If
you've made it this far, you're curious about salsa in
Paris. If you want to know everything about salsa in Paris,
from where to dance, to what to wear, to how to move your
feet to the best music in the City of Light, welcome to
SalsaFrance.com.
You
might want to know more about Azuquita, grand-daddy sonero
of the Paris salsa scene who immortalized our town, among
other delicious hits, in 'Montmartre'. You might want
to know where to hear the smokiest timba in town. If you've
ever wandered in Pigalle after midnight hoping for a bit
of son among all the flesh and neon, we can tell you where
to go. If you're tripping over other american tourists
on the Champs-Elysées and want to know which store
will have the best selection of salsa CDs - we've got
it covered.
The
majority of the site is in French, for obvious reasons
: Paris loves salsa, and it is said that French is the
language of love, even though Spanish is the language
of salsa. However, we've tried to identify the parts that
will be of most interest to a non-french speaking audience
to ensure that you leave France with great memories of
not only the Latin Quarter, but the hottest salsa scene
on this side of the Atlantic.
Any
questions ? Ask away, and we'll do our best to get back
to you quickly.
Enjoy
your stay !
Most wanted info:
Where
to dance
Paris's can't-miss clubs
How
to get there
Addresses
Where
to learn salsa
Dance and drum like a Parisian latino
Where
to buy music
Salsa, new and used
Most
recent articles:
Where to dance
Paris’s can’t-miss clubs
Updated as at November 13, 2011
by
feliz
,
Jack "El Oso"
A (hopefully) up-to-date list and quick description of salsa clubs in Paris, France.
Latest news and additions :
Phil & Madj Friday party moves to another (near-by) venue ;
Phil & Madj launch Saturday monthly parties @ Café Louise ;
Mambo @Djoon no longer a weekly party ;
Updated info for Balajo & O’Sullivan’s ;
Moving de Thiais and United parties info added.
(... )
Timba Europa
Interview with "El Zorro"
by
Juanito
This interview is a part of series of articles about timba music around the world. It was made in English. This is the original text. "El Zorro" is a musical project founded by two musicians : the swiss composer Martin Richard Lehner and the Cuban trombonist Gustavo Carlos Duran Anaya, a.k.a. "El Buda"
(... )
Tempo Latino, Vic-Fezensac
It’s Latin time in the South of France
Translated from the original by feliz
by
jsalsero
The Tempo Latino Festival in Vic-Fezensac will illuminate Southwestern France from July 26-31 2007. We could attempt to present all the different artists who will be playing on the main stage at Vic-Fezensac this year, but the festival’s site (please see the link below) does the job very well.
(... )
Interview : Susan Sparks
An American in Paris
From la Coupole to Le Marais, LA style has an ambassador in Paris
by
feliz
Tell me who you are, and where you come from ?
My name is Susan Sparks and I come from Los Angeles, California. I’ve been teaching salsa in Paris at my own school since 1992.
Why did you leave California ?
I left California because I was going to do a dance workshop. That was my first trip to Paris. I fell in love with it at that time and I said, I’m going to try to succeed, I’m going to try to come back, and I did, then I met the man of my dreams, and the rest is (...)(... )
Camilo "Azuquita" Argumedez
Paris’s sweetest sonero is back
New album, new projects : chatting with the man behind Melao Records
by
feliz
In 1979, Camilo Argumedez, "Azuquita", the Panamanian sonero who was singing at the time with La Tipica 73, came to Paris. In the 25 years that he spent in the City of Light, Azuquita was a driving force in the creating the small world of Parisian salsa that we know and love today. He was interviewed in New York on December 8, 2005, right at the time his latest album was released, on his own Melao Records. Here is Azuquita, Tipicamente. (interview translated from Spanish).
Azuquita, (...)(... )
SalsAventura : Morry Krispijn
Learning the old-school Dutch moves
Teaching techniques captured after a visit to Bretagne
by
feliz
On November 30, 2005 Morry has just returned to Holland after a weekend salsa workshop with Los Loquitos de la Salsa in Rennes, France. Around midnight, he’s just finished teaching four hours of classes, his voice raspy from fatigue ; we begin the phone interview by talking about cold remedies.
Writing down the steps for a shine in progress. November 2005.
He laughs : You notice how important your voice is when you’re about to lose it ; and tonight, now that it’s (...)(... )
Maurice of Les Etoiles
Echoes from Parisian salsa’s past
by
feliz
Maurice was interviewed on November 5, 2005, on a Saturday afternoon following a busy Friday night salsa party at Les Etoiles, one of the oldest homes of salsa in Paris.
Maurice, the man behind Les Etoiles.
Please start by telling me your name.
It’s not important, I am Maurice of Les Etoiles.
How long have you owned Les Etoiles ?
Since 1984. Before I worked in clothing. For several generations in my family we’ve worked in clothes and I became the black sheep of my (...)(... )
Yuri Buenaventura
Salsa Dura : a tender experience
Interviewed by jsalsero at the moment of his latest album’s release ; translated by feliz
by
feliz
,
jsalsero
Jsalsero met up with a jetlagged Yuri, fresh off the plane from Colombia, on September 15, 2005 at the Hôtel des Grands Hommes ("Great men," in French, which goes against the grain of Yuri’s typical modesty), located at the Place du Panthéon, in Paris near the headquarters of his record company, Mercury.
To celebrate the release of his fourth CD, Salsa Dura, we wanted to leave the traditional biographical questions aside for the moment, (perhaps to be taken up at a later date), to (...)(... )
Roberto el Cubano
The long arm of Parisian salsa
Getting down to Cuban sounds
by
feliz
Roberto el Cubano was interviewed on October 14, 2005 in his apartment in Paris, accompanied by Rikke, his Danish girlfriend, and Carla, their daughter. Over a great lunch and the sounds of Pablo Milanes and an auditory sampling of reggaeton, he talked about his experience of Parisian salsa.
Roberto El Cubano.
Describe the context in which you grew up ?
I was born in Havana. My father was an intellectual who worked as an engineer, and also was a professor at the University, but he (...)(... )
Cliford and Valérie of Salsabor
Exploring the soul of salsa
Talking with the most-seasoned mamberos in Paris
by
feliz
Cliford was interviewed at the première of Le Privé on Saturday, September 3, 2005. It was 2 a.m. on a métro grating, outside the club where he and Valérie and their first students brought ’portorican’ salsa to Paris ten years ago. Valérie was interviewed by phone the next day, and their words are excerpted and intertwined for you, here.
Valérie, before going on-stage in the première of Salsamor Fever, June 8, 2005. Cliford leads students at Le Privé, stepping back into (...)(... )
Salsa dura’s Jimmy Bosch
A debriefing with the Ambassador
by Jack el Oso and jsalsero - transcribed by Feliz
by
feliz
,
Jack "El Oso"
,
jsalsero
Jack el Oso and jsalsero caught up with Jimmy Bosch after a nap at the Holiday Inn, before his appearance at the Parc Floral de Vincennes with Mercadonegro on Sunday, July 10, 2005, to learn more about the man and his music.
(... )
Portrait of Salseros
The Ball and Chain
by Jack El Oso, translated by feliz
by
feliz
Another familiar face in the salsa community. Certain salsero(a)s, for the most part notorious salsaholics, have the particularity of being ’taken,’ which means that they are engaged in a serious relationship with some who does not share, not one iota, their passion. The ball and chain is the name given to this other half of the salsaholic couple. While the other goes out and dances with everyone, the ball and chain sits at the bar, face stretched by ennui and anger so long (...)(... )
