SF Salsa Rueda Festival celebrates Cuba!

San Francisco is the home to one of the hottest music and dance festivals in Cuban Music.  I was contacted by Serena Wong who along with Nicholas Van Eyck organized the fourth annual SF Salsa Rueda Festival at the Hotel Whitcomb.  Serena and Nicholas also are leaders of the renowned Salsa Vale Todo dance troupe.  It was a joyful celebration of Cuban culture.  I was chosen to MC and present 13 dance troupes who came as far away as China to perform their interpretation of Cuban dance from Rumba to Son to Timba.  What a great show and a fine representation of dancing as large dance troupes showed their best Rueda de Casino moves while some couples displayed a full range of dance from dancing guaguanco to modern timba.  Deejays Antonio, Dark Rum and Walt Digz played music that packed the dance floor throughout the entire weekend.  I caught impressive live sets by Miami's Timbalive and SF's own Rumbache although I wasn't able to make it to see Manolin, El Medico De La Salsa due to the Bay Bridge closure.  However, I heard that he played a great set.  For those who missed this year's SF Salsa Rueda Festival, you may have another chance to check this show out in Las Vegas scheduled for this coming August.  

Making Kids Happy

I had a blast performing as DJ for my 9 year old son's elementary school family dance.  All the kids were happy because I played their favorite hits from Lady Gaga to Rhianna to Train, etc.  The school auditorium was set up with several disco balls that were spraying spears of white light on kids and their parents.  A line of anxious young girls lined up in front of my dj setup on the auditorium stage to request Taio Cruz's "Dynamite".  I started this pre-teen anthem "I came to dance, dance, dance, dance..."and the kids screamed with delight as they jumped up and down.  The 90 minutes flew by as I first played a short set of music before our dance instructor, Liza arrived.  Once Liza got on stage, she led the kids on line dances such as the Chicken Dance, Electric Slide, Cha Cha Slide and finally the Macarena.   I played Parliament's "Flash Light" while Liza got all the parents dancing on stage showing the kids their awesome funk moves.  I finally cut loose with a set of dance music that satisfied even the most demanding 10 year olds!!  My son Adrian joined me on stage.  He shook it on stage with the old man while I was playing LMFAO's "Party Rock Anthem".  I knew that all the kids wanted to hear "I'm Sexy And I Know It" but I knew I would be on the PTA's blacklist if I played it.   I brought too much music for the short amount of time that I played for the kids but it was worth it.

Another New Year Resolution

I am making a new year's resolution right now to blog more often.  Improve the blog as well.  I know it's February but I'm moving forward.  So keep it locked, I will deliver.  Blog entries coming right up.