Frankie Martinez & Lori Perez -- Babalu (in Korea)

Frankie Martinez is widely recognized as one of the best Salsa/Mambo dancers in the world -- and he is my personal favorite. Here he is performing in Korea with one of his regular performance partners, Lori Perez. If I'm not mistaken, the clip is from sometime in 2003 or 2004.

The routine is not a traditional Salsa/Mambo/Chachacha partner routine, but it is still cool nonetheless. Frankie's body movement is just phenomenal. The song is called "Yo Soy Babalu" by Richie Ray and Bobby Cruz.

For more information about Frankie and his dance company ("Abakua"), go to www.abakuadancers.com

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Frankie
• Martinez
• Lori
• Perez
• Babalu
• Salsa
• Mambo
• Cha
• Abakua
• Afro-Latin
• Dance
• Company
• Dancers
• Salseros
• Baila
• Bailando
• Korea

[geosalsa]

Its is clear to see that LA people think that doing stunts and a turn with a pause is dancing....or "FEELING IT"..Doesnt matter what they say....frankie and many others would burn a new one in them any day...NYC is where its at.

[Big10]

I have no doubt that there are good and bad dancers in New York City, just like there are good and bad dancers in Los Angeles. Anyway, it would be nice if more people would simply appreciate this clip for what it is, rather than criticizing each other for what they are not....

[toto352]

Frankie's dancing is often rigid and passionless and purely based on technique..what makes a male dancer great is firstly 'fire'!Lori Perez looks far superior to him in this respect, could watch her forever..his arm movements are odd and outside of the 'music'looks like doing some kinda 'gay kung fu' routine at times..

[Big10]

I honestly don't see how anybody could describe Frankie's dancing in this video as "rigid and passionless." Was it Opposite Day when you typed your comment? LOL.

[flipinchicago]

great dance, nice costumes... cept the guy, kinda odd.

[Big10]

Ha ha, that was a funny way to end your comment. If Frankie is "odd," then at least it's in a good way! He comes up choreography and movement that most of us "normal" people wouldn't imagine. ;-)

[raysalsa1]

there are different styles and people dance at different levels. some interpret music differently. different songs have a different feel. timba, mambo, 70's salsa, columbian based all has different feel. a real seasoned dancer should be able change their body movements and steps accordingly. if someone is beginner that doesnt mean their bad just inexperienced. dancing shouldn't be about competition unless u really care about the recognition of others. whose opinion is really holier than thou?

[joeyt46]

the perception that people have today about salsa dancing and taking it to a different level depends in how we see it,ilove how these joung people arecontinuening to dance salsa.however you must feel the music and don't see that in alot of these people from were ever you are.all of these dances are from schools and is evident when you see them dancing

[poutinebbq]

She's got it and doesn't look like she's flaunting it. He's fabulous. And he knows it. Which makes him annoying.

[gdaort]

pense que no se iban a tocar en todo el video

[paaaapo]

este tipo esta BIEN, BIEN en lo que hace.aprendan con FRANKIE si es que pueden

o copien si es que puedennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn­nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

[dancer69xx]

@toto352 .. Its clearly a rift between LA and NY styles that causes people to criticise one or the other.. I have to say that I dance mainly LA, but I recognise the absolute superiority of Frankie Martinez as the greatest male dancer I have ever seen... He can do things most mere mortals cant dream of and his choreography is beautiful to see....

[nineinchsalsero]

@geosalsa

LA is a joke. Mexicans don't understand our music.

[HimeBerrii]

africans have influenced the world

[kimbaloca]

love love love this routine!!! and i just gotta give all respect to lori, how she doesn't just hang w/ frankie, she's right up there with him knocking us out! bad ass!!!

[labtennis0827]

I agree with Raysalsa1. Anyone who considers themself a dancer should expose themselve to various styles, genres, etc. because that makes one a more complete dancer. If one is just out to have fun, then that is cool too. But judgement and impatience are not needed.

[boobitas]

very well put raysalsa1 !!! Dance is expression!