DJ Michelle A DJ's perpective on salsa music and dancing By Jennifer Perry

 

For those of us in Vancouver who might not know who you are, please introduce yourself and tell us how you got into salsa and DJing.

My full name is Michelle Tanmizi. I'm Indonesian by birth but Chinese by ethnicity. I started salsa dancing by chance when friends took me to a salsa place back in 1997 in Hong Kong and I haven't stopped since. I found that I had a natural understanding of the rhythm. As a DJ, I started because I was too 'cheap' to pay for a Rugby Sevens event ticket in Hong Kong back in 2003. So to get in free, I was offered a co-DJ position and I accepted although I had zero knowledge and experience. But I found it easy to 'predict' what music the crowd wanted and kept the floor packed, which earned our 'box' the best dance party box of the event that year. After that, I was hired back to the event every year to DJ and 2007 made it my fifth. The music I play at the Rugby event is Hip Hop, R&B and commercial dance. I started salsa DJ work probably around 2004 (I cannot quite remember) and it was thanks to an opportunity offered to me by Mr. Joseph Ennin, one of Hong Kong's salsa promoters. I haven’t worked for him for over two years now, but continue to DJ locally and internationally since 2006.

So you were a dancer and DJ first and than developed your interest in salsa?

I was a dancer long before I was a DJ and before salsa, I danced to Hip Hop, R&B and even went to the infamous Rave parties of the late nineties. So it was clearly music that drew me to DJ work. And as I now have a stronger affinity to Latin music and culture, I have chosen to specialise in being a Salsa DJ

You've played at salsa events all over the world and have been recognized by Albert Torres at the 2007 West Coast Salsa Congress for your contribution as a DJ to the world of Latin music and dance. What has been your biggest gig so far and what have been the highlights of your career as a DJ?

Because it was my first international gig outside of Asia, my guest DJ work at the 2006 New York Salsa Congress remains my personal highlight for DJ work. It was also there that I met and worked with the late and very fondly remembered Mr. David Melendez. I feel blessed and fortunate to have had the chance to meet this legend of a man and he was literally the first international promoter who gave me the opportunity to become who I am today - an international Asian female DJ. Of course the award I received from Albert Torres is another highlight of my DJ career. I felt very honoured to have been the first Asian DJ to have received that award and will always be grateful to him for having recognised my work.

You recently wrote a very interesting article for iSalsa magazine about salsa in Asia. There are significant differences between the salsa scene in each country, depending on each country's culture and society – but is it possible to summarize the salsa scene in Asia?

Although others may beg to differ, in my own personal opinion, the Asian Salsa scene is actually divided into two regions - Korea and Japan on the one hand and the rest of 'us' on the other. For Japan and Korea, I can summarise the scene as being Amazing and Advanced. It is a known fact that if you find good dancers on the floor in Asia, then they would be either Korean or Japanese. As for the rest of Asia, I would say that the salsa scene is definitely growing, especially in countries like Singapore, Hong kong and Malaysia, but slowly...

One of the things you touch on in your iSalsa article that really interests me, because I see a similar thing here in Vancouver, is how salsa provides both a sense of community and an opportunity for people to express themselves in physical or sensual ways which is quite contrary to many Asian cultures and traditions. Can you expand on that some more?

I grew up in Indonesia and Singapore in a very traditional Chinese family where hugs and kisses are not common practices and where the value of affection is measured by the amount of pocket money given to you or the presents brought home by an absent father. Perhaps not all Chinese families are like mine, but I'm willing to say that A LOT are, at least in terms of non-demonstrative affection. In salsa dancing, there appears to be a non-verbal agreement that body proximity is accepted and sensuality is allowed. Therefore, it appeals to our culture of non-bodily affection and taboo-ridden sensuality. Salsa is a 'safe' place where sensuality is not frowned upon and where a man can be close to a woman without guilt or being labeled a pervert. And what better way for couples to find affection and attraction for each other than through this normally suppressed expression of intimacy? In salsa, a man who can dance is sought after, no matter HOW he looks like and a woman who can dance becomes the centre of attention. In a culture where most people are not 'seen', it is a revelation of the Self!

Let's get back to the music. I think it's interesting that here we are, two Asian women, talking about DJing salsa music! I'm not a professional DJ but I play the music at the events we organize and occasionally for other Vancouver salsa promoters. I put a lot of thought before an event into the music I select and play but always adjust my playlist depending on who's on the dance floor. When you're DJing, do you start with a playlist or some songs you want to play, or do you just read the crowd and respond to it?

I never have a playlist when I DJ and I never know in advance what I will play. I just watch the crowd and the dance floor and feel the energy. Each song I choose is in function of the moment and sometimes I 'guide' the crowd towards another mood by the next songs that I choose. Because the crowd is made of different individuals, I try as much as I can to play songs to suit each different type of dance style, ie on-1 or on-2 or even a little (non-timba style) cuban.

In other music scenes there are many women DJs, but in salsa it seems like it's still very much dominated by men - what have been your experiences as a woman DJ working in the salsa/Latin music world?

It is definitely a little more challenging as a female DJ and probably more so as an ASIAN one because latin music is not supposed to be in our 'blood', but I have been fortunate to have met people who believed in me and my ability to play the music, including and especially Mr. Albert Torres, DJ Nelson Torres and the late and great Mr. David Melendez, who gave me my first international break. At the end of the day, I believe that you are ultimately judged by your REAL ability to DJ, not by the people you know, but their help is important to get you to be noticed by others. Proud though I am and sometimes even too proud, I acknowledge that we all need a little help once in a while. As a DJ, whether female or not, of Latin origin or not, to be a good one it takes work, a willingness to educate yourself on the technical aspects of the job and a dedication to the music and culture. When you're a good DJ, your public is your most honest judge and they will show you the love when they like what you play.

You dance salsa as well - On1 or On2? Who inspires you as a dancer?

Yes, I dance on-1, on-2 and Cuban style. I stayed a month in New York City in September this year and took some lessons with Yamulee, Melanie Torres and an ex-Eddie Torres dancer, Gabriel Perez. These dancers inspire me because of the fluidity of their dance movements. I am a fan of Eddie Torres as well because I prefer a smooth and refined style of dancing to the 'acrobatic' ones.

Can you explain to salsa dancers what makes a good salsa song for dancing? What are some of the things that one should listen for?

For me personally, I love what I call 'complex' salsa songs, made up of great danceable melody, breaks and a 'shines' section normally presented by percussion. A great example is Un Verano en Nueva York by Gran Combo, one of my favourite songs, Ray Barretto's Guarare or Tipica 73's Guaguanco de los Violentos.

What are your plans for the future?

To continue to DJ when and where I can, but essentially to get back to corporate work life because although glamourous, DJs don't earn much money unless you are world famous and I'm far from world domination...

 

 

Visit DJ Michelle's website at djmiche.com or myspace.com/dj_michelle_hk