I Bet You'll Dance

by Elana Siegel
Communications and Marketing Intern

One of the most fun parts of my study abroad experience in Lima, Peru was the dancing. Every night of the week, people were out dancing - at salsa clubs, at discotecas, in parks. Although many of the younger audiences would dance to American pop music, the best dancing nights were always in salsa clubs with live music. The music in these clubs was infecteous - when you heard it, you couldn't help but start to sway the hips, moving the torso back and forth with the beat. Soon, even the most reluctant of dancers would be out of the floor stepping the night away in dance.

I thought that I had left that type of music and dance in Peru, but I'm excited to say that for one night, it's coming here to Madison, when Sierra Maestra plays for a dance party in the Great Hall on March 23rd at 8pm.

Sierra Maestra, also known as the Guardians of Son music, are the premier band in the style of Cuban son. Despie the 2500 miles and eight countries separating Lima and Havana, when I listen to the son music of Sierra Maestra, I'm reminded of the live salsa bands in Lima: the bands are tight, with a rhythm that both propels the dancing forward and lays a relaxed and easy groove. The horns cut over top with sharp line while trumpets scream way above the staff. And most of all, it's impossible not to dance to the music.

I dare you to try. Here's a live performance of Sierra Maestra at launch of their 2010 CD "Sonando Ya."

So, did you dance? A little bit of sway in the office chair? A little bounce on the couch?

This music does that to you. Rather than just moving at your computer, you can have a night of full-on dancing with Sierra Maestra in the Great Hall on Friday, March 23 at 8pm. It's true that the event is taking place here in Madison, and not abroad, but the feeling of dancing the night away is just the same. Can't wait to see you there!