Tromsø Salsa - i New York!

Putting Norway and Tromsø on the map 2006

Text and photo: Erik and Consuelo (This article contains 3 video clips. Last clip was put Aug.6.)

The last year since fall 2005 we have put a great effort into teaching salsa in Tromsø and surrounding cities. It has been rewarding to get so many new friends, see so many people learn how to dance and join us in this phenomenal way of socializing. We love to teach, but focusing 100% on ourselves and studying for a whole summer has been wonderful. Now we are back with more knowledge and experiences both as dancers, instructors, performers, and something new: competitiors. In this litle postcard we share some of our experiences. We did a whole lot of training, but readers would probably be more interested in what else we did:

	shortcuts
* We had the honor of being the first Norwegians to perform at the biggest salsa-show in the world: The Los Angeles Salsa Congress.	Read about West Coast Salsa Congress
* Gave a show at the 3rd Annual International Philadelphia Salsa Congress	Read about Philadelphia Salsa Congress
* Thaught workshops in Eugene, Oregon
* Performed at several events in the salsa mecca of the world, New York City	Read about Salsa in New York 2006
* Were chosen to teach at the Salsa Olympics event in New York
* Won the Gemini International Open Salsa Competition held in Portland, Oregon, USA	Read about NorthWest Open Salsa Competition
* Placed among top 10 at the world salsa competition in San Juan, Puerto Rico	Read about world salsa Open, Puerto Rico

The world Salsa Congress Los Angeles 2006

We had a fantastic time representing Norway at Los Angeles Salsa Congress this May. This event is know to be the most prestigious salsa congress in the world, and we were the first dancers from Norway to set foot on stage there. We presented our latest show in front of thousands of dancers from all over the world. For this special occasion we had created a routine based on a mix of "The hall of the mountain king" (Dovregubbens hall) and a mambo by Bobby Montez. The seconds before we walked on stage were nerve-wrecking because not only are thousands watching. They also produce a dvd from this show that will be sold all over the world. You only get one chance - if you mess up, it will be on record forever. However, it went really well :)

Video1: Los Angeles performance

Klick on the image to see a sample clip of the performance we did in Los Angeles

The few minutes before we got on stage were intense. Thousands of dancers were about to see us perform. The knees were shaking, and we were both really worried. We both wanted to escape. When Albert Torres, the president of the congress, entered the stage and said ..blabla..."from Norway...." we both felt like trapped animals. We entered the stage. Blinded by the stage light we could barely see the thousands of heads watching us, all the cameras. Then our music started, and we just did what we had rehersed, - before we knew it, it was over - We just performed at the biggest salsa show in the world, it was a blast!

BELOW: Pictures from our Los Angeles performance

We arrived Los Angeles a couple of days before the congress. Although we spent a lot of time rehersing, we had time to go shopping and enjoy the incredible California weather. We stayed at the Crowne Plaza hotel - beautiful.

Biggest salsa event in the world

The Los Angeles salsa congress is arranged every year in May. This 5-day event gathers people from all over the world. Around 25 000 dancers, beginners and profesionals join to dance on the biggest dance floors to the most famous orchestras, learn from the best instructors, and see the best dance shows. The congress area next to Hollywood Park Casino, called Salsa Land, covers 4 football fields. A warm-up party at Santa Monica beach is arranged the day before the event really starts. It is an experience for a lifetime to join - why don't you come with us next time!

Albert Torres

Salsa would not be so popular if it was not for this man. Thanks to Albert who arranges these congresses/festivals, information about dance skills and styles, and music is exchanged between people from all over the world. A guy from northern Norway can learn moves from an amazing dancer from New York, Cuba or Puerto Rico.

Albert Torres makes sure that everybody behind stage is ready for the show. He informs the dancers about which order they are performing.

About 100 dance teams from the whole world perform during the congress.

At these congresses you can also buy dance effects such as costumes, cool t-shirts, cd's, instructional videos, shoes, instruments, etc

Each night is a huge party with a huge dancefloor, and several fantastic bands. There are several bars located around the area. After one or two dances with a person you reach out your hands to dance with the next - maybe someone from the oppsite side of the planet from your home?

Social dancing at the world salsa congress in Los Angeles:

The annual North West Open Salsa Competition.

"When we left Los Angeles we had no idea that we soon would be on stage competing against the best dancers of the Northwest US/Canada for $2000 in cash and prizes"

After the Salsa event in Los Angeles we went to Oregon, which is the state north of California. In Oregon we visited Consuelo's family and spent some time rehersing some of the new stuff that we learned at the workshops in LA. The salsa scene is quite big, so we got the opportunity to go out dancing almost every night. Since so many dancers asked us, we gave a workshop in Eugene. A lot of people came to learn some cool moves and we got great feedback for our unique style of teaching.

Just before we went to New York, we heard about the "Largest Salsa Competition in Northwest US" - a annual International Open Salsa competition held in Portland, Oregon, USA. We joined the competition just for the experience, just to try it. We actually placed first in the semifinals, so we decided to give it a try. After all it was a respectable sum of money.. The finals was a week after, so we got busy finding a cool song, choreographing and learning a new routine. Then, the next week we were competing against the best dancers of the Northwest US/Canada for $2000 in cash and prizes. We were on stage as one of the 14 couples that had made it to the finals. Yes, we were quite nervous.

Again we would find ourselves behind stage, this time as couple number 6 - really worried. We were competing on a stage in front of a huge audience, and a international panel of 10 judges. The audience loved our routine. At one moment they screamed so loud that we for a few seconds actually could not hear the song. The judges must have loved it too, we scored 1065 of 1100 posible points! In the end it was amazing to be on stage and hear "And the winning couple comes all the way from...

NORWAY!!"

"We were the only couple in the competition that danced the New York style 'On2'. This style (also known as Night club style) can be just as fast and flashy as L.A style, but can be identified by its smooth, elegant, elastic style."

Erik and Consuelo, featured on the cover of August-edition of Pure Salsa Magazine

Second place went to Seattle, USA, while Canada placed 3rd. Premieutdelingen var som på film. Alle finalistene stod på scenen. Vi visste at vi hadde gjort det bra, men da 3. og 2. plassene var delt ut, var tvilen så stor at det faktisk tok noen sekunder før vi stolte på at det var "Norway" vi hørte over høytaleren.

Her are some pictures from the semifinals:

Our hopes started to rize after we came first in the semi-finals in Portland, Oregon

In Portland, semifinals


Action photo from the finals.	Winners

Pictures from the winning moment:

The day after the competition in Portland we joined a workshop with Victor and Gaby from Mexico. They thaught some cool new moves. We also learned a bit of quebradita, a Mexican type of dancing.

Victor y Gaby from Mexico.

Carlitos from NY was observing the workshop. He used to be member of the famous "Eddie Torres Dancers". He was judging in the competition.

The Philadelphia Salsa Congress

We got invited to represent Norway at The 3rd Annual International Philadelphia Salsa Congress on june 24.

Video 2: Philadelphia performance

We performed our latest routine in Philadelphia You can see a small sample of it here:

It was a blast to join this event. We perfomed next to some amazing dancers, including several of the dancers that made it to the finals in the world championship in Las Vegas, December 2005. We had no idea that we some weeks later would stand next to some of them in the world championship in Puerto Rico.

OTHER PHOTOS from Philadelphia salsa congress:

Posing with dancers from Piel Canela Dance Company from New York

Erika and Consuelo, both from Oaxaca, Mexico

Photos with some of the other performers after show in Philladelphia
Thanks to Mark-Anthony, MamboTribe for this picture!

Salsa in New York, the mecca of salsa

We actually took the trip to Philadelphia while we were staying in New York for training.

"New York. Every Salsa dancers dream place. A lot of the worlds’ highest caliber Salsa dancers come from NY, it’s no wonder other dancers travel from far and wide to get the experience. Even from Norway!"

New York is the dance capitol of the world. That includes salsa, although in New York they call it mambo. If you want to learn from the best and see some of the best nightclubs for salsa in the world, then this is where you should go. at NY airport 5.30 in the morning

We hired a personal coach to prepare us for the wold salsa competition. We got up before 7 am almost every morning, got ready and went downtown to Stepping Out Studio or New York Dance. After the morning practice we would decide where to go take group classes. This year we mostly took classes with Frankie Martinez, Santo Rico dancers and Eddie Torres. We only went a couple of times to Piel Canela dancers, but those classes lasted almost 8 hours each, so we learned a bit still :) We went to dance at the clubs almost every night.

Consuelo looks out of Empire State Building

Our latest show was in demand in New York City. We did several performances during our stay in New York:

June 29: Club Cache

June 30: mambofateegz Salsa Party

July 8: MAD ABOUT MAMBO Presented by THE MAMBO MAMAS

July 9: Salsa Olympics

July 21:Salsa Cruise around Manhattan by Nelson Flores

We also had the honor of being chosen to give a salsa workshop at the event on July 9.

Video 3: Performance at Club Cache

We did the same show as in Philly

We got quite a reception at club chache in New York City when we performed on Consuelo's birthday. Here is a litle taste

Norway meets India! We became with Kaytee - amazing guy from India

Source for the two photos below: http://www.mambofateegz.com/photoalbum.htm


Right before the show at Mambofateegz in NY	Our Maestro and personal trainer Edgar in action

Right after the show at Mambofateegz in NY

During the show at Mambofateegz in NY:

Vi holdt noen show i New York, men det ble tid til å ta noen dansekurs også ;)

Joel Masacote at Taj, the best place for salsa on Mondays in NYC

DJ Franklin Ayala at Link, The best salsa place on Tuesdays in NY

Steve Shaw and Lisa Linhardt

In Chinatown NY

Angel Ortiz was supporting us backstage before our show at the MamboFateegz party in New York.

We met Alexis from Japan, before a show in New York.

THE PUERTO RICO SALSA CONGRESS 2006 - review

Puerto Rico is beautiful, like paradise on earth. The music was amazing, and many of the best dancers in the world were there. The world championship is amazing. However, as a dance event this was not like some of the other congresses we have been to. Read our critique here.

We still had had a blast socializing and making new friends. It is always a great honor to talk to Albert Torres, the most significant man in the salsa world. We also met these fantastic dancers from Poland, Mek and Monica. They are the most complete dancers we have met, and they are such humble and kind people - just amazing. We were also lucky to bump into our great friends from portland (they also performed), Javier and Jenny from Gemini Salsa company, and Ricardo, the best on2 dancer in Oregon. There were also so many firends from New York that it almost felt like a new york nightclub. AND, we had the honor of getting to know a amazing couple from Texas, Carlos and Azucena. They are computer geeks (engineers) who happens to be some of the best salsa dancers in the world. Check out the amazing software they created for people to learn to understand the beats of salsa music.

Thanks for reading and keep dancing!