Salsa Inspirations-Did you know........?

[peachexploration]

Anyone know any "inspiring" Salsa trivia for the dancer? I'll start:
Did you know that Edie "The Salsa Freak" took her first salsa class at age "30" and is now a famous instructor? Also, prior to that, she did not have any dance training. :D

[vey]

Anyone know any "inspiring" Salsa trivia for the dancer? I'll start:
Did you know that Edie "The Salsa Freak" took her first salsa class at age "30" and is now a famous instructor? Also, prior to that, she did not have any dance training. :D

I knew that ! I knew that ! But thanks for reminding me again. :D

[Pacion]

Yes, but thanks for the reminder :tongue: :lol: (means I just need to get my butt into gear, because it just goes to prove that if you have the desire/determination it is never too late :lol: )

Not really inspiration or salsa related :wink: I guess more dance trivia, but did you know that Stephanie Powers, of Hart to Hart fame, was in rehearsals for West Side Story (starring Natalie Wood :wink: ) but was "kicked out" of the cast because, from what I recall reading, she was 15 at the time and the minimum age was 16. She then went on, many years later, to do Hart to Hart with Robert Wagner, Natalie Wood's husband. Talk about "small world" :roll: :lol:

[peachexploration]

Did you know.......

Mario Justo Gonzalez, better known as Mario B. Through Mambo, has become a Professional Dancer, Instructor, Choreographer & Actor.
First Salsa class taken in 1999 and background is in athletics. No dance background. :D

[Pacion]

Did you know.......

Mario Justo Gonzalez, better known as Mario B. Through Mambo, has become a Professional Dancer, Instructor, Choreographer & Actor.
First Salsa class taken in 1999 and background is in athletics. No dance background. :D

Yeap, knew about that a part from the acting bit. Similiar sort of thing with Frankie Martinez and Juan Matos too apparently. They never danced up until a few years ago, so the story goes, and are creating storms where ever they go :lol:

[peachexploration]

Did you know.......

Mario Justo Gonzalez, better known as Mario B. Through Mambo, has become a Professional Dancer, Instructor, Choreographer & Actor.
First Salsa class taken in 1999 and background is in athletics. No dance background. :D

Yeap, knew about that a part from the acting bit. Similiar sort of thing with Frankie Martinez and Juan Matos too apparently. They never danced up until a few years ago, so the story goes, and are creating storms where ever they go :lol:

Yeah, but what's inspiring about Mario B.? He may not look like the typical dancer but he stuck with it. He's very tall 6' and 240 pounds and in a very short amout of time, he became a great salsa dancer. So if we have hang ups about the way we look regarding our size, we can think of Mario B. and be inspired to hang in there. :D Keep the Salsa inspirational trivia coming..... Anyone else?

[Pacion]

Yeah, but what's inspiring about Mario B.? He may not look like the typical dancer but he stuck with it. He's very tall 6' and 240 pounds and in a very short amout of time, he became a great salsa dancer. So if we have hang ups about the way we look regarding our size, we can think of Mario B. and be inspired to hang in there. :D Keep the Salsa inspirational trivia coming..... Anyone else?

Yes. I have seen him dance and attended one of his workshops. He is brilliant and as you say, he does not look like a "typical dancer" ie reed thin. Wasn't he part of the "Mamas and the Papas"? A New York group that was started by a lady in New York who was on the large size, yet really wanted to dance?

Abbey, I think her name is, formed her own group with either three or four other large women, from recollection. I saw their performance on the tape from the LA Salsa Congress and I was in hysterics. They did a "comedy sketch" characturing the big dance groups (Eddie Torres, Salsa Brava, Felipe Polanco), it was hilarious. Then they went into their own "Mamas and the Papas" routine and they were brilliant.

(On the video, the camera man panned to Eddie Torres' face when they were doing the "take" on Eddie Torres Dance Company and he was laughing his head off. From recollection, I think he also encouraged this lady to do set up her dance company.)

[peachexploration]

Liz Lira, one of the most stylish salseras, resume includes:

Ballet 12 years
Jazz 12 years
Modern 8 years
Lyrical 6 years
Hip Hop 5 years
Salsa 4 years
Tap 1 year
Flamenco 1 year
Yoga/Pilates 8 months

.....and contortionism!! No wonder her body can twist to no end. :lol: :lol:

[Sabor]

Did u know that, if not for salsa, i would not have been who i am today, but something much less alive.. :P

[SDsalsaguy]

Did u know that, if not for salsa, i would not have been who i am today, but something much less alive.. :P
That puts two of us in that camp my friend! :D

[salsachinita]

Did u know that, if not for salsa, i would not have been who i am today, but something much less alive.. :P
That puts two of us in that camp my friend! :D

Me three 8) !

[salsarhythms]

What you guys may not know about Mario B:

I went to high school with him and this guy is a top-notch athlete...

Suffered an injury that laid him out for a long time and was so depressed
about not being able to play.

He found salsa later on in his life, and as he himself told me: "If it wasn't
for Salsa, I don't know where I'd be..."

He's an awesome guy!

[peachexploration]

I went to high school with him and this guy is a top-notch athlete...He's an awesome guy!

I thought I had seen this in another thread but wasn't sure. :D He is definitely an inspiration to others. :D

[peachexploration]

Josie Neglia was also a feature dancer in the movie "DANCE WITH ME" with Vanessa Williams & Chayanne.

Anyone know what scene she's in? Don't remember seeing her.

[salsaForfun]

Josie Neglia was also a feature dancer in the movie "DANCE WITH ME" with Vanessa Williams & Chayanne.

Anyone know what scene she's in? Don't remember seeing her.

Here a quote from Josie's message board. Check it out:

"I dance beside and behind her (Vanessa Williams) in the first night club scene in the movie "Dance With Me".
I have black straight hair and am wearing a tight silver mini dress.
If you blink, you might miss me. That's Hollywood!"

[pygmalion]

Oops! Just what I needed. An excuse to watch that movie again. LOL.

[peachexploration]

LOL. I know. I had to watch again this morning. And sure enough she is there but in order to see her, I had to view it in slow motion. Bummer, she's there for only a quick second. :?

[Pacion]

:lol: This reminds of an Australian movie called Lantana. A number of the salseros in Sydney were in it and from what I heard, there were some classrooms scenes and a whole day of shooting for a nightclub scene. The night club scene had a mini rueda circle and all!

I finally got around to seeing the movies last night and there were just a few seconds of the nightclub scene :shock: :lol: It would have been "nice" if some more of the dancing was left in but heck it was a thriller so the dancing might have detracted from it :oops:

The movie was excellent though. Talk about "Six Degrees of Separation" :shock:

[Sabor]

first time i saw salsa danceing was thru the movie 'Salsa' featuring R.Rosa,, the first song i heard was 'Margerita' from the same movie.. i just LOVE this song .. specially this song.. whenever i feel i need a salsa passion injection i play this song and sure enough i go mad with the desire :bouncy:

see its not just the beautiful passionate words.. the fantastic musicality of it.. its like it has a magic spirit of its own.. i tell u .. feeling wise.. no other song makes me feel like this one does.. and to date, no other made me dance virtually on air :P

[salsachinita]

first time i saw salsa danceing was thru the movie 'Salsa' featuring R.Rosa

Me too....! "Puerto Rico" was my favourite......

[mambolad]

:lol: This reminds of an Australian movie called Lantana. A number of the salseros in Sydney were in it and from what I heard, there were some classrooms scenes and a whole day of shooting for a nightclub scene. The night club scene had a mini rueda circle and all!

I finally got around to seeing the movies last night and there were just a few seconds of the nightclub scene :shock: :lol: It would have been "nice" if some more of the dancing was left in but heck it was a thriller so the dancing might have detracted from it :oops:

The movie was excellent though. Talk about "Six Degrees of Separation" :shock:

Didn't think much of that movie. Typical Aussie rubbish :D It kind of portrayed salsa as being something bored middled aged wives do! Anyway, that's the message I got from it.

[SDsalsaguy]

Welcome to the Forums mamboland! :D

[Jack]

I started at 49 now 50 I'm at the end of beginners 3, 4 months.Need some polish though *smile*

[peachexploration]

Yay! Good for you, Jack. :cheers:

[Pacion]

:lol: This reminds of an Australian movie called Lantana. A number of the salseros in Sydney were in it and from what I heard, there were some classrooms scenes and a whole day of shooting for a nightclub scene. The night club scene had a mini rueda circle and all!

I finally got around to seeing the movies last night and there were just a few seconds of the nightclub scene :shock: :lol: It would have been "nice" if some more of the dancing was left in but heck it was a thriller so the dancing might have detracted from it :oops:

The movie was excellent though. Talk about "Six Degrees of Separation" :shock:

Didn't think much of that movie. Typical Aussie rubbish :D It kind of portrayed salsa as being something bored middled aged wives do! Anyway, that's the message I got from it.

:nope: I disagree Mambolad. Did you start watching it from the beginning :wink: :tongue: But hey, it could have been worse. Namely, the message you got from it could have been: Salsa is for failed athletes, martial artists, musicians etc :wink:

PS. Has anyone told you lately that you have beautiful eyes :bouncy:

[Spitfire]

Josie Neglia was also a feature dancer in the movie "DANCE WITH ME" with Vanessa Williams & Chayanne.

Anyone know what scene she's in? Don't remember seeing her.

I was just asking myself that. I believe Bob Powers and Julia Gorchekova were also featured, but don't kow which scene.

[mambolad]

:nope: I disagree Mambolad. Did you start watching it from the beginning :wink: :tongue: But hey, it could have been worse. Namely, the message you got from it could have been: Salsa is for failed athletes, martial artists, musicians etc :wink:

PS. Has anyone told you lately that you have beautiful eyes :bouncy:

:shock: :D :D :D :lol: :lol: :lol: I'm speechless!

[Pacion]

:shock: :D :D :D :lol: :lol: :lol: I'm speechless!

You might want to consider joining the "Insomniacs-R-Us! (http://www.dance-forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=573&start=1185)" club then :wink:

PS: Welcome to Dance Forums :banana:

[peachexploration]

Tito Puente was born Ernesto Antonio Puente Jnr., 20 April 1923, Harlem Hospital, New York City, New York, USA. Born of Puerto Rican parentage, Tito began piano lessons when he was seven years old and around the age of 10 he started tuition in drums and percussion, which became his forte. Around 1936, Puente commenced his professional career as a drummer with the orchestra of Noro Morales. In 1941 he played with the Machito band. World War II intervened and Tito was drafted into the US Navy for three years' service. After his discharge he took courses at New York's Juilliard School of Music and did stints with the bands of JosÈ Curbelo and Fernando Alvarez between 1946 and 1947. With Curbelo, Puente performed alongside Tito RodrÌguez, who later became his arch-rival.

[peachexploration]

Professional choreographer, Nadine Gautier, choreographed the off-broadway play Quien Mato A Hector Lavoe (Who Killed Hector Lavoe) which also starred Domingo Quinones.

[peachexploration]

Inspired by any other Salsa Artists? Dance or Music?

[Sagitta]

Nope. :P I inspire myself. :)

[youngsta]

Josie Neglia was also a feature dancer in the movie "DANCE WITH ME" with Vanessa Williams & Chayanne.

Anyone know what scene she's in? Don't remember seeing her.

I was just asking myself that. I believe Bob Powers and Julia Gorchekova were also featured, but don't kow which scene.

You all do know that the Rueda scene in Dance With Me is basically a whose who of salsa celeberties right? Check out the list:

Jannette Valenzuela .... Woman in Dance Club (She's the first girl Chayanne dances with when Vanessa Williams walks away mad.)

Jose Mesa Benjamin .... Salsa Club Dancer
Harry Bowens .... Salsa Club Dancer
Juan Carlos Cienfuegos .... Salsa Club Dancer
Leila Flores .... Salsa Club Dancer
Raúl Gómez .... Salsa Club Dancer
Monica Gonzalez .... Salsa Club Dancer
Rudy González .... Salsa Club Dancer
Ana Hernandez .... Salsa Club Dancer
Alicia Gómez .... Salsa Club Dancer
Joel Hernandez .... Salsa Club Dancer
Erika Landin .... Salsa Club Dancer
Alyra Lennox .... Salsa Club Dancer
Rojelio Moreno .... Salsa Club Dancer
Anne Noelle .... Salsa Club Dancer
Piper Orr .... Salsa Club Dancer
Jacqueline Rios .... Salsa Club Dancer
Chantal Sagouspe .... Salsa Club Dancer
Marissa Soratorio .... Salsa Club Dancer
Albert Torres .... Salsa Club Dancer
Francisco Vasquez .... Salsa Club Dancer
Joby Vasquez .... Salsa Club Dancer
Luis Vasquez .... Salsa Club Dancer

[Pebbles]

I saw an interesting salsa performance by a ballet dancer. She loved dancing, but stopped because she got married at 20, and her husband didn't approve. After he passed away, she started dancing again, and she has been learning salsa for several months prior to the performance. When she came on the stage, the audience was like :) Because she's everyone's grandma age! She stopped dancing for 40 some years!! Everyone was giving her the warm, supportive applause. We were like, well it is sure nice to see a grandma dancing a few turns, maybe even a shine or two..

Then she started dancing: multiple spins! :shock: dips! neckdrops! :shock: :shock: lifts! aerials! :shock: :shock: :shock: There were a dozen pro performances before them, but nothing could compare to a grey haired Salsera flying through the dance like that! It absolutely brought down the house :D

[Sagitta]

Wow and wow!! :o :D

[Sabor]

i'm inspired by a nose with different size nostrils!.. awww :applause:

:P

[squirrel]

I heard Vanessa Williams (Dance with Me) doesn't really know how to Salsa dance! Is that true? She surely didn't look it! :lol: :lol:

[peachexploration]

I heard Vanessa Williams (Dance with Me) doesn't really know how to Salsa dance! Is that true? She surely didn't look it! :lol: :lol:

Maybe she's not as great as Joby or Edie but I've seen her incorporate Salsa in her concert shows even before "Dance With Me". Her background is in dance, so for her to pick up other dances rather quickly, it is quite easy.

[Sagitta]

Must see that movie...one of these days.

[LovingIt28]

wow - what a great thread. Thanks!!!

[SDsalsaguy]

wow - what a great thread. Thanks!!!
[off topic]
Nice to see you finding and enjoying some of the salsa content here LI(/S)28. :D
[/off topic]

[LovingIt28]

[off topic]
Nice to see you finding and enjoying some of the salsa content here LI(/S)28. :D
[/off topic]

Lol thanks :) SO much to learn and enjoy... hurray!