2008 Chicago International Salsa Congress
February 14 – 17, 2008
By Shirley Fastner
I think the 7th time must be the charm! The 2008 Chicago International Salsa Congress was the best yet and in 7 years I have only missed one. This was the most organized Chicago event to date. Things ran more smoothly and closer to schedule than ever before, even though this is a Latin event after all! For those salseros and salseras who missed this fabulous 4 nights and 3 days, mark your calendars NOW for the 2009 Valentine's weekend because you don't want to make the same mistake twice! And just so you know, if you buy your pass way in advance, you can save a bundle of money so be on the lookout!
This year's event was held, once again, at the O'Hare Westin, which accommodates the event extremely well despite the fact that this puts the Congress in Rosemont which upsets some Chicagoans. The hotel staff really does go above and beyond to be helpful to all and it is a nice venue despite the out of the way location.
You can attend the entire Congress or you can pick whatever sections you would like to attend. I, of course, would recommend you attend everything! This does require, however, that you go into training beforehand as it demands an extreme amount of stamina. Events run from 9:30 a.m. until 3:00 a.m. for 3 days straight preceded by a gala opening evening with a headlining national salsa act for each of the 4 evenings. There was even a dance contest open for anyone to enter with the winner going to Puerto Rico to represent Chicago in the 2008 Word Salsa Open Championships. There were fabulous DJs spinning great salsa all day and night. You could never stop dancing if you so chose!
The Congress began Thursday night with a Performance Showcase and opening ceremonies. New this year was the opening act of the SalsaChicago Mambo All-Stars, which included our very own talented Congress MC extraordinaire and dance Instructor, Miguel Mendez! They were followed by Ocho Y Mas around midnight and the great DJs.
The basic format starting on Friday, the first full day of the Congress, is workshops from 9:30 a.m. until about 3:30 p.m., followed by a 4:00 p.m. Emerging Artists showcase. This is followed by the big evening Performance Showcase, usually comprised of the dance troupes of the various instructors enabling them to demonstrate their expertise. Big kudos to Maricza Valentin and Andy Cruz for producing the Emerging Artist and evening Performance Showcase respectively after Maria Torres had a scheduling conflict. The evening finale is the live band and dancing scheduled from 10:30 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. and yes, it does go on until all hours. And then you rise up and do the whole routine again on Saturday and then, if you can, you get up and do this all over again on Sunday. Luckily, there is a Starbucks in the lobby.
There are favorite instructors that pack in the students and usually hold court in the Grand Ballroom, but it is very difficult to choose. On Friday, two that really stood out for me were Zeke Ruvalcaba teaching spinning techniques on 1 from our local Latin Rhythms studio (you can never get enough spinning practice) and the second was NY based Magna Gopal, who taught Body Movement on 1 & 2. She really knows how to communicate the moves and also teaches one of the best spin classes around which I took on Sunday.
All of the shows are great to watch with the phenomenal costumes and gives one a chance to rest, although you have to be on guard lest you do not want to get up again. The Emerging Artist Showcase was followed by a dance contest for the first time at about 6:30 p.m. which brought back all of the couples for the conclusion on Sunday. The evening performance showcases, hosted by the ever hilarious Ray Rubio, were scheduled around 8 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom. Continuing on, sometimes much later, was the main live act which on Friday was Grupo Gale and Jerry Galante. Galante only did 3 numbers, but the music was great and included his big hit "Estoy Enamorado". Grupo Gale, led by congero and musical director, Diego Gale, have been together for 17 years hailing from Medillin, Columbia. Diego Gale was previously with Grupo Niche as well as having been their previous musical director.
On Saturday, one of the classes that really stood out for me was Juan Calderon (N.J.) teaching Smooth Turn Patterns & Styling on 1. He is one of my favorite instructors in that he really communicates the movements so well and can just give you one pointer that changes your whole dancing. The other class I really enjoyed was with Rebecca Aleman (local) teaching Center Stage, a performance workshop that was really fun. She trains professional dancers such as Joffrey Ballet members on a regular basis so there was much to be gained here!
Once again we had the Emerging Artist workshop followed by the main Performance Showcase and then the headline act, Sammy Garcia and Sabor De Puerto Rico, brought back by popular demand, I am sure, from last year's Congress. Now together almost a year and a half, the 14 member orchestra from Puerto Rico always plays such infectious music to dance to - key for any performing group at a congress. Their "Amor Despiadado" promo single has the most tantalizing horn arrangements. The 3 vocalists are always having such a good time and are truly professional dancers with their special suits and choreography. They are a treat to watch as well as to hear!
When Sunday rolls around, many are crashed out on sofas, but still wanting more. I took more classes from some of my favorites such as Magna Gopal's fantastic spin class, Juan Calderon's Funky Turn Patterns and, once again, Mike Bello's great seminar on Salsa Rhythms for Dancers, Understanding the Clave, a real must. This year I learned that Cachao created mambo.
On Sunday, the early show was the Next Generation Youth Showcase, always a big crowd pleaser. This year the finale of the Chicago - Midwest Salsa Open Championship was next, continuing on with the last evening Performance Showcase. The closing musical act of the Congress was the 68 year-old legendary Roberto Roena y Su Apollo Sound to bring yet another year to a close. Originally with El Gran Combo, percussionist Roena was also one of the original Fania All Stars. The final festivities included bringing many of the professional dancers/instructors on stage to join in a grand finale.
It would be helpful to say where the instructors are from so we can also choose instructors we would not normally be able to access readily. I had to figure this out by asking them or linking them to their performance troupe which is usually listed with their base city. I did, however, wind up taking some classes from some local instructors who were phenomenal, so it was difficult to choose! Once again I felt like a kid in a candy store.
I still think the Congress should be downtown so more people who think it too far would attend. It would also allow our out of town guests to step out the door and see our fair city on a break. However, again, I have to say that the Westin goes the extra mile for us. It always seems to be the most freezing weekend of the year, so what better way to spend it than to be dancing all day and night!
Always sad to see another Congress come to a close, but there is 2009 looming! It appears we will hold forth with the 8th annual at the Westin O'Hare so you have another chance if you missed this fabulous event. You owe it to yourselves!
Click
here
for more pictures and digital video clips
of the 2008 performances brought to you courtesy
of Cultural Expressions Productions, Ltd and
SalsaChicago.com
