Salsa (1988 film)
Encyclopedia
Salsa is a 1988 romance film
about a lower-class Puerto Rican
dancer who decides to improve his lot in life by entering a salsa dancing
contest. The film was directed by Boaz Davidson
, and stars Robi Rosa
, Rodney Harvey
, and Angela Alvarado
. It earned a Razzie Award nomination for Rosa as Worst New Star.
), the club's gorgeous owner sets her sights on making Rico her dance partner, Rico must decide what drives him, his ambition or his heart.
Romance film
Romance films are love stories that focus on passion, emotion, and the affectionate involvement of the main characters and the journey that their love takes through courtship or marriage. Romance films make the love story or the search for love the main plot focus...
about a lower-class Puerto Rican
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
dancer who decides to improve his lot in life by entering a salsa dancing
Salsa (dance)
Salsa is a syncretic dance form with origins in Cuba as the meeting point of Spanish and African cultures.Salsa is normally a partner dance, although there are recognized solo forms such as solo dancing "suelta" and "Rueda de Casino" where multiple couples exchange partners in a circle...
contest. The film was directed by Boaz Davidson
Boaz Davidson
Boaz Davidson is an Israeli film director, producer and screenwriter. He was born in Tel Aviv, British Mandate of Palestine and studied film in London....
, and stars Robi Rosa
Draco Rosa
Draco Cornelius Rosa Suárez , also known as Robi Draco Rosa, Robby Rosa, Draco Rosa or simply Draco, is a Puerto Rican Grammy Award and Latin Grammy Award...
, Rodney Harvey
Rodney Harvey
Rodney Michael Harvey was an American actor and model.-Career:Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Harvey was discovered by director Paul Morrissey in 1984. Morrissey cast Harvey in two of his films Mixed Blood and Spike of Bensonhurst...
, and Angela Alvarado
Angela Alvarado
Angela Alvarado Rosa is an American actress and music video director. She is the wife of singer Draco Rosa.Alvarado was born in New York City of Puerto Rican descent. Alvarado is the sister of Magali Alvarado. She first met her husband during the production of the 1988 film Salsa. In 1990, the...
. It earned a Razzie Award nomination for Rosa as Worst New Star.
Synopsis
In a nightly escape from his day job as a mechanic, Rico (Robby Rosa) enters his true element: the wild exuberance of the East L.A. "La Luna" salsa club. Dreaming of making himself and Vicky (Angela Alvarado), his girlfriend the "King and Queen of Salsa", Rico pours all his energy into winning La Luna's Grand Salsa Competition. But when Luna (Miranda GarrisonMiranda Garrison
Miranda Garrison is an American actress and choreographer, best known for choreographing dozens of films. She worked on Mulholland Falls, and was assistant choreographer in the 1987 film Dirty Dancing, where she also played the part of Vivian Pressman. She was an actress–dancer in The Forbidden...
), the club's gorgeous owner sets her sights on making Rico her dance partner, Rico must decide what drives him, his ambition or his heart.
Cast
- Robi RosaDraco RosaDraco Cornelius Rosa Suárez , also known as Robi Draco Rosa, Robby Rosa, Draco Rosa or simply Draco, is a Puerto Rican Grammy Award and Latin Grammy Award...
- Rico - Rodney HarveyRodney HarveyRodney Michael Harvey was an American actor and model.-Career:Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Harvey was discovered by director Paul Morrissey in 1984. Morrissey cast Harvey in two of his films Mixed Blood and Spike of Bensonhurst...
- Ken - Angela Alvarado - Vicky
- Magali Alvarado - Rita
- Daniel Rojo - Orlando
- Moon Orona - Lola
- Humberto Ortiz - Beto
- Miranda GarrisonMiranda GarrisonMiranda Garrison is an American actress and choreographer, best known for choreographing dozens of films. She worked on Mulholland Falls, and was assistant choreographer in the 1987 film Dirty Dancing, where she also played the part of Vivian Pressman. She was an actress–dancer in The Forbidden...
- Luna - Tito PuenteTito PuenteTito Puente, , born Ernesto Antonio Puente, was a Latin jazz and Salsa musician. The son of native Puerto Ricans Ernest and Ercilia Puente, of Spanish Harlem in New York City, Puente is often credited as "El Rey de los Timbales" and "The King of Latin Music"...
- Himself - Celia CruzCelia CruzCelia Cruz was a Cuban-American salsa singer, and was one of the most successful Salsa performers of the 20th century, having earned twenty-three gold albums...
- Herself - WilkinsWilkins VélezGerman Wilkins Vélez, commonly known as Wilkins , is a Puerto Rican pop music singer and composer.-Early years:Wilkins was born in the city of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, but raised in Mexico City, Mexico. His father, Germán Vélez Forestier, was a radio announcer and part-time singer...
- Himself - Robert GouldRobert GouldRobert Gould was a significant voice in Restoration poetry in England.He was born in the lower classes and orphaned when he was thirteen. It is possible that he had a sister, but her name and fate are unknown. Gould entered into domestic service...
- Boss - Loyda Ramos - Mother
- Leroy AndersonLeroy AndersonLeroy Anderson was an American composer of short, light concert pieces, many of which were introduced by the Boston Pops Orchestra under the direction of Arthur Fiedler...
- Himself - Roxan Flores - Nena
- Deborah Chesher - Sister
- Kenny OrtegaKenny OrtegaKenneth John "Kenny" Ortega is an American producer, director, and choreographer. He is known for directing the High School Musical trilogy and Michael Jackson's This Is It concert tour.-Life and career:...
- Himself - Joanna GarciaJoanna GarcíaJoanna Leanna García is an American television and film actress. She is known for her portrayal of Cheyenne Hart Montgomery on The CW sitcom Reba...
- Waitress - Chain Reaction - Himself
- Marisela Esqueda - Herself
- Willie ColónWillie ColónWilliam Anthony Colón is a Nuyorican salsa musician. Primarily a trombonist, Colón also sings, writes, produces and acts. He is also involved in municipal politics in New York City.-Early years:...
- Himself - Michael SembelloMichael SembelloMichael Sembello is an American musician and songwriter from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.-Career:Sembello was born and raised in Philadelphia. He studied with jazz great Pat Martino and began his career as a professional musician by becoming a session musician, working increasingly with...
- Himselfmoi_u_èygy-èf(-e' - Mavis Vegas Davis - Himself
- Mongo SantamaríaMongo SantamaríaRamón "Mongo" Santamaría Rodríguez was an Afro-Cuban Latin jazz percussionist. He is most famous for being the composer of the jazz standard "Afro Blue," recorded by John Coltrane among others. In 1950 he moved to New York where he played with Perez Prado, Tito Puente, Cal Tjader, Fania All...
- Himself - Charlie PalmieriCharlie PalmieriCharlie Palmieri was a renowned Bandleader and musical director of salsa music. He was known as "The Giant of the Keyboards".-Early years:...
- Himself - Jellybean BenitezJohn BenitezJohn Benitez, better known as "Jellybean Benitez" is an American drummer, guitarist, songwriter, DJ, remixer and music producer of Puerto Rican descent...
- Himself - Constance MarieConstance MarieConstance Marie Lopez is an American actress. Known professionally as Constance Marie, she is known for her role as Angie Lopez on George Lopez and for her role as Marcella Quintanilla in the 1997 film Selena...
- dancer
Soundtrack
- "Margarita" - WilkinsWilkins VélezGerman Wilkins Vélez, commonly known as Wilkins , is a Puerto Rican pop music singer and composer.-Early years:Wilkins was born in the city of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, but raised in Mexico City, Mexico. His father, Germán Vélez Forestier, was a radio announcer and part-time singer...
- "Chicos y chicas" - Mavis Vegas Davis
- "Cali Pachanguero" - Grupo NicheGrupo NicheGrupo Niche is a salsa group founded in 1978 in Bogotá, Colombia. Currently based in Cali, Colombia, it enjoys great popularity throughout Latin America. It was founded by Jairo Varela and Alexis Lozano. Jairo Varela has stayed with the group becoming producer, director, songwriter, vocalist and...
- "Your Love" - Laura BraniganLaura BraniganLaura Ann Branigan was an American singer-songwriter and actress of Italian and Irish ancestry. She is best known in the United States for her 1982 Platinum-certified hit "Gloria" and in Europe for the number-one single "Self Control"...
- "Good Lovin'" - Kenny OrtegaKenny OrtegaKenneth John "Kenny" Ortega is an American producer, director, and choreographer. He is known for directing the High School Musical trilogy and Michael Jackson's This Is It concert tour.-Life and career:...
, Chain Reaction, The Edwin Hawkins Singers - "Under My Skin" - Robby Rosa
- "Oye Como VaOye Como Va"Oye Como Va" is a song written by Latin jazz and mambo musician Tito Puente in 1963 and popularized by Santana's rendition of the song in 1970 on their album Abraxas, helping to catapult Santana into stardom with the song reaching #13 on the Billboard Top 100. The song also reached #11 on...
" - Tito Puente - "I KnowI Know (You Don't Love Me No More)"I Know " is a R&B song written and performed by American singer Barbara George. It was released as her debut single in late 1961. This song became her signature song and her only major hit in United States, peaking at number 1 in the Billboard R&B singles chart and number 3 in the Pop Singles chart...
" - MariselaMariselaMarisela Marisela Marisela (born in [los angelos california on April 24, 1966, is a Mexican-American singer.Known as the 'Latin Madonna', Marisela recorded her first album at the age of 15 in 1984 and continues to release albums into the 21st century.-Career:...
, The Edwin Hawkins Singers - "Spanish HarlemSpanish Harlem (song)"Spanish Harlem" is a song released by Ben E. King in 1960 on Atco Records, written by Jerry Leiber and Phil Spector and produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller...
" - Ben E. KingBen E. KingBenjamin Earl King , better known as Ben E. King, is an American soul singer. He is perhaps best known as the singer and co-composer of "Stand by Me", a U.S... - "Puerto Rico" - Bobby CaldwellBobby CaldwellBobby Caldwell is an American singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who, despite a prolific musical output over his 30-year career, is still best known for his 1978 hit single "What You Won't Do for Love". While he has always maintained a devoted fan base in the United States, a legendary...
, Marisela Esqueda, Michael SembelloMichael SembelloMichael Sembello is an American musician and songwriter from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.-Career:Sembello was born and raised in Philadelphia. He studied with jazz great Pat Martino and began his career as a professional musician by becoming a session musician, working increasingly with...
, WilkinsWilkins VélezGerman Wilkins Vélez, commonly known as Wilkins , is a Puerto Rican pop music singer and composer.-Early years:Wilkins was born in the city of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, but raised in Mexico City, Mexico. His father, Germán Vélez Forestier, was a radio announcer and part-time singer...
, Mongo SantamaríaMongo SantamaríaRamón "Mongo" Santamaría Rodríguez was an Afro-Cuban Latin jazz percussionist. He is most famous for being the composer of the jazz standard "Afro Blue," recorded by John Coltrane among others. In 1950 he moved to New York where he played with Perez Prado, Tito Puente, Cal Tjader, Fania All...
, Charlie PalmieriCharlie PalmieriCharlie Palmieri was a renowned Bandleader and musical director of salsa music. He was known as "The Giant of the Keyboards".-Early years:...
, The Edwin Hawkins Singers