Episode 20 is available for replay. Check the link near the bottom of the page.
April 13 was another fun show for World Salsa Radio. Our guest was the Spanish dancer Rumbera la Andaluza. It was great having her on the show. She spoke poignantly about several topics. See the pre-show post for more information about her.
*Although both English and Spanish were used on the show, the guest showcase was solely in Spanish; however, here is an English transcript of the interview near the bottom of this page.
Show Highlights:
Introductory salsa mix: ~28:16 featuring 7 tracks by Panama Brass, Los Kenya, Orquesta Broadway, Oscar & Wladimir d'Leon, Chano Martinez, Louie Colon, and El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico.
Spotlight 1 (New salsa releases): 28:33~ featuring Don Ruiz Orquesta, Tromboranga, and Lengaïa Salsa Brava feat Ricky Campanelli.
Spotlight 2 (Latin music by Japanese artists) 41:10~ featuring Ayumi Suzuki, Banderas, and Salsa Swingoza.
Spotlight 3 (Covers of Cuban music): 59:26~ featuring Los Calvos, Grupo Danson, and Tito Puente.
Spotlight 4 (Guest showcase): 1:12:24~
featuring our guest, Rumbera la Andaluza, who talks about her inspiration, memorable experiences, and future goals; she also chooses 3 songs for us to listen to (by Diego El Cigala, Sonido Solar, and Doug Beavers).
Concluding salsa mix: 1:40:06~ featuring 7 tracks by Ray Fernandez, Calle Vapor, Septima Bohemia, Habana con Kola, Conjunto Imagen, Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loca, and Papa Orbe & Los Científicos del Sabor.
Replay Episode 20
Guest Showcase
English transcript
Feat. Rumbera la Andaluza
(by Angel Figueroa)
It is a pleasure to introduce to everyone the Spanish dancer known as Rumbera la Andaluza. She will answer some questions and also share a selection of three songs for us to listen to here on Encanto Tropical.
Good afternoon, Angel, and hello to everyone who is listening. Thank you very much for the invitation. It is an honour and a pleasure to be here and to share some time with you.
What does salsa mean to you?
Well, what salsa means to me… it means happiness, friendship, health, peace, equality. In this world (of salsa) we don’t distinguish between rich and poor people or between white and black people. For me, personally, dancing salsa means to feel free and release energy without thinking. Dancing for me is like a type of meditation that allows me to be completely in the present moment.
That is a wonderful explanation of what salsa means to you. And how did you start dancing?
That’s a long story. It started with my father. He played the trumpet and was a passionate dancer, naturally talented — he never went to dance school. At home we always listened to music and danced. But at the same time, he was a very strict person, and he didn’t give me much freedom to do things. He didn’t allow me to go out. Well, when I was 14 or 15, I went to a ballroom dance and here in Germany at that age it is very common to go to school with all your friends and classmates and that was always a moment of freedom for me, like an escape -- a short period of time when my father could have no control over me. I started with ballroom dancing, and I liked it a lot, and I took lessons 2 or 3 times a week, but when I got serious with my studies, I no longer had that kind of free time, and neither could I pay for the private lessons that I needed in order to participate in competitions. Once, at an open-air concert, I saw people dancing salsa for the first time, and I liked it. At that time, there were hardly any opportunities to learn how to dance salsa in the town I was living in, and I have to admit that what I did find was not to my liking. Then in another concert I met a person who invited me to go with him to his school and take his lessons. And it was then that I realized that I wanted to learn this style of dancing. That was in 1994. Since then I’ve been hooked. That salsa instructor learned everything from a Puerto Rican man who at that time was based in Germany. Within a few weeks the salsa instructor became my dance partner and we had some amazing times.
What has been an inspiration for you?
Well at the beginning, just like other dancers, I was especially impressed by Eddie Torres. First, I saw him on video, then in congresses and salsa festivals, and finally I decided to travel to New York to see him. It was awesome. From New York, I traveled to Puerto Rico, and there I got to know some very good instructors, both male and female. I was fortunate to get to know Papito Jala Jala, a salsa legend and an amazing dancer. And I especially came to know many talented male and female dancers at social dances, and these people really inspired me. In my opinion, you can learn a lot on the dance floor no matter where you are in the world.
What is a recent, memorable experience with regard to salsa?
I can remember many good experiences. But the most impressive from the last few months was the CoBeatParty Marathon in Barcelona in September. This special energy of friendship, love for music and dance, and gratitude to the amazing organizers, made it a very memorable event.
What is a project related to salsa that you are currently working on?
Well, I do not have any personal projects. I only try to support people who invest their energy into providing for us (dancers), organizing events, and starting up radio stations, like this station. For me, World Salsa Radio is an amazing project. We can be infinitely grateful to [the founder] Felipe Martinez, for his great commitment. And your show, Encanto Tropical, is a great treat for all lovers of Afro-Latin music. Many thanks to all the DJs of World Salsa Radio.
And what are some plans of yours related to salsa?
Well, I really want to see certain projects grow and I can only repeat that World Salsa Radio is one of them. And I really want to meet so many wonderful people that I have come to know through salsa and especially through the group CobeatParty.
I also want to ask: what future goals do you have in your salsa career?
Speaking of the future, in fact, I do have an idea. In a few years, I will move to Spain and in the part where I [have a place to] live, in my opinion, there are two things missing: there are no female DJs, and there is a lack of good music. The proportion of bachata is very high. I don’t find any salsa events — of pure salsa — and I don’t find events with mambo, salsa, guaguanco, guajira, cha cha cha, or salsa dura… So I have this idea to do some networking and to join up with other women with good dance instructors, good dancers -- and above all, female DJs -- and to start our own events.
And to finish, what is a message you would like to share, whether for DJs, musicians, dancers, or listeners in general?
A message… Yes I have a wish… It is that on the dance floor we try to take care of ourselves and be respectful, and I would like us dancers to team up and ensure this message stays strong wherever we are: at work, in the family, and among friends. We will never find that everyone is equally nice and kind, but having tolerance and respect can make something like a wonderful haven for music and dancing away from all these wars and conflicts that we have in the world. To make music and to dance, we have to relate to each other and to prioritize unity and collective action… this produces something much more beautiful and colorful than what could ever be accomplished by a sole individual. So the message is that we should live this attitude in the world outside of the dance floor.
And I would love to know what songs you have chosen for us.
As for the songs I have chosen for Encanto Tropical, they are the following.
The first song is called “Dos Gardenias”. This is a version by Diego El Cigala. I grew up with this song. My parents always listened to it. This version is a more modern one.
The second song is "Mambo Influenciado" by Sonido Solar. I chose it because when I was young, I used to love jazz music, and this song is like a fusion of jazz and Latin American music.
The third is "Quédate" by Doug Beavers and Jeremy Bosch. I chose it because World Salsa Radio is located in the San Francisco Bay Area, and I liked the idea of choosing a song by a group from the Bay Area.
I hope you all enjoy these songs.
Well, Angel, thank you very much for inviting me to talk with you on Encanto Tropical for World Salsa Radio.
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Back to the Classics (Focus on 1970s salsa)
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