{"id":3388,"date":"2019-03-18T23:38:19","date_gmt":"2019-03-18T22:38:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thewhiterock.co.uk\/?p=3388"},"modified":"2019-03-18T23:41:34","modified_gmt":"2019-03-18T22:41:34","slug":"salsa-nights-in-colombia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thewhiterock.co.uk\/?p=3388","title":{"rendered":"Salsa Nights in Colombia"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The big black guard outside the Topa Tolondra salsa club is built more like a security truck than a man. But the intimidating effect is offset by his spectacles and affability. \u201cWelcome to Cali \u2013 salsa capital of the world,\u201d he tells us. And does a few moves.<\/strong><\/p>\n

If there\u2019s any doubt that we\u2019ve arrived at the Holy Grail for all salseros<\/em>, there\u2019s a giant mural over the dancefloor based on Leonardo\u2019s \u2018Last Supper\u2019; but with Oscar D’Le\u00f3n, Rub\u00e9n Blades and Johnny Pacheco taking the role of the disciples clustered round Ismael Rivera (the Puerto Rican who made salsa such a street sound). A young Celia Cruz is the only woman at the feast, resplendent in a red ball gown with a smile that could light up Cuba, if not entire planets.<\/p>\n

They look down upon a cavernous dancefloor that is already shaking to a heavy bass and insistent marimbas. It\u2019s Tuesday and only 10 o\u2019clock, so the place is relatively empty. \u201cCome back at the weekend, and it will be so crowded, \u2018no bailas \u2013 sino que te bailas<\/em>,\u2019 says one of our guides, Danilo Uribe: \u2018you don\u2019t dance \u2013 you get danced.\u2019<\/p>\n

Salsa nights in Colombia<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n