Favorite things about Puerto Rico Salsa Congress

[franceon2]

Hello salseros I was wondering how many of you attended the Puerto Rico salsa congress and what you thought of it?

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[SDsalsaguy]

Sorry. Have been to the West Coast Salsa Congress in LA twice (the largest one in the world actually), but haven't been to any of the others yet. Anyone else?

[franceon2]

Hello SD, I have went to the one in Puerto Rico and the one in LA. I must say if you get a chance next year you do not want to miss it. There is a better line of shows, great ones no just ok shows. All of the shows are of really good quality. The fact of being in Puerto Rico certainly adds to the whole feeling though of course. The bands would end about 4 in the morning then everyone would to a club until 6 or 7. It is always interesting to see how others dance and put things you like into your own. Alot of the dancers that were actually from puerto rico danced on2 and interprited the music by breaking into footwork many times during a song. The kids were great, they can really social dance. 10 year old guys would go and grap grown women and start dancing with them. They can lead and follow not just do choreography. In all I had a great time. I enjoyed the LA congress also but if I had to pick only 1 congress to go besides the NY congress(have to go to that one!) then I would definetly go to Puerto Rico.

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[SDsalsaguy]

I enjoyed the LA congress also but if I had to pick only 1 congress to go besides the NY congress(have to go to that one!) then I would definetly go to Puerto Rico.
I'll keep it in mind...but the LA congress is only about an hour and a half drive away!

[Pacion]

I enjoyed the LA congress also but if I had to pick only 1 congress to go besides the NY congress(have to go to that one!) then I would definetly go to Puerto Rico.
I'll keep it in mind...but the LA congress is only about an hour and a half drive away!

:lol: re LA being just an hour and half drive away :wink:

Interesting the difference a year makes :? there are now two competing PR Congresses :?

[MacMoto]

Interesting the difference a year makes :? there are now two competing PR Congresses :?
Any thoughts on the two PR Congresses -- since it looks like there will be two again in 2005? Anyone went to either of them this year? Anyone thinking about going next year? Which one? Why?

[tj]

I'm tempted. I know people who had fun last summer, and I live closer to P.R. than I did a year ago.

Any word on whether there's a website for either? The one listed in our Ad & Events Forum says that it's not up to date.

[MacMoto]

Any word on whether there's a website for either? The one listed in our Ad & Events Forum says that it's not up to date.
The website for the first one (Albert Torres one) only gives the dates (24-30 July 2005), venue (Wyndham El San Juan Hotel & Casino, Isla Verde, Puerto Rico) and hotel reservation number. The website for the later one ("9th congreso") is still showing 2004 info...

[dancin/dj]

I enjoyed the LA congress also but if I had to pick only 1 congress to go besides the NY congress(have to go to that one!) then I would definetly go to Puerto Rico.
I'll keep it in mind...but the LA congress is only about an hour and a half drive away!

:lol: re LA being just an hour and half drive away :wink:

Interesting the difference a year makes :? there are now two competing PR Congresses :? lol :shock: i;ll sort of be nice :twisted: ,its a nasty thing when someone(or plural) puts a congress the same time in a small place like puerto rico :shock: ,i've read from a well known female dancer(who is from philly and is puerto rican american that there was a lot of attiude at the congress in puerto rico.(not )from the people who live there folks, a good friend of mine was born there and left after 23 years and is living here for the past 9 years she says the people are very nice there :) the person who said there was a lot of attiude has been to many congress-of course u can always enjoy the island and local things despite some spoilers :wink:

[Pacion]

Interesting the difference a year makes :? there are now two competing PR Congresses :? lol :shock: i;ll sort of be nice :twisted: ,its a nasty thing when someone(or plural) puts a congress the same time in a small place like puerto rico :shock:

dancin/dj, I don't know how much you know about the original PR congress and what I am about to say is based on my own internet readings/observations and the very small knowledge of the organisers of the original PR congress:

The main guys behind the two "competing" congresses used to work together, organising the original PR congress (Eli and Richard). My understanding is that there were problems and the two of them went their separate ways. Now, in my opinion, what are they supposed to do?

- "Cooperate"? (Been there, and it didn't work out, for what ever reason)
- One person alone to organise the congress? How should that be decided?
- Two congresses at different times of the year? Agreed, PR is a small place and how should it be decided who has the "original" time slot of end of July/beginning of August which is obviously favoured by both parties?

Yes, it is not an ideal situation and it does pull the salseros. This (2005) will be the second year of the "competing" congresses and as you may have seen, there is an overlap for the dates. Therefore, if someone has the holiday time, they might be able to benefit from both or just simply base it on which one has the more attractions for them. Still not ideal but until either such time as the two original parties patch up their differences, or economics forces one to stop organising their event, then I think we will continue to see two congresses in PR.

[phillysalsera]

I went to the San Juan congress this year and had sooo much fun. but everybody keeps telling me that its nothing compared to LA, so im looking forward to that one :).. I think the best part about Puerto Rico is that you were in the caribbean and salsa dancing everyday, what more could you ask for?

[dancin/dj]

hello pacion,lets just say that i know too much about such matters and im not going to solve or care to solve whats going on in the crazy world of dance and music :roll: ,im sure u know that some events people have a good time no matter what-and whats going on behind the scenes :?: :idea: :arrow: thats coooooooooool i can do that myself at times-but theres bad blood when such things happen and thats part of life,but there (are better ways of dealing with tough situations).