Friday, January 14, 2005
Latin music in Roanoke
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Ricardo Valdivieso
Ricardo Valdivieso reports on issues of interest to Spanish-speaking people in Southwest Virginia
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Until just a couple of years if someone would tell us that we would have in Roanoke the opportunity to dance our music in some of the clubs and halls of the city, maybe we would react with skepticism. But since music is a cultural an popular of expression for the immigrant, it was jus a matter of time to feel the impact of Latin music in Roanoke.
This is a music that brings together a wide range of influences through its history and evolution, since it is modified and transformed through the different times and places of origin. Its diverse rhythms and styles, such as Latin jazz, salsa, merengue, bachata, cumbia, vallenatos, mambo, Mexican regional music, etc., are artistic expressions that identify and bring together the Hispanics living in the United States.
But, since music is universal an transcends borders, languages and ideologies, it doesn’t surprises us that the rhythm of Latin music being a cheerful and contagious can be appreciated for Anglo-Americans and people of different ethnic backgrounds that wish to embrace it and listen to or dance al the sound of a good salsa or a Dominican merengue.
Latin music roots were present in The united States during the 1920s and 103’s in the barrios of New York. During these decades there was a significant fusion between the musical currents of Latin and Afro- American artists. Around the 1940’s together with the Latin Jazz, arrived the mambo, that being born in Cuba arrived to the country mixing the Caribbean and afro-Cuban rhythms with the swing and the vocal styles of the epoch. During the 1950s, the mambo craze peaked among Anglo American audiences, being only surpassed by the "chachacha".
Subsequently, the musicians continued using other Caribbean ingredients in their works including the Dominican merengue and the bombas and plenas from Puerto Rico.
With these rhythms already familiar in the musical experience of New York and other big cities in the country, the basis of Latin music in United States were in place.
Where can you listen to or dance Latin music in Roanoke?
Fortunately, there are more and more places wher we can enjoy it and dance with it. I will mention some of them:
The Jefferson Center and Star City Performance Series present the Afro-Cuban band Los Hombres Calientes on January 21st at 8:00 pm.. Prices of tickets vary. Immediately after the show you can dance with Bio Ritmo from 10:00pm. The price: $15.00 at the door or $10.-00 if you purchase it in advance. You can obtain tickets for both events, calling at 345-2550.
The Club at Fiji Island on 627 Townside Rd.offers a Latin night every last Saturday of the month with music played by DJ Grinchy. The cover is $5.00.
Montanos International Restaurant, 3733 Franklin Rd. en Townside Mall has also decided to have a Latin night with traditional food and live music played by Latin Heat and special guests. You can enjoy it every second Tuesday of the month from 7:00 P.M.
La Finca Mexican Restaurant on 27 W Campbell Ave. has regularly DJ and live music every Saturday, and the cover is $5.00 and $10.00 respectively.
If you wish to learn how to dance Latin music, you can look for Liz Becker who counts with a great experience teaching salsa, chachacha and other Latin rhythms. The lessons take place in local churches or in her home studio. If you need a more detailed information regarding prices and schedules, you can contact Liz at 772-4388.
We also inform you about a Salsa Workshop taking place Sunday January 16th from 3 to 5:00 pm in Salem Senior Center on 110 Union St. The price of this class is $10.
Noches Latinas en Roanoke
Hasta hace tan solo un par de años, si alguien nos dijera que en Roanoke tendríamos la oportunidad de bailar con nuestra música en los diferentes centros nocturnos y salones de la ciudad, tal vez hubiéramos reaccionado con escepticismo. Pero como la música es una vía de expresión cultural y popular que acompaña al inmigrante, era sólo cuestión de tiempo para que el impacto de la música latina se dejara sentir en Roanoke.
Sus diversos ritmos y estilos tales como Latin jazz, salsa, rumba, merengue, bachata, cumbias, vallenatos, mambo, regional mexicana, etc., son expresiones artísticos musicales que identifican y unen a los hispanos que viven en los Estados Unidos.
¿Donde puede usted escuchar y bailar música latina en Roanoke?
Afortunadamente, son cada vez más los lugares en la ciudad donde podemos disfrutarla. Les mencionaré algunos de ellos:
Este mes, el Jefferson Center y Star City Performance Series presentan al grupo afro-cubano Los Hombres Calientes, el día 21 de enero a las 8 de la noche. Los precios para este show varían.
Inmediatamente después de esta presentación, podrá usted bailar con el grupo Bio Ritmo a partir de las 10 de la noche. Precio: $15 en la puerta o $10 si lo adquiere con anticipación.
Los boletos para estos dos eventos los puede adquirir llamando al 345-2550.
The Club en Fiji Island, en 627 Townside Road, ofrece una noche latina el último sábado de cada mes con música de DJ Grinchy. El precio de la entrada es $5.
Montano's International Restaurant tiene una noche latina con comidas típicas y música en vivo amenizada por Latin Heat e invitados especiales. Usted puede disfrutarla a partir de las 7 de la noche el segundo martes de cada mes. La dirección es 3733 Franklin Road.
La Finca Mexican Restaurant, localizado en 27 W. Campbell Ave., cuenta regularmente con música de DJ y música en vivo todos los sábados, y el precio de la entrada es $5 y $10 respectivamente.
Si usted desea aprender a bailar la musica latina, puede acudir a Liz Becker, que cuenta con una amplia experiencia en la enseñanza de salsa, chachacha y otros ritmos latinos. Las clases se llevan a cabo en diferentes iglesias locales o en el estudio en su casa. Para mayor información sobre precios y horarios, llame a Liz al 772-4388.
También ella le informará sobre el Taller de Salsa que tendrá lugar este domingo de las 3 a las 5 de la tarde en el Salem Senior Center en 110 Union St. El precio es $10.
