For those of us who started dancing Salsa a few years before websites like YouTube began bringing global Salsa figures to the convenience of our computer monitors, the nickname of "Super Mario" belonged to a guy who seemed to be a myth in Salsa; someone who was spoken of as living in the UK and having a million moves in his Salsa dancing arsenal. You only knew about him if you were part of the roots of L.A. Style (which I personally wasn't) when Super Mario would visit the U.S. to teach and perform at Congresses and Salsa Festival Events in many cities. Some people even met him at these events and saw him live, and it was only by their accounts that the validity of his existence gained value as word continued to spread that he was actually a real person. :-) 

  Well, Super Mario is real and many salsa…

CRISTIAN OVIEDA SALSA — Many years ago, when I first began dancing Salsa and started going to clubs like Rudolpho's, Papaz, the old Conga Room, and the Mayan, I met and became well-acquainted with an extremely good dancer, Cristian Oviedo. At the time, Cristian was and up-and-coming dancer who demonstrated a lot of potential and had won 1st place at the Amateur Division of the Mayan World Salsa Championships in Los Angeles, CA. He was seen by many as a future top Salsa dancer in Los Angeles, and now, many years later, it is clear that he did not disappoint. 

 

Cristian's style of dancing has always been seen as unique in Los Angeles, CA, although many may simply conclude that it has been pure good old L.A. Style Salsa for the most part. However, for those of us who have seen him grow into the dancer that he is today, we…

(Mayan Nightclub, Sat Oct 3, 2009) - As the 2009 Mayan Team Showdown was underway, a big concern on everyone's minds and a motive of anxiety to all competitors was the question of if "Alma Latina" from Tijuana, Mexico/San Diego, CA, would join the Out-of-State/International preliminary division of the competition. Many dancers from all teams knew that if they did, they would be a great contender and a favorite to win the whole competition. Some dancers went as far as stating (even as they were in teams participating in the competition) that if "Alma Latina" was to enter the competition, they would be the sure winners without question, as their level of dancing and choreography is just too high.

 

Certainly, Gaby Equiz's & Sergio Jasso's "Alma Latina" from Tijuana, Mexico, has made its presence felt in the L.A. and California-wide Salsa Scene many times before, whether at shows or in…

(Mayan Nightclub, Sat Oct 3, 2009) - The defending 2008 champions, Luis Aguilar's "Tropical Rhythm," took second place in a battle of dancing and choreography like the Mayan nightclub and Los Angeles had never pesenced before. The 2009 Mayan World Salsa Team Showdown was an incredible event!

 

Their routine had strength, was very musical, almost theatrical, and was executed with a lot of heart and almost flawlessly. At the end, only 5 points separated them from their former place at this competition, behind Gaby Equiz's "Alma Latina" of San Diego/Tijuana.

 

The Tropical  Rhythm dance team is currently L.A.'s number one dance team, with the most committed members, the best choreographies, and the most appeal to a wide range of audiences. We surely hope that they are able to sustain the trajectory that they have carried so far, and remain strong for years to come, as many have been…

Do you remember when you first were introduced to Salsa dancing? Do you recall what if felt like to be a complete beginner and not know your right foot from your left? Do you remember when you got your first turns right, when you were able to keep the beat and stay on beat (hopefully, for most)? 

 

The joy of discovering salsa dancing for the first time is not something that many old-timers recall vividly, and it's easy to forget at times why you love this music so much! The dancing that goes along with Salsa music certainly has been a keystone to its tremendous popularity amongst so many races, countries, and cultures! The music is wonderful and beautiful, but to so many who can't even understand the lyrics being sung, it is the 'dancing' that brought them to love Salsa. 

 

Recently, in Los Angeles, we met a…

Fernando Sosa is known worldwide as one of the most achieved and complete dancers in Salsa. Web videos about him or his dance teams collect millions of views by users from all over the world, and his influence can easily be seen on many other dancers around the world. Few people know anything more about him, where he came from, or what his accomplishments entail. This is an attempt at giving a short biography on him for anyone who is interested. 

 

 

Fernando Sosa was born on May 19, 1977 in the South American city of Monte Video, Uruguay. During his childhood he frequented an important athletic club in Monte Video where he learned Artistic Gymnastics. At the age of 15, he arrived in Italy and met his great dance teacher (Maestro) Alberto Valdes, who showed him the doors to Cuba in order to deepen his Afro-Cuban dance roots…

 

The Conga Room, L.A.'s world-renowned Latin Nightclub, Restaurant, and Entertainment Venue will be a premier brand of the new L.A. LIVE in Downtown Los Angeles; a massive project estimated at more than $1 Billion and considered the largest investment in the history of Los Angeles. The Conga Room will be designed as a two-story building, with direct views into the Nokia Plaza, the Staples Center, and bordering attractions. It will feature Television and Radio broadcast capabilities, an estimated 6,500 square-foot of ground floor restaurant space, and approximately 9,200 square-foot of upstairs live entertainment and nightclub space that will include a large performance stage and several bars.

 

The Conga Room was founded by real estate entrepreneur Brad Gluckstein, and co-owned by Jimmy Smits, Jennifer Lopez, Paul Rodriguez, and Sheila E., and it has been dubbed "The Latin House of Blues" by many. In its first incarnation at the Miracle…

The story of Abel Peña and Sulmara Torres, as a dance partnership that has taken the salsa competition world by storm, is one that very few could have predicted, but which some hoped it would one day become as great of a reality as it is today. They first met at The Granada club in Alhambra, CA, where Abel, a seasoned local Los Angeles professional dancer, and Sulmara, a dancer who was already displaying many strengths in her dancing, had their first social dance and instantly felt a connection that meant something to them. They had a few more dances that night and after they decided to begin rehearsing and training together.

 

Abel and Sulmara trained in Los Angeles for several months before deciding to enter many popular L.A. Salsa competitions. At first, they were seen as underdogs by many, and not as a dancing threat by some of…

Alyra Lennox was born on February 1, 1977 in Elverson, Pennsylvania in the United States. When Alyra was five years old her family moved to Florida and she began to study "Danza Duncan" (a style of dance created by Isodora Duncan, recognized for the modern creation of dance). Then, at the age of 10 years old, Alyra once again moves with her family to North Carolina, where she began to take Jazz lessons and after just two years she takes the decision to make an audition to enter a school of art in Los Angeles, California. Quickly admitted on her first attempt, Alyra moves to the city of angels and in the successive three years she studies recitals and dance.

 

At age 19, Alyra discovered for the first time Latin American music and learned her first salsa steps from Laura Canellias, "La Dama de la Salsa". Alyra passionately continued…