VENI, VIDI, VICI …
Toronto
is fully awake and Spring is finally here, as you can tell
by the sunshine, the buds bursting on the trees, and the
Toronto Salsa Competition is over.
For the second year in a row, first
place in the professional category went to a Montreal couple.
It’s a bummer, from a Torontonian point of view, but
it seems that Montreal dancers have a better handle on the
integration of technique, playfulness and flow than we do
in T.O. It just goes to show that a long repertoire of patterns,
turns and tricks is not necessarily what wins the competition.
Hopefully this means we’ll take their cue and spend
more time dancing WITH our partners as opposed to dancing
with our need to fulfill that adrenaline rush.
And with the competition winners chosen and a new salsa
order established, we have new competitions and congresses
sprouting up all over the place – with the
Bailamos! International Dance Competition 2005
topping them all with their anticipated Latin dancing “red-carpet”
style. There is a long list of performers and competitors
who have already registered, so if you want to be there,
better apply fast. The televised coverage of this
event could truly make you a dance star, as the Who’s
Who of the dance world will be there to present a feast
for all of us.
Good news is rolling in from everywhere: It was announced
yesterday that the West Coast
(LA) Salsa Congress will
feature Africando – so if you want
to see the best salsa band ever, make sure you have your
passes for this upcoming congress.
Toronto, too, is fast becoming a world shaker on the music
scene. Lula Lounge, our world-class music stage in Toronto,
has introduced many local and international talents since
their inception. They have now produced “This
Is Lula” - a CD recording series that
captures the energy and vibe that characterizes an evening
at the already legendary Lula Lounge. The first volume will
be released this May 18th . Volume
1 of “This is Lula” will feature Caché's
album, "Blended". Cache is not
only Toronto’s #1 Salsa Band as voted on SalsaSPOT,
they are a great first choice with their vintage-style salsa.
SalsaSPOT is extremely proud to be a sponsor of this event.
We will notify you soon on how and where to buy your copy
of the CD.
This week, SalsaSPOT was
EVERYWHERE: at Acrobat’s Salsa Competition,
at Convoy Cubano’s performance @ Lula, at Son Ache’s
performance @ Cervejaria, and at the Spanish Harlem Orchestra’s
performance in Cleveland, OH! We even went out and tried
out a Pilates exercise program, first hand.
And last but not least: AVENTURA!
There was so much response to this contest for passes, and
it was extremely hard to choose just a few, all of the entries
had great reasons to win tickets! And the winners are: Nathalie
Danjoux, Linda
Burkhardt, Gustavo
Sanchez and Mayilin
Parra.
But wait! We have more! As
one contest winds down, we have a new one: “Meet Aventura”.
Also exclusive to SalsaSPOT, four lucky ticket holders
will get to meet this great bachata band! Have
your tickets ready (or be sure to get them by the end of
this week - they are going fast), and enter our new contest
to meet the band! Winners will be announced on May 11.
So here goes, our line up for this week: enjoy (and make
sure your boss isn’t peeking)
NEW ON THE SITE
INTERVIEW: DAVE PARIS
A fresh, uplifting! angle from a salsa veteran. How
did he get started in lifts and aerials, and where is it
taking him?
Find out, click
here
TORONTO SALSA COMPETITION
FINALS
The winners were chosen. They came, they conquered
and they won!
Pics from the finals and pro videos to give you a taste,
if you were not there.
Pics, click
here
Videos, click
here
MORE OF AVENTURA
Mi Hermanita video, courtesy of Sabor Nuevo, click
here
The ticket giveaway contest is finished, and the lucky winners
are: Nathalie Danjoux, Linda Burkhardt,
Gustavo Sanchez and Mayilin Parra.Take
a peek at some of the other entries we received, click
here
MEET AVENTURA – NEW
CONTEST GIVEAWAY!
If your ticket’s in your pocket and you want to give
this great opportunity a try, why not – click
here
GRUPO NV VIDEO
Video courtesy of Sabor Nuevo, check out their bachata version
of “Don’t Speak”, click
here
If you missed our interview with them while they toured
Toronto, check it out, click
here
MORE GIVEAWAYS
Toronto will enjoy an exciting Latin Festival on
May 15. It is on a Saturday afternoon so there
is no reason why you can’t attend. It will feature
lessons, dance performances, live bands and a trade show.
The regular price is $10, only $8 with your ON THE SPOT
card.
As the exclusive media sponsor, SalsaSPOT will be
giving away two pairs of tickets to this event.
We will announce the winners on May 11, so put your name
in there and hope for the best! Try your luck, click
here
PILATES METHOD
In search of beautiful, long muscles: is this a promising
method? Find out, click
here
NEXT:
Yours SalsaSPOT
Staff
#1 Salsa SPOT in the World
www.salsaspot.com
NEWSLETTER ONLINE:
Our newsletter receipients are notified
about the new material before the site's front page is refreshed.
We value your patronage.
You can see our newsletter for seven days at: www.salsaspot.com/newsletter
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 Lula
Lounge, home to Toronto exploding Latin and world music
scene, will celebrate it's second anniversary the weekend
of May 28th and 29th.
The highlight of the celebrations will be
two concerts on by New York master percussionist,
Ralph Irizarry -- one of the biggest names in New
York Latin percussion, and the Toronto premier of
his Latin jazz outfit, Timbalaye! On Friday night
Timbalaye will be followed by Caché –
Toronto’s number one Salsa band, and on Saturday
Timbalaye members will participate in a jam session
(or descarga) with some of Toronto’s best Latin
musicians.
Lula Lounge grew out of the local Latin-influenced
arts and music scene that found its centre in the
Open City parties off of Dundas Street and Dufferin.
Lula combines a commitment to foster local talent
and a venue for world-class performers.
Under the direction of Chef Derek Crinson,
the distinctive Nuevo Latino fusion style of Lula’s
cuisine is getting noticed. Lula’s tables are
often filled with diners from all through Southern
Ontario, fuelling-up to take part in dance classes
as a prelude to a night of cutting a rug on the bright
red dance floor!
* $25 Advance Tickets * $55 Dinner and Show with
Reservations *
6pm: Doors open for dinner * 9pm: Beginner's Salsa
Class *
* 10pm: First Set Ralph Irizarry & Timbalaye
* 12am: Second Set, Caché (Fri) NY meets Toronto
Jam (Sat)
* DJ Radames between sets
Tickets available to the public on May 14
@ Lula Lounge
Reservations Recommended 416-588-0307, www.lula.ca
for menu, map and info |
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|
WANNA BE
A STAR?
WANT TO PERFORM? WANT
TO COMPETE?
WANT TO WIN?
Have you always wanted to dance professionally, now
is your chance!
“Roots of Passion” –The
history and evolution of Salsa is a Broadway style
musical scheduled to run in Toronto for June 2005
and is the first of many events that will kick off
“Bailamos!” International Latin Dance
Competition.
We are currently accepting dancers, actors, and volunteers!
This production will be a celebration of Salsa and
all its different styles. It will showcase Toronto
dance groups for their unique talents while celebrating
Toronto’s diversity. It will tell the beautiful
story of how Salsa evolved to what it is today while
fusing all the various styles to create an unforgettable
moment in time!
Be part of this spectacular event as it has never
been done in Toronto before! Contact Tina N. for more
information on how you can be part of this event at
tina@citydancecorps.com.
|
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ON THE SPOT SPECIAL:
University Settlement's Latin Festival, to be held
on May 15th, 2004, will feature live performances by Toronto-based
Latin gives 20% discount so register early! Contact Claire
Holloway at (416) 598-3444x266
SPECIAL: University Settlement's
Latin Festival, to be held on May 15th, 2004, will feature
live performances by Toronto-based Latin gives 20% discount
so register early! Contact Claire Holloway at (416) s598-3444x266
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