The West Coast Salsa Congress !! 
Daily Report... 

WOW!!  This is the BEST EVENT EVER!!!   It's like an ENORMOUS family reunion.  I'm seeing people that I haven't seen since Team Salsaweb's  Euro-Tour in 1998!  People from Norway, Sweden, London, Japan, Australia, Bangkok, Thailand, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, EVERYWHERE!  I can't believe how enormous the scene has become over the years, and it just seems to be getting better and better!  

Thursday, at The Mayan:   Folks, I've been to the Mayan MANY times in the past, but never have I experienced such an energy there as last Thursday night.  The World Famous Mayan Nightclub in Los Angeles is one of my favorite dance clubs in the world.  Saturday nights blast with SLAMMING SALSA, and people come from every corner of the globe to "experience" the mystical Mayan Theatre.  

When you walk inside, you feel as though you're in another place in time.  It's truly quite extraordinary, and very difficult to describe...  you just HAVE TO BE THERE.  

Thursday night's  Opening of the West Coast Congress... 
Los Angeles, California:  Albert Torres creates A SELL OUT CROWD AT THE MAYAN:  Usually everyone chooses the dance floor to dance on... but one of the most remarkable things about the entire evening was WHERE EVERYONE WAS DANCING... in the LOBBY, by the BAR, on the CARPET, in the BATHROOMS, on the BALCONY... EVERYWHERE!!!  The energy from a room full of SALSEROS was incredible.  I've never felt such a positive, powerful energy there before.   

World Salsa Promoter Albert Torres really knows how to kick off an event!  Performances from four different Los Angeles dance teams where there that night, including Abel Pena's group, Salsa in the Mix, the LA Salsa Kids, and our "ARCADE" routine.  Al and I had an "on" night!  

There was one thing that BLEW MY MIND that night.  All the performers were downstairs getting ready.  Albert asked us if we were thirsty.  We all said "yes", and Albert ordered an entire case of water for all of us.  After everyone had gone upstairs to get ready to perform, I went back downstairs because I forgot something.  I saw Albert dish out almost $50 cash to the waitress for our water - out of his own pocket.  The most amazing thing was that he did it with a smile, no questions asked.  

The most fun was working out different moves and turn patterns in the front lobby with instructors SUPER MARIO from London and DANNY USECHE from the dance team Caribbean Soul Dancers from New Jersey.  Danny would show a move on "Two", and Mario would do it on "One".  Then the reverse happened when Mario showed the move.  I was the guinea pig, switching from one beat to another, and basically being thrown around like a rag doll... but you know what?  That's what I do best.  FOLLOW.   These guys have more slick moves and turn patterns than most people I know!  Everyone had a fabulous time.  

Friday, at Hollywood Park:  
"OK, ten more minutes!"  I heard Albert yell to everyone just prior to 8:00pm.  The band was getting ready, the performers scurrying to put on the last bit of make up and hair pins, the vendors quickly setting up the remaining parts of their booths, the smell of DINNER COOKING just down the hall, the high-tech headsets on the security guards, cell phones in place, computers with digital equipment, sound checks, television camera crews adjusting their lenses ... everyone was ready... 

"Did you see the line out there?  It's ten people wide, by hundreds of people deep!"  Alvaro said to me as I set up my booth.  "Sounds crazy!" I responded.  I could sense that this would be one of the world's greatest Salsa events.  

Albert made sure Salsa music was playing when the doors opened and the first people started coming inside.  The best Salsa event the world would ever experience was about to take place.  

Albert kicked off the evening with a thank you speech, and introduction of many of the people who helped make this event possible.  The first performance of the evening was the Heartbreak Boys from the East Coast.  The crowd PACKED the performance area during every performance.  In between performances, Albert opened up the dance floor to the general public.  There was more dance floor to dance on this year, but also, many more Salseros!  I was amazed at how much BETTER everyone got in a year!  People are actually LISTENING to the music, and playing with the different connotations of  each phrase.  They're all dipping at the end of each song... as a finale to a wonderful dance.  Thank GOD the DJ didn't start mixing music in between Salsa's.  True Salseros love that grand finale, and a chance to select another partner after each song.  

Dance performances went on throughout the evening.   All of them were fantastic, but some of the most memorable were the Dorothy and Tin Man routine by Jai and Candy, The Addie-Tude fight scene from New York, and the Caribbean Soul Dancer's routine from New Jersey. 

WE DANCED TILL 4:00 IN THE MORNING.  

What a concept.  Usually LA SHUTS DOWN at 1:30-2:00am.  This time, Albert SPOILED US  by giving us a taste of what's it's like to DANCE PAST 2:00AM LIKE THE REST OF THE WORLD, right here at the Hollywood Park Casino.  Usually Los Angeles Salseros pack the clubs out at 9:30 or 10pm because all the clubs close so darn early.  Once a year, at this GREAT event, we get to dance till practically DAWN - the way life SHOULD BE.  Great event so far Albert!