MUNECA at 
1st Annual Zurich Salsa Kongress
-photos taken by our dear friend Edie... a.k.a. The Salsa Freak
-story by Manny Siverio

Addie-Tude Dance Company Performs: Muneca!
The Addie-tude Dance Company did the European debut of their newest number (Muneca) at the 1st Annual Zurich Salsa "Kongress" this past February 23rd, 2002. It was the closing number of the event which proved popular for its theatrical nut cracker/toy story presentation. The number was performed by Addie Diaz (company director), along with company members Brett McNichols, Louis Tirado & Manny Siverio. The Swiss promoters really have a flare for showmanship. All the numbers were featured on a elevated stage and projected on a huge screen directly behind the performers so that even the people way in the back could appreciate the show.

"The "darling" of all the shows came from the Addie-Tude dance company. 
They performed as Toy soldiers, complete with Raggedie-Anne 
and a Fairytale Tinkerbell." 
- Quote by Edie The SalsaFreak of SalsaWeb.com

"Muneca" Intro
The name of the song "Muneca" means "doll" in English, hence the theme of the number. The men always make an entrance when they come marching out like toy soldiers; immediately followed by the very colorful and animated girls. The costumes are "A" quality which make a stunning impression on the audience who don't know what to expect. If the costumes help set the visual mood, then the brief children's bedtime story narration helps complete the stage for our "dance story". By the time the guys break out into doing the clave, the crowd is primed and ready to see us dancing.

 
Louis at attention in the foreground, while 
Brett in the background and Manny on the screen.

The wooden soldiers (Manny & Louis) wake up 
the fairy (Brett) after taking her magic wand away.

Brett & Raggedy-Anne (Addie Diaz) prepare to lead the 
guys into their solo.

Guys Solo
This is probably the most intrigue number we have ever done. The number requires that we all dance in our character (i.e. Toy Soldier, Raggedy-Ann, etc.). Even Addie says that the detail to character and movement had challenged her.  Speaking as a male mambo dancer it took a lot of concentration and practice to blend mambo dancing, with specific detailed doll/toy-like movement. There were many times when we were all moving our hands one way, while moving our feet, body and head in different directions for every one of the 8 beats of the clave.

Not only was the song fast and the choreography difficult to master, 
but we had to learn how to overcome the stiff-like jackets of our 
costumes. The jackets perfected the look of the number, but would 
restrict our range of motion. We quickly discovered the concept of 
"powering through" the moves to make the choreography work.


Louis and Manny 

Louis and Manny maintain their Wooden Toy Soldier 
character while moving in a doll-like fashion.

Girls Solo
The animated and colorful girls followed the guys with some very challenging floor work. Talk about doing 5 things at the same time. The girls worked really hard with their routine and it shows. If the guys kept blank expressions on their faces throughout the number the girls were just the opposite. They were playful and smiling.

One of the things that people liked about the routine was the 
smooth transition from segment to segment. As the girls take 
center stage the guys move to the back (in character) so that 
they can take off their hats. Here Addie (Raggedy-Ann) is in the 
foreground, while Brett (fairy) can be seen on the large screen 
and Louis (Nut Cracker Soldier) can be seen taking his hat off 
in the background.

Addie playing during the girls solo, Louis & Manny wait in 
the background as two dolls waiting to be cranked up and 
Brett can be seen on screen in the background. 

Group Floor work
The mechanized team floor work was very detailed and synchronized complete with formation changes. The Girls and the Guys were all doing the same floor work with subtle differences in hand/arms to distinguish between the two. The routine was originally conceived for 3 couples, but was modified for two since the Zurich Kongress promoters could only fly four of our members out to the event. It worked out well but visually the impact is more impressive when all three couple are performing the number. With less people in the routine, Addie was forced to rework the intro, some of the formation changing and the casino partner that happens at the end of the number.

Addie (Raggedy-Ann) & Louis (Toy Soldier) moving in sync 
during the beginning of the floor work segment.

One of the times when the men move in opposite direction 
from the women. When Addie (Raggedy-Ann) pops up Louis 
(Toy Soldier at attention) will squat down.

 Addie swinging her arm doll-like on stage and on screen 
in the background.

 Addie finishing up the her part of the group floor work 
which will lead to partner work.

Partner Work
Edie wasn't able to catch much of the partner work, but it was filled with fun concepts liked cranking the girls up so that they can spring into life, lifting and repositioning the girls to restart them (jump start) like toys into partner work segment.

Final Pose
During the end the men (soldiers) quickly move over to grab their wooden rifles as the women slide forward and prepare themselves to fall into their Final Pose

  
Brett & Addie in foreground slide into final poses in character while the guys 
(in background not clearly seen) grab their prop rifles and land in a defensive 
kneeling pose.

New! Addie-tude Ladies Styling
Video out now!