Milton Cardona, 69

Milton Cardona, Keeper of New York Salsa’s Beat, Dies at 69
by Jon Pareles, The New York Times, September 26, 2014

Cheo Feliciano, 78

Cheo Feliciano, Debonair Salsa Singer, Dies at 78
by Bruce Weber, The New York Times, April 19, 2014

Azúcar! The Apollo Theater shows Celia Cruz some love

Celia Cruz

Celia Cruz Joins Walk of Legends at New York's Apollo Theater
by Priscilla Rodriguez, LATINA, March 24, 2014

Eddie Pérez, 77

Eddie Pérez, 77, Salsa Musician
by The Associated Press, August 13, 2013

Rubén Blades at Lincoln Center Out of Doors

Rubén Blades
(photos above and below by Darial Sneed)

After four decades in music, just how big a superstar is Panama-born salsero (and actor, activist, lawyer, politician) Rubén Blades? Well, if you already know his work, you know the answer. But, if you don't, check out this note I received from the Lincoln Center press office the day following Blades' Wednesday night appearance at Lincoln Center's Damrosch Park Bandshell:

By the way, we just got the official head count from LC Security and it's 10,000+ -- -- that includes people in the official seating area, plus crowds in the back section of the park going all the way to the Koch Theater and spilling over a bit on to Josie Robertson Plaza.  There were also folks standing and listening from the sidewalk of West 62nd street, but these were not included in the count. 

Yes. Sure enough, despite threat of rain--a threat never made good on--there were people stretched back from the park's entrance barriers as far as my eyes could see. Many had been waiting there for hours. They were let in, a handful at a time, and then the trickle stopped--no more admitted. I had never seen anything like that at a Lincoln Center Out of Doors show.

Similarly, the line for the women's restroom was ridiculous, made bearable only by the way a spirit of solidarity and wicked humor tends to break out in these situations. After my more than half-hour wait, I just barely made it back to my seat to hear Blades well into his first number, "Plástico," with Roberto Delgado Orchestra, Panamanian musicians making their US debut.

Blades with Panama's Roberto Delgado Orchestra
(photo by Darial Sneed)

Getting their shots
(c)2013, Eva Yaa Asantewaa

Dancing had already broken out in the aisles with salsa dancers of different ethnicities exchanging partners and displaying intricacies of personal style--a delightful visual accompaniment to the stage show. With few moments of lilting effervescence, Blades' set hewed to a sober, steady roll--his vocals sliding over the disciplined brass, percussion and keyboards of the orchestra. No eye-candy or sonic flash whatsoever, just a baseline for a reliable Everyman storyteller and his tales of social and political realities--in songs like "Decisiones," "Caína," and "Amor," the last, written as his mother was succumbing to cancer--and his sharing of comfort and wisdom.

I want to share with you one of my earlier and most fervent Rubén Blades obsessions--"Cuentas del Alma," a Latin jazz piece from Escenas (1985). So much do I love this song--a curiously soaring reflection on abandonment and bitter loneliness--that I'm going to share two versions of Blades singing it with different bands. Here's the first.

For the second, you'll have to go here.

Lincoln Center Out of Doors continues through this Sunday, August 11. Click here to enjoy more wonderful--and free-shows.

Lincoln Center Plaza fountain
(c)2013, Eva Yaa Asantewaa

TIPDI: Go to adult dance camp this summer in New York City!

Artistic Director Paula Wilson invites you The International Partner Dance Intensive (TIPDI), a three-day, four-night multi-dance intensive for adult dancers, August 15-18.

"TIPDI," Wilson says "is 72 tracked/leveled classes in ballet, Argentine tango, salsa, modern, West Coast swing, and Afro-Haitian dance, taught by a world-class faculty, with social dancing every night, all geared towards adults. In a nutshell, it's a rigorous, friendly, conservatory-style dance training program for adults."

Click here for complete program and registration information.

US conservatives object to cultural tourists dancing in Cuba

Licensing Rules Slow Tours to Cuba
by Damien Cave, The New York Times, September 11, 2012

Yomo Toro, 78

Yomo Toro, Latin Music Virtuoso, Dies at 78
by Ben Ratliff, The New York Times, July 2, 2012

Asuka!

So, tell me, how does this sound?

• live music by Arturo O’Farrill & the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra...
• a dance homage to salsa legend Celia Cruz...
• and more dances to the music of the Buena Vista Social Club and Tito Puente

Ballet Hispanico 

at The Apollo Theater

December 17 (2pm and 8pm)

Catch the world premiere of Asuka, Eduardo Vilaro's first work for Ballet Hispanico since becoming Artistic Director.

Get all the details--and tickets, too--right here.

Brooklyn's new center for African/diasporan dance

Cumbe Dance | Center for African and Diaspora Dance to open in Brooklyn in early January 

Cumbe is the new home for African and diaspora dance in Brooklyn, bringing together – under one roof – classes and cultural education for dances from Africa, the Americas and the Caribbean.

West African, Sabar, Congolese, Samba, Afro-Brazilian, Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Colombian, Cumbia, Salsa, Tango, Hip Hop, Yoga and more.

Wow! Find out all about it: Click here!

Dancing "Ghetto Klown"

Because when people really move, and they’re really in themselves, it’s like shamanism, and they’re overtaken by something. I find that so beautiful and so raw. That really speaks to me.  -- John Leguizamo

John Leguizamo in ‘Ghetto Klown’ on Broadway
by Julie Bloom, The New York Times, April 8, 2011

New York loves Latin dance

A Latin Dance Scene Spreads Across New York

by Larry Rohter, The New York Times, July 22, 2010

Celebrating Cuban culture in New York

Areytos Performance Works presents

HERENCIA CUBANA: BEMBÉ, SALÓN Y CALLE, a dynamic evening of dance, live music and visual art featuring Afro-Cuban orishas, rumba, salsa, cha-cha-cha and contemporary dance theater.

Friday, March 19, 7:30pm

Hostos Center for the Arts and Culture

450 Grand Concourse (at 149th Street), The Bronx

Directions

Click here for tickets, or call the box office at 718.518.4455.

The joy of mambo!

One in 8 Million - New York Characters in Sound and Images - The New York Times

Great series overall, but don't miss the one about mambo dancer Candice Angelet--link here--interviewed by Catrin Einhorn!

Japan's Salsa Sensation

Japan's Salsa Sensation
by Ashleigh Braggs, The Root, October 28, 2009

How a black American dance enthusiast created a name for herself as a salsa teacher in Japan

Posted via email from Eva Yaa Asantewaa's posterous

Sizzlin'!

A must-see from 30 Seconds of Dance!

Salsa Dancers Cristian Crespo & Gaby, Part 1

Salsa all over town!

So You Think You Can’t Salsa?
by Julie Bloom, The New York Times, August 28, 2008

Ana Maria Alvarez: Body and Soul podcast

An interview with dancer-choreographer Ana Maria Alvarez, founder and artistic director of Contra-Tiempo, a Latin activist dance troupe based in Los Angeles.

Program notes--http://infinitebody.blogspot.com. Guest info at www.contra-tiempo.org. (c)2008, Eva Yaa Asantewaa

MP3 File

Podcast Notes: Upcoming on "Body and Soul"

Dancer-choreographer Ana Maria Alvarez founded and directs the well-regarded Contra-Tiempo, a Latin activist dance troupe based in Los Angeles that first came to my attention at the 2006 New York International Fringe Festival. They're back in New York City this summer, touring a new dance suite--I Dream of America--inspired by the poetry of Langston Hughes and of young students as well as the entwined histories of Black and Latino Americans. Alvarez and I spoke of the company's origins, mission and upcoming plans as well as a bit of unexpected drama that happened at its first performance last evening at St. Mark's Church.

Ana Maria Alvarez (director/dancer/arts educator) has been sharing her joy, love and obsession for moving in rhythm with others for over fifteen years. As a teacher, choreographer, and community arts activist, originally from the east coast, she moved to Los Angeles from NYC in 2002. Since then she has taught, choreographed and performed around the city including at UCLA, Highways Performing Arts Space, The KING KING, Summer Sounds at the Hollywood Bowl, Fowler Museum, REDCAT Disney Hall, Grand Performances, Carnival at The Key Club, and The Forum to name a few. While living in NY, Alvarez performed and taught all over the city, including Dixon Place, The Tribeca Performing Arts Center, The Brooklyn Arts Exchange, Red Hook Waterfront Festival, and Middle School 136, PS 1, PS 314 and the HEREArts Center. Before moving to Los Angeles, Alvarez worked for three years with the Center for Family Life in Brooklyn as their Dance Specialist.

In March 2005, Alvarez received her MFA in Choreography at UCLA’s Department of World Arts and Cultures. Currently Alvarez is the Artistic and Executive Director of CONTRA-TIEMPO. She also works with students and faculty of Seeds University Elementary School where she created an Interdisciplinary Dance Program for ages 4-12. This is the program that members of the company are currently implementing in schools all over Los Angeles County. She also teaches weekly classes every Tuesday at the KING KING in Hollywood and on Wednesdays in Venice. Her life long commitment is that all people have access to their bodies as instruments - expressive tools - voices - to communicate and create their hopes, desires and demands for this world! Visit http://www.contra-tiempo.org/anamaria/ for more information about her work.

Tickets for Contra-Tiempo's final performance tonight at St. Mark's Church (131 East 10th Street and Second Avenue, East Village) might still be available at the box office. Come early!

Find out more in my upcoming episode of Body and Soul podcast and on Contra-Tiempo's site.