The highly anticipated 4th Annual Philly Jam is only weeks away. With performances from groups hailing from NY, Philly, DC, Atlanta, Chicago, North Carolina, and Michigan coupled with a night full of social dancing this promises to be a night to remember!

Official HOST of the Philly Jam...the famous and world known Mario B. of Salsa Fever On2 (NJ) . DJ Spanky will be delivering the hottest music for the night with special Guest DJ David Ortiz.

Performances by: Gordon Neil & Julissa Cruz (Atlanta & Richmond), Caribbean Soul (New Jersey), Cristina Zavala, (Descarga Caribe) y Adrian Tenorio (Chicago), East Side Edition (NYC), Calle Luna (PA),Enixe Dance Company (Brooklyn, NY), Calle Sol (PA), Las Estrellas (PA), Mambodelphia (PA),Mambo Orleans (New Orleans), Mambo Dinamico (North Carolina), Reflejo de Lorenz (Queens, NY), Arelis Beato and Tropical Image Elite (Brooklyn, NY), Monica and Diego (Queens, NY), Joe Figueroa, Living In Rhythm (PA), Raul Santiago & Lauren Lopez (PA), Carlos "Gaby" Cruz and Cristian Crespo, Xravanganza Dance Company and more to be announced soon...

The Philly Jam is not your run of the mill Salsa event... You'll get your fill of Modern, Hip Hop, Break Dancing, Pop-Locking, Salsa, Chacha, Bachata.. Pretty much whatever you want to dance!!!!

SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2010

Associated Polish Home 9150 Academy Road Philadelphia, PA 19114

$20 in advance and $25 at the door

For more information and to purchase tickets visit www.thephillyjam.com

The devastating earthquake that hit the nation of Haiti on January 12, 2010 has quickly mobilized support from all around the world, including the salsa dance community.

We have listed several fundraising events on our blog, including an event this Friday, January 29, in Union City, NJ hosted by Yesenia Peralta's Dance Factory, and several events in Southern California and Toronto.

For a list of charitable organizations that are seeking donations to help those in Haiti, please visit this page at USA Today.

Did you miss it? Watch this highlights clip with video and stills from the 2009 World Salsa Championships. Snippets include footage from nearly all the top 3 finishers from the on1, on2, cabaret, and team divisions. Watch Cristian Oviedo & Liz Lira, Luis Aguilar & Anya Katsevman, Ritmo y Sabor, Jonathan Landa & Jenny Rodriguez, and many more. Thanks to John Narvaez and Liz Rojas for informing me of the song, "Mambo In Two Parts" by Snowboy and the Latin Section. The cover photo features Puerto Rico's Edwin Nieves & Greysa Baez from the on2 division below.

Special thanks to Jessica Hannah, Mauricio Sandoval, Julie Wagner, Noel Roque, Jose Mendoza (ATP), Victor Perez (HyM), Cristian Oviedo, Liz Lira, Luis Aguilar, Anya Katsevman, Joel Lopez & Erika Bautista (RyS), Dakin & Kayono Ferris, Francisco Vazquez, Albert Torres, Rob Beiner

Youtube 1080p HD | Youtube 720p HD Youtube | Facebook 720p HD

Finals Results from all divisions can be found here.

Nuevotec was on hand for the 3rd annual 2009 Punta Cana Salsa Congress.

Watch this photo slideshow from the event. Special thanks to Ariel Perez of Cultural Explosion, Victor Mayovanex and Danny Ramirez from Karisma Dance Company, Emmanuel Darley from Videosalsa.com, and Dimas Mero.

To close the final Sunday night at the Philadelphia Salsafest, two teams had 15 minutes to prepare a salsa shines/footwork routine to battle one another.

The first team includes James (Jimmy) McIver (A&E Dance Studio/BMB), Cristian Oviedo, Bernardo De La Vega (BMB), Niya Patel (Proyecto Barrio), John Narvaez (Salsamania), Noel Rodriguez (Calle Luna), and Henri Velandia (HotSalsaHot). The second team includes Al Espinoza, Victor Perez and Burju Hurturk Perez (Hacha y Machete), Uriel Garcia (Art in Motion), Eduardo Perez (A&E Dance Studio/BMB), and Allen Thomas (Proyecto Barrio).

Sonya Elmore and La Luna Dance Studio in Bensalem, Pa have announced the first annual Philadelphia Salsafest to be held from Halloween weekend, October 30-November 1, 2009. The invited performers and instructors list is stacked, as Sonya has invited local, national, and international talent including Puerto Rico Open & Mayan champions and World Salsa Championships finalists (Sonya and partner Victor Colon finished 5th at the 2006 World Salsa Championships in the cabaret division, and is a principal subject in our Salsamentary documentary). Local Philadelphia area talent includes Jessica Rodriguez, Calle Luna, Darlin Garcia, Mike Andino, Barbara Capaldi, and Joe Figueroa. Here is an abbrieviated list of scheduled artists -

• Roberto Arenas & Marie-Josee Strazzero (Chilital Dance), Montreal, Quebec, Canada (interview | social | performance)
• John Narvaez & Liz Rojas (Salsamania), Bay Area, CA (interview | social | performance)
• Cristian Oviedo & Liz Lira, Los Angeles, California (interview | social | performance)
• Victor Perez & Burju Hurturk, (Hacha y Machete) Boston, MA (interview | social | performance)
• Al Espinoza, Los Angeles, CA / Florida (interview | social | performance)
• Magna Gopal, NJ (interview | social)
• Mario “B” Gonzales, (Plan B Dancers) Jersey City, NJ (interview | social | performance)
• Griselle Ponce, Passaic, NJ (interview | social | performance)
• Cultural Explosion, Elizabeth, NJ (interview | social | performance)
• Shaka Brown, DC/Florida  (interview | social | performance)

The event will be located at the Ramada Philadelphia airport. Congratulations to Sonya and La Luna for organizing this event.

Jessica Moya Rodriguez talks with Mambodelphia's George Dennis about a special project coming October 23 -- The 2010 Pose for the Cure calendar. The calendar teams the women of several Philadelphia area salsa dance groups Las Estrellas, Art in Motion, Mambodelphia, Ahi-Nama, and Arte Salseros who are working to raise funds for the Susan G. Komen breast cancer foundation, in conjunction with photographer Brandon Pittam.

The calendar will be available at La Luna Dance Studio's Halloween party on Friday, October 23 in Bensalem, Pa.