Awhile ago I wondered about the absence of dancers at Cocomo's on Monday nights: the nearly empty dance floor with plenty of room to dance, decent DJ music and only $3 cover - what else do you need?!
Since then Fernando and Mimi who teach there built a sizable following with large classes of beginners who know the value when they see it. Thursday nights dancer attendance has been steadily dwindling with unpredictable appearances, but now Coco's Mondays deserve to become new dancers' night. The difference is the incredible Pacific Mambo Orchestra, a new Bay Area mambo big band that showcases some of the best talent around. Moreover, they play for next to nothing. New faces as well as familiar salsa band members we never knew could play like that. That's what inspiration does to musical ability!
For years we danced mambo on 2 to salsa bands with rare mambo songs from a couple of local bands. Now mamberos have no excuse: Pacific Mambo Orchestra plays some of the classic mambo covers and other very danceable tunes. The golden era of big bands in the 40s and 50s with Tito Puente and many others on top of their game is behind us. But, if we support them, Pacific Mambo Orchestra will have a chance to become the only Bay Area Latin big band - how many of them left in the country?
San Francisco swing dancers revived the swing era that spurred faithful swing dance following all over the world. Can we do the same for mambo? Dance bands need dancer support to survive. It's up to us.
DIP [dance in peace]
MAYA SALSALOCA
