Entertainment
Salsa Route
In Puerto Rico, the world salsa means ‘sauce’ – and its fiery musical counterpart is the island’s proudest and most popular cultural signature across the globe. Curiously, the first seeds of the genre were sown by Puerto Rican immigrants (most notably, Tito Puente, Willie Colón, and their coterie) while living off the island in New York City during the late 1960s but the form soon return home, flowering to full fruition in its native land Puerto Rico under the masterful guidance of the now legendary masters of the genre: La Sonora Ponceña and El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico. The musical roots of Puerto Rican salsa stretch far and wide, incorporating traditional rhythms from the Caribbean countryside, such as the son, Puerto Rican Bomba and Plena, African-based religious ritual music- as well as elements of American jazz, big band, and rhythm – and – blues.
Famous Puerto Ricans in the early years of salsa included such artists as Rafael Cortijo, Ismael Rivera, Héctor Lavoe, Willie Colón, El Gran Combo, La Sonora Ponceña, Richie Ray, Bobby Cruz, Bobby Valentín, Luis “Perico” Ortiz and composer Tite Curet Alonso.
Salsa… Live it, Feel it and learn it! Below is a table with the best spots to dance salsa in Puerto Rico.
| Viva la Salsa... Live it, Feel it, and Learn it! pdf version | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Place | Location | Telephone | Perks |
| El Criollo Sport Bar & Restaurant | Guaynabo | 787-720-0340 787-531-4271 |
2 hours of Salsa Class FREE Wednesday 7:00pm |
| The Oyster Bar & Grill | Isla Verde | 787-726-2161 787-728-5118 |
1 hour of Salsa Class FREE Sundays 9:00pm |
| Diego's Cantina Bar | Hato Rey, San Juan | 787-758-0908 / 787-318-4827 |
10% Discount on large Gropus |
| Café La Princesa | Old San Juan | 787-724-2930 | |
| San Juan Marriot & Resort | Condado | 787-722-7000/ 787-409-2288 | |
| Picante Lobby Bar & Lounge | Courtyard by Marriot, Isla Verde | 787-791-0404 | 1 hour Salsa Class FREE Thursdays - 9:00am |
| Nuyorican Café | Old San Juan | 787-366-5074 / 787-977-1276 |
|
| Rumba | Old San Juan | 787-725-4407/ 787-564-3883 |
|
| La Placita | Ponce de Leon Ave., Santurce | N/A | |
| Jackalope Café | Isla Verde | 787-253-2375 | 1 hour of salsa Class FREE Thursdays 9:00am |
| Logans Irish Pub | San Juan (Cupey) | 787-274-0781 | 1 hour of salsa Class FREE Mondays 9:00pm |
| Raddison Hotel & Casino | Condado | 787-721-7300 | |
Print your Viva la Salsa Brochure, a complete guide to dance salsa in Puerto Rico.
