Matthew David Parker Lists The Salsa Capitals Of The World

If you are one of those die-hard salsa fans, then there are cities in the world that would suit your fancies. According to veteran salsa instructor Matthew David Parker, even though most of salsa has moved indoors and into formalized luncheons and events, it still retains the vigour and relatability of ages gone by. Below are the 8 cities with the biggest Latin salsa dance cultures.

Havana, Cuba. Havana has two of the biggest salsa dancing scenes in all of the Americas. Club Café Cantante and Club Salseando Chevere are full of great instructors, wonderful salsa music and a general ambiance that is inviting and thrilling.

Miami. Club Hoy Como Ayer its arch-rival Mango’s Tropical Café and their erstwhile competitor, La Covancha, are what makes Miami the biggest salsa destination outside of Cuba. The place is chic, raw and unmistakably Latino with English barely spoken at any time of the day or night.

San Juan, Puerto Rico. Based in the alleys of San Huan, Nuyorican Café and Latin Roots make for wonderful salsa venues complete with dress codes, quality drinks, wonderful crowds and a global crowd. San Juan has always been a part of the history of salsa.

Bogota, Colombia. El Candelario, The Galeria Café Libro, La Villa provides a wide variety of spaces for salsa indulgence. Between the three of them you have space for family outings, a serene night out, access to professional salsa performers and a crowd of salsa enthusiasts from all over Latin America.

Salsa instructor Matthew David Parker ranks Dylan’s Tervan and Grill, and Cubby Bear at Wrigley field in Chicago, as well as The Granada LA, Mama Juana and Vasilios in Los Angeles high on that list. The legendary Antilla Salsa, Habana Club and Mojito Club in Barcelona, Copacabana, Bungalo Lounge and Club Cache in New York City complete the list.

Matthew David Parker Lists The Global Salsa Calendar For 1st 6 Months

“For a salsa enthusiast, the tune has now become a global phenomenon”, says Matthew David Parker, a salsa instructor from Lafayette, Louisiana.  There are the global salsa events, competitions, conventions and celebrations that a salsa lover ought to be aware off.

In January there is the Houston salsa congress in Houston, USA/Salsa congress in Tyrol, Argentina/Leids Winter Zouk Festival Leiden, Netherlands/World salsa Meeting Milano, Italy/Bachata Festival, Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic and Sydney Latin Festival, in Australia

In February there is Stars of Salsa London, UK/Amsterdam Salsa Festival Netherlands/Chicago World Salsa Congress, USA/Valentine Zagreb Salsa Festival, Zagreb, Croatia/Nordic Salsa Experience, Oslo Norway/Hong Kong Salsa Festival Hong Kong/Bachata Congress Berlin, Germany and Salsa Addicted Festival, in Romania.

In March there is International Frankfurt Salsa Festival, the Germany/Salsa Congress Deventer, Deventer Netherlands/Tipica Salsa & Swing weekend, Nijmegen, Netherlands/Salsa Spring Break, Warsaw, Poland/Texas Salsa Congress, Houston USA/Viva Cuba Festivals Biezenmortel Netherlands/ Salsa Festival Karlsruhe, Denmark/Super salsa party festival, Brussels, Belgium/Salsa Monaco, Monaco/The Hague Latin Experience, the Hague Netherlands/Scandinavian Salsa Congress, Gothen berg Switzerland/Cyprus Salsa Congress, Famagusta, Cyprus and the Junin Salsa Congress, Bounes Aires, Argentina

In April there is Antwerp Diamond Salsa Festival, Antwerp, Belgium/ Internationals Hustle and Salsa competition, Miami, USA/Salsa Festival Munster, Munster, Denmark/Montreal Salsa Congress, Montreal, Canada/On2 Salsa Congress, Milan Italy/Athens Salsa Spring Festival, Athens Greece/Bordo-Rueda Festival, Bordeaux, France/Sydney Int. Bachata Festival, Sydney, Australia/Dias Cubanos Nordwijkerhout, Netherlands and Mambo City 5 Star Congress, London, UK

In May there is Fanta Dance Fiesta Sofia, Belgium/Limburg Salsa Festival Maastricht, Netherlands/Viliaus Salsa Festival, Vilnius, Lithuania/International Cuban Dance Event Groningen, Netherlands and NZ Pacific Salsa Congress, Wellington, New Zealand

In June there is Haarlem Beach Festival, Zandvoort, Netherlands/Riga Salsa Festival, Riga, Latvia/Washington DC Salsa Congress, Washington, USA/Portland Salsa Bachata Congress, Portland, USA/Saint-Tropez Salsa Festival, Saint-Tropez, France/Summer Sensual Days Rovinj, Hungary/Croatian Summer Salsa Festival, Rovinj, Hungary and the Holland Kizomba Congress in Made, Netherlands

In July there is Leids Summer Zouk Festival, Ledin, Netherlands/Salsafestival Thüringen, Saalburg, Denmark/Salsa Beach Festival, Noordwijkerhout, Netherlands/Summer SBK Festival, Wroclaw, Poland/Las Vegas Salsa Congress, Las Vegas, USA/Cannes Salsa Festival, Cannes, France/Mambo City’s Salsa Splash Spain, Caple Alicante, Spain/International Festival Hamburg, Germany/Salsa Beach Splash, Sibenik, Hungary and Puerto Rico Salsa Congress, in San Juan Puerto Rico.

Top 5 Salsa Songs For Beginners By Matthew David Parker

“Dancing is part science, part art, part talent and part skill. Mastering the moves takes time and grit. This truth is much more important for great and renowned dances like salsa”, says Matthew David Parker, a salsa instructor from Lafayette, Louisiana.

When you are a rookie you need songs that are slower and more rhythmical, yet captivating to train with. Salsa by nature is a teamwork dance that requires you to sync your moves with those of your partner. Whether you are the leader or follower, the intuitive moves that come with training are easier to master with fun, salsa tunes.

These are the five best salsa tunes to train with as a beginner:

• Rumbn Meln by Joey Pastrana - This 1967 tune from the album, Lets Ball is a simple yet elegant salsa tune with a seamless feel when dancing salss.
  
• Rico Guaguanco by the late Puerto Rican singer Chivirico Dvila delivers a slow tempo combined with syrupy tune that responds well to salsa taps.
  
• Nieve con Sal, by Frankie Morales is a Latin hit that inspired a remake by Frankie and American singer Lil Kim. It is one of those songs that gives you a simple way of changing your steps artfully as a beginner.
  
• Perdoname is a 1990 hit by Latin singer Gilberto Santa Rosa from his Album Punta De Vista. This salsa hit from the moustached Gilberto is a beautifully serenading hit that inspires simple salsa tap learning.
  
• Yamulemau -This powerful 1987 hit features the best of Joe Arroyo’s vocals. It features Colombian rhythm with a general afro-Cuban style that is captivating to any leaner.

According to salsa instructor Matthew David Parker, other great salsa tunes for beginners include Lady by Orquesta La Palabra, Juliana by Cuco Valoy, Me Imagino Que by Pedro Conga and Sabrosso by Wayne Gorbea.