MAMBO!

That's what's goin' on this weekend beginning this Thursday!! Want to know more? Okay, I'll tell ya!!!

Activities for the 1st Annual Southern California Mambo Conference:

THURSDAY

Join us as we start the weekend with on2 dance instruction (for all levels) by Fabia Ochoa and a night of dancing at the Torrance Mariott (3635 Fashion Way, Torrance, CA 90503, 310-543-6024  - directions at end of this message).

 

There will be a Mambo Conference Shuttle which will only pick up Mambo Conference registrants (names maintained on a list with the driver) from the Torrance Courtyard Del Amo's main entrance at 7 PM to the Torrance Marriott's club entrance and will bring them back at the end of the night. Please be there on time. The driver will only wait for five minutes. If you miss the shuttle you will have to provide for your own transportation to the Torrance Marriott but you can still return with the shuttle.

FRIDAY

Now that we got warmed up on Thursday we continue to kick things off with more on2 dance instruction and live entertainment at Sportsmen's Lodge (12825 Ventura Blvd.,  Studio City, CA - (818) 769-4700). This time Fabia's husband, William Ochoa, as well as Laura Canellias will be the instructors followed by the fantastic big band sound of Freddy Crespo & His Mambo Revue! This will be another great time for all of the attendees of the Mambo Conference to get together, meet each other (as well as the Mambo Conference Instructors), dance to great music (both live and pre-recorded) and watch some of the greatest dancers in the West Coast strut their stuff on the dance floor. Remember that all registrants to the Mambo Conference will be admitted at the discount price of $10 (all others $15). A list will be kept with the cashier so just mention that you're a Mambo Conference attendee, give them your name and 10 bucks and then you're in! NOTE: The band and the special discount is provided courtesy of Albert Torres Productions. There will be tables inside for the Mambo Conference attendees so be sure to mingle!

The Mambo Conference Shuttle will only pick up the Mambo Conference registrants from the Torrance Marriott's main entrance at 6:30 PM and the Torrance Courtyard Del Amo's main entrance shortly thereafter to the Sportsmen's Lodge ballroom entrance and will bring them back at the end of the night. Please be there on time. The driver will only wait for five minutes. If you miss the shuttle you will have to provide for your own transportation to Sportsmen's Lodge but you can still return with the shuttle. If you miss the shuttle at Sportsmen's Lodge you will have to provide for your own transportation on the return trip to the hotels.

SATURDAY

Registration and sign-in for Day-1 of the 1st Annual Southern California Mambo Conference begins at 9 AM SHARP where everyone will get either the Saturday Pass or Weekend Pass wristbands for the event! The South Bay Dance Center is located in a large shopping area. We ask that all those driving to the South Bay Dance Center park their vehicles either in the parking lot on the Lomita Avenue side (approximately 350 feet from the building), curbside on Lomita Avenue or curbside on Western Avenue. Again, the Mambo Conference Shuttle will only pick up the Mambo Conference registrants from the Torrance Marriott's main entrance at 8:45 AM and the Torrance Courtyard Del Amo's main entrance shortly thereafter to the South Bay Dance Center's main entrance and will bring them back at the 6:15 PM. Please be there on time. The driver will only wait for five minutes. If you miss the shuttle you will have to provide for your own transportation to the South Bay Dance Center but you can still return with the shuttle. If you miss the shuttle at the South Bay Dance Center you will have to provide for your own transportation on the return trip to the hotels.

The first workshop, Salsa Music Rhythm, Phrasing & Timing, is for all levels and will be a great prelude for the rest of the workshop weekend. It might be a good idea to bring pencil and paper to take notes.

There is a short lunch break from 12:45 PM to 1:30 PM. We suggest either bringing a lunch or eating at one of the local eateries.

The workshops resume at 1:30 PM and end at 6 PM. Studio A will remain open afterwards for practice dancing while the other two studios (B and D) will close for the night. Remember, those staying at the hotel can grab the shuttle at 6:15 PM.

The fun is not over, though. Doors will open for the general public ($10 in advance, $15 at the door) at 7:45 PM where DJ Tony "El Tigueron" will kick things off spinning great salsa tunes! Those with Mambo Conference wristbands need only flash their wristbands at the desk. All others must get their hands stamped at the door.

Son y Clave will begin their first set at 8:30 PM. This group is one of my favorite bands in Los Angeles and if you've heard them before then you know what I mean. If you haven't heard them then you're in for a real treat! There will be a couple of performances between sets especially one by attendees of Janette Valenzuela's "Dance Company Audition" workshop! Son y Clave will do their second set at 10:15 PM and DJ Tony "El Tigueron" will finish out the night.

There's one small drawback, we all have to be out of the building by midnight. I fought long and hard to try to go to 1 AM. In fact, I was told  that we had to leave at 11:30 PM due to some parking logistics. But, I won out. So...anyway, the Mambo Conference Shuttle will leave at 12:15 right by the exit. Again, those eligible for the shuttle will be responble for their own transportation should they miss the ride.

SUNDAY

Day-2 also begins at 9 AM sharp but only for those coming for the Sunday Pass wristbands. All those with the Weekend Pass wristbands will have a half-hour grace period. That's when the first workshops begin: at 9 :30 AM. The schedule is pretty much the same except that the doors will open for general admission ($5) to DJ Tony "El Tigueron" at 7 PM.