THE 2ND ANNUAL WORLD LATIN DANCE CUP IS WELL UNDERWAY IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA. A SALSAHOOK CORRESPONDENT IS THERE, CAPTURING THE ACTION AND PRESENCING THE GREAT DANCING. WORLD LATIN DANCE CUP 2011 — Very soon we will know the 2011 Champions of the World Latin Dance Cup being held at the Tropicana Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. On Wednesday, December 14, the first day came and went and the event seemed to be gaining traction with it as attendees arrive to the location from various parts of the world. The first day of any event, especially when it is done so early in the week, can be a bit slow in attendance, but we are sure (and truly hope) that as the week goes on, more attendees arrive, check-in, and start participating in the Salsa nightly socials, competition audiences, etc. Good luck to all competitors and let the best one with…

SAN DIEGO, CA | Where do you start with a woman like Yolanda Selene Walther-Meade?  Well it better be early, as her day kicks off at 5:00am at Barry’s Boot Camp.  One of twenty finalists in San Diego Magazine’s “Woman of the Year 2011”, she remains grounded and focused. “Its enough for me just to be included in the company of these extraordinary women” shared Yolanda in a recent interview. Extraordinary is quite fitting yet vigorous might be better.  

 

You’d need a quick-step to keep up with her, leaving bootcamp to make breakfast for her two children and taxi them to Francis Parker College-Preparatory School. “My kids are priority and dictate what I do” she says with pride.  Even so, she juggles responsibilities as Chief Marketing Officer at the Gomez Law Firm in San Diego, cross-border volunteering for Dos Aguilas Bi-National Charity, and Hostess of the…

FESTIVAL COLOMBIANO, OC 2011 — Uno de los mejores eventos Latinos del año es EL FESTIVAL COLOMBIANO DE ORANGE COUNTY, el cual es atendido por muchísima gente Colombiana y de todos países, a quienes les gusta el buen ambiente, la buena música, el buen paladar, y el buen baile. 

 

[ MIRAR DETALLES DEL EVENTO ]

Este año, el festival colombiana tomará lugar el 10 de Julio en el Phoenix Club de Anaheim (dirección: 1340 S. Sanderson Ave., Anaheim, CA 92806) desde las 9 de la mañana hasta las 9 de la noche. Los niños menores de 10 años con menos de 48 pulgadas de estatura entran GRATIS! 

 

Se presentarán en el escenario, la gran Orquesta Guayacán, Los Cantores de Chipuco, Silvestre y Juancho, y muchos más!

 

Este evento esta patrocinado por CARACOL TV INTERNACIONAL, FESTIVAL COLOMBIANO OC, DIRECTV AUTHORIZED DEALER 888-736-2272. 

 

El costo de entrada…

L.A. CUBAN MUSIC FEST — On Saturday, July 16, 2011, Live Nation and Gibson Amphitheater are proud to present the 2011 L.A. CUBAFEST, which will headline Willy Chirino, Albita, Rey Ruiz, Hansel y Raúl, and the Miami-based Celia Cruz  All Stars. 

 

The LA CUBA FEST will be an outstanding opportunity to listen, enjoy, and dance to some of the greatest music and musicians of our Salsa community in celebration of the roots that Cuba has contributed to the global phenomenon of Salsa. 

 

TICKETS ON SALE AT LIVENATION.COM >> CLICK HERE

 

Willy Chirino is a very popular Cuban music star that has combined the musical traditions of Cuba with American rock and jazz. For decades, he's been one of the premier vocalists in South Florida, where he helped create the "Miami Sound" of Salsa music. 

 

Albita is a Grammy-winning Cuban-American singer, producer and composer. She works under…

BACHATA MUSIC — A few years ago, when Bachata music was very popular everywhere else in the country (and the world), Los Angeles Latin Nightclubs where Salsa had dominated for so long, resisted to give in to the craze. Nowadays, Bachata music is a given musical genre when you go to a Latin Nightclub. 

 

You cannot go to a Latin Nightclub and not hear some beautiful Bachata tunes being played by the DJ in charge. And that's a good thing, as many couples find it to be a perfect opportunity to get close and loving with each other on the dance floor. 

 

Although, with the popularity of Bachata, a "Dominican style" of dancing where couples actually keep a distance from each other and worry more about their footwork, than each other, also took rise in the Latin scene, Bachata is still perceived by a majority as a romantic…

ILIANA ROSE MUSIC — Cuban American Musician, Iliana Rose, is a musical act that is currently trending in Los Angeles, CA.

 

--- CHECK OUT ILIANA ROSE SALSAHOOK PROFILE

 

A multi-talented musician who is a piano player, percussionist, clarinetist, and vocalist, Iliana has attracted the attention of many social circles outside of the normal Salsa and Latin music scene, where she presents her musical talents to people who would normally not get a chance to listen and experience our beautiful music. 

 

Iliana, who was born in Miami and was raised by her parents and grandparents in a strong Cuban environment, has a deep love and appreciation for the roots of the music that she plays. A graduate of the University of Miami (UM) with a double major (Studio Music & Jazz / Clarinet Performance), Iliana is truly a skilled and talented musician with the piano, percussion, clarinet,…

MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA — Given that one of my all-time favorite Salsa singers was known to reach the top of his career in Colombia and is beloved by Colombians all over the world (Tito Gómez), and just the fact that I truly enjoy Colombian Salsa, I thought it would be good to write about a location in Medellín, Colombia that is known worldwide for being a major attraction when it comes to Salsa dancing in that city. El Eslabón Prendido is a venue that attracts a mixed and friendly crowd and has some of the best old-school salsa nights in the city.

 

El Eslabón Prendido is a small venue that offers salsa music and dancing on various nights of the week. Known for attracting tourists, as well as locals who simply love Salsa, El Eslabón Prendido is truly a hotspot "en el centro" of the city. 

 

With wax candles…

SAN JOSE, CA — The Western Region Puerto Rican Council is celebrating its 33rd Annual "Día de San Juan" Festival at the History Park, in San Jose, CA, on June 25th, 2011. The event is also a scholarship fundraising and to be on its 33rd run, you know it's well-organized, well-supported, and a lot of fun!

 

Amongst the musical line-up, they will have: 

- "Las Bomberas De La Bahía," an all-female ensemble of Bay Area artists, educators, and activists that is dedicated to continuing to maintain Bomba alive (Puerto Rico's oldest African-influenced musical tradition).

- "Latin Rhythm Boys," a popular Latin ensemble in the bay area managed by Montuno Productions. 

- "Pa'L Bailador," the most original Bay-area combination of horns and percussion since the Lebron Brothers, directed by founders, Neftali Rosado Jr. and Agustin Martinez.

- "Angel Lebrón y Su Sabor Latino," one of the hottest Los Angeles-based salsa bands…

DIA DE SAN JUAN FESTIVAL, FIESTA ALEGRE — Fiesta Alegre organizes the 16th Annual Día de San Juan Festival at Frank G. Bonelli Park in San Dimas, CA. The event will take place on June 12th, 2011 and tickets purchased before June 11 are just $25.

 

This year, Fiestaalegre Promotions is seeking to provide the best entertainment for your listening and dancing pleasure, with a lineup that includes:

- Frankie Vazquez- Ray De La Paz- Michael Stuart- Johnny Polanco- L.A. Plena- MC Javier Suazo- DJ Willieand plenty more...

 

 

You can purchase Presale tickets at the following locations:    - Liborio Market (213) 386-1458- El Zorro (310) 674-4219- Mofongo (818) 754-1051- El Nuevo Mundo Market (323) 773-6500- Habana Cafe, Downey (562) 776-7251- El Colmao (213) 386-6131- La Puma Rosa (323) 973-8358     The prices for the event will be as follows:   - Advance Ticket Price -…

SalsaHook.com — Tune in to Alma Del Barrio every Saturday and Sunday on KXLU 88.9 FM from 6 AM to 6 PM. If you live in Los Angeles and you love Salsa and you have never listened to Alma Del Barrio, you are totally missing out! Twenty full hours of the best salsa music in the world every single weekend! 

 

Alma Del Barrio has been on the Los Angeles airwaves since the fall of 1973, when it was started by Enrique "Kiki" Soto and Raul Villa, then students at the Weschester campus of Loyola Marymount University. KXLU 88.9 Los Angeles is a LMU radio station licensed by the Federal Communiations Commission (FCC) to be a non-commercial, educational station. It has been assigned a radiating power of 3000 watts, which means its reach is limited, but for those living on the west side or surrounding areas, it is truly a great…

LOS ANGELES, CA // LATIN JAZZ - When one listens to Oskar Cartaya's music, one can easily detect the fusion of influences and experiences from his extensive professional musical background in Puerto Rico, New York, and Los Angeles. Cartaya, who is well-known for his composing, arranging, and his work as a musical director for a wide array of premier artists, possesses a personal catalog of credits to his name that make him one of the most sought-after and recognized Latin Jazz bass players in the world. 

 

Cartaya's talents have been recruited by the likes of Herb Albert, Jennifer Lopez, Celia Cruz, Ruben Blades, Tito Puente, Robbie Robertson, Obie Bermudez, and Nestor Torres, just to name a few. Amongst his career credits are the production of Passion Dance by Herb Albert (Almo Records), and Plenarriquea for Jennifer Lopez, which is a live concert on DVD (Sony Music). He has also…

DANCING WITH THE STARS (DWTS) — After a Salsa number that looked more like Merengue by dance professional Karina Smirnoff and actor Ralph Macchio, Judge Bruno Tonioli went overboard by using the word "p***y" when referring to them and Karina in specific (who was dressed in a leopard print outfit of some sort).

 

We, at SalsaHook.com, have maintained that the mere fact that Karina is even remotely offended by the comment is a complete irony given the fact that she posed for Playboy as a publicity stunt during the airing of the 12th season of "Dancing With The Stars." We believe that a show that is watched by millions of U.S. children, as well as adults, should cast people with higher moral character and integrity...but we continue watching because of one thing, and one thing only: the dancing. 

 

Recently and only after being axed from the show, Karina's…

LOS ANGELES, CA — Karina Smirnoff, the Ukranian dancer in the TV Show "Dancing With The Stars" who appeared completely nude in Playboy while the show, which is watched by millions of children in America and the world, was airing in its 12th season, felt 'dirty' after a comment by Judge Bruno Tonioli. We hope the irony of that reaction from a woman who can bare it all in the name of popularity and cash (it's all about cash), is clearly being transmitted in the first line of this article.

I don't usually comment on television shows that relate to dance in general, but since the comment on Karina came after she and partner Ralph Macchio performed a salsa number, it seemed appropriate that SalsaHook.com posted on the topic. The insult was apparently taken so vividly by the dancer that it was even trending in Twitter today! Wow...that's important!

 

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TIKRIT, IRAQ — Many of us will never know what it feels like to be in combat in Iraq, but one thing some of us who love salsa dancing do know is the feelings of joy, excitement, and true happiness that salsa dancing can give you.

 

Today, after randomly thinking about our U.S. Armed forces who have sacrificed so much for our freedom during so many years already, I wondered if some of them would ever use salsa as a way to cope with the stress of combat. Sure enough, I found an article on the Army website, written by Spc. Jazz Burney (3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs, 25th Infantry Division) that points precisely to how soldiers are able to cope with deployment and combat by salsa dancing. 

 

The article focused on Sgt. James Whorley, from Sacramento, Calif., who found that his stress was relieved and…

  Every Sunday at Bordello bar. The Magic of Vaudeville: Exquisite Burlesque Dancing. By: Davina Ferreira   Every Sunday, Bordello Bar evokes the world of Vaudeville as a group of eclectic and ethereal Burlesque dancers take the stage, " Harlow Gold " directed by : Tracy Phillips and Dominic Carbone.As the deep- red velvety curtain rises, the audience members go back in time to those ancient performances of true human proximity: body and soul, music and movement in perfect liveliness and genuine reality – the sudden comfort of human closeness.Especially in the city of Angels, where one can feel isolated among grand productions that no longer speak to the fundamental beginnings of art expression: the intrepid feeling of sudden excitement takes one by surprise as one encounters…