Salsa Congress 2009 at the Hilton Hotel NYC

My experience at the 2009 NYC Salsa Congress

It is with great enthusiasm that I share with you all my experience at NYC’s 2009 Salsa Congress held at the Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan! The entire event was rich with music, fun people, wonderful instructors, fantastic dancers and plenty of vendors to choose from. Each one of my senses was delightfully tickled as I made my way through all the salsa-oriented activities that made you shake your hips in participation! I really got into it!
John “Choco” Knight did a splendid job coordinating this year’s event and addressing the needs of the salsa community. He managed to bring the congress to another level this year by making sure to provide educational opportunities to the youth and also by booking the biggest musical act to hit the congress stage in all its years, legendary Eddie Palmieri!
I had to make sure I was prepared for the 3 days of activities so I headed to the vendors to gear up. I found myself at the Salsa Footsies table where I purchased a $70 pair of dancing shoes. I felt official! From there, I joined a workshop with Melissa Rosado who taught me some sexy dance moves that were sure to attract a serious papi chulo! Thanks Melissa! I also partnered with dance instructor, Rene Gueits who taught the Casino Rueda workshop which concentrated on some serious turn patterns. I broke a sweat and got seriously dizzy so I decided to ask the real professionals how they managed to maintain their cool on the dance floor. I was fortunate enough to come across head judge Jamie Josephson, who explained to me the rules of competition for this year’s salsa congress competitors. I found out the winners took home a mega trophy, a title and 5,000 big ones to share. I was so curious what it would take to prepare for competition or performance so I headed backstage where I ran into a couple of crews preparing to take the stage. The crews included the Diamond Dancers from Caguas, PR directed by Sonia Rivera, Christine and Andrew from Lorenz Dance Studio in Queens, NY, Katherine, Victor, Franklin, and Johanna from Mambo Bravo located in Queens, NY, and the Rekreation Dance Company, a 27 person dance crew out of Houston, TX. Each of them assured me that preparation was rigorous but that the love for the dance superseded any challenges they might face along the way. They all left me in awe with their performances!
Through this wonderful experience I learned that salsa has no limits or discrimination. Anyone can participate no matter how young or old, no matter where you reside on the map, no matter what nationality or origin you come from, or what level of experience you have. And! With a little hard work, dedication and commitment to having fun, you can be on your way to becoming the salsera or salsero of your dreams! I know I’m on my way! Please be sure to look out for more shows featuring latin dance and booty shaking rhythms. My name is Leticia Reyes and I’m special reporting for En La Escena!

Calle 13 rocked SummerStage!

Once again En la escena brings you on the scene!

The group Calle 13 was part of the 10th Anniversary of LAMC (Latin Alternative Music Conference) Calle 13 was the headliner of the event & one of the most anticipated bands on the 24th season of Central Park's SummerStage!

SummerStage free concert reached it’s maximum capacity of 5,000 people!



It was amazing to see the line from 72nd street all the way to 65th street! The Latino presence was strong & the fans were eager to see Calle 13 perform. It couldn't be a more perfect day. The weather was great & so was the energy!

Eric BOBO & Bomba Estereo where the ones that warmed up the crowd before Calle 13 came out.


Before Calle 13 went up on stage, En La escena interviewed René Pérez Joglar – El Residente CALLE 13. An interview entirely in Spanish by Host Paola Cancellieri. El vistiante Eduardo José Cabra Martínez was not part of the interview since he was doing the sound check at that moment.



Host Paola Cancellieri in action!



En la escena crew Anthony Austin & Paola Cancellieri next to El Residente Calle 13 before the concert



Calle 13 opened up with “ No hay nadie como tu” and the crowd went wild! The whole concert was energetic & fans loved every second of it.






El Residente also invited some female fans up on stage & they danced like never before to the beat of Calle 13.



But I must say that the fans went crazy when “Atrevete” came on!
After all is the song that made them who they are today Latin Grammy winner's!

During the performance El Residente managed to give a shout out to all the Immigrants! And said “we ain't going nowhere” He is definitely one of the few Artists who uses his platform to speak up about topics in our Latin community.

At the end Calle 13 gave tribute to Michael Jackson. By doing the famous dance of the ghouls in the video Thriller. El Residente then pointed up to the heavens & gave tribute to Michael. A great moment that Fans absolutely loved.



Make sure to get Calle 13’s Album “ Los de atras bienen conmigo”
Also visit www.summerstage.org and learn about future free events.
Stay tuned to see En la escena’s interview with Calle 13!

Photos taken by: Robert Jennings

To-Tam reporting for En la escena TV, Tribute to MJ at the APOLLO THEATRE

We are huge fans of MJ...What an honor for SACHIKA to come and report this event... Michael has brought so much to the world and leaving so abruptly was a shock to everyone...He was the BIGGEST superstar of all time and now, millions are in mourning...Michael has had a very unique and most would say difficult life...but somehow he might be at better place now. I hope so, because, Michael will be so ever dearly missed...






Apollo Theatre 125th between Adam Clayton and Frederick Douglass, NY.



On July 1st 2009, thousands came to celebrate the life of a legend and engrave his music into our hearts and soul forever. The Jackson 5 performed over 40 years ago at the Apollo at the very beginning of Michael's career and the Apollo is paying tribute to Michael by offering a complimentary viewing of the most poignant moments of his life as well as the last footage of his rehearsal a few days before he passed away...Words can't express how sad I was when I found out he passed away. So young, so talented...ouch.... Michael Jackson dead almost means the death of an era...How could it even be? It's so hard to believe for many people.


At the Apollo Theatre,in Harlem, where the biggest superstars have graced the stage before and during stardom, people were celebrating and embracing all that Michael has given to us. For so many people, he was and still is their true musical and life inspiration. Thousands have waited hours and hundreds waited over 12 hours to pay tribute to their idol. Some have stayed overnight sleeping outside of the Theatre...."This is once of lifetime experience, I wouldn't have missed it for this world!!!" said a 22 year old female singer/songwriter inspired by Michael Jackson.



It was all love. And I couldn't helped but to feel sad yet hopeful. "Michael is here, his spirit is here and will remain with us forever! He will never die!!!" Those are the words that came out of 44 year-old male resident of Harlem. And truly, his presence was here...It was magical. I never felt so much love in one single place...It was exciting yet peaceful.




To-Tam & Tony Austin from En la Escena


Tony Austin, the executive producer of En La Escena and I arrived at approximately noon and stood in line at the backdoor of the Apollo with 30ish other press and media. We were all anxious to see what the Apollo has prepared to pay homage to the legendary Michael Jackson.We finally got to interview people at 1pm and, it was chaotic. People were exhausted and have been waiting for so long, but the energy, was still there.. People were singing, dancing, smiling, celebrating Michael's legacy. It's beautiful to see how dedicated fans can be.





Tony and I found ourselves a spot sandwiched in between so many other paparazzi, ready to report the event of the century. I was able to interview 15 fans ranging from 8 to 6o years old, men, women, black, white, Latino, it didn't matter. Everyone was here for the same reason to, pay tribute to their all time favorite artist: Michael Jackson. Each has their favorite MJ's song and a few even sang a little piece for me...Loved it! Loved seeing peoples' face and body coming to life when singing one of his songs...It really came from the heart...It is so unfair to see that sometimes people never see what they got until it's gone. While alive, Michael for the last decade, Michael has been ridiculed and misjudged and wrongly accused by the media and the public and now he is deceased, people are starting to realize that he was only a troubled being... Michael is surely very appreciated right now, more than ever and will be remembered forever...I just wished he was here to witness what I saw...The world loved and loves Michael...


I could have stayed there forever, watching people smiling, dancing and singing with so much love and warmth..Michael, with his music and great charitable achievements has clearly touched the lives of millions and will continue to do so for years to come...Inside the Theatre, as people we let in slowly but surely, the crowd was applauding Michael's life, legacy and achievements. A few superstar kids event jumped on stage and danced the moonwalk and sang to the best of MJ's songs...Somehow,in this time of recession and hard times, Michael has brought back peace and love into the lives of so many people reminding all of us that family, friends children and health are the most important things in life...We also saw Al Chapman who was supportive and came to the Apollo to show respect and support Michael's family...The world is mourning the loss of a superstar and an amazing icon, but truly, the ones that are crying the most and hurting the most are his family and children. My thoughts and prayers are with them...AMEN.




Thousands have been waiting for hours to get in the theatre and pay tribute to their idol.




Maximum security to ensure a smooth entrance to all those tired fans




A very happy fan, ready to get inside the Theatre




Thousands of people celebrating the life of Michael Jackson...

Brooklyn Fashion Weekend

En La Escena covered the Brooklyn Fashion Weekend where we met up with the fabulous designers of “SACHIKA” To-Tam & To-Nya . En La Escena had full backstage access before the show & front row seats to a pre-view of their Fall 2009 collection, that left the crowd in awe and craving their line by the end of the show.



The collection featured a beautiful array of dresses in different styles which included wrap dresses, shouldered tiered dresses and wide leg jump suit's with halter neck lines in an assortment of hues such as teals, creams, burgundy's, navy, and dark royal purples. The line had a very 20's inspired flapper look, with floating hemlines and artistic drapery.

It was unanimous they stole the show!! A line that empowers woman & makes them feel sexy, elegant, yet very comfortable.

Make sure to visit SACHIKA’s website at www.sachika.com

Meet Taxi Amarillo

En La Escena had the pleasure of interviewing los chicos del grupo “TAXI AMARILLO” by Host Dilenia Gutierrez. You are going to fall in love with Chris, Bombie, Rickie & Steve! This NY Pop-Rock group, breathes talent through their pores. You will definitely identify yourself with their songs! We can testify to that, since we saw Taxi Amarillo perform live at Mamajuana’s Café as well. The house was packed & the Band was Rocking!

Make sure to stay tuned & see this very fun Interview with Taxi Amarillo coming soon! Also visit their website www.taxiamarillo.com

Ciao! Paola Cancellieri ~ Associate Producer

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Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week 2009

The world leader in automotive design was title sponsor of the world's premier fashion event in New York, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. From the world's most prestigious fashion shows to world-famous models and behind-the-scenes media coverage was a driving force in the global fashion business.

En La Escena visited the leading designers and marketers interested in reaching fashion-centric consumers.



Dove in front of Barbie display at Mercedes Benz Fashion week 2009



Intern reporter Carolina with M2M founders Meridith amd Monica




Ms Universe Dayana Mendoza, Rayon and Carolina

Hola Chicos!
I am Paola Cancellieri,

I want to share with you My Day experience while covering the Fashion show of designer extraordinaire, Tracy Reese. I love her designs, her Fall Collection truly understands what a woman wants! Everything about the collection is fabulous, the fabrics, the cuts, the colors & details. Tracy Reese has definitely managed to pull together a very classic & trendy Collection, yet her simplicity is quite exquisite.

Of course The crème de la crème of the fashion world was present at Tracy Reese's show. Personalities such as Paris & Nicky Hilton, Kim Kardashian & Reggie Bush, to name a few. But I must say that I truly enjoyed having the opportunity to interview personalities such as Philip Bloch, Robert Verdi & Miss Jay from America's Next Top Model, even the personal Stylist of Oprah Winfrey! People who have their finger on the pulse and know what the hottest trends are!

Remember “En La Escena” always keeps you informed on the topics that most interest you!

I got a lot of Fashion trend tips from the experts, so stay tuned & make sure to check back and see “My Day” at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion week! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Ciao