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Mike Bello: Feeling the Clave in his
Corazón Life in New York exposed Mike Bello to the rich cultural complexities within Latin music and dance. Now Mike lives in Los Angeles, where he continues to practice his passion by mastering his Mambo moves. Mike held a Salsa/Mambo workshop on Saturday February 24th that aimed to educate as well as inspire and entertain the many attendees. This admitted Mambo maniac opens his dance class with the statement, "Salsa is the music, Mambo is the dance…any questions? Good." He does this not to instigate arguments, but rather, to pass along the information that Mambo dancing preceded the term "Salsa," which developed "primarily in the music industry to identify and market the Afro-Cuban /Afro-Puerto Rican song styles that, many times, became fused with jazz." Mike maintains that Mambo has "changed in style over the years, but the new terminology did not change the inherent nature of the dance." His workshop class commences with "Salsa Music Appreciation 101," in which Mike dispenses knowledge that facilitates the listener's ability to understand the fundamentals of Salsa music. In this interactive lecture-style presentation he breaks down the various elements that exist in most salsa music arrangements, focusing on the patterns of the clave rhythm. Mike explains, "You have to train yourself to hear the clave." He juxtaposes this task with that of finding the visual image in Magic Eye® prints. It's like "trying to find a thread in a tapestry." In both situations it becomes an increasingly easier feat with continued practice. In an attempt to assist others in identifying the clave rhythm, he doesn't use regular Salsa music for the first four weeks of certain classes he teaches. He uses the instructional CDs that he has produced. "It helps you to stay focused and become connected better so that when you listen to the music and you hear the tumbao…you're getting there. You're getting closer to your goal, which is to stay in time, and to know what the timing is like. The clave is primal and scientific at the same time." Mike Bello is the type of instructor that teaches from the plentiful reservoir overflowing with his surplus of passion for the subject matter. He played one particular salsa song a number of times in order to demonstrate the various sections (verse, bridge, montuno, etc.) of an arrangement. Something in the singer's voice gave Mike chills every single time he heard the singer cry out, "Asi es el amor." His love of music and dance translates into the informed and inspired instruction that characterizes his approach. SalsaArtists.com asked Mike to offer advice for the Salsa artists who create and perform this music that moves him (both physically and emotionally). Who better to give advice to artists than a knowledgeable dancer that is also acutely aware of the powers of rhythm, melody, and lyrics? When asked which music he prefers for dancing, and what advice he would give to the artists, he responds with various useful tips. Many others would likely agree with, but might not possess the terminology to convey their opinions. Fortunately, Mike demonstrates eloquence in both physical and verbal expression. When he's out on the dance floor, he loves music that features the percussionists. "I love when the clave is just in your face. Melcochita's song 'Afro-Cubano' illustrates a 3-2 forward clave as they sing 'Afro-Cubano soy.'" The song "Tanga" by Machita is another one of Mike's favorite songs. Mike really notices when bands feature their percussionists. He appreciates solos by any talented musician, but claims, "I groove more when I hear the pattern of the rhythm…like when they get to the mambo section of the arrangement and the percussionists really start to get busy…I really like that. When I listen to a live band and they don't feature the percussionists it bothers me. But when they do I get real happy because they're improvising…they're adlibbing but they're still doing it within the framework of the clave." He offers a seemingly simple suggestion to Salsa bands, which is: "Don't practice on the crowd the night of the performance." It seems that some bands become too busy with constant gigs and don't get the chance to come together and communicate in order to reestablish a connection with each other. Mike emphasizes the importance of "using rehearsals to work out the kinks and test the new stuff. Don't test it out on the folks." Mike's current endeavors include making a video that will focus on music, rhythm and the clave and will contain dance instruction as well. He hopes to have it available by the time of the West Coast Salsa Congress in May. Mike has established his signature "AOTC" (always on the clave), which he explains, "is not a truism…that's what I aspire to be." This Saturday, March 3rd, marks the first anniversary of the AOTC Salsa/Mambo Dance Practice Socials (to be held at the Dance Arts Academy, 731 S. La Brea Ave. in Los Angeles from 6:30 to 9:30). This presents a great opportunity to mimic Mike's Mambo moves, or work on your own particular style with other dancers interested in honing their skills. Mike Bello has had over 45 socials since March 4, 2000 and is showing his appreciation by giving away a plethora of salsa/mambo goodies. The social is only $5 for those 18 and older, $3 for 13-17 year-olds and free for kids 12 and under. As if there weren't enough reasons to attend, there will be a representative from ALT Films looking for approximately 50 - 80 Salsa/Mambo Dancers of all levels for their current project. So be sure to go…you might become a Salsa superstar (or Mambo megastar if you prefer)! |
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