Countdown to the West Coast Salsa Congress

[sbsalsera]

Only a week to go! The schedule of bands & performances is awesome, and check out the "SalsaLand" that's being built: http://www.rapodesigns.com/congress/

Who else is going? SG? SD? aragonh? tsb? meagalita?

Youngsta & I have worked out a plan to meet for a DF dinner on Friday May 28th at 6:00 pm. Please join us if you can! (Just PM me to say you're coming so we know how many to expect.)

Mamma D's Italian
1125 Manhattan Ave.
Manhattan Beach, CA

This restaurant is close to LAX & Hollywood Park, in a decent neighborhood, and good for a group of people.

[youngsta]

Woot! 7 days for me :D

[SDsalsaguy]

Hiya sbsalsera! :D

I'd e-mailed Alber Torres Productions about maybe obtaining a press pass to continue my research at this years's event but never even got a response. If I could I'd just kich in the $ for it but, ufortunately, I'm really not in a financial position to make a go of congress this year. :cry:

Hope you all have a great time though... :)

[danceguy]

I won't be attending the Congress...too much going on in my life and I'm also very deep in revamping my whole approach to Salsa dancing...hence I'm not quite ready to go out to such a large venue! Next year - perhaps!

SG

[meagalita]

yes! i'll be going, and am interested in meeting you guys for dinner..is anyone staying at the marriott? it would be nice to go together. my friend and i are not renting a car so if we could carpool/taxi pool that would be great. i'm looking forward to taking a few workshops, namely from ismael otero and griselle ponce for sure. i'm already planning to conserve my energy as i can get "crowd overload", but i intend to have a lot of fun too ;)

[youngsta]

I'm staying just down the street from the Mariott at the Quality Hotel. Have a friend that works there that got me a great deal. I'm thinking about hitting Ismael's workshop too...5 days left!! :D

[youngsta]

2 DAYS!!!!

[youngsta]

DINGDINGDINGDING!! It's finally here for me :D I'm off to salsa wonderland. Will report back with pics and my thoughts on how the weekend went on Tuesday!

[DiAnAoN1]

Have fun everyone!! Wish I could have gone...oh well definately next year!

[SDsalsaguy]

Hope everyone enjoys... sorry I won't be there. :(

[salsachinita]

Have fun out there.....! I swear I would SOOOO be there if I live anywhere near America!

There's a group of Melbourne salseras going there. Check out their pics in my album.....you might see them :wink: !

Youngsta, all the best in getting lots of 'trophy' dances........!

[SDsalsaguy]

Youngsta, all the best in getting lots of 'trophy' dances........!
And even better luck wracking up some 'treasure' dances! :wink: :D

[salsachinita]

Youngsta, all the best in getting lots of 'trophy' dances........!
And even better luck wracking up some 'treasure' dances! :wink: :D

............not that our Sassy Hips here needs any luck :wink: .....!

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[DiAnAoN1]

When does the congress end? Is anyone going to the Miami congress this year? I am!!

[youngsta]

Well I'm back, I'm exhausted, and I had a BLAST!!! Unfortunately I never caught up with any DFers :( , but hopefully we can remedy that real soon :wink: I'll have a few preliminary pics up pretty quick and my thoughts on the whole weekend sometime tomorrow. Right now all I want to do is sleep!! :lol:

[pygmalion]

Excellent. I look forward to seeing your photos. 8) :D

[Pacion]

Right now all I want to do is sleep!! :lol:

Looks to me as if the IRU (Isomniacs-R-Us) Club needs to do some recruiting :wink:

Glad you had a great time! Looking forward to seeing the photos also :D

Do you have any of Frankie Martinez and Juan Martos :shock: :mrgreen:

[pygmalion]

Good point. I think I've checked in maybe three times this spring, versus every day last fall. :oops: :roll:

[youngsta]

WOW!! :shock: I'm still decompressing from the whole congress experience. I think I experienced the whole rainbow of emotions over the weekend.

Thursday night I was really tired by the time I'd got done all my traveling. Got to registration that night and it took FOREVER!! The dude that was doing it was super slow. Little did I know he had given me the HOOK up! (got a full pass when I paid for nights only) Danced like crap Thursday night buy hey I had a blast anyway. Highlight dances with a young lady from Japan and my LA crew of friends.

Friday it was on. I'd gotten plenty of rest and was ready to go the distance. The DF dinner was supposed to be this evening, but a traffic accident on the 105 messed things up (no worries sb, I was caught in the same mess!) I was on a mission to dance with a variety of women so I made the circuit around salsaland. Had numerous GREAT dances, especially with one woman from Alaska and another from Australia. Had gotten my fix before 10pm!! Africando and Roberto Roena both gave great performances.

Saturday hit a picnic with my friends during the day. Great people great times! Witnessed a bird bangin out la clave with his beek...what else could you ask for! By far this evening was my favorite of the weekend. More great dances and my highlight of the night...Spanish Harlem Orchestra!! I was stage front and stayed planted there until they were done. Great, GREAT show! The dance floors were on fire throughout their entire set.

Sunday did a few workshops during the day. I was pretty much done mentally. Felt a bit overloaded, but there was no way I was going to miss El Gran Combo. Couldn't get quite as close as I did with SHO, but still had a great view. I didn't even plan to really dance much, of course that didn't last long. Had a blast dancing with one of the SF Rica Salsa girls, even got to dance with a girl from my salsa roots in Tucson! As tired as I was I was still so sad to realize it was all over. What an experience!

[Pacion]

Witnessed a bird bangin out la clave with his beek...

:shock: :lol: I think this is one for the "You know you are a salsa addict" list :lol: 'You are on a picnic and the bird's bangin/pecking sounds like the clave' :lol:

[tj]

(snip) What an experience!

Nice! Thanks for sharing!

[Pacion]

tj, he hasn't finished sharing yet! I am still waiting for the photos :shock: :lol:

[youngsta]

Look in the photo album :P

[youngsta]

The Salsaland tent setup was great btw! One tent for the performances, one with a stage for the band and numerous dance floors for the dancers (and two giant screens to watch the performances), and an outside dance floor. It never got TO hot since we had so much open air, and if you were sweating from dancing a walk around the vendor tents outside would cool you off.

[Pacion]

Look in the photo album :P

Thanks for the notification :lol: but um, where is Frankie :cry: :lol:

(I know, I know! Don't go giving me an earful asking why would a guy want to take photos of another guy :lol: when a certain Sabor is after some eye candy :oops: :lol: well, ever hear about 'equality' :wink: :lol: )

[tj]

Look in the photo album :P

Lol! That's an interesting outfit she's almost wearing!
:wink:

[Pacion]

:doh: I am going to refrain from commenting :roll: :roll: :lol:

[youngsta]

Sorry, didn't see Frankie the entire weekend Pacion. As a matter of fact I didn't see any of the high profile female dancers in the social dancing area ever! Did see Luis Vasquez and Super Mario though.

[tj]

:doh: I am going to refrain from commenting :roll: :roll: :lol:

Psst... you already did - during your request for Frankie pics... :lol:

[Pacion]

Sorry, didn't see Frankie the entire weekend Pacion. As a matter of fact I didn't see any of the high profile female dancers in the social dancing area ever! Did see Luis Vasquez and Super Mario though.


Oooooooohhhhh!!!! There is something very wrong with this statement :twisted: :lol:

First, you offer Frankie, then you deviate to the high profile female dancers :shock: Is that a coded message intended for the male DFers :roll: :lol: Then, you offer up Luis and Mario, as if hoping the ladies here wouldn't notice (where is the smilie to indicate I am scratching my forehead trying to work that one out) :lol:

[salsachinita]

especially with....... another from Australia.

:shock: Enquiring minds want to know!!!!

She wouldn't be from Melbourne, would she....? What's her name.....?

*if she's one of my local girls I will go grill her til she gives me a full review on dancing with our very own Sassy Hips :lol: :wink: !*

[pygmalion]

tsk tsk. Another enquiring mind on the loose. :wink: :lol: :lol:

[jamaicanspice]

hmmmmmmmm...quite alot of enquiring minds here 8) :wink: :P

[Neil]

When does the congress end? Is anyone going to the Miami congress this year? I am!!

Are you talking about the Salsa Lovers congress in August? I think I’ll be there. I don't know yet about the Salsa-Rueda congress in November, nor the World Salsa Federation event in October. I will definitely go to the Internationally Hustle and Salsa event next April. They are right now finalizing a new location. We should hear about it soon.

[DiAnAoN1]

Are you talking about the Salsa Lovers congress in August? I think I’ll be there. I don't know yet about the Salsa-Rueda congress in November, nor the World Salsa Federation event in October. I will definitely go to the Internationally Hustle and Salsa event next April. They are right now finalizing a new location. We should hear about it soon.

I'm talking about the 3rd annual Miami Salsa congress in August, I guess the Salsa Lovers and this would be the same thing?

[Neil]

I'm talking about the 3rd annual Miami Salsa congress in August, I guess the Salsa Lovers and this would be the same thing?

One and the same. It's being hosted by Salsa Lovers and that west coast Salsa guy. I think his name is Albert Torres.

[jamaicanspice]

I'm talking about the 3rd annual Miami Salsa congress in August, I guess the Salsa Lovers and this would be the same thing?

ahhh...when is this exactly? and where in Miami???

[Neil]

I'm talking about the 3rd annual Miami Salsa congress in August, I guess the Salsa Lovers and this would be the same thing?

ahhh...when is this exactly? and where in Miami???

Check out Salsalovers.com The info should be there.

[youngsta]

especially with....... another from Australia.

:shock: Enquiring minds want to know!!!!

She wouldn't be from Melbourne, would she....? What's her name.....?

*if she's one of my local girls I will go grill her til she gives me a full review on dancing with our very own Sassy Hips :lol: :wink: !*
I wish I remembered her name salsachinita, really. She danced like silk. Never actually got what city in Australia she was from. :sad:

[pygmalion]

You were just two ships passing in the salsa night. :( It sounds like you had a blast, though. What was the best part? :D

[youngsta]

I'd have to say dancing with all the women from different parts of the world! Every one of them brought something distinctive to the dance. It was great!!! :D

[pygmalion]

That sounds fantastic. I envy you. :( 8) Maybe one day soon.

[pygmalion]

I'm talking about the 3rd annual Miami Salsa congress in August, I guess the Salsa Lovers and this would be the same thing?

ahhh...when is this exactly? and where in Miami???

Check out Salsalovers.com The info should be there.

August 12 - 15 Eden Roc Resort, Miami Beach. Discounted early bird registration ends soon. :roll: :wink: :D

[jamaicanspice]

thanks pygmalion :lol:

[pygmalion]

Miami Beach is nice. Lots of activities. A little expensive, unless you get discounted rates for a conference or congress, or whatever. Enjoy. 8) :D