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Our October song is “Quimbara”, written by Junior Cepeda and featured on Celia Cruz and Johnny Pacheco’s 1974 album Celia & Johnny. This is a song that invites you to move almost immediately. Celia’s commanding voice, the repeating chorus and the lively percussion create a powerful conversation that keeps the music moving forward. For your first listen, focus on the exchange between Celia and the coro—the responding chorus. Notice how repetition gives the song a familiar anchor while her...

Orquesta de la Luz Music, History, Culture & People in Salsa: Celia Cruz - A Voice Full of Life October is a fitting month to celebrate Celia Cruz, born in Havana on the 21st of October 1925 and known around the world as the Queen of Salsa. Celia rose to prominence singing with La Sonora Matancera (band orchestra), before building an international career that helped bring Cuban music to audiences far beyond the island. Her voice combined remarkable strength with rhythmic precision,...

Tumba Francesa Some rueda figures are memorable because of their complexity. El Uno and El Dos stand out for the playful interaction they create between partners. These two familiar moves invite dancers to change positions, respond to each other and enjoy a little shared cheekiness—all while keeping the rhythm flowing. In El Uno, the leader moves behind the follower, bringing both dancers into a position facing the same direction. In El Dos, the arrangement is reversed, with the follower...