Salsa Dancing – does the music matter?
How is Salsa music doing? The answer depends on who you ask. While Salsa Congresses with their Salsa dancing contests are proliferating all over the world, Salsa bands are struggling to find work! Why is this discrepancy?
The reason for the discrepancy is that Salsa Congresses and Salsa music are not connected. It seems like a contradiction, but the facts led me to this conclusion.
A couple of musicians that I’ve interviewed this year for Latino Music Cafe have agreed that Salsa Congress dancers don’t care about the music. I think they are right. One of them gave me an example of a Salsa Congress attendee that didn’t recognize La Sonora Ponceña. But to me the best evidence is that these are two different communities.
Salsa Dancing Community vs. Salsa Music Fans
Most of Salsa Congress attendees are in for the dancing, not the Salsa music. I’ve gone to events where the dancers line up to dance as if in Country music. The 1st time I saw this my jaw dropped to the floor. “What the heck are they doing?” I asked myself in disbelief. For this exercise, it really doesn’t matter who is playing or what they are playing. The music is an excuse to show what they learned at dance school.
This is totally different than Salsa fans that see an old photo of La Sonora Ponceña on a Facebook group and reminisce on the good old days when Toñito Ledee was signing and Little Johnny Rivero played the congas (I was one of those). This type of Salsa fans go dancing because a particular band is playing, not regardless of who is playing. They follow their favorite bands, and in the process learn of new good ones that are alternating with their favorite. They go to concerts and buy CDs. This is a different persona than the Salsa Congress dancer.
Convert Salsa Dancers into Salsa Music Fans
So for Salsa Congress dancers, I believe the music really doesn’t matter, as long as it has a beat to dance to. Perhaps Salsa artists need to see this community as an opportunity to convert some of these dancers into fans.
When Salsa artist participate in Salsa Congresses, they must realize that even though they may be dragging some fans along, many in attendance are not true Salsa fans. Sharing a little knowledge about Salsa music, it’s roots, it’s history, and some anecdotes regarding past Salsa legends throughout their presentations, may go a long way to convert Salsa Congress dancers into Salsa music fans.
You must be a newbie to Salsa congresses.
1. “Salsa music fans” go to salsa concerts to hear their favorite artist, or band play.
2. Salsa Congresses are not solely music concerts.
3. Experienced and accomplished dancers have an appreciation and respect for the artist, and bands.
4. Salsa is not in high demand in the States nowadays like before.
And most importantly, please refrain from writing articles on Salsa music and dancing since you have no clue what Salsa Congresses are about..
Ok. Points #1, #3, and #4 are obvious. Point #2 seems to be your expertise. Pls feel free to enlighten us with what is done at Salsa Congresses.
Thank you for being the pain of true salsa lovers. People that sing the songs that know the lyrics that feel the best and hate audio dancers that don’t dance but count steps to make it seem like they know what they are doing.
Thanks for following LMC! I think they are two different type of dancers. The good thing is that both hopefully like Salsa. I write what I feel and/or think. Hopefully the readers will like the topic even when they don’t fully agree.
I truly enjoyed this topic, most people will not be honest about why we are having problems seeking work as musicians these days
back in the day, salsa was a craze it was exciting. I remember doing two or three gigs a day with my big brother’s band. I thought to myself damn, I can get rich like this.
but here goes:
Yes ! salsa was a big dance craze here in the city. but, there also was a great proliferation of drugs in the city, namely COCAINE, everybody and their dog, were selling it. I myself was selling but back in the day the monster (cocaine) was everywhere I got high for free. everybody was giving it away as samples. the clube were everywhere I don’t think I have to name them all, Copacabana, Corso, Googles, Epoca, Hipocampo, Che Sensual, Casino 14, cork and bottle, and so on and so on. the entire bands of hector lavoe, larry harlow, colon, were being flown all over the world, no problem
now only the singers are able to fly for a gig
Owners of clubs were bringing in a mint and a half in business
to pay these bands was easy, and I know because my family were invested in two clubs. (I will keep that anonymous for now)
Once somebody learned how to make crack out of cocaine, everything fell apart. now it was sold very cheap. no monies were coming in. something that was so lucrative at one time, was now dirt cheap, and was looked down upon, the word, crackhead was born.
folks I can go on and on about this. but I wanted to make it short ( Ha,ha,)
bands fell apart, no money coming in that easy. I am now blessed, no more drugs, no more alcohol, went to School and received a degree, that is my new drug now, Education all the way, God Bless, I will subscribe, like the site, paz !!!!
Hi Willie,
Thanks for following Latino Music Café and sharing the honest insights of the Salsa scene in NYC. You might also enjoy the newest blog on the debate between Eddie Palmieri and Victor Manuelle regarding the impact of pop-Salsa on Salsa music.
Best,
Hector
The industry is doing its messy and upredictable thing that every cycle of economic means usually does, supply and demands, no blame to any particular group or industry, or social media, or competive market. Yes, of course it will always be up to us to respect the Artist and respect the music industry to bring it back on a new format or a new genre, but at the end we all Salsa lovers know, “Que Viva La Music Latin@”
Thanks Arturo. I agree…there should be enough space for all types of Salsa and Latin music styles. That is what gives artisits the ability to create and innovate.
Que Viva La Musica Latina!!!