Archive for the ‘Events’ Category

Celebrating First Anniversary for the Salsa Beat Machine

Friday, July 16th, 2010

Hard to believe, but it has only been one year since the first release of the Salsa Beat Machine. What started as a small personal project made for fun has become a popular software with thousands of users around the world, contributors and donors from more than twenty different countries, and we are still just at the tip of the iceberg.

So how far did we come in the last year? I have compiled for you a list of some keypoints in the development of the Salsa Beat Machine:

But all of this is just the beginning – there are a plenty of ideas and enhancement that you are going to see during the coming year. I am not going into detail in this post, but are welcome to join the community mailing list, read and get involved in the development of these ideas and features.

What I do want to tell you about is the general direction in which the Salsa Beat Machine is heading. So far, the Salsa Beat Machine offered the users a “sandbox” – a place where they could play and experiment with Salsa music without any prior knowledge of music theory, latin rhythms nor technical background. Even though this has opened the door to the world of Salsa for many people, we still feel we are missing some important points:

  1. There is no step-by-step guide for people how to use the SBM in order to improve their musicality,
  2. There are is very little information about different instruments, their roles, and how everything connects together to create the music,
  3. Most important – Many beginners do not realize the importance of understanding and feeling the music for improving their dance.

Therefore, we aim to improve the SBM for addressing these points. We already have a few community members helping us with this:

  1. Joel Dominguez is creating instructional videos explaining how to use Salsa Beat Machine to improve your musicality.
  2. Daniel Suchman is writing a comprehensive user-guide for the standalone version, including “how-to-use”, explanations about the instruments and theoretical background behind the Salsa music.
  3. Jason Ortiz is working on an online commercial for promoting the iPhone version.
  4. The community at SalsaForums.com helps to promote the Salsa Beat Machine amongst beginners.

We encourage all readers who care about the future of the Salsa Beat Machine to get involved, share and collaborate on your ideas, making the Salsa Beat Machine accessible for every Salsa dance student in the world. This is our vision for the coming year, and you can be a part of it !

Last but not least, celebrating the launch of the iPhone application and our anniversary, we are giving away free copies of the standalone PC version of Salsa Rhythm with the iPhone look & feel. You don’t need an iPhone to enjoy this version – its run on your ordinary desktop PC / laptop. You can see a screenshot and register to get your own copy here:

http://www.salsarhythmsoftware.com/iPhone/pc-download.html

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Events | No Comments »

Happy 4th of July !

Sunday, July 4th, 2010

We wish Happy 4th of July of all our dancers who celebrate this event. We hope the Salsa Beat Machine will continue serving you faithfully and help you develop your independence in listening and interpreting the Salsa music.

Happy 4th of July

Happy America Independence Day !

Tags: ,
Posted in Events | No Comments »

Friday Salsa Playlist

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

Keeping with our dancing traditions, we held another Salsa Social this past Friday. We got a lot of positive feedback about songs that we played, so I thought it would be nice to share with you, salseros and salseras, from all around the world.

Dr. Granot Demonstrating the Beat Machine

The Playlist

  1. Aicha – Africando (05:12)
  2. Tiroteo – New Swing Sextete (02:54)
  3. Con cada beso – Huey Dunbar (04:08)
  4. El Gallo Y La Vaca – Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz (03:43)
  5. Ran Kan Kan – Tito Puente & His Orchestra (03:01)
  6. La Jinetera – Willy Chirino (05:09)
  7. Raices – Orquesta La Palabra (04:40)
  8. Indestructible – Ray Barretto (04:14)
  9. Los Van Van – El Negro Esta Cocinando (05:33)
  10. Dejame Un Beso – Salsa Kids (04:00)
  11. No Le Pega A La Negra – Joe Arroyo (04:51)
  12. La Salsa Y El Guaguanco – La Excelencia (05:15)
  13. Valio La Pena (Salsa Version) – Marc Anthony (04:52)
  14. Salsa Con Candela – Miguel Yamba (04:43)
  15. Son de Amores (Salsa Version) – Andy & Lucas (04:26)
  16. Maria,Maria (Salsa Version) – Carlos Santana (06:07)
  17. Via – Willy Chirino (04:48)
  18. Bachata Amor Mio – Alex Bello Feat. Ricky Franco (04:35)
  19. Los Campeones de La Salsa – Willy Chirino (04:18)
  20. Mi Amor Eterno – 3D Ritmo De Vida (05:18)
  21. Tequila (Salsa Version) – Cubismo (04:46)
  22. Susie Hansen – La Salsa Nunca Se Acaba – Susie Hansen (04:55)
  23. Quitemonos La Ropa – Victor Manuel (04:28)
  24. El Cantante – Marc Anthony (06:47)
  25. Line Dance Carnavalera – Havana Delirio (03:07)
  26. Line Dance El Ritmo Vuelta – Balli Di Gruppo (03:52)
  27. Rueda Eddy Mclean – Azucar (04:14)
  28. Un montón de estrellas – ALFA 8 (06:09)
  29. La Pantera Mambo – La 33 (06:16)
  30. Guaguanco de los violentos – Tipica 73 (04:23)
  31. Johnny Polanco – Xiomara (05:41)
  32. Nadie Como Ella – Marc Anthony (04:56)
  33. Bachata No Es Una Novela – Monchy Y Alexandra (03:36)
  34. Mambo Italiano – Massimo Scalici (04:58)
  35. Tu Con El – Frankie Ruiz (05:02)
  36. Peligro – Gilberto Santarosa (04:54)
  37. Cha Cha Sway – R.Mitchell (02:19)
  38. Pa’l Rumberos – Salsa Celtica (04:50)
  39. BachataLamento Bolivano – Toque De Queda (03:37)
  40. Hotel California – Mikael De Vante (05:10)
  41. Ritmo Sabroso – Los Jovenos Del Hierro (02:53)
  42. Ain’t Nobody – Alex Wilson (04:49)
  43. Picoteando Por Ahy – Henry Fiol (05:29)
  44. Timba Lola Lola (Toque de Bola) – David Calzado (06:32)
  45. Persona Ideal – Adolescent’s Orquesta (04:53)
  46. Olvidala – Jorge Celedon & El Binomio de Oro (05:04)
  47. Salsa Caliente Del Japon – Orquestra de la Luz (04:55)
  48. Todo Se Derrumbo – Louie Ramirez (04:08)

The After Party

Even after the party was over (after 3am), there were still a good number of couples wanting more music to dance to. To drain every little bit of energy they got left, I decided to challenge them by playing some fast pieces… So here is what I came up with:

  1. Marc Anthony – Aguanile – 121BPM
  2. Oye mi canto – Yakki Famirie – 133BPM
  3. Baila mi conga, Vacilala – Afro cuban jass project – 160BPM (!)

As you can see, the speed was increasing with every song. The list finished with the fastest piece I know… and only one girl could keep up with the fast tempo, the others were already exhausted and ready to go home =).

Can you name a few very up-tempo salsa songs? I’d love to see you comments here.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Events | 6 Comments »

Friday Night Party Playlist

Monday, January 18th, 2010

Last Friday I was DJ-ing at our new weekly Salsa Dance Meetup in Petah Tiqua/Israel, where over 200 dancers attended the opening event.

Throughout the evening, the songs that I played received great feedback from many dancers; therefore, I have decided to share the playlist with you so you can enjoy and perhaps even discover new Salsa songs.

My formula is very simple: I alternate between a romantic Salsa song, and later a non-romantic like Mambo, Cuban or Colombian salsa. The results were quite successful…

Social Salsa at the "Dance City" Salsa Meetup

Social Salsa at the "Dance City" Salsa Meetup

So here it is, comments are welcome:

[Party starts 23:15PM]

  1. Huey Dunbar – Con cada beso (04:08)
  2. Celia Cruz/Willy Chirino – Cuba Que Lindos Son Tus Paisajes (05:31)
  3. New Swing Sextete – Tiroteo (02:54)
  4. Gilberto Santa Rosa – Un Monton De Estrellas (04:33)
  5. Joe Arroyo Y La Verdad – En Barranquilla Me Quedo (05:13)
  6. Willy Chirino – La Jinetera (05:09)
  7. Hector Lavoe – Periodico de Ayer (06:41)
  8. Salsa Kids – Dejame Un Beso (04:00)
  9. Orquesta La Palabra – Raices (04:40)
  10. Diego Torres – Donve Van (04:16)
  11. La Excelencia – La Salsa Y El Guaguanco (05:15)
  12. Susie Hansen – Susie Hansen – La Salsa Nunca Se Acaba (04:55)
  13. Alexandre Pires – Quitemonos La Ropa (04:17)
  14. Tito Rodriguez Jr – Sun Sun Babae (03:33)
  15. Ismael Miranda – Incompleto Amor (06:22)
  16. Dirty Dancing – Johhny’s Mambo con Clave (03:02)
  17. Saul Y Brunilda – Loca Fantasia (04:19)
  18. Ray Barretto – Guarare (05:41)
  19. Willie Colon – El Gran Varon (06:05)
  20. Calle Real – Princesa (Timba) (06:15)
  21. Marc Anthony – Ahora Quien (Salsa Version) (05:09)
  22. La 33 – La Pantera Mambo (06:16)
  23. Willy Chirino Y Willie Colon – Idilio (04:58)
  24. Jerry Rivera – Vuela Muy Alto (04:12)
  25. Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz – El Gallo Y La Vaca (03:43)
  26. Yakki Famirie – Oye Mi Canto (04:10)
  27. La India – Seduceme (05:19)
  28. Frankie Ruiz – La Cura (04:56)
  29. Spanish Harlem Orchestra – Sacala Bailar (06:13)
  30. El Gran Combo De Puerto Rico – Hasta El Sol De Hoy (04:38)
  31. Carlos Oliva Y Los Sobrinos Del Juez – Vehicle/Tu Carrito (04:16)
  32. Joe Pastrana – Rumbon Melon (05:54)
  33. Tchakabum – Danza da Maozinha (03:53)
  34. Havana Delirio – Carnavalera (03:07)
  35. Joe Arroyo – No Le Pega A La Negra (04:51)
  36. Los Van Van – El Negro Esta Cocinando (5:33)
  37. Ray Sepulveda – Bandolera (05:51)
  38. Marc Anthony – El Cantante (06:47)
  39. Gisela – Sola (04:37)
  40. The new swing sextet – My favorite things (03:34)
  41. Fatal Mambo – Problem (04:59)
  42. Alex Wilson – Ain’t Nobody (04:49)
  43. Toque De Queda – Lamento Bolivano (03:37)
  44. David Cedeno – Celia Cruz Medley (04:24)
  45. Chayanne – Si Nos Quedara Poco Tiempo (03:19)
  46. Louie Ramirez – Todo Se Derrumbo (04:08)
  47. Orquestra de la Luz – Salsa Caliente Del Japon (04:55)
  48. El Timba Dj – Hermano (06:51)

This is not the complete playlist, rather a sample of what I’ve played during the party.

Note that the Piano pattern played in the song “Alex Wilson – Ain’t Nobody” (ref 42) is also available within the Salsa Beat Machine program, as mentioned in my previous post: New Piano pattern from “Ain’t Nobody” by Alex Wilson.

Now it’s time to plan for the next party, this Friday. See you all on the dance floor !

Weekly Social Meetup @ Dance City Salsa

Marta & Jimmy MT @ Friday Social Dancing, "Dance City" Salsa

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Events | 1 Comment »

The Salsa Beat Machine @ Israeli Salsa Festival

Sunday, January 10th, 2010

So I am back from a great weekend of dancing after attending the Israel Salsa Festival. This event took place near the Kinneret, a beautiful freshwater lake which is also the main source of drinking water in Israel. I had the opportunity to meet several Salseros and Salseras from across the country, places where I do not usually dance, such as Haifa, Jerusalem and Tiberias.

Aside from all that great dancing, I also took a moment to show the Salsa Beat Machine. Overall, I have received a very positive feedback which encourages me to continue developing the Beat Machine. I found that many people have already heard about it, but some of them had not found the time to check it out yet, so it was a great opportunity for them to get a taste of it…

In the following pictures, you can see me demonstrating the Salsa Beat Machine during the lesson time. The lesson was instructed by the dancer Mark Anthony from Sweden. You can see him dancing in the last picture:

The Salsa Beat Machine @ Israel Salsa Festival

Me demonstrating the Salsa Beat Machine @ Israel Salsa Festival

Salsa Beat Machine - Dance Lesson

Salsa Beat Machine, dance lesson in the background

Dancers Mark Anthony and Shani Harpak, Israel Salsa Festival

Dancers Mark Anthony and Shani Harpak, Congas and a Woodblock

I also brought you an excerpt from the Salsa Playlist of the Festival. I was actually surprised to hear some Hebrew songs in the playlist:

  • Atraf – Kafe Turki (Hebrew, Salsa, 1992)
  • Ehud Manor – Erets Tropit Yafa (Hebrew, Cha-Cha, 1978)
  • Calle Real – Princesa (Timba, also from Sweden… I have a video dancing to this one)
  • Willy Chirino – Los Campeones De La Salsa
  • Monchy y Alexandra – Polos opuestos (Bachata)
  • Marc Anthony – Tu Amor Me Hace Bien
  • Ruben Blades – Guarare
  • Eddy Mclean – Azucar
  • Al Deroy – Via
  • LA 33 – La Pantera Mambo
  • Tommy Olivencia – Trucutu
  • Distrito Zero – Sabor a Menta (Bachata)
  • El Gran Combo – Brujeria
  • Victor Manuelle – Por Ella

Now back to normal life – getting ready to head back to work, but I feel regenerated after all that great days. See you on the dance floor soon!

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Events | No Comments »