Bio

Hometown:	hometown of my heart - El Barrio, currently - Cobleskill , NY
School:	City University of NY, Bronx Community College, SUNY Cobleskill
Employer:	Community Action Program

I lived in East Harlem and the South Bronx through the 70s to the early 80s. I went dancing every night to latin music - couldn't get enough. At that time there were latin clubs all over New York playing salsa, it was in the streets, the parks, it was an exciting time for us. Even the R & B & disco clubs had latin nights. There was hardly ever a DJ, no matter where we went there was usually a live orquestra. I saw and danced to amazing musicians and singers, Hector LaVoe, Willie Colon, Celia Cruz and La Fania All Stars, Eddie Palmieri, Tito Puente, El Gran Combo, Orquestra Broadway, Tipica 73, all the Charanga orquestras and on and on. We didn't know we were a part of history then, we were just doing what we loved - dancing to our music. Now I live upstate New York outside of Albany. It's not as easy finding places to hear live latin music and dance. There is only one local latin band and they rock - Alex Torres and his Latin Orquestra from Amsterdam, NY. I see them whenever I can but there are no latin clubs and the dance scene is so different now, the emphasis seems to be on dance performances. Nothing moves me or makes me happier then when I am dancing to la musica de mi gente. Music and dance are a global language that can help transform the world. It is great to have access to such a wide variety of great music. Que viva la salsa!