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Delaware Ave. Nightclubs
DJ Jay Rockwell comes to Philly from NYC and begins DJing at Gotham and South Beach Nightclub on Delaware Ave. -
South Beach Nightclub Collapses
Domino Sugar Plant demolishes all the nightclubs on Delaware Ave and South Beach collapses. -
Brasil's Proposition
The owner of <a href='http://www.brasilsnightclub-philly.com/' target="_blank">Brasil’s</a> (restaurant at the time) comes knocking on Rockwell's door “You’re the DJ from South Beach! I need you in my club, now” He shows Rockwell the empty room upstairs. There’s a bar and a DJ booth, “Jay, I want a Latin Night.” -
Wednesdays at Brasils
It’s slow at first. Rockwell brings in a bunch of different instructors, figures out what works and what doesn’t Every time Rockwell plays a Salsa, people slowly sit down. He noticed that people liked the music and enjoyed it, but just didn’t know how to dance it. -
8th Floor
Barbara Capaldi begins to teach a Salsa lesson at The 8th Floor nightclub on Fridays. Jose Rodriguez is the DJ there for their Latin night. -
Atrium Dance Studio
Barbara Capaldi leaves Universal Dance Center and all of her students follow her. In February of 2001 she opens up <a href='http://www.atriumdance.com/' target="_blank">Atrium Dance Studio</a> in Pensauken, NJ. -
Sonya at Brasil's
Jay Rockwell notices that people like the music, they enjoy it, but they just don't know how to dance it. Sonya begins to teach a Salsa lesson on Wednesday nights. -
Salseros Unidos
Salseros Unidos forms under the direction of Barbara. Some of the originals were Mike Andino, Mirka Ibarrondo, Jessica Moya Rodriguez and Darlin Garcia. -
Wild On Salsa
Wild On Salsa Company forms under the direction of Sonya Elmore. Some members included Joe Figueroa, Kimberly Figueroa and Sonya Elmore, among others. -
Puerto Rico Congress
Salseros Unidos were the first team to lead the area representing Philly at the Puerto Rico Salsa Congress in 2002. -
Workshops with Jesus Morales from LA
Sonya is going to LA all the time to dance Salsa and she meets this guy Jesus Morales who then becomes her dance partner. She flies him in to Philadelphia for workshops. Fun Fact: Early Philadelphia Salseros were quite heavily influenced by Jesus Morales. The surrounding cities of New York and DC are "mambo" cities, meaning they dance on 2. However, LA dances on 1 and therefore Philly picked up on that style from Jesus rather than being influenced by their surrounding cities. -
La Luna Dance Studio
Sonya Elmore opens <a href='http://www.lalunadancestudio.com/' target="_blank">La Luna Dance Studio</a> in Bensalem, PA. -
Cuba Libre
The manager at <a href='http://cubalibrerestaurant.com/philadelphia/nightlife.php' target="_blank">Cuba Libre</a> asks Sonya and her partner to perform there on the weekends. Sonya along with Joe and Kim Figueroa, Jessica Moya Rodriguez, Mike Andino, Amber Rawls, Jose Maldonado, Arnold Convento, Eli Torres and Victor Colon become the original dancers at Cuba Libre on Friday and Saturday nights. They continue performing there for about 5 years. -
Art In Motion Company
Darlin Garcia forms the Art In Motion company. The team members Darlin, Mirka Ibarrondo, Mike Andino, Jessica Moya, Alex and Lilly all met at the Atrium, taking lessons with Barbara. -
1st Philly Salsa Congress
Philly hosts their first ever Salsa Congress, produced by Willie Torres in July 2004. -
Estilo
Mike Andino opens <a href='http://estilodancestudio.com/' target="_blank">Estilo Dance Studio</a> in South Philly. -
LIR
Joe Figueroa creates <a href='http://www.livinginrhythm-intl.com/' target="_blank">Living In Rhythm </a>. -
Reef
Joe Figueroa creates <a href='https://www.facebook.com/SimplySalsaTuesdaysAtTheReef' target="_blank">Simply Salsa Tuesdays at The Reef</a> -
Salsafest
1st Annual <a href='http://philadelphiasalsafest.com/cart/index.php?main_page=page&id=27&chapter=0' target="_blank">Philadelphia Salsafest </a>directed by Sonya Elmore. -
AIM
Darlin Garcia opens <a href='http://www.phillyaimdancers.com/' target="_blank">Art In Motion Dance Studio</a>.
