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This page has links to movies taken at the
Congreso Bacardi de la Salsa at the
Caribe Hilton in San Juan
Puerto Rico on July 28, 2000. Follow the links by Dance
group name. Then wait for the movie to load. This may take a while depending on the
speed of your internet connection. The movies are in MPG format and are about 1 MB in size.
If the sound is "choppy" then "click" to stop movie and wait until the movie loads.
Then "click" to play movie.
Congreso Bacardi de la Salsa:
- July 28, 2000 - San Juan, Puerto Rico
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justsalsa.com will be
attending the some of the future Congreso Bacardi de la Salsa events so check back for
photographs and MPEG movies which will be
posted to this page. These events are a real mixing point for people, and dancers
from all over the world. The crew from
justsalsa.com has been
covering these events
for over a year. We have seen the Congreso grow from a losely organized event into the
greatest spectical of Latin dance in the World; the 4th Congreso in Puerto Rico 2000. The dance performances were
divide amongts two stages one at a free Expo-Feria held at 4:00 PM. On this stage danced most of the lesser groups mixed in with
some of the Congreso dancers in various combinations and other teams as well. A team of three video cameramen were
recording the shows. The other
stage was in the audutorium of the Caribe Hilton, the airconditioning was on full blast and for the most part worked to
keep the 2000 plus seats cool. All the seat had a good view. The espectacle, which began at 930 -9:45 each night and lasted til about 11:30 PM,
was recorded by a top-notch of crew of video professionals at the same time that internet coverage was occuring.
Around twenty still photographers were at hand taking pictures from various magazines and newspapers.
The lighting was well produced and the sound was impecable. There did occur the regular mistakes in music,
but only two or three times in over 10 hours of dance performance.
- The producers of the Congreso Bacardi, AllStar Entertainment Inc. of Puerto Rico,
made it a point to try to accomodate the all the participants needs in a flexible
and efficient manner. There was a press tent with telephones, internet access, printers, food and drink, and four young Puerto Ricans
with the energy, wherewithall, and desire to meet any of the presses special needs.
- New York was represented by its top professionals, including Palladium Legend - Freddie Rios,
"el maestros de los maestros" - Eddie Torres,
4 times Latin Ballroom Champions - Tony and Melanie, Maria Torres and her partner Carlos from the
Broadway musical "Swing", and Jayson Molina and Brenda Bird, Tormenta Tropical, Mario Diaz y Marisol Rodriguez,
and Angel Ortiz and Rebecca Sweet. Some of the New York groups did not attend.
This had an overall effect of filtering out the New York "street-feeling" from the Congreso this year.
- After the show the top Puerto Rican and New York bands,
including Papo Luca y la sonora poncena, Roberto Roena,
el gran combo de puerto rico, Jose Alberto "el canario", Tito Nieves,
and Victor Manuelle, played in the ballroom across the hall. The some social dancers and the performers began
dancing imediatlly after the dance performances were over. Many people stood around and
watched or video taped the unfolding madness as the musicians clave
possed the dancers and drove them into a
frenzy that would continue untill 4:00 AM.
There were four diffrent dance floors laid over the carpet of the ballroom.
None of them was very slippery. Outside the ballroom there was a large space without
airconditioning, but with tropical breeze blowing,
that provided a slippery floor for those that wished. On this floor, as well as inside,
I saw some of the best free style partner dancing I have every seen. At the edges of the ballroom
there were water stations where
ice water, in plastic cups, was available for self-service.
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At the Congreso you will see many of the salsa dance styles represented,
as well as meet people from all over the world - joined together by their common
love for Salsa Music and Dance. Salsa/Mambo enthusiast and world class musicians and dancers celebrate thier salsa and
play their music
or demonstrate their best routines. (Or if you are
Roberto Roena or
DJ Henry Knowles you'll do both.
- The workshops, taught by professionals,
"break-down" the different dance styles into understandable steps.
Make new friends and enjoy yourself at the Congreso Bacardi de la Salsa.
We'll see you at the Congreso.
- The Congreso Bacardi de la Salsa is produced by
All Star Entertainment, Inc. in conjunction with Bacardi,
the makers of fine rums and spirits since 1862.
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The photographs are presented here for your enjoyment.
Please contact the offices of justsalsa.com if you intend to use the photos
and give proper photo credit. It is our
intention to get the photos up as soon as possible. Wherever practical photos
are "up-loaded" to this site daily and from various locations around the world.
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