Intro => Jeff's Salsa Journal

Wednesday Night Salsa @ Bottegas Lounge!!!

Welcome to StudioRumberos.com, where we aim to spread the love of New York Style Salsa, to people of all backgrounds, for fitness, fun and style, as well as other forms of dancing and art with pride and passion.

Rumberos is a dynamic dance company specializing in Salsa/Mambo performances, workshops and teamwork seminars, but also catering to the Belly Dance, Swing, Samba, Tango and Hip Hop dance communities. Classes and workshops are available for adults, as well as to kids. Rumberos will also make connections with and invite other performing and visual artists to display their talents to the rest our community.

Jeff's Salsa Journal

Summer Salsa : (07/29/08)
So if it's not hot enough for you this summer, then you clearly haven't been dancing enough this summer. No worries there is plenty of time left to get your groove on. This Wednesday and ones thereafter there is a lot of salsa at the "Backroom Bottega Lounge." Get there before 10pm and your entrance is free. This Saturday Aug. 2nd Michael Stuart who happens to be one of my favorite salseros will be performing on the New Haven Green. That is going to be HOT!!! Now if you don't mind the train or the price of gas prices there is plenty of salsa to be had in New York City. If you are curious as to what specifically just shoot me an e-mail. Don't forget to come see us at the studio to become the dancer you have always wanted to be or just to sharpen up your amazing skills!

Holiday Cheer for All: (11/09/07)
I have to say I am not big on holidays, but I do love the good spirits and mood it brings about in people. Too bad that some of us can't be in better spirits and sharing of this much love throughout the year. I think our community is pretty good at spreading the love. Cheers to you. Rembember to ask that shy person to dance, on the floor and in life.

Keeping Warm With a Little Salsa: (10/09/07)
I am happy because I am warm I am warm because I dance... and becuase of global warming making it not so cold yet.

Ladies Styling is Coming : (9/16/07)
Two of my favorite female dancers will be giving ladies styling classes at our humble studio. They teachers are Michelle Rodas and Melissa Grosso. I can't express how lucky we are to have them give these ongoing classes which will be held Wednesday nights at 7:00pm. If you want to learn head whips and body rolls, this is the class for you.

All the Beauty of Brazil: (8/18/07)
Sambaleza's Brazil Tropical @ Cafe Bottega was a huge success. As always we packed it in and danced the night away. All the performers did an incredible job. Congratulation to Fabiano and Diana! Keep an eye out for classes that will start soon. Special thanks to Ubaldo and his capoiera crew from bridgeport.

My Birthday: (8/09/07)
Thanks to all who wished me well on my birthday! The love and support I recieved was overwhelming. I even got a drum with a Puerto Rican flag on it. Thank your for the e-mails, calls and in person hugs at our night venues.

Wedding Season: (7/21/07)
Weddings are awesome because it exhibits the faith we have in love and the ultimate incarnation of a team. I have recently been blessed to attend the wedding of one one of my long time soul sisters (well she is Italian, but she has got tons of soul). I have also been honored with the opportunity to choreograph a couples wedding dance (no it wasn't to salsa, but not everything has to be done to salsa... lol), as well as to provide the entertainment for a bachelorette party (will be fully clothed and all about salsa :-) ..). I hope that I end up being as lucky and derserving as these guys someday.

Center Street Lounge: (7/5/07)
Let's start by saying the the Center Street Lounge's debut Salsa night was awesome.There were a lot of compliments on the set-up and elegance of the space, as well as praise to DJ Funkshion for spinning some great stuff. I honestly didn't expect the turnout to be so good as it is a time whien people are chilling with there families or out trying to watch fireworks, so it was a pleasant surprise to have so many people come out and support our new Wednesday night space.The management also put a really generous Margarita and Mojito special, which I suspect they will keep. Cheers!

5 Minutes of TV Stardom: (6/26/07)
Yesterday I was involved in the pilot of a new cooking show, in that they interviewed me about Salsa and had me give a lesson to the hosts along with a cast of extras. It was a lot of fun though I was exhausted at the end. Not even sure if it will reach the Bravo network as promised, but it was nice pretending to be of some great interest to a larger audience. I hope your past or future five minutes of fame gets to capture you doing something you love.

Mikata rocks Cafe Bottega: (6/24/07)
Mikata is a 10 peice salsa band that has played all over the world! There is so much rich sound coming from this band that your body has no choice but to become a slave to the music. This was proven when Cafe Bottega was so packed with people dancing that they had to turn people away at the door. People showed up from NYC, Stanford, Hartford, Waterbury and Springfield. It was truly an event not to be missed. The band was forced to give an encore at the end of night and the only thing was the Cafe's signature Gelattos. Make sure you don't miss the next one, that will be coming up July 28th.

Rumberos Summer Salsa Moves: (6/13/07)
Rumberos will be presenting 2nd and 4th Salsa Sundays at Cafe Bottega Starting the 2nd Sunday in July. Doors will open at 6:00pm and close at 10pm so you can still get some decent sleep and start your week off right. There will be pizza and Mojitos specials. There pizza is awesome...Mojitos are alwasy good! We will also be starting up Rueda circles and teaching "The Rumberos' Shine". What is "The Rumberos' Shine" you ask? our salsa version of the Macarena or Electric slide if you will, but to whatever song we want... and much hotter!!!) Come down, get a gelatto, check us out and get your dance on. The cover for the Rumberos experience is $5.

Jeff's Charity Ride for the American Diabetes Association: (6/10/07)
Got to the event with only 10 minutes to register (stupid traffic). Rode my beat down uncles bike for 50k. Couldn't change gears 'cuz the shifter was broken. My special biking shoe broke on the steepest hill and I almost crashed into a gynormous truck, but 3 hours later I finished safe sound and very hungry. On the bright side I raised some money for a great cause.

Rumberos Second Anniversary: (6/1/07)
Talk about a great time with phenomenal people. We could have asked for a nicer time in a nicer place with better people. There was also shaking, shimmying, flipping, dips, jumps etc...Special thanks to the Bellydancer Joy Herbst, Fabiano's Capoeira Balance, as well as to Freddy and Ginny's Salsa groups who all performed to make the night extra Memorable. Big ups to Rumberos's student and professional team who really lit up the dance floor with some incredible performances. You guys rock!!!

So much dancing so little time: (5/15/07)
With the coming of warm weather brings the promise lots of salsa dancing to be had. This week will be the SalsaFest on Friday and Saturday. Last year there were performances by our student team and our pro team. Unfortunately we were involved in too much to get ready for it. Regardless, this is a awesome event that will both inspire your dancing, and put a cheezy gring on your face as you watch in awe what others have put together with their hard work and talent. Louis and Ivette put on a great show and have invited groups from around the world. See you there!

Success at the First Annual "Salsa with Wine" Tasting event: (4/30/07)
There were at least 50 people taking the Salsa lesson and we dropped it like it was hot! Thank you to the Center Street Lounge for providing the space to CASA and to Melissa Grosso for doing the demo with me and helping me with the lesson. The wine and food were also great. What can be better than having fun while raising money for a good cause?

Giving back to the community:
This Thursday, April 26th I will be giving a salsa demo and lesson at the 1st Annual "Salsa with Wine" Tasting Event from 5:30pm to 9:00pm at the Center Street Lounge, 84 Orange Street, New Haven, CT. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. All proceeds go to CASA, a community healthcare provider that will be extending the services it provide to children affected by drug and alcohol abuse. Please come out and support this worthy cause.