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This Week in Salsa

This Week in Salsa

By TWiS

Your first podcast of the week is the last word in Latin dancing. Join the top salsa and bachata pundits in a roundtable discussion of the latest trends and news in Latin dancing. Publishes every Monday morning.
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LDC 17 - LIVE from Orlando Salsa Congress! (Plus Latin Swag)

This Week in SalsaJul 14, 2015

00:00
31:18
Salsa Snacks 1 - El Cantante

Salsa Snacks 1 - El Cantante

Today's featured salsa snack is the song El Cantante performed by Hector Lavoe.

This episode features the following music:

  • Latin cha cha cha by Ramon Escale Bartumeus
  • Esta Tierra by Sean Fischer
May 10, 202007:51
TWiS 6 - Hotpot
May 05, 202052:07
TWiS 5 - Post ZISC Pow Wow
Apr 27, 202001:09:36
TWiS 4: Interview with Joel Dominguez of Mysalsaonline.com

TWiS 4: Interview with Joel Dominguez of Mysalsaonline.com

The Zoom International Salsa Congress is happening Saturday, April 25th! Buy your tickets now! We are hosting a Talent Show for all attendees so if you want to show off your talent (dancing, singing, juggling, baton twirling, etc) submit here!

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Joel Dominguez is on a crusade to dance with feeling. He is a native of Mexico where he was raised in a family of musicians. This upbringing fostered an early love and appreciation of Latin music.

From this early upbringing, Joel relocated to New York City by way of Dallas, where he now teaches classes with an emphasis on dancing to the musical instruments, especially the conga and the clave. In our conversation, we talk about this relationship between the dance and the music and how to dance with feeling.

Besides teaching classes in NYC, Joel also runs La Vieja Guardia social which if you are in New York is a must visit! He also runs MySalsaOnline, Joel Salsa and Dance With Feeling which are great resources for aspiring salseros. I personally have signed up for his

Apr 20, 202053:07
TWiS 3 - I would rather dance in a wool sweater than dance with a mask on

TWiS 3 - I would rather dance in a wool sweater than dance with a mask on

Apr 13, 202001:03:51
TWiS 2 - Of the 3 of us who would you say is the best dancer?
Apr 06, 202001:09:12
TWiS 1 - Shoulder Inversion, Tiramisu, Wait, Beef Toe

TWiS 1 - Shoulder Inversion, Tiramisu, Wait, Beef Toe

Our guests on today's roundtable are Salil Bavdekar and Will Boose. 

Salil is a PhD graduate from University of Florida where he also taught salsa classes and was vice president of The Gator Salsa Club.  He has DJed socials and run Latin nights in Gainesville and is also the founder of the Facebook group Salsa Memes for Spicy Teens.

Will is an MA student in Latin American Studies at UF (graduating in May), starting a PhD program in anthropology at Emory in August. He is a Bachata instructor at The Gator Salsa Club.

Resources mentioned on the show:

Stay in touch with us on Facebook and do us a HUGE favor and give us a 5-star on your podcast app. Get in touch with Rob directly on Facebook and Twitter if you want to connect, have interest in being on a future roundtable or would like to recommend a future guest!

Mar 30, 202052:44
SDC Podcast #33: "You have to treat it like a second marriage" Will & Constanza Orrock 2

SDC Podcast #33: "You have to treat it like a second marriage" Will & Constanza Orrock 2

Picking the right dance partner is crucial to a successful dancing career. There's so much more to consider besides dance skills. Partners spend a lot of hours practicing, teaching, competing and traveling together.
Sep 25, 201737:39
LDC Podcast #32: "The mambo we dance and the salsa we eat" Eddie Torres
May 12, 201726:15
LDC Podcast #31 - "You don't want to be in clicks" Jose Santamaria

LDC Podcast #31 - "You don't want to be in clicks" Jose Santamaria

Traveling out-of-state and overseas to teach is a dream that many young instructors have. But where to begin? And what steps should one take in order to fulfill that dream?

On this Podcast, we asked Jose Santamaria how he accomplished his dream of traveling and teaching overseas. It's not easy, he says, but it isn't impossible either. For him, it all comes down to learning the basics and the history of the dance, practicing and training very hard each week, networking and making contacts wherever one goes, using social media effectively and above all... loving and enjoying the dance.

Jose Santamaria is the owner of the J.A.S. Latin Dance Academy in Santa Rosa, CA. He has been teaching Latin dance for more than ten years, and has taught in many festivals and congresses across the United States and Canada.

His style and expertise have taken him to new and exciting places like Egypt, Japan, and several countries in Europe. According to Jose, anyone can become an international dance instructor. And while the experience might be different for each person, he shared the story about what worked for him and what he thinks takes to become one.

Click on the audio player below to hear about Jose's story, his passion and knowledge for the dance, and his tips and opinions on how to stay on track to become an international instructor.

If you live or plan to visit Santa Rosa, CA and wish to take lessons with Jose, contact the J.A.S. Latin Dance Academy at (707) 293-4292 or salsa@jasdaance.com. www.jasdance.com

Apr 17, 201723:30
LDC Podcast #30: "This dance began with a puppy love heartbreak" Eddie Torres
Mar 07, 201721:52
LDC Podcast #29: "Nobody owns the dance!" Mike del Campo

LDC Podcast #29: "Nobody owns the dance!" Mike del Campo

Anybody want to be a dance instructor? Where to start? How does an average instructor become great? Apparently, it takes more than just being a great dancer!

Mike del Campo and his wife Gina have been teaching dance for more than 20 years. They are the owners of "Del Campo Dance Studio", one of the most popular and highly rated dance studios in Sacramento, CA.

On this podcast, Mike shares his years of experience with us, and gives some tips and advice on how to teach beginners, how to deal with students who have a hard time and are clearly out of their element, what to look for in teaching assistants and even advice for people who want to open their own dance studio.

For Mike,students are a reflection of their teachers, so he makes sure all his students are well taught.Click on the player below to listen to some useful information on how to become a great dance instructor. Even if you are an expert, I'm sure you will pick up a few pointers.

Jan 09, 201734:42
LDC - 28: "You have to own the dance floor!" Will and Constanza Orrock

LDC - 28: "You have to own the dance floor!" Will and Constanza Orrock

The World Latin Cup is this month. Dancers from all over the world will flock to Miami Beach and attempt to impress the judges to come home with a title.
How do champions train for a dance competition? The road to any dance contest is hard, but it involves more than just learning and practicing a routine. On this Podcast episode of LDC, dance champions Will Orrock and his wife Constanza talk about how they prepare to compete. They spend hours at the dance studio, but they also train at the gym, they eat well and prepare mentally. Listen to the podcast to find out what else they do to train and win!

Will Orrock studied dance and choreography at the University of the Americas in Chile. He's a two-time South American salsa, bachata and merengue champion and also national ballroom champion in Chile. He currently teaches in the South San Francisco Bay Area. 

If you live in San Francisco and wish to train or take classes with Will and Constanza you may contact them at (408) 480-2769, or send them at e-mail: orrockw@icloud.com. You can also visit their website: http://www.wevolvedance.com/

Dec 08, 201628:03
LDC 27 - "I like to hijack the lead..." Michelle Donehew

LDC 27 - "I like to hijack the lead..." Michelle Donehew

Why does Michelle like to hijack the lead from her partner when she social dances?

Because sometimes it's a good idea!
Listen to
Michelle Donehew talk about how she comes up with new choreography, the importance of teaching beginners and how to manage a dance team effectively in order to have a strong dance community.

Michelle was born in Hato Rey, PR, and she's been dancing since she was 9 years old. Her dance training is extensive, and includes ballet, tap, jazz musical theater, and Latin dancing. For nine years she was part of  "Salsamania", one of the most renowned dance teams in San Francisco. In 2015 she joined forces with her very talented partner Manny Villarreal to be the co-director of Sabor Latino-Oakland bachata team. She is known for her feminine, fierce, and sassy style which has helped her win many awards and championship titles in her career.

Michelle and her partner Manny Villarreal plan to shock audiences and the judges at the World Latin Cup again this December. They need our help to pay for travel and lodging expenses, so click here to help them achieve their goal, and as always, thank you for supporting our community.

Nov 19, 201633:08
LDC 26 - Who wants to be a DJ?

LDC 26 - Who wants to be a DJ?

DJ Mario B has been mixing tracks for more than ten years in the Reno/Lake Tahoe area. He's currently the resident DJ for the new Latin nightclub "Millennium",and he keeps everyone dancing for hours.
How? He does his homework, he pays attention to the crowd, but most of all, he loves music.

So what does it take to be a DJ?
Click on the player below to listen to "DJ Mario B's" story, including some great advice for new and aspiring nightclub DJ's.

Aug 13, 201626:33
LDC 25 - Interview with Richie Kirwan: "When Dancing Becomes Groping"

LDC 25 - Interview with Richie Kirwan: "When Dancing Becomes Groping"

Today's chat is with Richie Kirwan, LDC author of When Dancing Becomes Groping: Time To Clean Up the Dance Scene! Sadly, within the Latin dance community there are some shady characters. Richie sheds light on these guys and Rob gives some self-defense tips for the ladies. If you enjoyed Richie's post, you are going to love this interview!

This week's song is 'Merecumbe' by Johnny Colon, aka the birthday song, as chosen by our guest, Richie.

Remember to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and Stitcher. And I would REALLY appreciate you leaving a 5-star review so that more people can find out about us :)

Oct 01, 201532:58
LDC 24 - Interview with Jonathan Goldman of Spanglish Fly

LDC 24 - Interview with Jonathan Goldman of Spanglish Fly

This week's show features an interview with Jonathan Goldman. Jonathan plays trumpet for Spanglish Fly, a boogaloo bound based in NYC. If the name sounds familiar, that's because we had him on the show last year for his fantastic Fania 50-year anniversary tribute.

He's back talking about the band's new album dropping on September 18th. Listen to the show to hear the story behind many of the songs as well as sneak peek listens of top tracks.

And for those of you that listened to this episode, here's a link to the Cuarenta Dos video featured by the NY Yankees.

Remember to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and Stitcher. And I would REALLY appreciate you leaving a 5-star review so that more people can find out about us :)

Sep 16, 201501:12:05
LDC 23 - Interview with Del Dominguez of Mixed Motion Art Dance Academy

LDC 23 - Interview with Del Dominguez of Mixed Motion Art Dance Academy

This week's show features an interview with Del Dominguez of Mixed Motion Art Dance Academy. Del is passionate about figuring things out and refining them to the best of his ability. This goes with his dancing, his art and his teaching. Known as a refined dancer and meticulous instructor, Del’s mission is to make MMA the go-to destination for higher learning in social Latin dance.

This week's song is Mi Desengano by Roberto Roena.

Resources from this week's show:

Don’t forget to check out the podcast on iTunes & Stitcher…and if you enjoy it leave us a review too!

Aug 27, 201501:13:22
LDC 22 - Interview with Michael Johnson (Gainesville, FL)
Aug 19, 201501:08:03
LDC 21 - Calling it Quits

LDC 21 - Calling it Quits

Over the past few days, one of our LDC posts has gone crazy viral! So naturally we turned it into a podcast episode :) Calling it Quits: Why Some Social Dancers are Hanging up Their Dance Shoes a powerful piece on the Latin dance community and why some dancers are opting out. And it has truly struck a chord with our readers. Hopefully it will do the same for our listeners. Enjoy!

This week’s song is Mango Mangue by Los Totos, a salsa/chacha old school tune.

Don’t forget to check out the podcast on iTunes & Stitcher…and if you enjoy it leave us a review too :)

Aug 12, 201515:51
LDC 20 - Interview with Daniel Caicedo
Aug 05, 201501:05:47
LDC 19 - Interview with DJ Suave Beats of Orlando
Jul 29, 201542:54
LDC 18 - Interview with Leydi Barros of BAILA Society (NYC)
Jul 21, 201524:32
LDC 17 - LIVE from Orlando Salsa Congress! (Plus Latin Swag)
Jul 14, 201531:18
LDC 16 - Salsa Stories
Jul 07, 201514:51
LDC 15 - Live From My Cramped Closet!

LDC 15 - Live From My Cramped Closet!

Welcome to the podcast, live from my closet! Seriously, I think I just discovered how to improve the audio quality of this show 10x. All it takes is me sweating like crazy stuck in cramped quarters for the better part of an hour....or in some cases, my dog :)

This week on the show, we are reviewing Rachel Cassandra's post, "So You Want to Be a Man?" On Gendered Language in Dance.

On the event calendar for the weekend ahead, we have a WORLD'S FAIR salsa congress :) But seriously, cool venue for dancing and GREAT lineup. If you are in NYC, worth checking out.

And for my random thought of the day, the Orlando Salsa Congress full weekend pass is more expensive than ever, $250! But I argue why that is a very good thing for us Joe Salseros.

LDC Song of the Week for this week is Otra Oportunidad by Jimmy Bosch!

Enjoy the podcast and remember to subscribe on iTunes and Stitcher! And if you really love us, leave a review too so that more people can discover us :)

Jun 25, 201518:31
LDC 14 - Bachata is Big...Porque?!

LDC 14 - Bachata is Big...Porque?!

We're back!!!! On today's show, we cover all the new awesomeness happening on LDC including the following great reads:

But wait, there's more...did you know we have an event calendar? That's right, all the latin dance events coming up around the globe for you to check out. I go through some of my favorite June events (and wish I could fly like superman to all of them).

And for my random thought of the day, I talk out loud about bachata. A recent visit to Puerto Rico was devoid of any bachata music at all. This made me realize that bachata plays an essential part in the LDC ecosystem, even if you hate dancing it.

Enjoy the podcast and remember to subscribe on iTunes and Stitcher! And if you really love us, leave a review too so that more people can discover us :)

Jun 12, 201521:17
LDC 13 - The Different Kind of Leaders (Recap)

LDC 13 - The Different Kind of Leaders (Recap)

Great post this week by Chilly Alisar on the different kinds of leaders. Check out my recap and some personal thoughts about leading!

Oh and below is the Adolfo shine I'm currently learning :)

Remember to leave us a review on Stitcher and iTunes and we'll give you a shoutout on the show!

May 21, 201519:18
LDC 12 - My Salsa Plateau (and getting past it)
May 13, 201511:50
LDC 11 - Free Hugs (Recap)
May 08, 201511:01
LDC 10 - The Future is Here

LDC 10 - The Future is Here

I came across a super cool technology this week, SoloShot, which follows you around and records you! I know, sounds creepy, but also super useful for salseros who want more video of their dancing. Today I discuss this tech (with myself), enjoy!

Oh and here's the link to the prior episode I did on cool future technologies for the dance floor.

Remember to leave us a review on Stitcher and iTunes and we'll give you a shoutout on the show!

Apr 30, 201508:15
How I proposed to my girlfriend at TEDxUF

How I proposed to my girlfriend at TEDxUF

Back in October of 2014, I met with the organizers of TEDxUF, the largest TEDx conference in the southeast, about an idea for a talk. Over the past six years, salsa dancing has completely changed my life and I wanted to share my experiences on stage. The organizers loved the idea and so did I, so I got the green light for A Brave New Salsa Dancing World.

Flash forward a month, and I've made no real progress on my talk. I had a rough outline but there were lots of holes in the story and, most importantly, I had no ending. Driving in the car, I was thinking of how to end this talk. Could it be with a dance, something motivational, funny?

Then, I got a text. It was from my girlfriend (who I first met at a salsa social) and it read "Love you, muah". BAMMM!  It hit me like a train. I knew exactly how I was going to end this talk. I was going to propose to my girlfriend on stage. It both excited and terrified me at the same time.

I spent the next 4 months living a double life. On one side, I worked with my girlfriend to build up the talk that she thought I was going to give, which included her dancing on stage. And on the other side, I worked on the talk I was actually going to give. The whole facade came close to crumbling down on numerous occasions: almost sending her the wrong draft of the talk for review or saying lines seemingly out of order to her as we practiced together.

Then the day finally came. I don't know which made me more nervous, giving a complete TED talk from memory (c'mon, powerpoint is for amateurs) or getting down on one knee to ask the love of my life to marry me. Probably a little of both.

Once I began my talk, all of the nerves that had built up over the past 5 months, the planning, writing, editing, re-editing, re-re-editing....it all just melted away. I was in the zone, hitting on every point in my Memory Palace.

But as I neared the conclusion of my talk, something dawned on me. I was about to propose in front of 1500 people! You can see the exact moment where this realization occurs, right after we finish dancing for our second time. I sound quite winded from the dancing. Lies...all lies. I dance salsa all the time, so 30 seconds of dancing is not going to put a dent in me. Me sucking wind is entirely due to forgetting to breathe for a moment as I let my girlfriend head back off stage. I suddenly realize that I have 4 more lines before the backstage organizers will re-introduce her into the talk (push her back on stage).

As I delivered those last few lines, it felt exactly like going skydiving. When you head up in that plane, the instructor

Apr 24, 201505:24
LDC 8 - The Greatest Salsa Congress...Ever!
Apr 21, 201518:02
LDC 7: Bailando! College Students Get Their Salsa On

LDC 7: Bailando! College Students Get Their Salsa On

Today on the podcast we are recapping a great article written by Jazley Faith entitled "Bailando! College Students Get Their Salsa On". I dance salsa in a college town and teach for the Gator Salsa Club here in Gainesville so this recap of a night out salsa dancing at college definitely sounds familiar. Enjoy!

I hope you enjoy the show and don’t forget to tell friends to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes andStitcher!

Apr 13, 201510:12
LDC 6: LDC Recap - When your non-dancing spouse doesn’t support your dance life.mp3

LDC 6: LDC Recap - When your non-dancing spouse doesn’t support your dance life.mp3

Today on the LDC podcast, we are doing a recap of one of the posts from this week, When your non-dancing spouse doesn’t support your dance life. It's a very relevant and timely post for me since I just got engaged last week!

I hope you enjoy the show and don't forget to tell friends to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and Stitcher!

Apr 01, 201509:57
LDC 5 - Interview with Daybert Linares of LDC and Son y Casino

LDC 5 - Interview with Daybert Linares of LDC and Son y Casino

Daybert Linares Diaz is a contributor to LDC and recently published a post entitled "CUBAN MUSIC: TO BE OR NOT TO BE PLAYED FOR SALSA DANCERS?". Today on the podcast, we are speaking with Daybert about this post and elaborating on the current lack of Cuban music in the salsa scene and why this music should be reintroduced at socials and congresses.

Daybert is a Ph.D. student of contemporary Latin American Literature with a focus on the Caribbean at the University of Maryland, College Park. Born and raised in Cuba, Daybert has taught Cuban dance in the United States for over five years now, having held workshops in cities such as Atlanta, Boston, Baltimore, New York, and Washington, D.C. He is also the editor of "Son y Casino," the only blog dedicated to both the Cuban dance of casino and son music, which he updates regularly with informative pieces which deal with this small part of Cuban culture.

Some Resources From Today's Show:

Remember to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes and Stitcher…and leave us a 5-star!

Mar 20, 201523:23
LCD 4 - Interview with Christian Tumalan of Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Mar 14, 201546:09
LDC 3: Interview with Jennifer Ables & Matt Owens of SoldiersWhoSalsa.org

LDC 3: Interview with Jennifer Ables & Matt Owens of SoldiersWhoSalsa.org

Soldiers Who Salsa is on a mission to enhance and enrich the lives of active and retired members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families through a unique program incorporating therapeutic and social dancing with a variety of music and professional instruction.

Today on the LDC podcast we are interviewing founder Jennifer Ables and former patient/volunteer Matt Owens to learn more about the program and the good that it is doing in the lives of those in the armed forces around the world.

Mar 06, 201536:22
LDC 2: LDC Recap - How do I tell him he smells???

LDC 2: LDC Recap - How do I tell him he smells???

Today on the LDC podcast, we are doing a recap of one of the posts from this week, How do I tell him - he smells??? by Chilly Alisar. Some resources mentioned in today's show include:

Thompson Tee w/ reinforced arm pits

10 foods that make you smell

We hope you enjoy the show and don't forget to tell friends to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and Stitcher!

Feb 23, 201511:07
LDC 1: Interview with Richie Kirwan of LDC and The Dancing Irishman
Feb 15, 201531:18
TWIS 41: The Best Salsero You Can Be (Why You Aren't As Good As You Want To Be?)

TWIS 41: The Best Salsero You Can Be (Why You Aren't As Good As You Want To Be?)

Today's episode is a re-post from an excellent article on LatinDanceCommunity.com written by Richie Kirwan of The Dancing Irishman. It is a great read and the takeaway for me is that even though we are inspired by watching other dancers, only measure your progress against your former self, not against others.    Remember to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and Stitcher. And I would REALLY appreciate you leaving a 5-star review so that more people can find out about us :)
Jan 31, 201508:05
TWIS 40: A Brave New Salsa Dancing World
Jan 27, 201516:40
TWIS 39 - DEBATE! Pros/Cons of Recording Turn Patterns

TWIS 39 - DEBATE! Pros/Cons of Recording Turn Patterns

Last week, there was a thought-provoking blog post on RitmoySaborsalsa.com discussing the downsides of recording a move after you learn it from an instructor. It's a great post and everyone should read it. I do think that like many things in life, it depends and is not a black and white answer.    I've gained enormous value out of recording patterns and shines that I have learned, though I have procrastinated on learning some. I even have a playlist on Youtube which compiles all of the moves that I have learned at congresses and workshops over the years so that I can review them from time to time.   What do you think? Is recording videos hurting your initiative to practice those moves?   Remember to subscribe to the podcast on 
Jan 14, 201508:39
TWIS 38: Setting Your 2015 Salsa Resolutions (and Avoiding Common Mistakes)
Jan 06, 201520:23
TWIS 37: Tribute to Juan Flores - Interview with Jonathan Goldman, Author of "Fania at Fifty"

TWIS 37: Tribute to Juan Flores - Interview with Jonathan Goldman, Author of "Fania at Fifty"

On December 2nd, the latin dance community lost Juan Flores at the age of 71. Mr. Flores was Director of Latino Studies at NYU and an expert on Latino culture. His research focused on Puerto Rican culture as well as the ethnographic unearthing of blackness in Latin music. If you want to check out some of his work, the book From Bomba to Hip Hop is a great jumping off point.    Juan Flores was also a big fan of boogaloo. He loved it. So in honor of his love for boogaloo, today we are replaying one of my favorite episodes, an interview with Jonathan Goldman all about boogaloo.   Remember to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and Stitcher. And I would REALLY appreciate you leaving a 5-star review so that more people can find out about us :)
Dec 12, 201430:56
TWIS 36: Interview with Rachel Cassandra all about Kizomba!

TWIS 36: Interview with Rachel Cassandra all about Kizomba!

Rachel Cassandra has come a long way since her first exposure to dancing (folk dancing to be precise). She is a true dancing journeyman (ok, woman) having danced salsa, bachata, swing, lindy and more. But then she found her love of kizomba which completely suited her body and preferences. She is founder of Kizomba Community and an instructor in Kizomba who has traveled all over the place teaching and dancing Kizomba.   Today on the show we talk about what Kizomba is, why it is getting so popular, the culture surrounding the dance and of course, talking about her viral post, "Five Lies You've Been Told About Kizomba". If you've read the post, today's convo will elaborate on Rachel's thoughts written there.    If you don't know about Kizomba, consider this interview your primer on the topic!    Remember to subscribe to the podcast on 
Dec 05, 201433:04
TWIS 35: The Top 5 Ways to Never Get Great at Salsa

TWIS 35: The Top 5 Ways to Never Get Great at Salsa

Today on the show we are talking about all the ways that will never get you great at salsa. From signficant others to an aversion towards social dancing, listen in for the pitfalls towards becoming the next salsa dancing phenom. 

Nov 21, 201412:50
LDC Salsa News Roundtable
Nov 14, 201432:15
TWIS 33: Is Your Salsa Community Growing or Dying?
Nov 07, 201414:11
TWIS 32 - Interview with Rob's Girlfriend Rosana Lastra
Nov 01, 201438:49