"Rhythms of Salsa" by Vicente
The purpose of this column is to review the Latin dance forms called salsa. Salsa is a marketing term created by the record industry in the mid-70's to categorize the sensuous and hot Latin dance music of the time: Mambo, Cha-Cha-Cha, Guaguanco, and Guajira. We will write articles on historical background, bands, supper clubs, night clubs, instructors and dancers. Also, other writers and knowledgeable persons will be encouraged to contribute to this column. The great expansion of Latin music in the 50's and 60's was brought to a crawl by the rock and roll in the late 60's through the 80's. There was an exception in the 70's with the introduction of Latin Disco music by the Puerto Ricans in New York. In California today, the dances considered in the Salsa category are Mambo, Cha-Cha-Cha, and Merengue. In New York, Puerto Rico, and Florida, the Guaguanco and Guajira are still danced. In Northern California I have noticed a few dancers doing Guaguanco and Guajira, but instructors to teach these dances are hard to find. Note that music is remembered and continues when you can dance to it. If instructors can't teach a dance form to the music, it dies like the beautiful Bossa Nova music of the 1970's.

We Latinos should make the greater American public aware of the rhythm, orchestration, sensuousness, smoothness and beauty of dancing to the salsa dance forms. In Latin music a male dancer leads his partner in expression of her sensuality, to bring out elegance in movement, and to achieve an ecstasy in accomplishment of dance form. To become proficient in the salsa dance forms requires instruction, practice, and commitment. Recently, I saw a dance couple who were using 85 percent mambo movements win a Jack `n Jill West Coast Swing dance contest at Chez Louis French Restaurant in Palo Alto. They blended in the mambo movements to create a new style in West Coast Swing dancing and they received an outstanding ovation. This is a good example of the acceptance of Latin dance movements. In the 60's Tito Puente introduced the Mambo to Japan. The Japanese liked the rhythm and movements even though they didn't understand it. Today there are many salsa bands in Japan. Two of the best in Japan are Orquestra del Sol which is 10 years older than Orquestra de la Luz. Recently, the Orquestra de la Luz received the Peace Medal from the United Nations for promoting unity. Tango is the dance of Argentina, but it was only accepted by the middle and upper class after world wide acceptance. When greater America recognizes and accepts our salsa music and it becomes main stream then Hispanos will achieve true recognition. This will help the Latino upward movement.

Latin music and dance forms are recognized throughout the world. Yes, over the years our music has been incorporated within jazz. rock. swing and mood music. However. the greater American public and young Latinos have not yet sampled the Salsa Experience. The TV international dance contests expose the pubic to our Latin dance forms. These distinguished contest dancers are limited somewhat by the international rules committee. The contestants are great at strutting but somehow lose that fluidity and uniqueness in the tatino style. We need Latin salseros dancing on TV network stage shows and movies to perform our dance forms. Network radio must allow all America to encounter the fantastic Latino sound. Just consider the Salsa music as another great opera in a foreign language. Millions of people view the Latino TV awards show, movies. the few Latin TV stations. and listen to salsa radio. They tune in for the superb art forms. rhythmic Latino music and talented performers. With more media exposure we will give you more and better versions of Julio Iglesias, Gloria Estefan, Tito Puente and the late Raul Julia.

Immediate policy changes made by media networks are desired: but most importantly. relations with supper clubs and cabarets have improved to everyone's benefit. Northern California has had a population shift in some counties where minorities are now the majority. We must inform the business decision makers (with delicate tact) that the minorities are now, and will be in the future, the buyers of their services and goods. For example. I supplied a local night club with "Salsa in English" CDs to remove the language obstruction. Today, this club plays all Salsa music in the original Spanish-sung version to an expanded clientele of Anglos, Asians, Latinos, etc. By providing Salsa dance instructors, the Bay Area clubs have ensured expansion of their businesses. Club owners have commented to me that Latin women dress so elegantly and stylishly. I told them. "It's called tradition. culture and pride." Further discussion revealed that the appearance and dress of men and women have greatly improved. When I informed the Latin women of the compliments. they said, "We're glad that our culture is being adopted along with the arts. The professional women said that they wanted to change from office wear to evening dress to bring out personality and their desired ambience at the Salsa club.

Vicente is the pseudonym for Serafin Corchado who grew up dancing to the hot Latin bands in New York City. He has extensive knowledge of the Latin bands and night clubs in the Bay Area. He is a consultant in marketing, technical writing, and technical training in the high technology environment.

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