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In the Eastside Esplanade underneath the junction of the  I-5 overpass and Hawthorne Bridge,  the sounds of cars, and buses passing by overhead on I-5, were for the most part drowned out by the music and the chitter-chatter, as  a crowd, made up of a  couple thousands, convened and danced it’s feet off to music being played at this year’s Salsa en la Calle 2010.

Salsa en la Calle 2010- Shannon Butler

Although, during any given moment it was possible to question whether it was a low note blaring from the brass performing or if it was the exhaust of a semi, rumbling as it passed by 50 feet above you.  This experience of dancing to Salsa rhythms in the streets, under the I-5 corridor in Portland would definitely qualify as one of the key ingredients that drives people to purchase the “Keep Portland Weird!” sticker and put it on their back bumper.

Youth Afro-Cuban Drumming Session- Shannon Butler

And weird and funky, was definitely, Salsa en la Calle this year! For starters, both of the headliners Oscar de Leon and Eddie Santiago failed to show this year. (Apparently Oscar had health issues and Eddie missed his flight).

Roger addressing the crowd- Shannon Butler

This made for an uncomfortable moment as DJ. Roger Rumba made the announcement, which spurred the crowd to start “booing”.  However, after he apologized and promised the show would continue till 11pm, as advertised with Latin Expressions filling for the rest of the night,  the crowd began cheering him on.

Los Peques de la Salsa- Shannon Butler

Luckily the show picked up where it left off.  On the flip side, there were plenty of positive, funky qualities that made this year’s Salsa en la Calle definitely not to be forgotten.  The following is a list summarizing what some of these were:

1. Dance Instruction
2. Performances- (Salsa-Dance,Rap-Reggaeton, Ms. Latina Pageant)
3. Top notch local Bands playing Salsa
4. A Youth Afro-Latin drumming workshop
5. Salsa Product/s Vendors
6. Food and beverage court
7. And a not-of-the-ordinary (out of all things) a hair cut station!

Chavez Brothers at Salsa en la Calle-Jorge Alonso

As much as we all wanted Oscar de Leon, or for that matter Eddie Santiago, to headline the show, the fact that you had all this programming available for a straight 12 hour shift, one would be hard pressed to complain much about the event. And to top off the qualities that made it a an overall positive experience, during the middle of the programming DJ. Rumba, proudly announced and displayed the certificate awarded by the City of Portland, which declared the last Sunday of August as Portland’s Official Salsa Sunday.

Salsa en la Calle 2010- Shannon Butler

For more coverage of Salsa en la Calle:

Shannon Butler’s Photography go to:

• http://www.flickr.com/photos/photoartportraits/sets/72157624853903052/
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/photoartportraits/sets/72157624853823722/

PdxLatino Photos:

• http://www.pdxlatino.com/vida_latina_fiestas.php

Jorge Alonso Photography:

• http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?pid=4930533&fbid=437013113352&id=519433352

Daryle’s perspective on Salsa en la Calle:

• http://mambolounge.wordpress.com/

Last but not least thanks to Rochelle Lessner for the great video!

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Between You and Shannon Butler

Shannon Butler August 31 at 8:30pm

Miko. sorry for the delay in getting back to you – I’ve been up to my eyeballs in pics. go ahead and pull any you want for pdxsalsa.

thanks!!
shannon

Miko Cardenas August 31 at 8:54pm

Your the best Shannon! ;-)

Shannon Butler September 1 at 12:38pm

I put everything on flickr and a few of my fav’s on my website. Can you add the flickr links to pdxsalsa

http://www.flickr.com/photos/photoartportraits/sets/72157624853903052/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/photoartportraits/sets/72157624853823722/

thanks!

salsa en la calle 2010 – a set on Flickr

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Just in case you got the itch to shuffle your feet to some Salsa this weekend- we’ll try to summarize what your options are.

Thursday

Beginning tonight you have your choice of three venues:  Andrea’s Cha Cha Club, Fernandos Pdx, and of course the one and only Santa Fe’s with Armando’s Salsa Social.

Andreas, Fernandos, Santa Fe

Friday

Tomorrow you can start out dancing at Mambos for traditional Salsa played by Roger Rumba or come party like a Colombiano at Aztec Willies Colombian Nights:

Mambo

colombian nights

aztec willies taqueria

Saturday

Apart from Aztec Willies and Mambo Lounge, the Bobby Torres Latin Jazz Ensemble will be playing at Brasserie Montmartre in downtown Portland.

bobby torres

Sunday

Finally on Sunday you have Portland’s very own Salsa en La Calle!

Salsa en la Calle

( Rochelle Lessner ,PdxSalsa Investigative Reporter, recounts what happened this last Thursday in West Linn when the Band Conjunto Alegre showed up).

Last night, on my way to see Conjunto Alegre play at Tanner Park in West Linn, I was skeptical whether West Linn would get the salsa groove, but it definitely did! Conjunto Alegre put on a great show. It was the perfect warm and delicious late August evening for a night of outdoor salsa and we danced until sunset.

The crowd loved the band and the dance floor was jumpin’. Kids were up on stage (check out Oscar’s darling son playing guiro in the video), folks were dancing all over the place and Conjunto Alegre rocked! A bunch of the casino rueda folks were there doing their thing and Terri Kuechle made her debut singing lead

Terri singing the lead- photo & story by Rochelle Lessner

with the band! In case you’re bummed that you missed this, they’re doing it again next Wednesday at Ventura Park in east Portland. Look for Aquiles’ posting on it and do go. We had a fantastic night. Thanks Conjunto Alegre!

You read that correctly.  Because of health issues (apparently he’s had a couple of heart attacks  in the past month) Oscar de Leon will not be lining the show for Salsa en la Calle:

You can read more about it at:  http://mambolounge.wordpress.com/

This last Friday Sarah’s Performance Dancers gave the crowd a nice Cha Cha treat!