Now that those bills have been put on the back-burner in Congress (for now), I’ll be restoring the removed videos over the next few weeks, as well as putting up some new ones.  Stay tuned to my YouTube channel, and enjoy!

Related articles

• Boston Salsa Community Early Casualty of SOPA & PIPA (bostonsalsa.wordpress.com)

I have just been asked by the owner of one of our salsa venues in Boston to remove my salsa videos from the venue from YouTube and my website, because of the threat of SOPA and PIPA. I think this is an overreaction since the bills haven’t actually passed yet, but I will comply with the owner’s wishes anyway.

We still have time to stop SOPA and PIPA from being passed into law. Already the bills are facing resistance from internet companies, congressman, and ordinary people like us. If SOPA and PIPA continue to make progress in Congress, I urge all of you to contact your congressmen and women and voice your opposition to SOPA and PIPA.

If you’re not a US citizen, urge your US friends to voice their opposition to the bills.

The salsa dance (and I would argue music) industry have benefited tremendously from the spread of salsa culture across the internet and around the world. The internet has helped make salsa dancing and latin music more popular in recent years. Everyone wins: professional salsa dancers who teach and perform, salsa musicians who get new music sales, club owners who host salsa nights, and all the dancers who go out to enjoy a night of dancing. All of this will suffer a great blow if SOPA and PIPA are allowed to pass.

You can learn more about SOPA from the TED Talk Why SOPA is a bad idea by Clay Shirky:

UPDATE 1/21/2012 1:08pm:

The Boston Salsa Scene has just received a request from another Boston salsa venue to remove any videos taken at the venue from YouTube and this website, for fear of SOPA/PIPA.  The Boston Salsa Scene will comply with this request.

The evening will include pachanga and beginner workshops with Masacote, shows by Masacote’s Spring Recital Groups, a presentation by Masacote Professional Dance Troupe’s NEWEST surprise dancer, and of course a night of dance and music with Masacote & DJ Rob Suave.

The band hopes to release the single end of July, and every penny counts.  They’re calling on all their fans and supporters to help them grow our community’s love for Cuban music!

8:30-9:30pm Pachanga Workshop with Joel Masacote!
8:30-9:30pm Beginner Workshop with Masacote
9:30pm-1am Dancing with DJ Rob Suave
11:00pm Showtime!
Only $10 Cover!

Also, Ryles offers dinner until 11pm & full bar all night!

* This event will be one facet of a fundraising campaign set up to raise the needed funding for the project. Other items will include t-shirt sales, cd blowout sales, raffles, and a Cha Cha workshop fundraiser Saturday, June 25th.

Update (6/15/11 6:12pm)

Check out this video of Joel Masacote dancing some pachanga to a funky tune!

$8 ADMISSION. ALL AGES WELCOME
Refreshments for purchase!
For More Info: 617-312-6464 or info@salsaycontrol.com

Also, special dance performances by:

• Johnny and Felicita
• Rumba y Timbal Semi-Pro

Plus special guests from Florida, Nery Garcia and Giana Montoya of Elegant Rumba and Shiva Latina Dance Companies!  Nery and Giana will also be teaching workshops before the social from 4pm to 6pm at the Dance Republic Studio!  Nery Garcia is known for his smooth moves and spin; if you’ve never seen him dance before, check him out in the video below, he’s AMAZING!

There will also be percussion instruments available for those that know how to play them!  Timbales, congas, bongos, maracas, guiro, etc.  This will trully be a Jam Session!

PLUS! DISCOUNTED admission to the after-party at Ryles with DJ Rob Suave for Jam Session Social attendees!  Continue dancing after the social at Salsa Sundays at Ryles Jazz Club for ONLY $7.00 with Jam Session social stamp.  Regular admisson $10.00.

Salsa in the Park is a very popular program, and always draws many people together to dance the early evening away!  Just check out this video from last year!

Welcoming More Communities!

This year, Salsa in the Park’s organizers are also planning on introducing more communities around Boston to the program with one-time events, so if you would like them to come to your town, feel free to contact them and let them know!

When & Where

Held every Monday (except holidays) from 6pm – 9pm, Salsa in the Park is located at the Blackstone Community Center, 50 West Brookline St, Boston:

Learn More & Support Salsa in the Park!

To learn more about the Salsa in the Park program and its participants, see their official press release.

You can help support this free community program by making a tax-deductible donation!  Sponsorship and vendor opportunities are also available.  For more information, see the Salsa in the Park info page.

Vera Rowe & Mariano Neris

Boston salsa alumnus Vera Rowe broke the news last Tuesday evening that she will be moving to Allentown, Pennsylvania, because her husband has been promoted to a new position there.  This month will be her last one teaching classes in New Hampshire.

This came as a shock to both the New Hampshire and Boston salsa communities.  As I discussed with Vera in my interview with her last year, she has been paramount and successful in promoting a new salsa community in New Hampshire over the past couple of years.  She has directed the Nueva Vida Dance School, hosted weekly salsa nights, and brought both the New Hampshire and Boston communities together at her monthly salsa socials.  She even brought big name salsa stars like Jayson Molina and Yamuleé Dance Company (New York) to New Hampshire to teach workshops and perform!

Yamuleé performing at Vera’s Nueva Vida Salsa Social in NH

And even though she had moved to New Hampshire, Vera is still a beloved participant in the Boston community.  Many of the local dancers grew up dancing with and learned to dance from her.

So for Vera to leave so suddenly, for it all to come to an end so soon, when there is still so much more room to learn and grow…it feels like a hole has been left in the communities, and I’m sure for many of us, our hearts.

But we all wish her the best for her new life in Pennsylvania.  Vera is a strong, dedicated dancer.  Such is her strength and commitment, that she would drive 7 hours to Pennsylvania to train with her dance partner Darlin Garcia.  Now that drive will only be 1 hour.  She will also only be 1.5 hours away from New York, one of the salsa meccas of the world.  Those New Yorkers don’t know how lucky they are to have Vera right next door, for she is a fine lady and an amazing dancer.

Vera will be hosting a final blowout party the last weekend of June.  I will post more details about it as I receive them.

Farewells are so bittersweet, aren’t they?

Related articles

• A New Salsa Scene Is Born: Vera Rowe & New Hampshire
• Grand Opening of Nueva Vida Salsa Social!

Performances by:

• Hacha y Machete
• Rumba y Timbal
• Salsa y Control

Raffle Prizes

• A pair of Burju shoes.
• 4 free dance lessons by Rumba y Timbal.
• $100 gift certificate for dance lessons.

Schedule

8:30-10pm salsa & bachata lessons
10-11pm social dancing
11:00pm performances & social dancing until 1am

Dance lessons $15
Social Dancing $10

Come out show your support and wear PINK!!!

No partner Required, Beginners are Welcome.  21+ event.

Performance Teaser

Update 9/7/10 9:00pm

Updated list of performers.

Disclaimer: The Boston Salsa Scene is not responsible for event(s) submitted, posted, their accuracy and/or any cancellations and/or changes to said event(s).

If you aren’t going to the New York Salsa Congress this year or just want a preview, don’t miss a chance to see Jorge and Lupita perform at Ryles on Sunday, August 29nd and teach at The Dance Republic on Tuesday, August 31st!

Jorge and Lupita are two time Mexican National Salsa Champions and last year they were among the top ten couples in the ESPN World Salsa Champions in the On1 division! They have performed all over The US and Mexico and will be in Boston for the first time next week so don’t miss your chance to check them out in person.

Info for Tuesday Aug 31st workshops:

Time: August 31 · 8:00pm – 10:00pm.
Location: The Dance Republic, 20 Linden St. #3, Allston, MA.

8 pm: Mexican style Cumbia for Salseros
9 pm: Intermediate Salsa shines and partnerwork On1

Workshops are $15 each or both for $25. They will be held at Dance Republic 20 Linden Street, 3rd floor, Allston,MA, 02134.

Easily accessible by public Transportation:
From Boston – Green Line C – to Harvard Avenue station (8 min. walk)
From Cambridge or Brookline – bus # 66 (1 min. walk)

For more info contact: Kate – 617-922-7073 or Johnny – 617-312-6464

Disclaimer: The Boston Salsa Scene is not responsible for event(s) submitted, posted, their accuracy and/or any cancellations and/or changes to said event(s).

Event breakdown

DJ Saoko rockin' the house!

Workshops

• 6:00 ChaChaCha
• 6:45 Bachata
• 7:30 Merengue
• 8:15 Beginner Salsa
• 8:15 Advanced Salsa

Showcase and Party

• 9:00 Party Begins
• 10:00 Showcase
• Dancing until 2:00am

Nueva Vida Dance Company

Additional info

• $10 per workshop.
  • Entrance to party free with purchase of any workshop.
• $5 Dinner buffet.
• Win free dance lessons in our raffle.
• BYOB!
• Free unlimited parking directly out front.

For more info visit: www.verarowe.com or call 917-667-0800.

Performance Teaser

Update 8/28/10 1:58pm

Salsa y Control dance company and Mariano Neris have been confirmed as performers!

In addition, there will also be performances by hip hop groups and a Mexican folkloric dance group, among many others!  The money raised will go toward educational materials, field trips and other activities for the children on the Community Based Acute Treatment unit at the hospital (visit www.fhfc.org for more info).

Performances

Here is the current lineup of performers (the list keeps growing!):

• Bonaparte – outstanding magician!
• Hacha y Machete, salsa
• Helloh Lady. Rap/Hip Hop duo
• Nueva Vida Dance Company, Vera Rowe’s salsa group from New Hampshire
• Salsa y Control, salsa
• Transformers, hip hop group
• Wilda Mendez, Latin rock artist
• Xuchipilli Mexican Folkloric group

Schedule

Cost

$10 for hospital employees (must show ID)
$15 for everyone else in the community

Music

Sultry music by DJ Ricardo Gomez and highly acclaimed Boston/Providence RI salsa DJ Saoko!

Teasers