Salsa in New Jersey (NJ): Your Source for Salsa Dance Lessons, Events and Socials, Nightclubs, Performances, Salsa Classes, Videos, Audio and Information
The first Scarlet Salsa Social was a hit! The positive reviews are still coming in 2 days after! Special thanks go out to everyone (guests, instructors, performers, DJ’s, promoters, band leaders, photographers and camera people, media, dancers and crew) that helped make this Sunday social successful. Thanks to Yesi and Yesenia’s Dance Factory, Henry and Christy and HotSalsaHot and the performing group, Johan and JerseySalsa, Allan and NuevoTec, the IM Gallery, Neil and NR Photography, Tommy Torres Photography, Devin and Angie and RU Salsa Club, Marisol and Salsa Fever On2’s gang, Jesse and Tumi Mambo, Ray and Swing Sabroso, Joel, Alfredo, DJ Tono La Conga and La Vieja Guardia, Amir and MamboPics. Special mention: Marcus Nieves and Mario B. And last but not least the troopers in red: Tania, Camila, Andrea, Tee Diallo, Leon and the Scarlet Mambo team!
Martin Barreto and Scarlet Mambo present a “Scarlet Salsa Social” at the IM Gallery Studio (a spacious and comfortable studio with air conditioning and 2,800 ft of oak floor). 2 minutes away from downtown New Brunswick!
Scarlet Mambo has a new schedule and a new location yet again. Our Salsa friends, Liza and Gonzalo, instructors at Princeton University, are away for the month of July. So they have asked Scarlet Mambo to make a guest appearance as instructors every Tuesday in July.
Rutgers people, don’t fret! Dany is not changing teams and joining our Ivy-League rivals down south. Dany is only teaching in Princeton U. in a Rutgers ambassador capacity. Okay? Scarlet Mambo is still… well… Scarlet. Maybe Rutgers will be the Birthplace of Intercollegiate Salsa.
SALSA (Introduction) Wednesday, July 16, 2008 – 6pm-7pm
Learn this flirtatious and addicting Latin dance. Salsa has captured the obsession of thousands of dancers around the world because of its infectious rhythm, simplicity of steps and versatility of styling. This workshop will give you the fundamental steps so you can dance Salsa with confidence at any social event. Feel like a professional dancer without the pressure of an audience.
SALSA (Styling and Latin Movement) Thursday, July 17, 2008 – 6pm-7pm
Salsa is very appealing because of its improvisational fluidity of movement. Basic steps do not have to look simple! Arm and hip styling will make your dance steps more attractive. In this workshop you will learn to utilize your whole body to make your dance steps more exciting.
CHA CHA (Introduction) Thursday, July 17, 2008 8pm-9pm
More catchy than the Salsa, the Cha Cha is the gateway to becoming one with the Latin rhythm. For decades this dance style has been a refreshing delicacy on the dance floor. The shuffle of the feet of the Cha Cha is as delicate as the rustle of autumn leaves or as natural as the the beating of one’s heart.
Registration is $20 per person, per class or $35 for two classes. Partners not required.
Space is limited! To register, please contact the education department at
732-246-SHOW, ext. 545 or education@statetheatrenj.org
New York City is the mecca for Salsa dancers because of the quality and quantity of venues. Everyone knows that, but New Jersey now has a new Salsa venue that measures up to any dance social in the city. 46 Lounge, located in Totowa, New Jersey, hosts Mambo Tuesdays. It is hard to beat the services of this salsa spot. A mere $5 cover buys a dinner buffet, a Salsa class, and 5 hours of Salsa music for dancers by DJ Ray Colon.
And this is only the beginning. Let’s face it. It is not always about the money. The dance floor, in dancer’s dream condition, is surrounded by a trendy lounge setting. The perfect balance of dim and accent lights sets the mood for an afterwork drink, or to unwind in a relaxed, upscale, underground Salsa party.
Seasoned professional dancers are easily drawn to this venue. On the random Tuesday night that I attended in early June there was no shortage of Salsa pros. Real quick, let’s see: Magna Gopal, Griselle Ponce, Pzzass Dancers, Marcus Nieves and Kimberly, Bernie and gang from Plan B, etc etc.
Enough said? Good. Mark it on your calendar and support this Salsa event!
Hopefully this short article (and video) will persuade you to spend some time on your shines.
Beginner dancers usually shy away from learning Salsa shines (footwork) because they do not understand their practicality or value. The following video is an example of improvisational fluidity.
Why Salsa shines are good for you:
Improve your timing – If you get lost in the middle of a turn pattern, you will be able to get back into the beat more easily.
Improve your body movement – If you want to dance salsa like a fish swims in water, shines are a perfect way to loosen your body and look more “latin”.
Expand your spinning abilities. – It is more difficult to spin by yourself that to have a partner spin you. If you can spin in shines, then you can spin twice as much in partner work.
This video really makes me want to dance. Yesenia is one of the most energetic salsa dancers that I’ve seen.
She is the instructor that taught me the basic steps of Salsa On2. Her brother,Ismael, kicked me out from the intermediate class and sent me to the beginners class. Yesenia grabbed my hand and said, “C’mon sweety, it goes like this: 1 2 3… 5 6 7.” I admit it. I don’t who I loved more, Salsa or her. That was in the summer of 2000 at Paradise Club (Sayreville, New Jersey).
Salsa Thursdays are back at Nova Terra! NovaTerrsdays! Live music starts at 10pm and it goes until 12:30am. The dancing ends early but we gotta go to work on Friday after all, and one can always go to Glo after Nova Terra. Cover charge is $5 only.
Swing Sabroso will be playing on Thursday, June 12th and June 26th. So go to Nova Terra, walk up to the bar, order a drink (mojito, mango martini, or a Dos-Equis beer), listen to the band, and dance salsa with one of the Scarlet Mambo members.
Nova Terra is located in downtown New Brunswick, New Jersey. 78 Albany Street. Call 732.296.1600 for more info.
Here is another hot event! Victor Manuelle will give a free concert as part of the SummerStage concert series in Central Park in New York City. When I started dancing Salsa, Victor Manuelle was one of my favorite singers. My taste in Salsa has evolved greatly but I still love “pop salsa”. We, the Scarlet Mambo gang, will be attending the concert to dance Salsa. Join us!
Sunday, June 15, 2008
From 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Central Park SummerStage, New York City
“Latin music’s superstar graces the stage. Presented in association with Globe Star Media. Victor Manuelle is Latin music royalty. The Puerto Rican-born sonero is considered salsa’s leading man. His new album, Soy, features several tracks produced by Emilio Estefan. With seven Sony Music albums to his credit, Manuelle has appeared on the Grammys with Marc Anthony and Gloria Estefan in a tribute to Latina diva Celia Cruz. Manuelle was also invited to the White House in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.”
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New York City is the mecca for Salsa dancers because of the quality and quantity of venues. Everyone knows that, but New Jersey now has a new Salsa venue that measures up to any dance social in the city. 46 Lounge, located in Totowa, New Jersey, hosts 
Salsa Thursdays are back at Nova Terra! NovaTerrsdays! Live music starts at 10pm and it goes until 12:30am. The dancing ends early but we gotta go to work on Friday after all, and one can always go to Glo after Nova Terra. Cover charge is $5 only.
