to some ladies present at practice, most of them didn't realize that some (most?) guys disliked it.

Now, I don't mind dancing with anyone – don't get me wrong. I do my 'volunteer' work to make sure everyone is dancing at a salsa club. Whether you are new to the scene or just a regular, you will be dancing. However, for some reason, some girls believe that its OUR job to dance with whoever they decide, even if they themselves are complete strangers to us and to the scene.

There have been numerous times where I would be at a club, and notice a female approaching (of course I always do). I see her walking towards me, and I think to myself: "Cool, she wants a dance! Let me get ready..". But then, only to be disappointed by the fact that she says: "Hey, could you dance with my friend?". Maybe I'll get the more 'political' version: "Hey, this is my friend <XYZ>, you guys should dance!".  In the very worst case, I get female's boyfriend coming up to me telling me that their girlfriend wants me to dance with them. I then politely ask: "Well, why doesn't she ask herself?" Is it because I prefer assertive women? I don't know.

Now, why do I dislike this general scenario? Well, the whole thing feels like I'm going to Best Buy to buy a TV, but when I get home and open up the box – I find a toaster. It feels like a blind salsa-dance-date. First of all, the person setting the 'dance-date'  and playing salsa matchmaker is a stranger to me. And of course, add the fact that the person I'm being setup with is also a stranger that might or might not want to dance with me (and is being forced by her extroverted friend). Maybe I think that if anyone was really interested in dancing with me, they themselves would be the one asking and not sending a messenger. 

I guess I find it as a double standard as well. I'm not sure I have seen many guys go up to a lady and say – "Hey, you should dance with my friend." I believe that most ladies would find it the same way I do. All of us guys have to muster up the courage (sometimes even have a couple of drinks) in order to ask some ladies to dance. Why? Because that is the set protocol (not that I agree with it 100%). Now why can those ladies be the ones with courage to ask as well? They could be shy – but then I remember that most guys are still shy, and they still have to go through all the fear of rejection and still give it a try.

Maybe it is late night and I'm not making a valid point in explaining to the ladies why some men dislike this. I'll try to 'Role Play', and maybe Rumnet should write another 'DanceCraft ' episode on this. For example, what if I went up to a lady waiting for a dance and imagine a great song just started playing. She might become excited that I'm actually approaching her THINKING that I will ask her to dance. Who knows, maybe she was waiting for me to ask her the whole night and giving me that googly-eyed-look (not that it happens ). But what if instead, I go up to her and say: "Hi, could you dance with my friend?". Hmmmm… let me rephrase that in Anthony interpretation: "Hi, I came over here, and I know you might think I'm going to ask you, but I'm not really interested in dancing with you tonight as you originally assumed… however, I would like you to do me a free favor and sacrifice this song and dance with my beginner friend who might or might not care if he dances with you or not. I think you would enjoy it very much, even though I didn't even ask your name or talked to you briefly before asking you to do this. Anyway, he is OVER there (pointing to someone on the OTHER side of the room). Oh, I may have to add that you might have to do the walking to get to him cause he sure isn't going to come here. Oh – and by the way: Thanks." It feels like a bait and switch .

Now, with some of that said (I guess I vented), how many of the guys out there agree or disagree? Try the forums for your comments.

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Salsa Fitness and Working out – nope, its not what you think.

To tell you the truth, I find dancers (female) very sexy. For some reason most of them who end up being hardcore dancers are in amazingly great shape. Of course you can notice from the waist down on how their legs are just completely toned (and other parts too). Now, I think to myself how much dancing does one have to do to make it a complete fitness exercise? Well, I'm no doctor so I won't answer that question. However, I sometimes think it is false advertising when you say 'salsa aerobics' and they don't really put at least some of the fundamentals of salsa into the workout. Why do I say this? In some of these videos, they end up doing the salsa workout to merengue music. Of course, I'm very picky and because I am an evangelist (or purist), and therefore it drives me crazy when they do this. I sometimes worry that people watch these videos and end up thinking that this is what REAL salsa looks like… 

Now, this is what I consider a real salsa workout. Try and move your feet this fast and to the flips/tricks this fast and cleanly – and you are on your way to loosing a couple pounds. (Disclaimer: These statements have not been approved by the FDA or any other institution that can protect my liability).

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Salsa Videoclips Section (all of them)

Quick announcement – made a page with all the videoclips posted on there. This is just a fix until… yeah yeah… you know what I'm going to say.

Click Here  

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Oldie but Goodie : Salsa with Hernando!

I thought it be a good time to reintroduce Hernando. This is an oldie that I've published before, but I know some of you have not seen it, so here it is:

So, while I was looking through youtube.com for salsa stuff… I found this hilarious video about a guy making fun of salsa dancing, or teaching people how to salsa dance through DVDs. I know he's probably making fun of me, but it was the funniest thing I saw, and well.. I just had to share it for those who might get a laugh about it. You can either watch the YouTube version, or download the higher quality (and longer) version by clicking on the image above.

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A video is worth 1000 words – On2 partially explained.

A forum member (Rumnet) found a great video by an instructor exaggerating the salsa basic step on2 timing. Again, if you haven't already check out the forum post "Salsa Technicals : On1 vs On2. The Difference ". This video shows the example of what I have been trying to explain in words. When dancing on2, the pause happens when your feet are apart – and therefore you actually have two whole counts to get your feet back together. While On1 and On2 are TECHNICALLY the same steps, the way they are EXECUTED are different.

Now, so I don't have to re-type myself everytime, here is a small summary on the main difference in dancing on2:

 

The Clave
Again, it is not completely about style but feeling. on1 was really invented in the US mainly because its easier to teach to step on the cowbell for beginners. However, salsa is built on la clave (pa pa pa, pa pa) where your last pa pa hits on your 6-7 counts (or also and-7). So, since your steps are more in-sync with the clave, then they are more in-sync with the music and therefore easier to use the accents and play with the music. Also, listen to a real cha cha cha song. You can only be in-sync in a cha-cha-cha song if you break on2. If you break on1 your cha-cha-cha step is not in-sync with the cha-cha-cha sound in the song. Same thing with salsa – you are only in-sync with salsa when you break on2 (either 6 or 2).

 

Spin recovery (hang time)
Second, any on2 female will tell you the love on2 better because they know how it differently it feels when it comes to spinning and styling. Because the lady finishes spinning on 6 with her feet apart – she has more time to recover and settle after the spin because 7 is in place and then 8 is the pause. recovering from a spin on1 you don't have this luxury because you finish your spin on 5. While on1 you have 6 to step in place, 7 requires you to put your feet together. Hence, the ladies have one more count to recover from the spins when dancing on2.

Center of Gravity
Now, we all agree that 1,3,5, and 7 are the downbeats in the music (cowbell hits). Those are the major accents. Well, dancing on1, those accents happen in front, in the middle (center) and behind you. Thats because your 1 and your 5. Hence because you are accenting those points, more momentum is generated for those steps when you press your foot on the floor. Dancing on2, your 1 and 5 happen right underneath you, and hence the momentum generated by those steps is neither forward or backward, so your center balance does not move. (or your center of gravity doesn't move for that accent). Because of this, your steps will seem smoother because you reduce the fluctuation or movement of your center. Now, while it might not mean much to the men, it means a whole lot to the lady and how much easier it is for her to spin properly. (especially the prep)

Spin Time
I've already talked about this. You can just count it out. On a prep for a double turn – you both start spinning at the same time. Except on2, you end your spins one count later than on1.

Easier to be smoother
This one is up for grabs as a theory. However, if you look at most of the videos on youtube or from salsa congresses… most of the ones that are on2 are smooth dances. most of the dances that are on1 in those videos aren't as smooth. Why could that be? Could it be because dancing on2 makes it easier to be smooth in your basic step and thats why you have more smooth dancers? Why are there more on1 videos with jerky (LA-bouncing) movements? This is more about statistics than anything else but it helps illustrate a point that there is a difference.

Why you should not dance on2?
Probably cause no one in your area dances it. If you don't care about the above things mentioned. If you don't mind not dancing to the clave. Or you are happy dancing on1.

Why should you?
Well – mainly because of everything above. Also, you should be versatile to be able to dance on any count (but what will happen is the same that happened to me, after you experience both, you'll end up liking on2 better). This way, if a lady loves to dance on2, you can please her (cause remember she'll talk about you to all of her friends). The ladies who like dancing on1 is probably because they don't know/understand how to dance on2 yet. on2 is a different feeling in motion that will let you enjoy the music much more. While on1 and on2 are technically the same steps, they are executed differently – and that makes the big difference.

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Different Styles of Salsa : A Video Comparison of a few..

Actually – this is a forum post by Swannie. She did a good job of selecting a set of videoclips for people to understand that there are different styles of salsa (and salsa music). Just pick your favorite weapon and stick with it.

Cuban: Osbanis (a native Cuban), is big (considered one of the best) Cuban style teacher based in London:

Colombian Style:

PR Style: Tito y Tamara

Anthony added: Jason Molina from PR

NY Style: Eddie Torres, the man himself:

LA Style: The Vasquez Brothers , credited with popularizing LA style:

 

Anthony added: Alex Da Silva (the LA celebrity):

 

Victor and Gaby (Mexico Style):

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SNL Funny Skit : I need more cowbell…..

Well, I got a videoclip link from Flare (forums) about this funny SNL skit that I think every salsero will get a kick out of it. It has the new cast of SNL trying to record a song which has a cowbell in it. I also started to make me think – what if we started adding the cowbell to other forms of music? Hip Hop? Country? Alternative?… well, not to spoil the clip here it is:

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Salsa Dancing : How it changed your life.

So, there I was. Standing in line on a Chipotle and some teenagers start talking about how they are going to a movie this Friday night. They way they conversed with each other about the movie hinted to the fact that they were not too enthusiastic about it. Then I started thinking…. when was the last time I actually went to a movie theater?

It used to be that Fridays and Saturday nights were movie night in my life until salsa came along. Now, salsa is almost every night. That lead me to think – what else have I stopped doing because of salsa? I reduced my drinking (not that I drank that much anyways). I stopped eating as much, since I have to fit into my 1MX shirts. I stopped working longer hours (note the 'er' – now I just work long hours ). I stopped going to theme parks. I reduced the number of books I read. I cook less often. I stopped playing other sports (not even Magic The Gathering if you call that a sport). I stopped listening to almost all non-salsa music. Funny – I used to be a huge fan of OASIS, Gipsy Kings, and Eros Ramazzotti (and other alternative music). While I might listen to a song here and there – it is not as it used to be. I think the biggest change was the fact that I decided not to pursue another 4 years of PhD work. I realized I was not passionate about what I was doing. Life is too short not to do what you love.

So what have I started doing? Well, this is a much longer list which I will not get into here – but it includes addicted2salsa.com . Who would have thought I'd still be doing this website even after I left Iowa. It is amazing how things change. Fate has it – that I am now an interface designer for the company I work for. However, I would not have thought about this profession if it wasn't for my desire to create a good salsa website for the community. I was not hired because of addicted2salsa, but because of the skills that I acquired because of it. I had so much passion for salsa and this website, that I forced myself to learn how to do things (countless hours on the monitor) to make my idea come true. If you saw the original version of the salsa website – you'd probably laugh. If it wasn't for salsa, I would have not built the website, I would not have learned that I had a passion for design, and would have been stuck being a network security (cyber forensics) engineer. Therefore I can definitely say that salsa has changed my career path implicitly. 

Now, do not get me wrong, I do not regret not doing such things that I mentioned above. It is just interesting to see how one's own lifestyle changes because of an 'addiction' to something called 'salsa'. After waking up from my mental diversion and ordering my carnitas burrito, I started to wonder – how has salsa changed other people lives. The people we date. The people we associate with. The way we dress. Our confidence. Our communication skills. Our health. Our families. Salsa, in some cases, seems like both a gift and a curse.

It is amazing how something so simple as salsa affects the outcome of our lives and binds us to a totally different destiny that we might not have otherwise looked at. And if life is about the journey, and not the destination then how do you think salsa has affected your ride ? 

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Chat Box (Take 2)

Ok… so I found the old chat engine I had written over a year ago (so, it might be unstable and not to the best of the condition). If I see it getting more use, I'll work on making it better and possibly integrating it into the forum portal view. Meanwhile, it is now on the right hand side of the main page of th website. 

PLEASE NOTE – You should not have to refresh the page to get the updates. The messages are updated periodically. 

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Salsa DayDream Dancing….

It is very interesting to what happens to a newly enamored salsa dancer. One ends up thinking about salsa so much, that you end up daydream dancing. I'm not really sure if that is what its called, but that is what I will be calling it…

Now, I think I end up daydream dancing mostly in the car. I put my iPod in my "Current Favorites" playlist and just let it go. While I'm driving down a highway (some straight road), I end up thinking how I'm dancing with a follow and start performing patterns to the track that is currently playing. The interesting part is that i'm not really placing my virtual self in any specific club (maybe a congress setting), but its more about what I am doing with my partner. I guess going back to the Matrix (The Movie), it is like placing myself in virtual club that has the perfect setting. It even has the ideal dance partner. 

However, the setting has one uncontrollable variable – me.

I start dancing to the song with my partner doing some of the patterns that I already know. However, as I get grooving to the song, I start mixing some of the patterns. Example, maybe instead of doing a simple hammerlock turn, I'll try do a double spin for the ladies into a hammerlock position while I quickly turn to the right to catch the hammerlock hand. Yeah – its a big upgrade from just doing a simple hammerlock. But because this i a virtual matrix dance scene in my head I can force myself to see how things can come out (without injuring the girl).

The funny part is that even while I'm daydream dancing I will still make mistakes. The main reason is that after I have warmed up my brain with my known patterns, I'll try to improvise OTF (On-The-Fly) my moves based on the song. I'll try switching the left hand with the right hand, adding my extra turns, doing hammerlocks myself etc. Now, because I keep track of the beat and I have a pretty good idea how long it takes me to turn and do specific styling, I will be able to tell if I stay on beat. If I screw up, I try OTF to fix my timing by coming up with some weird step or body styling pause. Also, I may come up with some complicated patterns (hand positions, leg locks..etc) that might end up not working and will have to literally learn to figure out how I could get out of it OTF. In some cases, I'll have to let everything go because I know I can't fix it.

Now the main reason to daydream dance is really more about your mind than anything else. Half the time, its not that your body can't do the movements in time; its really that your brain has a hard time keeping up. In dancing, your brain has to be always ahead of the game (or music). It has to know what you'd like to do before you actually do it. Of course, it also has to perform lots of calculations: your steps, your partner's steps, your hand connections, the beat in the music, the surrounding couples dancing, the dancing slot..and so on. Training your brain to think OTF will help improve the quick decision making required in getting through some of the dances. In the same fashion that you would force your muscles to lift more weight than they can so they can grow. Just like the matrix, it is really about making your brain be faster than you think it is. It is another great exercise to become better in your dancing.

I recommend that if you are sitting at your desk, with your headphones on, and jamming to a good salsa song – give it a try. You might end up coming up with a new pattern all by yourself.

DISCLAIMER: I don't recommend for you to daydream dance, especially in a moving car…

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Download the Salsa Podcast Episodes

So, I finally took the time to make a page to list all the salsa podcast episodes (especially for those who don't have iTunes or know what RSS. You can either use the 'Salsa Podcast' link in the menu above or just click here .

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Pinocchio learns Cha-Cha – Funny Routine

I like themed routines. I found this routine on youtube about how Pinocchio learns how to move is (wooden) legs and dance a little cha-cha. Now I would have assumed that Pinocchio would be more clumsy than in the video ( ) – but regardless, the dancer is very precise and controlled even though he has to switch between being clumsy and smooth in various parts. Great routine.

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The Salsa White Boy Wonder

Now first of all, he is self-proclaimed – that way you don't think I'm being derogatory to him. His name is David Stein and he calls himself the 'White Boy Wonder' of the salsa scene here in San Diego, CA. He is the director of the Majesty In Motion dance company. He is a huge influence in the salsa scene here in San Diego, CA (whose dance company has about 6 different dance teams – I'm in one of them). Here is a cool video that I shot of him dancing with one of the Sexy Salsa Divas (also from San Diego). Enjoy!

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