Festival and Travel Planner 2025
- Thread starter azana
- Start date
DJ Yuca
Son Montuno
That would make sense from a ballroom perspective, however from a salsa perspective it doesn't make any sense. The presence of other dances wouldn't bother me but nor would it appeal to me whatsoever. In fact - for me personally - I'd rather have 2 rooms, both of which I like. Maybe one room recreating a Cali salsa venue and another heavy on the mambo. Or one room with salsa dura and mambo plus a bit of romántica, and another with son. A son band live could come cheaper than salsa bands simply due to needing less members.
Having a name live band is certainly commendable. How was their performance?
That would really reduce my enjoyment. Even if the music and atmosphere are brilliant, 10 til 1 is no good. Looks like the focus is workshops, and even in English or Spanish they are of little appeal to me.
Nice writeup anyway. Reading it was a lot less expensive and less hard work than attending.
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They have become really good over the years, recommendable.
As always when a band plays in front of dancers, many songs feel long for the dancers, so better to dance with people you know already.
I don't see anything there. Do you have a link?
Looks like they moved the event to end of July instead of first week of August
Ah, now I see. Things seem still a-changing, so let's wait a bit.
Varna World Stars Review
I'd rate this festival about a 6/10, with my rating of the last edition being 5/10 (three years ago)
There were actually less people this time, but the afternoon dancing was more active. The dance floors are decent, I only wore my dance shoes part of the time. The main salsa floor has a balcony where you can dance without sweating.
Music was so so for me, with a ton of dura for the main hours and good romantica from 5-7 AM on the night I stayed late. The sound quality was not the best with some distortion and echoes. The Bachata room had decent music, with a surprise for me being the despised DJ Tronky actually playing some real songs. The mixed room was basically a timba room despite the name.
The crowd was friendly, with an average age of around 42 I think, relatively old. (Not that I'm so young at 39). I'd say it was slightly follow heavy but women who wanted to dance danced.
The show by Grupo Extra was fun but there was no pianist, bassist or guitarist, so the playback was jarring. They also sang multiple songs twice for some reason. The show by Cuba Libra was decent with some covers but didn't have the same energy, but obviously it is a less famous band. The festival had announced they were bringing Oscar De Leon and I was excited for that but I didn't see an announcement about them canceling his show till I saw the schedule.
I'd rate this festival about a 6/10, with my rating of the last edition being 5/10 (three years ago)
There were actually less people this time, but the afternoon dancing was more active. The dance floors are decent, I only wore my dance shoes part of the time. The main salsa floor has a balcony where you can dance without sweating.
Music was so so for me, with a ton of dura for the main hours and good romantica from 5-7 AM on the night I stayed late. The sound quality was not the best with some distortion and echoes. The Bachata room had decent music, with a surprise for me being the despised DJ Tronky actually playing some real songs. The mixed room was basically a timba room despite the name.
The crowd was friendly, with an average age of around 42 I think, relatively old. (Not that I'm so young at 39). I'd say it was slightly follow heavy but women who wanted to dance danced.
The show by Grupo Extra was fun but there was no pianist, bassist or guitarist, so the playback was jarring. They also sang multiple songs twice for some reason. The show by Cuba Libra was decent with some covers but didn't have the same energy, but obviously it is a less famous band. The festival had announced they were bringing Oscar De Leon and I was excited for that but I didn't see an announcement about them canceling his show till I saw the schedule.
salsera13579
Changui
Has anyone been to PISC this year? How was it for you? and would you go again next year?
Indeed, Budapest summer mambo event is now announced 24-27 july. Frankie Martinez is announced, some instructor more can be chosen by vote - interesting, although I'd go for the socials. I am tempted, if only the Budapest followers would be there it would be fun already, and flights are cheap - just my winter hotel for Live2mambo demands exactly the double price in summer
. Summer is full with events, no worries about lack of salsa.Indeed, Budapest summer mambo event is now announced 24-27 july. Frankie Martinez is announced, some instructor more can be chosen by vote - interesting, although I'd go for the socials. I am tempted, if only the Budapest followers would be there it would be fun already, and flights are cheap - just my winter hotel for Live2mambo demands exactly the double price in summer
I decided to book it. Considering doubling up and doing Vivaz (weekend prior) or Stuttgart marathon (weekend after). Planning might be tricky but for sure doing Budapest.
Location will be in the Ethno museum where the workshops were held in the week between both Live2Mambo weekends. I remember you visited both weekends, so maybe you also went to those workshops in between? If so, how was the floor there? It's a very new building, was the atmosphere there good?
salsaholica
Changui
I was there, for the first time. I liked it, but would only go again if I find a cheap flight and hotel. It was not crowded at all and the dance level was ok. The level was by far not as high as the dancehouse events, but people were not snobby. Although there were more followers, I was asked to dance quite often. A few people were beginners and danced on 1. Most participants were French, some Germans and I saw some Americans as well. There was live Band on Sunday. I think they were from Paris. Altough some songs were quite long, they did not play much of th typical cuban songs that other bands play. I found their music quite festival style.
What I did not like was the Catwalk they did during the Saturday Party. Particpants could present themselves to the crowd and get voted for. It took awy 30 min from dancing and many people, including me, left the room during this time because it was so stupid.
The location of the Palmerie is quite old. It looks fancy in the Videos, but in fact it a a little run down. I did not mind this at all, but I was surprised to see this.
Interesting, last year friday night was too crowded to really dance (other nights were ok).
They had this fashionista motto this year, which was one of the things that kept me away this year. The other reasons were not enough afternoon socials and expensive accomodation.
I liked the Palmeraie location and am surprised you call it a little run down. The very small bachata (?) room looked and smelled seedy indeed, but I never entered it nor did I care.
desconocida
Son
Hoping for an occasional Dutchie to lurk in here: are Bilongo parties worth it (and by "it" I mean somewhat excessive milage of about 1100km return trip) if you're a follow with an extremely strong preference for on2 ("strong" as in hiding from getting asked to dance in order to avoid to have to do it)?