Event Reviews

This past Friday I went to the Salsa night at the Renaissance Club on the 36th floor of the Renaissance center!! This event was put on by Renee and a VERY cool guy Roger!!

As always we would like to thank everyone for coming out to learn and dance salsa with us. About 300 people turned out for this one. The interesting thing is always the percentage of new faces that show up each month. Many times we on the YA team wonder: How all these first time visitors hear about this once a month event held in a unremarkable building that’s tucked away in a very quiet and non-descript suburb of metro Detroit?.

The answer is simple yet inspiring. It is you! As we have said before, YA Salsa is a completely volunteer effort. Each one of us has full time jobs and responsibilities that soak up 90% of our day. That does not leave a lot of time for us to get the word out as much as we would like to but thanks to you it seems to be happening and the proof is seen every month! Passing the word about the salsa not only keep the socials going strong, it also gives the YA team renewed strength to keep going.

It's true. The word got out and we continue to blow the doors off of the American Legion. The March social was a whopper with 325 dancers coming IN and then walking out (or hobbling in the case of a few unlucky feet) tired and happy. Yes it's crowded, but its a great crowd and one can't even begin to explain to the uninitiated, the energy and feel of these events. It's not only an opportunity to dance or meet up with people you haven't seen in a while, we also get the opportunity to acknowledge the people who by doing their thing make our lives better.

Thanks & Happy B-Day

This month it was a birthday shout out to Cisco whom with his Salsa Detroit crew have been pillars of the Detroit salsa scene for longer than I've been dancing and a he is a key member of YA Salsa too. Everyone knows, the dancers can be tough on the DJs and promoters but that's because we are so into the scene that we want it to be perfect all the time every night -- which is of course different for everyone. So Sunday Jamin made a special point of not only calling out "happy birthday", but also making Cisco step out from the DJ station and join the rest of us on the dance floor for the snowball with a great running commentary. Little does he know that he'll probably be dragged out there every month until he goes willingly.

I just wanted to share my thoughts about Flava Invasion 3. I had an awesome time. Gordon Neil and iMambo.tv have done an impressive job putting together this event.

Downtown Atlanta was the site for the weekend's activities. Among the many performers were several names that will be familiar to any follower of YA Salsa: The above noted Gordon Neil, Troy Anthony, Sekou McMiller, Magna Gopal, and Shaka Brown. For the Saturday concert, Fania All Star Larry Harlow, Joel "Masacote" Massicot, and Orquesta Macuba played a blistering set. Add to this dancing that was easily on the level of a congress, and you can see why I am giving this event such a good review. As always, I took a few photos to share. I hope you enjoy them.

There is too much to report here so I will stick to the top three highlights.
I have been to about a dozen salsa congresses over the years and I can honestly say this one was the best ever. I don't say that lightly. I had attended my first Afro-Cuban Music & Dance Festival in Boulder, Colorado in August of last year and figured that a salsa congress would not be able to match up anymore. Not.

Every time I try to describe the difference between a YA Social and a club, I get it wrong. Not that the description isn't accurate, but that the comparison is wrong. You can't compare it to clubs, congressos or studios. The YA social is like a big living room and a giant house party.

You take this kind of non-descript building on a non-descript street, invite a few thousand people from all walks of life -- almost 500 show up. You have a band -- one of the best in town. Have 10 or 15 salsa slaves running around to make it go smoothly and this is what you get. It's unique. Any of the individual elements on their own is good. A band like Grupo Salvaje playing is great, but with dancers -- each their own show, it's something else. 450 people dancing at a club is nothing new, but when you take salseros - young and old, new and hard-core, mix them up shake them around -- its completely different. You pay a few bucks to cover the cost and there's nothing more to buy. There's no security, no VIP, no dress code, no formality. Maybe the best comparison -- a street party.

More Pictures Online & Video coming soon!