WanderingSalsero

Message from Nelson Campos

Well, if nothing else........Nelson is getting a lot of back links from my postings :-)  That's OK though.  I'm supportive of anybody teaching Kizomba.

I sent Nelson a video chat request while I was on TokBox a couple of nights ago.  Not surprisingly, he missed it.  He's very busy and he's on the other side of the word from where I am, so.........I wasn't surprised.

But the other project that interests me right now.....i.e. examining the relative merits and uses of www.wetoku.com , www.tokbox.com and www.oovoo.com .......it continues.  Nelson sent me a return video message that actually sounds and looks pretty good.

I've thus far only tried TokBox with myself and one other person.  But that other person was on a dailup connection yet it still looked and sounded pretty good.  I'm eager to try it with multiple people. 

The only limitation I see with TokBox is that it doesn't record the session.  I think an embedable video chat has scores of marketing, branding, and public relations applications.  I'm still surprised nobody in the salsa community seems to see it. But.......whatever.

Here's the message I got from Nelson.  As you can tell, a lot of people are eager to see him and learn more about Kizomba.

TokBox - Free video chat and video messaging

Meet Nelson Campos....UK Kizombiero

I did an online interview with Nelson Campos last night.  Nelson is a successful and well established Kizomba instructor, dancer and choreographer currently residing in Kent, England.  He is originally from Ginea Bissau in West Africa, but has been living in the UK for several years.  He currently teaches and performs both locally, regionally and in Europe.

I discovered Nelson through a very nice Kizomba instructional video he recently put on YouTube.  When I sent him an email suggesting the online interview he was happy to do it.  

I think that's a good thing too because, as I've said, there's very few qualified kizomba instructors on the market right now in comparison to the potential demand.  Nelson tells me (and, gee......why was I not surprised??!! :-) that Kizomba is hot, hot, hot right now in the UK and throughout Europe.  Further he tells me that, almost without exception, salseros and salseras who try it love it.

Kizomba is just now starting to get some attention in the US market.  For whatever reason, most of the people that are seeing it are people who are already in the salsa niche.  Nothing wrong with that and that's probably the way it'll always be.  But I am still predicting that Kizomba will be the next 'hot thing' in the US latin dancing market.

I just this evening ordered his DVD and I'm looking forward to receiving it.  Nelson tells me that what's unique about it is that it shows not only the basics of the dance but several specific sequences which can used used to construct choreographies.

Our interview went 15 minutes but that really wasn't enough.  I'm hoping that we'll have more discussions later.  Perhaps we'll even do some audio only conference calls where we'll have more time to delve into other aspects of the dance.

On that subject, what I'm thinking is that we could get together in my Vereconference room which accomodates up to 15 people.  That way we could have a very lively discussion using that format.  

If we did that, everybody who was in the call would also get the final MP3.  They could put that MP3 on their own blog or website or send it our to their own email list.  I think that would be cool.

So, first....here's my intro video.  Followed by the interview with me and Nelso Campos of www.kentsalsa.com .

New Kizomba kid on the block?

Check out this new video I found on YouTube.  Apparently somebody has finally decided to take advantage of the fact that there's hardly any English language instructional material out there on Kizomba.

The new guy's name is nelson de Oliveira Campos.  He's got a studio in Kent, England where he not only teaches kizomba but also salsa.  Plus, he's made an instructional DVD on Kizomba.

As I've noted before, there is already Benjamin Nande and www.kizombadance.com but that's not enough to even begin to satisfy what I think is the potential market.  The reality is that it takes a few more 'players' in the market to really get it going.

So......Nelson seems to have enough confidence in himself and Kizomba to make a Kizomba instructional DVD.  From the description, it looks like it's got some good material.  I don't have it but I'm going to get it.

I'm also going to see if I can get him online to do an interview.  Meanwhile, here's the video I found on YouTube.

Nice Kizomba Video

This isn't dancing.  It's just a guy singing.  But he's very good and the music if very nice.

I found him on the 'extras' part of his album's page on dMusic.  I've got some credits built up and I'm picking up some music right now.

I still highly recommend eMusic.  It might not be the best for salsa but if your tastes are a little broader (like mine) I think you'd like it.  One thing I know.....emusic is a very good value.

If you want to sign up, you get a bunch of downloads free just for trying it.  They just recently spiffed up the interface too.  Check it out.

 

A very nice Kizomba video from "Marek"

Here's a video that one of my aquaintances from my Kizomba site submitted.  I think it's very good dancing and great music.

This is a trend.......yet?

This articles implies there's a trend toward parties with less salsa and more of other dances.  Is that right?

I don't know, but I definatley am all for more bachata, rueda and kizomba.

Very interesting info via my Kizombiera friend, Ana

Iris De Brito

wroteon February 15, 2009 at 1:42pm

Dance evolves, so it will naturally fuse with the world currents, migration, society and artistic fluidity. Probably, one of the few dances that has maintained it's basic chore the most is Ballet. But we’ll get back to that.

Click through to continue this excellent article.   The point of it that struck a chord with me was that dance form musical interpretations of it evolve.  And it's to be expected and OK.  I've been saying that for years.

This writer, Iris De Brito......I have no idea who she is.  But it's pretty obvious she knows her stuff on this subject.

Thanks to Ana....one of our kizomba experts over on www.kizombadancer.com .

Grace that speaks for itself

Thanks to my good friend Ana, up in Seattle, who's the gal what put me onto Kizomba in the first place.  This group is Afrolatin Connection from Portugal.  I think they'd be a great group to have come to one of the Texas Salsa congresses and do some teaching and performing.  Maybe a bit more expensive that just a single teacher but.......still.....(Ruby, Luis, Jerome, Jorge M.?)

Another grand event in San Francisco for Bachateros et.al.

Rodney Aquino and Jorge Elizando, those two tireless bachatero innovators who brought you the first ever Bachata Congress in Reno, Nevada last year are doing an encore in San Francisco.

Yeah, that's right!  This coming July Rodney and Jorge are putting on the 

1st BACHATA INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL SAN FRANCISCO

SUMMER OF JULY 16, 17, 18, 19, 2009

Reservations are already starting to come in at an increasing rate because everybody wants to be as close to the venue as possible.  Dancers as well as first class instructors are coming literally from the 4 corners of the world.

This event is for you if you're a:

beginners

intermediate or

advanced!

I guess that pretty much means you should come, right?

This event, the first ever "Bachata International" to be held in the beautiful city of San Francisco, California, is going to be totally awesome because you'll have over 70 dance workshops to choose from for the entire weekend!

Sure there'll be some salsa but.......once again Rodney and Jorge make sure that you'll get your 'bachata fix'.  Rodney and Jorge have made major advances in recent years in bringing bachata 'out of the closet'.  As a result of their efforts, bachata popularity has soared.  So you'll have a chance to learn not only from Jorge and Rodney but also several other of the best and most innovative bachata instructors in the world.

But wait!............That's not all!

Because bachata dancers are so so progressive, this event will also feature instructors teaching Dominican style Bachata, Bachata Moderna, Merengue, Boleero, Tango, Zouk, Zumba, Kizomba..... and more. 

A special added surprise treat, the details of which are a tightly guarded secret, will be a special class in "Lap Dancing For Bachateros and Bachateras".  Gee.....!!  I wonder what that'll be??

 There'll be over 50 internationally recognized dance artists and teachers!

And........you'll enjoy 

• LIVE International Dance Performances
• LIVE Latin Band
• "El Duque" a new bachata Movie screening presented by Award Winning Director Adam Taub
• Amateur and Professional Bachata Competition
• Top Latin DJs spinning the best of oldies and new music
• Workshops, Performances and "Dance-til-you-drop" all-night dance parties. 

The event is a super bargin at only $160.00 Full Pass.  Yeah, 4 full-of-fun days and nights in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.  You'll not only learn things that'll take your dancing into the stratosphere but also have a chance to network with other dancers from all over the world and make friends you'll probably know for the rest of your life.

Jorge and Rodney's previous event, in Reno, was a huge success.  This time they've had a chance to find out even more about what YOU really want and that's what they've provided.  You definately shouldn't miss this event.....especially if you're a real bachatero or bachatera.

Man.......!!!  I wish I could be there!!!

I'd highly advise you to begin to make your plans now.  And start by going to this site for more info:  http://www.sfbachatafestival.com

This one'll work too:  HTTP://WWW.SFBIF.COM

Don't delay....... because the price of tickets goes up a bit after 1 July 2009.  You snooze....you loose!  Reserve your ticket right now .......and be sure to take lots of pictures and send me some of your best.  I'll put'em up on WanderingSalsero.  Ticket Info: $160.00 Full Pass Expires July 1, 2009

Whoever his is....he's good!

Who's this "Kwenda" guy?  I've seen him on several videos.  Matter of fact, I think I posted the one here, earlier, that had him doing something called 'semba'.

What's especially interesting about this video is that it's one of a growing number of videos I'm seeing on YouTube of instructors doing kizomba workshops.  Folks, where there's smoke there's fire.  Let's get some kizomba instructors at the salsa events. 

We're missing a lot of fun.   Just looking at this Kwenda guy makes me want to get up and dance!