Star Scoop

Isaac Altman and his beautiful wife, Laura, continue making great contributions to Salsa and the dance industry all over the world. As President of The World Salsa Federation and National Chairman of the AAU Junior Olympic Games for DanceSport, Salsa and Swing, Isaac shares his passion for dance with Dancescape, revealing his dreams, his speculations and his most sizzling Salsa sensations.

What was your dream as a child? Did you have a role model while you were working towards accomplishing your dreams?
I wanted to dance in a musical on Broadway. I also wanted to be an actor. I had many more dreams as a child. I am a Pisces, so we are dreamers! My biggest role model and mentor was the late Bobby Medeiros. Not only had he taught me Ballroom and Latin dancing but he was a close friend. His ability to relate to World Champions and a beginning dancer was unique. He loved dancing and spread that love to everyone he contacted. That was a gift I truly admired. I also admired his style of dancing.

What are some of your most memorable or rewarding experiences after dancing as a professional for 32 years?
The first time I ever competed at the U.S.B.C., winning the World Salsa Championships and when I got Salsa and Dancesport into the Junior Olympic Games - of course, not in any specific order.

Was there ever a difficult time that you had to deal with personally as a dancer? How did you overcome it?
There were several, but the most difficult time I have had as a dancer was learning to accept defeat in competition. Not just that someone else could beat me, but that I did not measure up. Strangely enough, I would take the disappointment and turn it into motivation. I also get nervous every time before I perform. Overcoming it is not easy, but I do it through humor.

What was one of your most embarrassing experiences as a dancer?
Forgetting my socks and underwear when I was traveling to a major competition and then having to borrow them from my friend, Bobby Medeiros. Needless to say, he did not want them back!

When was the first time that you and Laura danced together and how would you describe your dance style and expression as a couple?
We first danced together in 1994 in the Texas Challenge. I can influence Laura more than the other way around when we dance together, but she has her Latina expression going on all the time. Her style is sizzling hot and definitely Latin. I love her body movements and her personality - she is very easy going and adaptable. When I dance Salsa, I have developed a mixed style of Cuban, L.A., and N.Y. style with Sabor. In terms of my fashion style when I dance, I would describe that style as macho. Our style and expression as a couple though is always changing as new innovations immerge.

What do you think are some of the challenges in maintaining a dance relationship? Do you have any advice for dance partners?
The hardest part for me is being turned on to your partners dancing, fortunately I do not have that problem, and the easier part is that you are dancing with a woman. But my advice to other dancers would be get personally involved, it's more fun that way!

What do you think are the benefits that come with dancing? Do you consider it as an art or a sport?
The benefits: improved health, freedom from worries and social contacts. I personally like the physical fatigue I often get from dancing all of the time and if I ever get mentally fatigued, then I just relax by watching a movie. Dance is both an art and a sport, it can be artistic as well as athletic. When we put athleticism at its finest, it truly is a work of art.

What advice would you like to give to up and coming dancers?
Take care of your body and it will take care of you. Too many dancers smoke today. Give it up if you want to dance for many years to come. My best advice is not to get discouraged or quit. Your goal may be obtained if you keep trying. Also, for dancers of a particular style, don't get hung up on which style is better, just enjoy whatever style you do.

The Future for Isaac, Dance and Salsa

What is your view of dance and its popularity in the world?
The dance world sometimes gets fragmented. This makes it hard to promote it to the rest of the world. A support of each other would give us much more clout and influence.

What are some of your goals right now as a dancer?
At 55, I feel there is still some competing left in me. I am dancing in videos and have coached world champions, but still feel that my calling is to give the youth of the World an Olympic Games in dancing.

What would you like most to be remembered for in your life and/or career?
Bringing dancing to the youth of the World.

Are there any new trends for Salsa dancing in 2004?
Many more rhythmic movements that incorporate a little hip hop and drops and lifts from theatre art modalities are being added to the Salsa style. For new fashion trends, I have noticed that women's dresses are looking more feminine and sexy this year. I have also taken a liking to Velcro shoes. But when it comes to fashion designers, my favorites are Cuban Grandmothers - they all can design and sew!

Salsa's Latest and Greatest:

Isaac and Laura's FUN Salsa Dance Instructional Videos

What could be more exciting than learning to dance Salsa from the amazing World Salsa Champions? Well, now you can! Isaac and Laura Altman teach all of the Salsa steps and secrets that you need to know in their great Salsa dance videos. They have three great videos available that teach the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Syllabus - a video for a dancer of any level.

Check out Isaac and Laura's Fun Salsa Dance Instructional Videos. The videos can also be viewed through the Internet on DanceScape's Pay-Per-View section - click here!

The 2004 WSF World Salsa Championships
Isaac and Laura will be holding The 2004 WSF World Salsa Championships at the Marriott Hotel in Miami on October 29th-31st. They will have a record 9 World Championships contested, a Pro/Am Adult and Junior Dancesport competition, over 20 workshops from top pros in all styles and levels of Salsa, 3 nights of Latin music by top DJ's and Bands, and a qualifying event for the 2005 AAU Junior Olympic Games. As you can see, the couple ensures that there will be something for everyone. Click here for more information about the 2004 WSF World Salsa Championships.

Interview with Isaac Altman, CEO World Salsa Federation
by Rob, Editor of Salsafix.com

Isaac Altman, founder and CEO of the World Salsa Federation, was kind enough to take some time out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions about the WSF. The answers are intelligent, informative and interesting; definitely worth a read.

Questions and Answers For Rob
1. BIO: Isaac, for the people that may not be familiar with you, can you please introduce yourself?

My name is ISAAC ALTMAN and I am one of the founders and CEO of the World Salsa Federation. I started my professional career in DanceSport in 1972. I have won many top awards both in dance and choreography. The North American Latin DanceSport champion, Bobby Medeiros, coached me. Mr. Medeiros later become the #1 coach in the world in Latin dance and continued training me in the highest standards of Latin American Dancing. I started the International Dance Studio in Miami in 1987. Since its inception, many top named professionals in DanceSport have trained at my studio. One such couple is the former United States Latin Champions, Tony Meredith and Melanie Lapatin, who starred in the movie Dance With Me. Myself, along with my wife Laura, have helped choreograph dance routines for many Latin Stars including Johnny Ventura and Camilo Sesto. In 1985 I performed a dance show with the late, great, Tito Puente and his Orchestra. Chosen as one of the principal dancers with my wife Laura, we had the privilege to help choreograph and dance at the 1999 Super Bowl along side Stevie Wonder and Gloria Estefan. In this new millennium, my wife Laura and me have been the most recognizable Latin dance team on Spanish television with over 200 appearances on the major networks Telemundo, Univision, PBS and America Te Ve. Last November we won the prestigious title Salseros Mas Caliente for winning the Salsa contest on Univisions popular program Caliente. On November 4, 2000, Laura and I became World Salsa Champions after placing first at the I.D.O. World Salsa Championships in Miami. I continue to compete and coach all over the world..

2. BACKGROUND: What is the World Salsa Federation? Why was it created? What void in Salsa is the WSF is attempting to fill? How will it help salsa?

This is a lot to answer, so let me direct you by giving our aims.

AIMS AND OBJECTS FOR THE WSF ARE:
To promote, encourage, publicize and facilitate the art of Salsa dancing including leisure and competitive styles, by giving demonstrations, holding competitions and exhibitions, by organizing or sponsoring lectures, lessons and examinations, awarding certificates, prizes and scholarships and doing all such matters and things as will conduce to raising or improving the standard of Salsa dancing, including leisure and competitive styles, and by promoting uniformity of instruction in the basic and advanced steps of Salsa through a uniform Bronze, Silver, and Gold Syllabus. To encourage, foster and increase public interest in the art of Salsa dancing. To formulate and secure national recognition and adoption of official national rules and Syllabus of Competitive Salsa dancing, and to encourage the promotion and proper conduct of competition, and the recognition of established championships. To do all such things as are likely to promote and improve the standard of Salsa dancing. To encourage the general public to obtain instruction only from qualified teachers, and to do all such things as are likely to promote and improve the standard of conduce to raising or maintaining the professional status and ethical standards of all persons engaged or seeking to be engaged in the teaching of Salsa dancing. To grant permission for approved National WSF member organizations to organize, world, continental and area/regional continental championships in Salsa that are controlled by the WSF, and such other titles as may from time to time be determined by the WSF. To formulate rules to govern such championships and other titles in accordance with the rules of the WSF and/or other rules recognized by the WSF, which are not incompatible with these objects, and which shall include the governance of the conduct of member organizations and persons or bodies recognized by and/or is registered with the WSF. To promote, facilitate and encourage exchanges of information on all matters pertaining to Salsa dancing. To formulate promulgate and oversee a uniform method of judging and marking in all Salsa competitions and championships throughout the world. To acquire the copyrights and other rights, licenses and privileges of any sort likely to be conducive to the objects of the WSF and to encourage, assist and employ persons to write, compose or invent dance steps, music, musical arrangements and scripts and remunerate such person or persons, and to print, publish or cause to be printed or published, books, pamphlets, newspapers, journals, circularize, instructional handbooks and/or video tapes, dances steps, dance arrangements, music and musical scores and arrangements and literature of any kind likely to further the objects of the WSF and its members; and to sell, distribute and deal with any matter so printed or recorded as the WSF may think fit and to grant licenses or rights in respect of any property of the WSF and to enter into agreements with persons, firms or societies in connection with the same. To secure the recognition of competitions and other events that are recognized by the WSF.

3. LEADERSHIP: How is the WSF run? How are the officers and board members selected? What role does the general membership have in the direction of the organization?

We are running on HIGH OCTANE!! Officers are selected like any major corporation. The Officers select board members. Input by members is a key ingredient in the direction of the WSF.

4. FORMAT: Can you talk a little bit about why you use step lists, how the steps are decided on, who decides the correct way for a step to be executed, and so forth.

The step lists were comprised by gathering information from the leading exponents, via their video tapes, lectures, etc., then having the Executive Board review and break them down for their plausibility as a standardization.

5. INNOVATION: Do you think step lists and rules hurt salsa's ability to innovate, incorporate new ideas and grow as a dance? Are these limitations offset by any advantages?

The short answer is no. I do not see any limitations, only infinite advantages.

6. GENTRIFICATION: With all the talk of certifications and rules in the WSF, the WSF might be seen as an attempt to bring salsa "out of the streets" so to speak. It could also be viewed as an attempt to transform Salsa from an art and way of life into a viable business... prepackaged and homogenized, but with greater quality control. How do you respond?

First let me respond by giving your readers the definition of your heading for question #6. Gentrification means a process in which middle class people move into a working class area changing the character of the place to be more up market. Salsa is multi-dimensional. It can be an art form, a sport, a way of life, a business, a street dance, and a hot sauce. Many believe surgery is a miraculous art and skill, yet don't you want the artist who is performing it on you to be certified? Salsa is an art and skill as well. Certification does not mean gentrification.

7. COUNT: Why was '1' chosen as the breaking beat?

The WSF endorses breaking on one only as the standard for certifications and for competitions, with the exception of Salsa Showdance competitions which allows couples to compete on any beat or style and allows lifts and drops (anything goes!) Breaking on one for certification and for competitions in no way discredits other styles of Salsa or the beats that they break on. Since winning the World Salsa Championship, the most frequent question that is asked to Laura and I is what style of Salsa do we do? This is a very hard question for us to answer. As far as teaching goes, we can teach all the different styles. As competitors, we borrow from all the styles, picking what suites our personalities and abilities. However, I do believe there is a definite, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Colombian, and Dominican style of dancing Salsa. The style is not as important as good dancing is. Good dancing in partner dancing would include, posture, footwork, timing and rhythm, connection, and styling to mention a few. That brings up another issue. What beat do you dance on? Is it the 1,2,3,4? What beat do you break on? Is it the 1,2,3,4? This can be a touchy issue for some. Not for us. However, we have drawn a few conclusions. Living and teaching dancing in Miami has given us a very unique perspective on how Latinos dance to Salsa music. I also have a great source in my wife as she is Colombian, and has studied dancing since she was 8 years old. She also studied abroad including Cuba. Miami has a cross-section of all of South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. When we watch this cross-section of street dancing Latinos dancing to Salsa music, they almost always either break on 1 or 3. These are people that have no formal training, no idea of counts or breaks. They hear the music and then dance. They do not worry about what foot to start with nor are they concerned about the clave. Almost all of them will start on count 1, either to the side, or forward. If they start forward then they are breaking on 1. If they start on count 1 to the side, then they are breaking on 3. They don't realize that of course. Their one beat musically could be the one or fifth beat of music in the measure of eight beats of music that comprise one bar of Salsa music. Subsequently, Laura and I have traveled and performed in almost every South American and Central American country to view how Latinos dance to Salsa. Through are extensive travels, breaking on 1 seems to be dominate. So what does this all mean? If you are dancing competitive Salsa, then certain rules apply. If you are dancing socially, it means who cares? We are back to my earlier comment. The style is not as important as good dancing is. One style is not superior to another. Dancing is constantly evolving, as music is as well. As dancers we are always looking for a new step, a new technique, a new partner (not me). My advice is to learn what every style has to offer. Don't close any doors. Learning is like a breath of fresh air.

8. CURRENT: How has the WSF been received so far? What are the most common things that people say to you about the WSF?

We have been overwhelmed with positive feedback and an explosion of countries and members coming aboard. Most everyone says that this is what has been needed for a long time.

9. FUTURE: What things do you have planned in the near (or not so near) future? How do you hope the WSF will influence Salsa?

So far we have had 10 countries who will be holding National Championships under the WSF rules to be able to send their couples to the 2002 World Salsa and Showdance Championships to be held in Miami. There is so much going on that it would be easier to log onto www.worldsalsafederation.com and read about all the exciting events coming up.

10. FINAL THOUGHTS: Please add any closing thoughts you would like to share.

May all your dreams of a successful future come true. Never, ever, give up those dreams.

Thank you,
Isaac Altman