Caption: 
NY Instructor Corner: After a night of performances, many East Coast Instructors would congregate at the Napolitano Poolside Cafe for a a late night snack. Back Row (L-R): Brett McNichols (Addie-Tude Co. Member), Mario B., Winsome Lee. Front Row (L-R): Lisa Allen (Addie-tude Co. Member), Rodney Lopez (Addie-tude Co. Member), Carlos Konieg, Louis Tirado (Addie-tude Co. Member), Jimmy Anton and Mario Diaz.

This past July (2002) the Addie-tude Dance Company traveled to the Dominican Republic (Santo Domingo) to attend the 1st Annual Dominican Republic Salsa Congress. Our D.R. Congress performance team consisted of Addie Diaz, Brett McNichols, Louis Tirado, Rodney Lopez, Lisa Allen and myself (Manny Siverio). 

Needless to say we had a blast hanging out with one another trading laughs while going about our business as performing members of Addie-tude. The weather was great (Bright & Sunny) during our entire stay there and the local Dominicans were very laid back and friendly. In many ways D.R. reminded us of Puerto Rico, yet there were many major differences between these two neighboring islands. It was really fun hanging with our NY Mambo Dominican brothers and sisters from both the Santo Rico Dance Company and Vittico Pacheco's "La Magia".

The actual Salsa Congress event itself was a little disorganized, but that was to be expected with any first time attempt at doing at event of this nature. The promoters tried their best to be very friendly and understanding. They took notes so that these problems could be rectified for next year's 2nd annual congress. If anything, the 2nd Annual Dominican Salsa Congress promises to be even better than the first. There is talk of having it at one of Santo Domingo's hot island Hotel Resorts like the Hamaca Resort the dancers visited at Boca Chica. That place was "da bomb". It was a hotel-beach/pool resort that included bars, restaurants, theatre with performance stages and plenty of space to accommodate dancers, workshop classes, etc. 

I think the main highlight of the congress was being able to perform in a sports arena (Palacio De Los Deportes) as the main attraction. The only major set back to this was the poor sound quality due to the echo in the arena. But overall it was still something worth remembering. Finally, the D.R. Congress was where the Addie-Tude Dance Company tested their newest number  entitled the "CaChao Medley".

• Hanging out Pictures
• Medley Performance Pictures (7/5/02)
• CaChao Medley Performance Picture (7/6/02)

Addie-Tude Hanging Out at the D.R. Congress

Back at the Hotel Napolitano, the girls (L-R) Brett, Addie & Lisa take a second to pose with junior Addie-tude Company Member (and Addie's son) Devin. What a lucky guy!

Addie-Tude and Santo Rico always gravitate to one another whenever together at the same gig. Here the Addie-tude Girls stop and pose with the Santo Rico Girls during one of the workshops given at the D.R. Congress.

The Addie-tude Guys (L-R: Louis Tirado, Rodney Lopez & Manny Siverio) stop for the camera to show off their Palladium Mambo Hands pose.

New addition to the company Lisa Allen, shows off her injured ankle after slipping down some steps. That still 
didn't stop her from making her presence known at the Congress.

Santo Domingo is beautiful. The weather was perfect and the sun was out in full force while the team was there. The team took advantage to cool off whenever possible at the Napolitano Hotel (L-R: Louis Tirado, Brett McNichols, Devin Flores & Addie Diaz). Kicking back and hanging with friends. Now that's living. 

First Night Performing at the Palacio Deportivo (Medly Routine)

Back stage Devin dancing with his mother Addie. Devin was strutting some of the steps he had recently performed during his Side Street Kids Recital a few days earlier. 

The guys (L-R: Manny & Rodney) doing the "Shinning Knight" section of the Medley rountine.

Brett and Rodney having a blast during the partner work segment of the Medley routine while Manny watches in the background.

Brett and Rodney their partner work choreography and having a good time while doing it.

Brett and Rodney do their final pose at the end of the Medley Routine

2nd Night Performance at the Palacio Deportivo (CaChao Medley)
After coming up with two highly creative mambo routines (Hustler & Muneca), Addie decided she wanted to put together something more traditional as part of her next routine. The result is the Cachao Medley. Addie choose this number as a tribute to the great mambo legend CACHAO and for the poetry and meaning behind the lyrics in the song. If you observe carefully you can see that much of what Addie choreographs usually goes in sync with what is being said at that time in the song. Someone who saw the number mentioned that Addie-tude's choice of performing style is hard to pin down and always changing from number to number.

Addie (left) and Brett performing the girls floor work during the Cachao Medly

Addie and Brett feeling the funk during the Cachao girls solo.

Addie and the team strike their final pose for the CaChao Medley.

While Addie-tude was away performing in D.R., "Mambo" (Addie's cat) was busy at home holding up the fort and keeping the bed warm for her return to New York.