Dear Salseras and Salseros! We hope you are enjoying your summer. We surely are!

This week, there are more Oscar d’Leon pictures. This collection is a collector's piece, shot by our resident photo expert, Ms. Sophie Giraud. Did you know that Sophie is also a world-famous photographer and that all the marketing photos you enjoyed for My Big Fat Greek Wedding was her work? Well, search no more: here is another spectacle. If you wish to order prints for your collections or commercial use, please contact us.

UofT 2004 Dance Club Cruise pics are in!
From what we heard, they had another great success, the second year in the row. There are some great shots from limbo competition, so check them out.

We also attended 3-day event at Oakville: Summerfest organized by Café Tu Tu Tango was a feast for the art and Latin music lovers. It turned out that the host of CBS’s Global Village radio show, Jowi Taylor not only attended but also lined up the music for this event. He also claimed fame for the famous cocktail Madagascar Slim. Needless to say, we cornered both him and the Café Tu Tu Tango manager Marty Soltys for an on the spot interview. Check it out along with the picture gallery and review of this event.

And from Oakville we rushed to Lula, where Nick Ali performed with his new and revived Marrón Matizado featuring Ricky Franco and Ruben Blades on piano. Gees, this almost felt like a 3-in-1 and the show just went great. The second set was dedicated to our musical correspondent Aitana who celebrated her 4th of July b-day. So check out our gallery (and trust us - you won't believe what took place in Lula on Saturday..).

Hot off the press, there's some news about the remake of the famous film Shall We Dance. The original was so good that we were surprised that the courageous director undertook this project. Richard Gere was chosen to play a middle aged accounted bored with life, and the demure dance teacher who wants to rediscover her passion for dancing was – none other than the Latin drama queen – Jennifer Lopez.

Well, all teasing aside, this role might just be the right fit for Mrs. (which is it this time?) Lopez/Anthony. We still remember her role in Selena that warmed our hearts and opened up doors for this Latina beauty with sassy attitude full of passion. Passion is, after all, what we need, especially up here during our long winters in Canada.

The film release was originally planned for this August, but then moved forward for July. Unfortunately after a test screening
it received devastating rating, so now it has now been pushed back to October. In any case, cheesy or not, this movie with Gere, Lopez and Susan Sarandon might bring about a popularity of salsa and dancing even more to the public eye. Unless you are dance fan, you might have passed on the original and wonderful Japanese fairytale Shall We Dance, but this new Americanized version with the famous trio can definitely help. We are bringing you a feedback by an avid watcher of this release.

But October is miles away so let's focus to what is right in front of us is Ibrahim Ferrer, Celebrate Toronto and Azúcar Negra - to name a few. We aren't sure if there are tickets left for Ibrahim Ferrer, but Celebrate Toronto and Harbourfront and Sundance festival (which will feature Azucar Negra) are free.

The Ibrahim Ferrer ticket winners are in: The lucky ones to win double passes are: Richard Flack and Marianne Bouchard.

Another highlight of this summer, besides Oscar d'Leon and Ibrahim Ferrer is of course Azúcar Negra:
“Sweeten your life with Azúcar Negra...is what this HOT Cuban band is all about. Created in April of 1998, Azúcar Negra made their debut performance at the Palacio de la Salsa where they were invited to participate as the opening act for Los Van Van.

The leader, musical director and founder of this sizzling salsa band is one of the most sought after composers in Cuba, Leonel Limonta. Azúcar Negra is gaining popularity and is considered to be one of the hottest new timba groups to come out of Cuba. Lead singer Haila María Mompié, (formerly of Bamboleo), one of Cuba's most popular female vocalists, is charismatic
with a strong delivery and has an excellent dialogue with her audience. “ from timba.com

Haila is no longer with them, but nevertheless, Azúcar Negra still remains one of the leading Cuban music forces, so don't miss them!

NEW ON THE SITE

SUMMERFEST AT TU TU TANGO
Art, food and music is a ménage a trios we can all enjoy. Find out more about this event, click here
Visual tour, click here

INTERVIEW WITH JOWI TAYLOR
The host of Global Village at CBS’s radio show, talks candidly about problems in media and possible solutions, click here

SHALL WE DANCE: REMAKE
To dance or not to dance – that is the question. Find out some initial feedback, click here
Did you see the original? Here is our review, click here

UofT DANCE CLUB CRUISE
A continuous success in pictures, click here

NICK ALI & MARRÓN MATIZADO FEATURING RICKY FRANCO
When hot club gets hotter, the pictures tell all, so find out, click here

OSCAR D’LEÓN ENCORE
Exclusive for SalsaSPOT - exceptional picture gallery from the concert, click here

SALSASCOPES
Who will salsa and who will not? Find out

PLACE YOUR SUMMER 2004 VOTE!
Your vote counts! Let’s see how improved and who didn’t. Will the winter winners continue to lead or will your vote change the established order? Polls will finish on September 22, 2004 and the winners will be announced on September 23, 2004.

THE BEST SALSA CLUB, click here
THE BEST SALSA BAND, click here
THE BEST SALSA DJ, click here

UPCOMING EVENTS
With so many events, one needs to plan. Where will you go. Select your choices on our event calendar, click here

COMING UP…

Until the next, love from,

Yours SalsaSPOT Staff #1 Salsa SPOT in the World
www.salsaspot.com

Buena Vista Social Club Presents Ibrahím Ferrer “Buenos Hermanos Tour 2004” Roy Thomson Hall, Saturday, July 10, 2004, 8:00 p.m. Tickets: $49.50 to $89.50 - Call 416-872-4255 or visit the Roy Thomson Hall Box Office www.roythomson.com Ibrahím Ferrer returns to Toronto, following his sold-out concert in February 2003 at Massey Hall. The 76-year old Ibrahím Ferrer is considered the golden voice of Cuban music. Ferrer, who had never been famous in his own right in Cuba and was forced to shine shoes in order to support himself and his family, emerged as the one true discovery of the Buena Vista sessions. “It is a dream come true,” says Ferrer of the stardom and fame he has achieved. “I am living te dream of my youth in the body of an old man.”

EARN MONEY FOR SALSA!   ARE YOU INTERSTED IN HELPING? In June 2005 Toronto will feature an exclusive red-carpet event “Bailamos!” International Latin Dance Competition. 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. We are currently looking for salespeople to raise sponsorship for this event. The first round of training has already begun. Sponsorship salespeople will receive 5% bonus in addition to their regular commission for their sales! Be a part of this spectacular event as it has never been done in Toronto before! To respond, please tell us why should we choose you to be one of our sponsorship trainees and respond tosales@urbanfuzion.com.

 

This newsletter is sponsored by: Zinester - mailing_list_service .
Check them out!

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