After taking the rest of the video and editing it, I’m happy to start off a new series (that hopefully will continue). I had watched a DVD called On2005 A Year in Mamboland, and I decided to use it as inspiration on how to show all the nice video clips of social dancing at the 2007 West Coast Salsa Congress in Los Angeles California. I title this series: A Weekend in Salsa. I like the name because that usually when most of us go out for salsa during the week. Additionally, that is when most of the salsa congress events occur. Now, I have no real background in directing/production/editing so I did my best for my first shot. This is mainly for you guys to enjoy the dancing that goes on a salsa congresses during the night events. Again, please enjoy!

As I recover from an injury (dancing casualty) in my apartment, I decided I should sit down and talk about things. I ended up going to a club weeks ago and hearing a song that I really liked. However, finding the song took a little longer than normal (yes, even for me). So, with that information in mind, I decided to share with you some of the techniques that I use to find the salsa song I’m looking for. I tried to make this salsa music episode a little more interactive, so we’ll see how you like it. However, one note of caution - I was taking pain killers - which is never a good thing when you have me rambling on about salsa…

  1. Omelenko (Silencio) - Larry Harlow
  2. Vamonos de Rumba - Conjunto Clasico
  3. Para Ochun - Hector Lavoe
  4. Devorame Otra Vez - Lalo Rodriguez
  5. Don Anastacio - Javier Vazquez
  6. La Cartera - Larry Harlow
  7. Son Para Un Sonero - Quinto Mayor
  8. Figure it out :-) - hint, it is by Sonora Ponceña I meant it’s NOT by Sonora Ponceña even though they mention ‘Papo Lucca’.

Remember - if you ever want to find out the name of a song - you can always try our forums! Please tell people about these artists and support them by buying their music.

[Update] For those dying to find out what #8 is, it was the LIVE version of Lamento de Concepcion by Roberto Roena y Su Apollo Sound from the album ‘En Vivo Desde Bellas Artes‘.

At some point, we all may become biased on whether we like cha-cha or not. I remember when I first started dancing, I learned ballroom cha-cha, and thats why I ended up saying how I disliked it. But, after learning salsa really well, and actually going to the clubs and listening to the real un-ballroomized cha-cha music (guajira) - its a totally different experience.

Additionally, Cha-Cha can be used to help with your salsa dancing skills. In this episode, I outline a couple of suggestions that should help you use Cha-Cha music to your advantage in becoming a better salsa dancer, and a better dancer that can feel and understand the motions of music.

Song List:

1. Que Rico Boogaloo - La 33
2. Catalina “La O” - Irazu
3. Besame Mama - Poncho Sanchez
4. Mi Negrita Me Espera - Gabino Pampini (org. Ismael Rivera)
5. Escucha El Ritmo - Spanish Harlem Orchestra
6. Adios, Adios - Salsa Celtica

Well, this episode has long been coming. One of the hardest things I ever went through in my salsa ‘life’ was to find the beat in the music. We all go through this problem, and with this part 1 (of a multiple part series) - I will try to do my best to help you practice on how to find the beat. I will play some songs, do some counting and hopefully give you some tips on how to train your ear to listen and feel the clave of the salsa music.

Now, you might notice that when I’m slow in writing articles - its probably because I’m doing something else on the website (like making a podcast - remember, I do have a day job :-) ). Anyways, I’m pretty happy with this episode because I’m a big fan of listening to live music.

In this episode of Addicted2Salsa podcast, we take a look at some songs performed live during various events, and I’ll give you some tips how to survive dances that are at live events (with a live band). This is because live songs tend to be much longer and different than the songs you practice with.

In this Episode, here is the song list:

  * [Intro] Roberto Roena and Ray Barretto Medely
  * Sonora Ponceña - Ahora Si (with Andy Montanez) - a 16+ minute song.
  * Frankie Ruiz - La Cura (live)
  * Gran Combo de Puerto Rico (with Gilberto Santarosa) - 40th Anniversary Live - Maldito Callo/A Ti Te Pasa Algo/…(its a medely)
  * [Ending] Gran Combo de Puerto Rico- 40th Anniversary Live - Bogallo/Mazucamba/Pata Pata..(another medley).

Well, there are a lot of Latin dance songs out there. Most of them are in Spanish, no doubt. However, there are a lot of examples of mixing other styles of music, lyrics and languages into a good salsa rhythm and beat. In this salsa music episode I’ll give you a taste of how different regular songs have been combined with Latin rhythms to produce some great sounds that break the mold of the traditional/stereotypical salsa music that you may hear on your next cruise.Thanks to Daniel from GTSalsa for helping out!.

Since the San Francisco salsa congress is coming up (and I’ll be there) I decided to make a special salsa congress tips episode to help get through the initial ‘mistakes’ or issues that happen for first-timers. This way, you can get the most out of a salsa congress and enjoy it even more.In this episode, I give you my personal (IMHO) tips that help me the most during a salsa congress. I will also play lots of good old regular salsa songs that are usually played at these types of salsa congresses. Hope you enjoy! http://www.addicted2salsa.com

I call this episode Salsa is Universal, because I want to showcase some of the salsa artists that are overseas (relatively speaking, I’m in the US). So, this episode is dedicated to our friends over the atlantic (or over the Pacific depending on how you look at it). Listen, dance and enjoy!

Artist - [Song Name] (Background Song)

  * Intro: [Luna Celosa] - Salsa Celtica
  * Salsa Celtica - [ Pa’l Rumberos ] (Background: Ya Llego )
  * Fatal Mambo - [ Probleme ] (Background: Mi Hombre )
  * Orquesta de la Luz - La Salsa es Mi Energia (Background: Este Ritmo Sabroso)
  * Answer to Email Question 2: El Negro Bembon by Hijos de Celebres (song I use in my video podcasts)
  * Ending: Sol De La Noche by Salsa Celtica

So, I have decided to change things up a bit. This is our first audio podcast episode. Again, first episodes are always very….low quality because we are still figuring things out (If you ever see our salsa video episodes 1-4, and compare them to 12-19 — you’ll see the difference). Anyway, feedback is always useful to make the content better.

Here is the salsa music guide as: (the song in parenthesis is the background playing song)

  1. (Intro) Lalo Rodriguez : (Devorame Otra Vez)
  2. Hector Lavoe : (Barrunto), Todo Tiene Su Final
  3. Willie Colon: (Idilio), La Murga
  4. Justo Betancourt: Pa’Bravo Yo
  5. Frankie Ruiz : A bunch of mixes
  6. Andy Montanez : Payaso
  7. El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico : (La Muerte - Live) Me Libere
  8. Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz : (Agúzate)

This salsa combo is kind of tricky to perform, so practice it various times at home to get the timing down: especially the mechanics of moving around the lady and moving their arm down (so you don’t break it).

So I decided to release this episode a little earlier than normal. One of our members asked about different ways of getting out of hammerlock positions. In this episode of addicted2salsa, I show you a couple of simple ways to get out of hammerlocks and one slick/combo way. Please some of these moves require practice and patience so you do not hurt the ladies arm. Ladies, this is the best way to practice your copa step.

Well, we are here again, bringing you a simple, yet slick salsa combo you can learn and use at the club (or wherever).This combo uses a lot of simple elements (half a turn), with a drop hands, and then a blind cross body lead while switching hands. In addition, we use the concepts of a wrap and a copa to finish off the combo. (You can check some of the moves in an earlier podcast). Enjoy!

Well, this is a funny one I think. The name of this combo was given by our video grapher (Cedric Parlade) because everytime I taught the combo I would make a ‘boop’ sound similar to that one on the radars in submarines. If you would like to do the ‘boop’ sound, it is done on the counts of 1 and 5.

I usually use this combo to give me more time to think what move/combo I will be doing next - so basically I use it to stall. ;-) Good to have it in the salsa dance arsenal of moves.

So, since we were doing a reloaded version of the salsa basic step with zoomed in angles, we decided to do the same with the other basic elements of salsa moves.

We present how to do a right turn in partnering, as well as the crossbody lead and the open break. These moves are fundamental to making a lot of combinations work once you reach advanced levels of salsa.

We have been asked to do the basic step once again (with zoomed in) camera angles - so we decided to do it, and make it a ‘practice‘ with us video. So, I hope you enjoy the basic steps to salsa - reloaded.

We have also zoomed in to our feet so that you can see (along side the dirt on the floor) our footwork. I hope you use this episode so you can practice your basic step, over and over again. Remember, your basic step is your best friend on the dance floor when everything else fails.

We perform the basic step On1 and On2. We also show you the right turn On1.

Hope you are enjoying our podcasts. This episode will basically cover some simple moves that are basically universal — in the sense — that everyone who does salsa knows how to do. It is interesting to note that some of the more complicated salsa moves actually end up being variations of these combos.

Well, say this three times fast! “Double-handed, hand holds”. So it might be easy.. but sometimes we get stuck in weird hand positions. Here is another episode of the Addicted2Salsa Podcast! Today we go over a couple of slick ways of getting out of two-handed holds in combos.

You know, sometimes you end up holding both of the follower’s hands (crossed position) and maybe don’t know how to be slick about getting back to normal for the next move? Well, we summarize a couple of ways of doing it, so you can just pick one whenever you end up in that position! They can be used as regular salsa combos, or combo finishers (think of interesting ways of putting them in).

This week’s episode is basically showing you a set of minor hand techniques (cues) that might help you when you are dancing salsa. Again, we try our best to show you what we know so you can catch up to most of them out there. We do not say we are professionals, but we try our best because we love to teach what we learn and know…

Well, another episode from filming in Ames, IA…. yes, it’s another rushed episode, so we didn’t have time to reherse because our students were walking through the door…. we apologize.. ;-) Anyway, in this episode, we each a very simple turning combo that taps into a reverse-open-break. Then, the ladies will open (and maybe wink) and finish turning while the lead picks them up to finish with a cross-body lead.., I hope you enjoy it…

So, we sort of rushed this episode out the door… hopefully we will find some time to actually make an episode with some organization behind it.. In this episode of the salsa podcast, we show you how to do some ‘magichands’ drop, a quick hammerlock to a cross-body lead, and then to a copa for the ladies. Again, we will setup a donation system through paypay since we are running out of funds and would like to have better podcasts!