Looking for info on Salsa Scenes in Madrid & Lisbon

L

lyw

New Member
Hello,

I'm going to lisbon,portugal for a wedding and I have an overnight stop-over in madrid on a friday night. I'd like to hit a salsa club in each city but am worried I might have to go solo if I can't to get any of the non-salsero/as bridal party to go with me and I can't speak portugese or spanish.

Wondering if anybody knows anything about these scenes and if it would be awkward for a English speaking girl to enter by herself.

sincerely,

lyw
 
Hi lyw! :D

Funny you should ask. There was just a thread on dancing in Madrid today, under general dance discussion. I'll dig it up and post the link.

I don't know about Portugal, although perhaps another DF member can make recommendations.

As far as being English-speaking, I doubt you'll have any problems in Madrid. Unless you go to weird, off-the beaten-track places, virtually everybody speaks at least some English. Off in the Spanish countryside is a totally different story, though. :shock:
 
Thanks!

That's comforting. I'd hate to pass up the chance to check out a salsa city outside of my own just cuz i was too shy. :D
 
SDsalsaguy said:
MapleLeaf Salsero's department, no?
Click to expand...
It's a bit early in the morning (8.19 a.m. -- we are in the same time zone), but I'm sure he will have advice and tips when he checks in.
 
Hi lyw!
My Lonely Planet sez the following:

Galileo Galilei(Calle de Galileo 100) attracts a good mix of Hispanic dance groups & vocalists.
A good place to indulge in salsa & other latin grooves is Vaiven(Travesia de San Mateo 1) There is no cover.

El Son(Calle de la Victoria 6) rocks away daily from 7:pm to the wee hours/often has live Cuban bands/midweek has saucy salsa lessons w/Cuban teachers.

Suristan(Calle de la Cruz 7) gets a wide variety of acts, from Cuban to African. Music usually kicks off at11:30pm & there is sometimes a cover of up to 1000ptas(inc. a drink).

Hope this'll help you! Have fun!
:D
 
Hi, Iyw!

Greetings from Portugal! Are u coming this week or next?

This weekend the best place to dance it will be 'Barrio Latino' in the lisbon Area knowed as 'Expo' in the east side. The area it's very nice (a lot of bars with a very nice view to the river). Friday night you have a party of one Big Lisbon Salsa school, so the place will be full, and on saturday you have a regular night that usually are quite nice. I will be there on saturday, so I hope to see you (I will look for anyone that seems to be foreign :) ) On Sunday afertnoon you have a Salsa-Matinee in the same place.

You can go to 'Salsa Latina' (in 'Docas') too, they have a cuban live band on saturdays, but you will not find so many people to dance as in 'El Barrio', because salsa latina is more the comercial kind of place (merengues, pop-salsa, etc..) except on the first and last thursday of each month (today is an example and next week too, but I think you will not be here today) when you have the 'Salsero night' with top portuguese salsa DJ's.

If you come next week then you come in the right week, because on Saturday 8 it's the day of the monthly Almada Party, one of the biggest monthly Lisbon region parties. Almada is a smaller city on the other side of the river and it's easy to go there if you are in lisbon. This party rules!:)

Hope I could help,

João

Ps-To see more information about salsa in Portugal check the forums http://www.salsaportugal.com and http://www.forumsalsa.com . Both have an event folder where you can learn about almost everything that is going on on the portuguese salsa scene (if you don't know portuguese post in english, no problem).
 
I don't know if this band still exists, but if they do, check out 'La Grande de Madrid'. F'n awesome yo.
 
That decides it

Well, that decides it, I'm going to dance salsa in Portugal and Spain!! I hear they stay open late so I may just dance right up until my flight leaves in the morning.

Thanks alot for all the comments.

Now I come from a salsa city where it can be a BYOP (Bring Your Own Partner) kind of atmosphere, often safer to bring one or two dance partners for yourself just to insure that you do get some dances in. I've also never danced in another salsa city.

So i'm wondering if it may be the case in these cities as well, I'm wondering if they dance on 1 or 2 or the old Cumbia style?? or maybe something i've never seen. The weirdest style of salsa i ever experienced was a version that used hand clicks to indicate turns.

I worry too much, I realize...
 
Hi, Iyw!

In Lisbon people dance On1 and the style is usually a mixture of Line and Cuban, but more line. Another thing, in between Salsas we usually dance Kizombas and Bachatas (some ChaChas too). Kizomba is a very sensual rythm from Angola and Cape-Green (very,very similar to Zouk) and I will be delighted to teach you how to dance this.

The places usually open at 22:30-23:30 and then the party goes till there is people dancing. Usually till 5:00 to 6:00. After that you can go to an African Disco to dance more or you can catch the plane to the US :).

Are u coming next week?

João
 
Heck, I might just have to move to portugal!!!

However, I do the on2 thing, it is like a cult thing, so Imma have to turn Portugal to an on2 cult gathering palace.
 
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