Magna Gopal & Shaka Brown

[freestyles809]

oh my god!!!!!! 

[jnicharmy89]

very impressive. shaka im a big fan

[joe101510151015]

damn, shaka, you make it look so smooth, effortless, precise and stylish. just from watching your salsa vids, i can tell you have a strong foundation in other forms of dance...you've probably spent your childhood dancing. then picked up salsa later on. anyways, props

[poola2539]

@jayroo10 i know lol i was just joking around

[cornrowedlowe]

q control!!!! I love the stability, smoothness and control of shaka brown! Not too mention the sex appeal of both dancers! thats what salsa is all about!

[poola2539]

i dont get it....why are they so good?

[jayroo10]

@poola2539 cause they practice and dance prob at least 4 times a week for years, :) they are dedicated... 

[vincentroye]

BRAVO GUYS !!! Your figures are very cool !

[adihesu]

The song is "La negra tomasa" by Ismael Rivera

[ilanious]

anyone know the track??

[sotork12]

@ilanious bilongo-ismael rivera

[EllwoodJT]

F......... this is good!!!!

[JGT318]

Just amazing.

[GrooveWorshipper]

I love how they feel the break at 0:38

[bolivicano]

I don't care what people say....this dance will always go down in salsa/mambo history.

[cmlewan]

Flow.

[UKIMERIO]

Why do You call it Salsa????

This is silly balroom shit!

[vangelis1978]

@UKIMERIO that s how salsa looks like nowadays (actually, "nowadays" is like 30 years now), and it's no ballroom. Salsa is not just the old cuban style. Different style, more exciting (according to ladies who dance both styles, still salsa.

[nineinchsalsero]

Nice dancing, short clip, edited by Shaka Brown at IMambo so you knew it would be a nice clip dancing with his friend and often video-tapped Magna. These 2 also made an instructional DVD together. I say all this to point out that this isn't some random social dance shot by a spectator. A lot of people bought into the hype. B4 even mentioning someone like Eddie Torres, you need to talk about popular folks like Oliver Pineda, Adolfo, Juan Matos and also many other greats under the radar.

[richieblondet]

@nineinchsalsero .... Before anyone mentions ET we need to mention those guys? You not serious, right? With the exception of maybe Juan Matos, the rest still have a looooooooooooong walk before reaching the heights of ET's overall talent. And even Juan would probably admit that he's about 2 sizes smaller than what he'd need to fit in Eddie's shoes. No disrespect to yours or anyone else's opinion on who your faves are, but let's not go over board now...

[angaguti]

Love the way she dances and her spins!!! Amazing!!

[christysexy23]

papi chulo!!!!!! i love the way u dance kiero bailar contigo!!!!!!

[ball4realhh040]

is this like a choreo?....or is it a freestyle??

[vangelis1978]

@ball4realhh040 pure freestyle.

[bolivicano]

you know, I've watched this video a bunch of times before, but I just finished watching it again and...DAMN! Shaka & Magna...serious props!!!

[georgestarek]

Does konw the name of the song? It's very nice!

[jj1382]

"Bilongo" by Ismael Rivera. There are renditions out there by other artists as well.

[tandmoz]

Shaka you are a DOG bro a good DOG

[salsalot]

Every great dancer contributes their unique talent to Salsa history and inspires the rest of us. Bless diversity.

Ted

[austinsalsero7272]

The move at 1:31 is Sick !!

[Knowledge150]

I most def. agree that was official shaka brown is a beast at salsa

[shudupndanse]

she is good... he is average at best.

kthxbye!~!!!

[jumpinjackflashnj]

great video. i love watching all these great dancers and reading the comments. some of my favorite guy dancers are eddie torres, jason molina, oliver pineda, shaka, milton cobo, al espinoza, and jonny vasquez. a couple of the comments didnt think shaka belonged in the same sentence as eddie. i think all the above are unique and great.i'm seeking feedback from more knowledgable observers how the dancers above compare to each other.

[salsaenthusiast]

To me it's all opinions, each person has there faves for different reasons, Eddie is the Tito Puente of this dance, doesn't mean I'm taking anything away from anyone else but he's been in this game foreva, if u were to see his library of videos we wouldn't put Shaka in the same sentence as Eddie, no disrespect to Shaka.

[jumpinjackflashnj]

salsaenthusiast, i appreciate your input. i checked out your video and obviously you know what youre talking about. i watch a lot of eddie torres vids. his shines are amazing. when the song gets hot i luv the way he turns up the passion. you can look at his face and see how much he loves it. whats your opinion of the other dancers i mentioned? do you think any of them rank up there with eddie torres? how do you think they compare to each other? thanks!!

[salsaenthusiast]

If you look at the video carefully you'll see the best of that era " mambo D w/ Glenda"(which is better than any of the dancers you mentioned, if you don't believe me please check mambo d on you tube), Angel Ortiz w/ Duplessy Walker, Wilton Beltre(who founded Santo Rico) w/ Brenda Bryd along with Eddie w/Maria, Brenda & Duplessy were 2nd to none- that was Eddie # and he is a master in choreography regarding your list,

[salsaenthusiast]

I plead the 5th. What I rather tell you is check out Felix Insua, even though it's a different genre, he brings the spirit and spontaneity in his dance.

[jumpinjackflashnj]

salsaenthusiast, very diplomatic pleading the 5th. i will definitely check out the vids you suggested. thanks again!

[rokrman22]

and shines?? 0:42 shines time man!!

[rokrman22]

en el momento q el reloj marca 0:47 creo q cualquier bailarin de salsa sabe q hay q es momento de bailar solo.. soltarse y jugar con la percusion.. son formas de bailar q cada uno tiene y no le voy hacer una critica a alguien q interpreta diferente la salsa .. pero veo en todo el video q solo hace figuras.. muy suaves muy buenas todo pero no se suelta es como q esta muy apaciguado o muy como decirlo .. muy trankilo demasiado para mi gusto.. esto es para hacer unos buenos shines y soltarse..

[smiley32s]

simply beautiful. nice to see u having fun too.

[shakabrown]

No thanks are necessary enthusiast. You mentioned that there are no shimmy's or shoulder movements in the song, and my response was that the lyrics don't inspire me to shimmy and roll my shoulders. As Eddie Torres is concerned, even his best proteges pale in comparison. What's important to me is that he encourages people to be the best that they can.

[salsaenthusiast]

understood regarding the shimmy's,hip movement etc.etc. and totally respect you and your interpretation of the dance.

[salsasilk]

shaka, great how you listen to the  music and interpreting the content! that is the ultimate dancing - when we become another "instrument"....

[shakabrown]

LOL re: bad latin hustle.

TNT are great dancers. I don't see as a hip shaking shoulder rolling song, as it's about a guy who is head over heals in love with a girl to such a point that he thinks she actually cast a spell on him. He can't eat unless she made the food. Can't drink coffee unless she stirred it. When I think about that I feel hypnotic patterns that go into a zone, then break out when the music breaks, likewaking up from a weird dream, then falling back into the same dream.

sGB

[salsaenthusiast]

I'm Puerto Rican, I know the words and the meaning of the song so a translation is not necessary but I thank you anyway. Regarding my comments, I was just replying to a blogger who put you in a same sentence with the legend Eddie Torres, my reaction should've been " no comment". regards

[edavrom]

i personally prefer maelo's his soneos are the best

[OrqDeeJay09]

Many claim to know salsa music, but few have the opportunity to actually prove it. Show YouTube you are the real deal by naming the songs in the following videos: (poster of video and video length in parentheses)

EN ESPANOL: Como se llama la canciones?

1. Patrick Mussendijk and Nancy Ortiz (Salsademika 4:20)

2. Rosie and Israel Salsa

(Sandrelacita 4:15)

3. diego y mariana Salsa One (mamberone 2:11)

Good luck and thank you for your time.

[njofy]

the little challenge thing those not work.

you don't know the titles either, you are so desperate for them. you shroud have just ask without the whole competition scam.

PATHETIC...

[richieblondet]

@OrqDeeJay09 ...I'll play along.

#1 - Corta El Bonche

#2 - Vaso En Colores

#3 - Ojos Negros

And for the bonus round, you're secret identity is really Jerry Hernandez.

Tell the announcer to tell me what I win...

[nysalsaon2]

hell yeah Ismael Rivera El Sonero

[njofy]

bilongo is a classic! :)

[njofy]

a video comment will be nice salsaenthusiast.

this is a great

[salsaenthusiast]

Video comment for what ? It's cool that you feel it's great, but not everybody will agree. He gives little eye contact and it looks like a very bad latin hustle clip. To understand what I'm saying you can check out Tito and Tamara clips, they dance with sabor....

[njofy]

the way they play with the music in this incredible .

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!

[salsaenthusiast]

When dancing to maelo you must bring flavor,this clip shows turn pattern combo afta combo afta combo. No chimies, no hip or shoulder movements yet people using words like perfect/fab etc. There's not much connection with the music itself, just wasn't good for me but there's other clips of Magna that are much better. Maelo's music you gotta put some joy in the dance, I just see the flashy but not much of the dancing, and spinning is NOT dancing, there's instances where they're not quite on 2.

[slavetosalsa]

Interensting discussion so gotta weigh in. I appreciate what the critics are trying to say-I too am a bit of a salsa romantic and at the end of the day like chill,natural dances...but trust me guys, you are wrong about Magna throwing guys off or going overboard when she is throwing down. GREAT dancing is about energy-giving energy and maintaining. she can draw anyone into that energy and inspire them to respond and play in a way they normally would not. thats what social dancing should be about

[theprof131]

ffffffff tare as vrea sa dansez si eu asa*;-*

[splackavellie]

THEY ARE DANCING LITERALLY.

[PaolaAnturii]

fab

[spaghettionetime]

Im surprised to see negative comments for this video. I think Magna & Shaka compliment each other perfectly in this video. Shaka engages musically with the song especially well with Magna. As for Magna's styling - all dancers must change & evolve. I think she has done this so far with incredilble style & imagination. Negative comments only serve to stifle her creativity, & i love watching her dance! So pls keep dancing just as u are Magna...we love u here in the UK!!! x

[tommrod]

ultra sharp...

[lagarto3148]

Cuban and Puerto Rican music have been and is influenced by many, many genres and in Cuba this influence includes Jazz, American Funk and Hip-Hop. Los Van Van occasionally use rock chord progressions and bass lines...yes!

When something is done correctly it always seems very easy. Magna and Shaka are two superbly gifted and learned dancers from head to toe (this includes shines). I have met Magna and Shaka and I also regard them to be magnificent people on and off the dance floor.

[ezridax]

shaka and magna dance perfect together, they dont even have to think! this dance to me is soooo clean and look at shaka's face, u can tell when he's in a groove, magna just RESPONDS to him!

[ezridax]

i've danced with shaka once and his lead is great, its amazing what he can make ur body do! and his lead is not overpowering or pushy or painful, or too light, its just on and he makes it happen cuz he's done this so much, its just smooth, my only issue with his lead is that i just get too nervous.

[azucenap]

Shaka! Magna! I hadn't seen this video of you two. Beautiful !! I miss dancing with you both. I think the last time Magna led me was on 2006!

[Jerano1]

Just cant understand the way people can be so jalous :) I dont know them both (only met magna some times but never danced with her) so I am not of a subjective opinion or something... But please people, those 2 just dance GREAT. so dont expres your negative feelings about them, just useless

[shakabrown]

Talk is cheap, but all are entitled to their opinions. I've been told by some that I don't do enough shines, others that I do too many. Told by some that I'm hard to follow, lead too light, etc. It's a constant adjustment between the the lead and follow to reach the point that it feels good for both. Funny thing I remember most about this day was that both shirts were borrowed, mine from Thirsty and MG's from V.

[gharlston11]

Sounds like salsasuzzii and salsacritic are drinking from the same bottle of Hatorade. Anyone can be a critic but where are your videos of you two following first then styling. It's easy to talk the talk but show me the video of either of you dancing the walk. What's that? Speak up, I can't hear you. Oh you said you don't have any videos posted on youtube for us to watch. Yeah I didn"t think so. Talk is cheap.

[salsasuzzii]

i'm not sayin i can do better. that doesnt mean i'm not educated reagarding salsa or dancing.

that also doesn't mean that i cant have a differnt opinion.

my opinion is this: i'm saying i dont like it when the girl leads herself. or when the stylin gets in the way of the guys lead. or when the girl dances above the guys level. its distracting and not very interesting to watch. thats all. i havent been rude, hating or any thing like that.

[zamichin]

exelentee

[jebiniv]

man I love watching Shaka. He (and Eddie Torres) is (are) the epitome of smooth!!! No questions or rough edges. I gotta take some classes with this guy!!!

[SalsaCritic]

Wow. Shaka and Eddie the epitome of smooth? Interesting choices. Eddie, I can understand. {shaking my head puzzled}

[salsaenthusiast]

That's crazy to put Eddie and Shaka in the same sentence.... LOLOLOL

[jebiniv]

why not? I mean Shaka is very smooth. I mean, real different from Eddie Torres, but still real smooth, whether hes dancing on stage or social dancing, he does some incredible stuff, as you see here, no magic tricks involved.

[salsaenthusiast]

I find myself cringing when reading some of these comments and comparisons. Eddie Torres is in a different planet,LOL. Next thing you know you'll mention Nancy Ortiz or Griselle Ponce, different planet. Play this clip again and look at his feet , now look at "tito ortos social dancing". Tito just spins Lucy 2 times the most but they bring flavor and no pauses whatsoever and yes it's on2.

[BayaSelim]

excelente..me gustaria bailar como magna. todos los pasos son increibles..y la pareja baila super bien..felicidades

[ezridax]

MAGNA STOPS ON DIME! I LOVE IT!

[Hypnot1cGaz3]

¡Chiquiti bum!

[salsasuzzii]

Too bad Magna doesn't dance like this anymore.

[bolivicano]

what do you mean?

[salsasuzzii]

i think that magn just dances for herself or for the crowd now. with all her ablilites she is not so fun to watch anymore because she is so much about herself that she leeads the dance instead of the gentlemen. you can see this in some of her more new videos.

[bolivicano]

ohh, i kinda see what u mean. i see it as her musicality not taking over the dance, but being shown through the dance at a high level. she just feels the music and isnt gonna hold back how the music makes her feel, only unless the lead is at a very high level and is constantly keeping her on her toes...or feet? haha

[salsasuzzii]

magna has almost unmatched musiclity. which is great!!! but i feel that salsa is a partner dance and when you stope dancing with your partner, your not really dancing salsa anymore. it sholtn't matter what level her lead is. just my opinion.

[jebiniv]

salsa of course has a lot of partnerwork to it. However, if you look at the original salsa that influenced many of the palladium era dancers, like Eddie Torres for example, you didn't even touch the partner; it was all what we now call shines. Actually my favorite dancers to watch have a great mix of both.

[salsasuzzii]

i agree with jbniv. should have both.

[jebiniv]

likewise salsasuzzii, many dancers I see who don't do even a little shines seem very dry and unimaginative.

[marielouise59]

SalsaCritic: The last sentence of your comment was not really necessary. It also lessens the credibility of what precedes it.

[salsasuzzii]

"Follow 1st, then style."

suzzii claps for salsacritic. :)

[ezridax]

i like magna alot but i have heard some others say the same things that you are saying. i like here style of dancing. i have looked at her vids alot past and present and i do notice difference , wether its for better or worse, is just a matter of opinion but i can see what u mean. i love this vid, but magna has got to weigh like 100 lbs for shaka to be able to spin her like that. very clean, this old vid is a good classic.

[salsasuzzii]

spinning isnt about how much you weigh. i've seen big girls (and guys!) spin amazinge. skaka and magna have great chemistry, i also like this dance. i just wish more of her neweer dances looked like this.

[ezridax]

thank u, i should meet u and maybe u can teach me how to spin! or maybe dance alittle smoother!

[magnagopal]

hi Salsasuzzi out of the many videos of mine that you have commented on I'm guessing this is the one you want me to reply to. As a follower and leader I definitely play around and do what I feel in the music. However, I adjust this to the level of my partners - If I'm dancing with someone advanced then I let go more and with less advanced dancers, I calm down. The dancefloor is my playground and my classroom; it is where I practice what I know and where I try out new things.

[magnagopal]

Most of the advanced dancers that I am fortunate enough to dance with give me a lot of freedom to play and a very good frame that allows me a lot of room to experiment. Sometimes if I'm really feeling a song it can take over but not always. In the few videos that you've criticized my following I think you would see the smiles, laughter and interaction as an indication of a fun dance for each other more than anything else.

[bolivicano]

bien dicho Magna! haha, jus playin :) u knows yous is coos.

[federman]

I'm having trouble understanding the criticisms here - when I dance with a follower who dances like Magna, the more styling and jazzy improv she does, the more I know she's comfortable with my lead, especially when the styling/improv is in response to my moves. To me, this is a gorgeous communication between two advanced dancers who are really enjoying each other on the floor. And isn't that what it's all about?

[jebiniv]

man there is no one smoother these days than Shaka!!

[hazellmocha]

the song goes by either name: "Bilongo" or "Negra Tomasa" - lots of versions by lots of people, but this one is Ismael Rivera

[fudgemeister]

Yes, this is danced on2 (Eddie Torres' style)

[franciscoramon]

is it danced on2??

[Latinoedward]

name of the song ? :O

[maridaly]

"isamel Rivera, "negra tomasa",

[marceloatp]

smooth ;)

[4rk4n705]

Outstanding! Very coordinated with the music.

[borysmambo]

excelente!! se peina shaka, con magna baile cuando estuvo en chile, una bailarina extraordinaria, los dos son geniales...

[jorgelrojas]

Shaka very smooth!!! Magna I have no words you are beautiful to watch!!!

[andrelimalogistica]

este casal é o melhor que já vi

[andreaelpidio]

hi!

You know the name of this music and in which version is it?

bjs

Andrea

[element98x]

This is "Bilongo" by Ismael Rivera

[oaktownnicoya]

omg u guys dance hella good, i wanna dance like that some day

[jlmendez26]

Amazing musicality! This guys are really playing within the music!

[Colombinany]

This is Ismael Rivera - La Negra tomasa (bilongo) And the dancing here is aweosme.

[Prince738]

The King and Queen of Mambo.

[arjc85]

Song name?

[salsavanessa]

Not sure about the musicians but the title of the song is "La negra tomasa (bilongo)" (by Ismael Rivera and Roberto Roena???)