TED 32 | What you can gain by understanding the context of Salsa Music with Angel Figueroa

The Empowered Dancers Podcast

DJ Angel Figueroa joins us from Chiba, Japan to share with us the value of diving deeper into salsa songs. From the political feeling at the time of writing, to the stories behind an artist’s motivation, Angel teaches us that, like all forms of art, the more we know about a piece, the better we can connect with it and enjoy it. Born into a family celebrating Caribbean rhythms from Jamaica and Cuba, Angel grew up with salsa music around him. From starting out his DJing journey in Korea to becoming a part of the growth of the community in Osaka for 17 years, Angel is still an active DJ in his now local scene near Tokyo, Japan
What to expect in this episode:
(01:22) - A tale of two islands: Jamaica and Cuba linked through the radio
(02.53) - Becoming salsa DJ in Korea and Japan
(04:34) - Contributing to the growth of salsa in Osaka
(08:14) - COVID and the Co-Beat Party - sharing salsa direct into people’s homes
(11:26) - Hosting a salsa radio show online - Encanto Tropical
(14:27) - The empowerment from knowing lyrics and the social-cultural dynamics of songs
(15:24) - Songs in context: Otra Oportunidad - Jimmy Bosch, No Vale La Pena Enamorarse - Ray Sepúlveda, Indistructibe - Ray Barretto, Anacaona - Tite Curet Alonso (sung by Chey Feliciano)
(21:17) - Enabling more learning through academia: a book for salsa enthusiasts - uncover the stories and and political context of your favourite songs
Errata
There are two points should be mentioned as post-interview edits:
1. 9am instead of 9pm was mistakenly said by Angel when referring to his 8-hour DJ sets.
2. Jimmy Bosch was incorrectly described as the singer in his song "Otra Oportunidad". Of course, the vocalist is Herman Olivera; Angel meant to say Bosch is the lyricist, as Olivera is singing his words.
About Angel Figueroa
Angel Figueroa is an assistant professor of English, Spanish, and language acquisition at Josai International University in, Japan. His research fields extend to include Latin American music, diving deep into the culture and social complexities of salsa music. As a salsa DJ and collector with more than 25 years experience, Angel was very active as a DJ and event organizer in Osaka, especially as the producer and resident DJ of the long-running salsa event called “Shine”. Currently based near the Tokyo area where he DJs regularly, Angel also hosts the twice-monthly show “Encanto Tropical” on WorldSalsaRadio.com. Among his projects is to write a book explaining the lyrics and contexts of certain salsa songs to non-Spanish speakers.
Connect with Angel Figueroa
Online: www.an-fi.online/dj
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dj.angel_/
Encanto Tropical Show: www.an-fi.online/encanto-tropical
https://www.facebook.com/encantotropicalwsr/
About Bobbie Miles:
Bobbie Miles is a social dancer based in Bristol. The salsa, bachata, and kizomba scene is special to so many, Bobbie included. The more she danced however, the more she became aware of inappropriate behaviours in the scene, ranging from low-level “creepiness” to undeniable abuses of power. Bobbie realised that she will no longer keep quiet, be subjected to any sort of misconduct, and nor should anyone else. She is an advocate for speaking up, boundary setting, and respect in the dance scene. Through The Empowered Dancers Podcast, she promotes transparency, understanding, and accountability and as a public speaker, she talks about putting boundary setting and respect into practice, both on and off the dance floor.
Resources:
Download my 5 Top Tips for a great dance night! https://empowereddancers.com/5tips
Connect with Bobbie Miles!
Follow me on Instagram @th