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Interview of Mr. Suave, NY Mambo Instructor, Mario Diaz My first recollection of Mario was in the Combinacion Perfecta video by RMM. Not only can this man dance, but the tricks he performs are outstanding! He dances with passion and energy. Currently a sought-after New York instructor, Mario will be one of our guest instructors at this year’s International Salsaweb Convention in Toronto, Canada. Here is an excerpt from our New York World Correspondent, Mr. Manny Siverio, who has taken Mario’s classes and knows Mario personally. “Mario Diaz is yet another of New York City’s talented Mambo instructors. He is no new comer to the Mambo scene. Part of his impressive resume includes such credits as performing at the Sands Hotel (Atlantic City), El Premier (Mexico City), Madison Square Garden, The Rainbow Room & Carnegie Hall (New York City); performed with such Salsa/Mambo greats as Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Gloria Estefan, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Oscar D’Leon; and has choreographed routines for Jose Alberto "El Canario", Victor Manuel and The Combinacion Perfecta Tour. I’ve known Mario for sometime now on a more social level. I’ve seen him dance and I’ve seen him perform. The man is good. His style is suave and smooth. As a matter of fact, Addie Diaz (not related to Mario), a well known Mambo performer from the Bronx, described Mario from a female dance partner’s point of view as being just that "Suave". But how is he as a dance instructor? Well I’m happy to say that he is as "suave" in the classroom as he is on the dance floor. Mario has been teaching a Beginner & Intermediate class every Thursday night between 7:00-9:00 p.m. at The Cap Studios, located at 18 West 18th Street, 6th floor (between 5th & 6th Ave.), since the beginning of 1997. His teaching style is easy going and laid back. He has incredible amount of patience and breaks everything down in great detail for his students. While observing his class I noticed that he pays close attention to each and everyone of his students and is always ready to lend a word of encouragement to those in need. Mario is assisted by two other instructors (Marisol Rodriguez & Franklin Ayala). The purpose for the additional instructors is to provide more personal attention to the students and to help them reach the next two levels of mambo dancing (i.e. BEGINNER 2 AND INTERMEDIATE 1). He begins his two hour class with open floor shine work. First breaking down each shine in detail, then practicing each shine to the count of the clave (without music), then finally performing each shine to music. During a class, he may be able to break down four or five shines, as he drills the new shine to his students, he’ll immediately goes back to the previous shines to make sure no one forgets them. The second portion of the class evolves around partner work. Mario will break down a turn combo, review it a couple of times and have everyone rotate to a new partner. This way students learn to cope and adapt to the feel and energy of dancing with different partners. Students will execute these turn patterns to Mario’s count of the clave and to music. By the end of the class, students will be performing 2 or 3 turn patterns in succession, with a basic/cross body lead thrown in between to lessen student confusion. I like Mario’s laid back, quiet, yet authoritative approach to teaching Mambo. If I were to compare his style to others I would have to go back to my original description of "Suave". Mario is Mr. Suave on the dance floor and in the classroom. He makes the girls look good and seems to be doing it with little or no effort. If your looking for suave in your dancing then Mario Diaz is your man.” - Manny Siverio, New York World Correspondent for Salsaweb Magazine, INC. Ladies and Gentlemen, we are proud to introduce to you Mr. Suave, Mario Diaz! Where are you originally from? I was born in New York City and lived in Cuba for the first eight years of my life. How long have you lived in New York? I have been living in New York City for a long time. I returned from Cuba around my ninth birthday and have been here to the present day. Do you do anything else besides teach dance for a living? (Hobbies, website, etc…)I make a living as a Health Insurance Claims Examiner by day and as a Dance Instructor, Choreographer and a Dancer by night. ( Clark Kent/Superman ) How old were you when you became interested in dance? I was interested in music and dance since I was able to walk. Who were your mentors / instructor(s) when you first started dancing? The person that tought me how to dance was my mother, but my mentor is Fred Astare. What other forms of dance or types of dances do you teach? I also teach cha-cha, merengue, hustle, lambada, son montuno and a little afro-cuban. How did you become an RMM dancer? Was there an audition? I was recommended by Nelly Cotto and Hector Berrios, and because of my dance history and reputation I was able to come into the group as a dancer and choreographer and spared from the torture of the audition. What was it like to travel with RMM? (if you did travel). Traveling with RMM was fantastic, we were treated with respect and our work was greatly appreciated by the audience and management. Combinacion perfecta traveled to many places including Colombia, Puerto Rico, Miami and Los Angeles. Do you travel abroad? If so, where? Do you currently perform or compete now? I still perform as often as possible: however most of my work is the cooperate world. Do you teach on the One or the Two? The only timing I like to teach is breaking on two. What do you find most satisfying about teaching? The most satisfying thing about teaching is watching your students grow and enjoy dancing the same way I do. If you had to live your life all over again, what would you have done differently? I would probably be a singer and dancer. |
