Salsa in style

Dance brings people together to celebrate culture, music

By Ernest A. Jasmin, for Northwest Guardian

Midnight approaches at Area 151, and the party is jumpin’.

Loud, slinky salsa rhythms resonate through the South Tacoma Way hot spot as revelers shake their hips and twirl around the dance floor. It’s a lively crowd, but DJ Frank isn’t quite satisfied. Too many people are still sitting down or milling around the bar in the next room for his tastes.

Speaking in Spanish, he declares that he won’t start the next song until the floor is completely packed. Several couples comply, flooding the dance floor as Daddy Yankee’s reggaeton anthem “Lo Que Paso, Paso” begins. Several dancers throw up their hands and cheer as the DJ tells the Borriquas (Puerto Ricans) in the house to make some noise.

It’s a typically festive Saturday night at Area 151, a nightclub that attracts a faithful, mostly twenty- and thirtysomething and Latino crowd with its weekly salsa night. Promoter Mauro Cano says the night has been a hit for about two years.

A tightly knit regional salsa scene has helped Area 151’s weekly salsa event flourish among many others in the region.

DJ Frank (Cano’s brother) also spins at Seattle nightclub Rock Salt on Fridays. “He knows the people in Seattle,” Cano says, “so he brings the people from Seattle on Saturdays.”

And part of the key is playing an eclectic mix of styles that people like. “We do a little bit of reggaeton, salsa, bachata, R&B and Latin house,” says Cano, who rotates on the turntables with DJ Frank and DJ Benny. “We try to mix it up for everybody.”

Patrons give their own reasons for coming out.

“The Caribbean Hispanics didn’t have anywhere to go,” recalls Luis Sanchez, 29, of Tacoma, who identifies himself as Puerto Rican. But he thinks of Area 151 as a laid-back place where people of all ethnic backgrounds can have a good time. “You’ll definitely enjoy yourself,” he says.

Idanya Gonzalez, 28, of Tacoma appreciates the quality and variety of salsa, merengue, reggaeton, bachata and R&B tunes that the DJs play. “I like it better than any other club,” she says. “Sometimes when I go to some other club, they play too much salsa, or too much merengue and no salsa.” Ivashi Solero, 25, of Fort Lewis has been coming for a year and a half. She prefers Area 151 to venues where crowds are younger.

“They don’t know how to dance, and it’s 18 and older, so there are more issues,” she says, alluding to fights that have broken out at another local salsa night. “I come here because the crowd is older and more fun to dance with. People know how.”

Area 151 enforces a dress code – jerseys, tennis shoes, ball caps and do-rags aren’t allowed – to minimize problems with fights that other dance clubs experience. But many attribute Saturday’s laid-back vibe to familiarity.

“Since I started coming here, there’s never been a fight that I’ve seen,” says Andy Tejada, 22, of Tacoma. “We all know each other.”

“It’s a good atmosphere,” says Felipa Foster, 37, of Parkland, who has been going to Area 151 for about half a year. “People are nice and friendly, and I’ve gotten to know a lot of people.”

Area 151 also occasionally showcases live salsa music on other nights of the week. Cambalache will headline the club at 9 p.m. today.

Latin dance Music

Not up to speed on Latin dance music? Here’s a breakdown.

Salsa: A popular form of Latin American dance music that is characterized by Afro-Caribbean rhythms, Cuban big-band dance melodies and elements of jazz and rock. The related three-step dance involves moving from side to side with a pause, and usually some kind of flourish, in the middle.

Reggaetón: A trendy form of club music – popularized by Daddy Yankee, Pitbull and others – that blends elements of Latin dance music, hip-hop and dancehall reggae.

Merengue: A ballroom dance of Dominican and Haitian folk origin, characterized by a sliding step; also the music made for this dance, which is done in rapid 2/4 time.

Bachata: A Dominican dance style that involves doing a series of simple steps that produce a back-and-forth and sideways motion. The music – usually performed in 4/4 time – centers around romance and heartbreak.

South Sound Salsa options

Five South Sound places where you can get your salsa groove on:

Area 151 3505 South Tacoma Way, Tacoma On Saturday night, this is ground zero for the South Sound’s diehard salsa fans. A mostly Hispanic crowd dances to an eclectic mix of salsa, meringue, bachata and reggaetón; 9 p.m.; 21 and older; $5 to $8 cover charge; 253-476-1888 or www.area151.us.

Mazatlan Los Panchos 10518 South Tacoma Way, Lakewood On Friday nights, Matazlan boasts more of an intimate, laid-back atmosphere than Area 151; 9:30 p.m.; 21 and older; free; 253-588-8817.

Maggie O’Toole’s 6006 100th Ave. S.W., Lakewood Maggie’s just recently launched its Latin dance night, so Wednesday night crowds have been hit or miss. But it’s free, and lessons are from 9 to 10 p.m.; 21 and older; 253-584-3278 or www.maggieotooles.com.

Abbey Ballroom 1901 S. Fawcett Ave., Tacoma The ballroom hosts several events that are open to all ages. Salsa dance nights are held the first and third Saturdays of each month at 9:30 p.m., with introductory lessons in the first half-hour; all-ages; $5; 253-503-6614. Jackie Torres teaches intermediate salsa at 7 p.m. Mondays and beginners salsa at 7 p.m. Wednesdays; $10 to $12 per class; 253-640-5904. Natasha Thayer also teaches “sizzling salsa” at 8 p.m. Thursdays; $10 per session or $40 for five sessions; 253-307-1499 or www.dancetacoma.org. Update information on all classes and events is available by calling 253-572-5424 or checking www.abbeyballroom.com.

The Olympia Center 222 Columbia St. N.W., Olympia Salsa de Cuba runs four-week lessons at The Olympia Center on Mondays. Beginners classes start at 7 p.m., intermediate at 8 and advanced at 9; all ages; $20 in advance, $25 at the door for all four sessions, $7 for drop-ins; 360-438-1405 to preregister.