How, why and when did you get into salsa?
It was the month of September 1999 when I first started dancing Salsa.
It was just Destiny as my car broke down opposite the Famous Salsa Club “Bar Lorca” in “El Bario” Brixton on our way to Central London R&B Clubs.
Who first taught you to dance salsa?
My first ever Salsa Steps were taught by Xiomara Granados from Colombia, she always reminded me not to forget her as she my first Salsa teacher.
How can I forget that?
Did you have any dance training prior to salsa?
No previous dance training, just a lot of Sport Training.
Never danced in my life, but I have listened to my parents playing similar music to Salsa in our house, my dad was a jazz trumpet player and mum a singer.
Tell me a little about your company. When, why and how was it set up?
Miguel De Puertorico company has been set up by Miguel & Natalia.
Part of this Company belongs to all my Students that follow us week after week.
Without our Salsa Instructor Team: Natalia “Guapa”, Sam ”Mr Sleek” and Tom, we would not be where we are now.
Thanks guys.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
My main inspiration in Salsa is the Music.
A good dancer finds inspiration and creates moves based on what the music tells him/her.
I believe that the dancers should be the musician’s reflections.
You will only dance inspired if your mind is inside the band and play along side the musicians only then you will really feel the music inside your head & heart.
My dance partner and girlfriend Natalia, she inspires me to dance and to make changes in my style, she is a real source of fresh ideas.
Who do you admire?
My admiration goes to a handful of people: Robert Charlemagne, Frank Santos, Osbanis Tejeda, Victor of “Hacha Y Machete”, Marcus Nieves of” Eddie Torres Dancers”, Thomas of Santo Rico and The Master of them all - Eddie Torres.
What’s your favourite track at the moment?
"Mi Borinquen" is my favourite track as I perform to it and it feels really good when you dance.
What are your all time favourite tracks?
Muneca-Combination Perfecta
La Vida e un carnival - Celia Cruz
Cucala- Celia Cruz
Mi Borinquen- Mon Rivera
What are your favourite albums?
Wild,Wild Salsa – Puertorican Power
Tito- Tito Puente
What was the last CD you bought?
Ritmo Sabroso, from Mambo City Congress, nice tracks thanks to Mr Bongo.
What music is in your car/cd player/tape player at the moment?
Salsa, Jazz, and Mambo Cd’s.
Who are your favourite artists?
Hard to say, I like Puertorican music and that is my favourite style of Music.
Puertorican Power, Gran Combo.
But I like artists like: Tito Puente, Oscar De Leon, The Queen of Salsa Celia Cruz, Alberto El Canario, Fania All Stars etc…
Too many to list.
If you were not a successful Promoter/Teacher/DJ, what would you be doing instead? Or if you also have a full-time job, what do you do?
Work in the Sports Fields like Martial Arts or Body- Building.
Tell me something most people wouldn’t know about you?
I’m a qualified Bodyguard!
Long time ago I attended a Personal Bodyguard Course and passed it.
What’s your all time favourite salsa club/event that you have played/taught/danced?
Mambo City Congress in Heathrow was the real deal.
Recently we went to Bath University for a 2 hour workshop and the place was really nice and the atmosphere electrifying.
What has been your most memorable moment?
World Salsa Championship in South America Aruba what a Heavenly Place and Coronna Salsa Final in the Mediterranean Cruise what a nice adventure and memorable moments.
Have you had any embarrassing/nightmare-ish moments in salsa?
The worst Nightmare for me was when my Ex-dance partner broke her knee ligaments.
Last rehearsal on Friday for Saturday nights performance in International Students House Gloucester Rd, Central London.
Everything went well until the last minute when it happened, we tried one too many times and the rest is history.
Now she is well and ready to perform again, best wishes girl.
The most embarrassing moment started when I was in my first year of salsa, I won a heat for ”UK Salsa Championship” with this Lady (I wouldn’t like to name her), she had been dancing salsa for 8 years and we were training together for about 2 months, on the last week of rehearsal she dropped me for a more experienced dancer and she went on to win that years Championship.
That embarrassing fact is that I had told all my friends that was going to compete. In fact this helped me to get where I am now, so thank you my Lady for motivating me.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
For all the Salsa people out there have fun and enjoy life.
Dance like nobody is watching you.
Que Viva La Salsa!
www.migueldepuertorico.com
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