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MAKE WAY FOR SALSA!

Salsa: We are the Colombian Pacific is on its tour covering ten countries in the Asian Pacific, showing the culture of Colombian Salsa and its particular style of dance and the Philippines is the next stop.

From December 5 to 9, Salsa: We are the Colombian Pacific will be in town to teach this seductive and rhythmic movement to dance-crazy Filipinos. The group is composed of Jaime Gonzalez, Jennifer Olave and Olga Acosta.

Salsa is an essentially Caribbean musical rhythm created by Latinos in New York City between 1930 and 1950s; it settled in the 1960s sharing the riotous popularity of other globally renowned rhythms, such as reggae and rock. Salsa is a cultural expression of music and dance which has permeated Colombian society, particularly in urban districts. Because of its power to seduce, it has also come to have close links with other forms of expressions, such as art, literature and film.

Salsa is more than a dance. It also tells a story. Writers have described salsa as the chronicle of the urban Caribbean, the lyrics of its songs mirroring the life of the Latin peoples. Its urban nature speaks of the marginalized life of the major cities and the daily struggle for survival.

Colombia, which has adopted dance as its most important manifestation of salsa, is the land that gave birth to the cumbia, the porro and other dance rhythms.

So why would Filipinos fall in love with salsa? Just like Colombians, dance has always been an essential part of many Filipino celebrations and festivals. Just like Colombians, the cultural phenomenon of dance is strong in the Filipinos, who pass on the dance steps from generation to generation.

Here is their complete schedule of Salsa: We are the Colombian Pacific:

December 7, Wednesday:         1-4pm Salsa Workshops
                                                                                    Bulwagang Francisca Reyes Aquino
                                                                                    Cultural Center of the Philippines
                                                            6-9pm Salsa Presentation at Filipiniana
                                                                                    Sunsets
                                                                                    CCP Main Theater Lobby
                                                            10:30pm          Dance Night Affair with the
                                                                                    Spirit of ‘67
                                                                                    Bar 360 Degrees
                                                                                    Resorts World

December 8, Thursday             2-5pm Salsa Workshop @ the
                                                                                    Araneta Center
                                                                                    Sapphire Ballroom
                                                                                    Gateway Suites

Click here for photos taken during the Salsa Press Conference at the Gateway Suites