(Originally posted on SalsaNewYork 0n 1/03)
As a public service announcement SalsaNewYork has posted this email message in the event any dancers/directors/choreographers would like to read over the strict guidelines which Mr. Albert Torres would like to have followed when submitting your team to this year's LA Congress. - by Manny Siverio

2003 LA Congress Registration Guidelines
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR DANCE TEAMS AND PERFORMERS AT THE 5th ANNUAL WEST COAST SALSA CONGRESS
- by Albert Torres 

Albert Torres Productions, Inc. would like to congratulate the directors and their teams for having been selected to perform and represent your city, state and country at the 5th Annual West Coast Salsa Congress.
We want to thank all the teams and performers that sent us their audition tapes. Each year you make this process harder and harder due to the great talent and versatility that is out there. Again, congratulations to the teams that were selected and we hope that those of you that did not get chosen this year will still attend and support the congress. There is always next year.

We want to bring to your attention to some important details that will help all of us make this event a fun and easy process. Please help us by following some simple directions so we can give you the best Salsa Congress to date.

The Directors of each team are responsible for contacting Albert Torres Productions, Inc. for any information on their teams. Please ask your team members to not contact us directly unless it is an emergency. ALL questions or inquiries should come from the team's director. Sorry, if we receive phone calls or e mails from close to 1,000 performers we will never get the schedules and other important items completed in time.

ALL TEAMS CHOSEN NEED TO REGISTER ON LINE BY MARCH 1, 2003. (NO EXCEPTIONS). WE WILL ALSO NEED PAYMENT BY MARCH 1, 2003. IF WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED YOUR TEAMS COMPLETED REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT BY THIS DATE, WE WILL ASSUME YOUR TEAM HAS DECIDED NOT TO PERFORM THIS YEAR. PLEASE REGISTER UNDER THE PERFORMERS REGISTRATION LOCATED ON MY WEBSITE AT www.alberttorresevents.com.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, THE DIRECTORS OF YOUR TEAM SHOULD CONTACT MAYA TORRES AT maya@atpevents.com

Any changes will be accepted till May 1, 2003. After May 1, 2003 there will be a charge of $50 per change (whatever the change).

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
Bring at least two (2) CDs with only the music of your performance on the CD. If the CD has more than your performance music, it will not be accepted. Only your performance music should be on the CD. When mixing the performance music on your CDs, please mix it on different brands of CDs, due to the problem that some professional DJ's equipment don't read all the brands of CDs out in the market today.
Please bring these CDs to your scheduled rehearsal. We will inform you about your scheduled performance date and rehearsal time about two weeks before the congress.

We require you to rehearse your number on stage with your full team.  The rehearsal time will be given to you ahead of time. Once it is confirmed, it is mandatory that you show up to the rehearsal or you will not perform.

Please try to use ORIGINAL music this year. There are some beautiful songs that would make great performance music that have never been used. Be different this year!

No smoking will be allowed on stage at any time, due to LA Fire Dept, regulations.

70% of your performance music needs to be SALSA. Remember this is a SALSA Congress.

We are requesting strongly that your performance numbers do not contain guns or violence. We are living in a stressful time with the world on edge. The purpose of this Congress and the performances are to, "Create Unity Through Salsa".

Please make sure that your costumes, performances and your music is appropriate for all ages. At Albert Torres Productions, Inc we are very proud to have been supportive of youth salsa groups all over the world. We believe in our events being a safe and creative place for dancers of all ages and lovers of this music. Without telling you how to dress or how to choreograph your numbers, we are requesting that you keep all this information in mind when putting your performance together.

STRICT TIMETABLES FOR YOUR PERFORMANCES
Due to the amount of teams performing, we have put together some firm guidelines on how long your performance can be. If these guidelines are followed, your performance will not have to be edited too much and will be selected to be part of the West Coast Salsa Congress Videos seen all over the world. If at rehearsal we feel you have not followed these guidelines, your team may not perform. PLEASE work with us on this.

If your team consists of 2-4 performers the time for your performance is limited to 3 minutes.

If your team consists of 4-6 performers, the time for your performance is limited to 4 minutes.

If your team consists of 8 or more performers, the time for your performance is limited to 5 minutes.

We believe that these are very fair guidelines so we can move the shows forward in a timely manner. Please help make this possible. Please no e-mails or phone calls asking for any changes of these guidelines for your performance.

After your performance we will supply each team with a video copy of their performance at no cost. Please be sure to pick up your video on the night of your performance. Only one video tape per team.

As in previous years, we will give one hotel room per team to all teams from outside of the greater LA and Orange County area. We will pay for the hotel room for Friday, Saturday & Sunday nights. This room will ONLY be for performers on the selected team. Each room is limited to a maximum of 4 performers. Team directors will be responsible that this gift is not abused. If we are made aware that our confidence has been violated we will ask the directors to pay for the room and the team will not perform. Please do not abuse this courtesy. If you have any questions, please e-mail Maya Torres at maya@atpevents.com (Directors Only Please). If you are interested in coming earlier or staying later in your hotel room we can offer you our discounted rates as long as you register through ATP as soon as possible. All other hotel rooms needed for the rest of your team need to be registered and paid through ATP so we can get you the best rates possible through our blockage of hotel rooms. Don't wait too long, the rooms are going very fast. Over 600 registrations from over 35 countries have already been received. This does not include all the instructors, musicians, VIP guests and dance teams that are about to register.

We have reserved all the rooms in one hotel to make it one big party and easier for transportation. All rooms this year have been reserved and guaranteed by Albert Torres at the LAX Hilton Hotel at a Congress discounted rate if you get the room through Albert Torres Productions at www.alberttorresevents.com All Hotel Registrations For The Congress Teams And Attendees Need To Go Through ATP. Register Online Today Before The Prices Go Up!

If you choose to go through other means to reserve your hotel room, we cannot guarantee that your room will be available. Last year a few people choose to register directly with the hotel and ended up having to be moved to another hotel because of our hotel blockage. Many times the hotel operators will sell you a reservation without being aware that we have blocked all available rooms in the hotel for our attendees. Make your life easier and just register through us. We guarantee your room 100% if you book it through us.

Discounted rates can also be applied to dates before and after the congress as long as they are reserved through ATP. We will also give out coupons for discounts at the hotel restaurant and spa/gym. We are working on getting discount tickets for the various Hollywood attractions, ie: Disneyland, Magic Mountain, Universal Studios etc. Free Airport Shuttle Service (24 Hours) from LAX airport to the LAX Hilton hotel.

Shuttle Buses From Hotel To Hollywood Park (Evening Venue)
Provided For All Attendees That Register For Congress & Hotel Through Us. All Others Will Be Charged A Shuttle Fee Each Way.

FULL EVENT PASS INFORMATION AND LATIN MADNESS
Dance teams selected and ONLY their dancers performing at the West Coast Salsa Congress will be able to attend Friday, Saturday & Sunday evenings at no cost. We strongly suggest that your dancers chosen to perform at the Congress to buy a Full Event Pass that will only cost them $50 for the entire weekend. This pass will entitled them to the Thursday Pre Congress Party and all the workshops. They will also be able to get the discount entrance to Latin Madness of only $20 for a total package cost of $70. Those not buying the Full Event Pass For Performers will then have to pay $25 for Latin Madness, $15 For The Pre Congress Party and not be able to attend any workshops. The $50 fee entitles the performer to attend the Thursday night party and all of the workshops and remember we are bringing the best instructors of Salsa in the world. For $70 you will get all of the above and Latin Madness.
(Sorry, Team Members Not Performing Are Not Entitled To This Special Price). We will be reviewing dance team registrations with the amount of dancers performing on stage. Any differences could be cause for your team not to perform. Assistant Stage Manager will confirm with the amount of dancers performing with Directors of each team at rehearsal.

NEW SPECIAL PERFORMANCE TENT
Remember: We are building a special tent for the evening performances. The tent will hold over 3,000 seats. We heard your concerns and each year we try to make the LA Congress better. There will also be DJ's playing music during the shows for those dancers that prefer to dance then watch the shows.

The musician's stage with various large dance floors will be moved outside under the tent. We will then lift the sides of the tent so we will get the fresh air and dance almost under the stars. All of the evening events will be at The Hollywood Park Casino where we can dance till 4AM. The address of the Hollywood Park Casino is 3883 W Century Blvd in Inglewood, California.

We will have dancing in another room to international DJ's playing music during the shows for those interested in dancing and not watching the shows.

PRESENTING SPONSOR'S DANCE COMPETITION
Albert Torres Productions, Inc. and our presenting sponsor are pleased to announce that they will be presenting the qualifying rounds of a special dance competition as part of the 5th Annual West Coast Salsa Congress. Everyone including professional performers and instructors are invited to participate in this open salsa dance competition. These qualifying rounds will be conducted on Friday May 23, 2003 from 1:00PM-3:00PM at the LAX Hilton International Ballroom. The couples selected from the qualifying round will be eligible to participate in the finals of the competition. Couples picked for the finals should be prepared to perform a two minute routine to their pre recorded CD. The finals will be conducted at the Hollywood Park Casino on Saturday May 24, 2003 at 7:00PM.
This dance competition will give all 5th Annual West Coast Salsa Congress attendees a chance to win a grand prize of $7,500. The dance competition will be judged by a renowned panel of judges who will select the dance pair that will win the chance to compete at the finals at Lincoln Center'' Midsummer Night Swing in July in New York City. The grand prize in New York City is $7,500. All interested in participating in the qualifying round of the dance competition need to register at www.alberttorresevents.com before May 15, 2003. Limited space available.

WORKSHOPS
All day events including workshops will be held at the LAX Hilton hotel.  We are working on making the workshops not as crowded and with monitors so you can see the instructors well. We will have the risers higher for the instructors. The intermediate and advanced workshops will be held at the LAX Hilton's ballroom with high ceilings. The beginner workshops will also be held at the LAX Hilton but in a room with the ceiling not as high. We will provide monitors. We will also provide a separate room for dancing to DJ's music during the day workshops. The only time we will not have a room for dancing to DJ music is during the educational workshops at noon on Sat and Sun for 1 ½ hours each day.

HERE ARE THE DANCE TEAMS SELECTED TO PERFORM IN THE EVENING SHOWS:
(THIS LIST ALSO INCLUDES THE INVITED INSTRUCTORS TO THE CONGRESS)

Eddie & Maria Torres & The Eddie Torres Dancers (NY),
Frankie Martinez & Abakua (NY),
Seaon Stylist & Amanda Estilo & Stylists Dance Company (LA & NY),
Johnny Vazquez Y Su Imperio Azteca (Mexico, Spain & LA),
Luis & Joby Vazquez & Salsa Brava (LA),
Francisco Vazquez & Los Rumberos (LA),
Rogelio Moreno & Salsabor Y Cache (LA),
Edie "The Salsa Freak" & Al Espinoza (LA),
Laura Canellias & Salsa Confunkshon (LA),
Jai & Candy (NY),
Tropical Gem (Italy),
Josie Neglia, (LA),
Nelson Flores & Descarga Latina (NY),
Thomas Guerrero & SantoRico (NY),
Modesto Cepeda & La Familia Cepeda (Puerto Rico),
Felipe Polanco (Puerto Rico),
Brett Sturgis & K-Y Company (New York & Netherlands),
Rene Geuits & Salsa Lovers (Miami),
Ricardo & Michelle & Pretty Boys & Girls (San Francisco),
Gabriel Romero & Mambo Romero (San Francisco),
RicaSalsa (San Francisco),
Orville & Ana (Toronto),
Royalty Salsa (LA),
Alex D'Silva (LA),
Liz Lira (LA),
Ismael Otero & Caribbean Soul (NJ),
Nancy Ortiz & Juan Matos (NY),
Manuel Mascarell (Spain),
Victor & Gaby & Salsa Con Clave (Mexico),
Rafael Pion & Rumba De Fuego (Puerto Rico),
Duplessey Walker (NY),
Addie Diaz & Addie-Tude Dancers (NY),
Bernard Martinez (NY),
Jimmy Anton (NY),
Robert Charlamagne (UK),
Moris & Sonia of St Tropez (Montreal),
Super Mario (UK),
Ava Apple & The Latin Symbolics (San Francisco),
Yessenia & Danny (NY),
Yemaya (LA),
Salsa In The Mix (LA),
LA Salsa Kids (LA),
Salsa Y Fuego (San Diego),
Salsa Dance Squad (Netherlands),
Mas Salsa (Germany),
Salsamania (San Francisco),
Tinkache (Phoenix, AZ),
Rafael Munoz & "The Latin Dancers" (Munich, Germany / Mexico),
Salseros With Attitude (Singapore),
Son Bravisimo (San Francisco),
Candice & Laith (UK),
Afeenix Dance Co (Riverside, CA),
Salsa Conexion (Venice,Italy),
Hacha Y Machate (Lawrence, MA),
Corason Latino (Mexico),
SoundMasters (LA),
Los Jovenes Del Swing (Chicago),
Sin City Salseros (Las Vegas),
Rumba Rica (San Diego),
Mambo Dream Team (Toronto, Canada),
Salsa Y Control (Boston, MA),
Salsoneros (Pomona, CA),
Majesty In Motion (Two Guys)(San Diego, CA),
Sals'n' Jazz Dance Co (Paris, France),
Revelation Dancers (New York),
Flavor Productions (Group)(Chicago),
Sabor Latino Dance Co (Portland, OR),
Roc & Davida (San Francisco),
Rhythm Divas (New York & Miami),
Latin Motion (Melbourne, Australia)
Yemaya Salsa (Sacramento, CA),
Alberto Romay & Mika Takenaga (Cuba & Japan),
Janette Janette's (Tokyo),
Chevere (Osaka),
Ol Ryoko & Ryu (Tokyo),
Mambo Sampin (Okinawa),
Alberto Romay Dance Co. (Cuba & Tokyo),
Wasabi (Tokyo),
Alexistyle (Guatemala & Japan)
Salsa Locos (Osaka),
Team La Bomba (Tokyo),
Los Salseros 2 (Tokyo)
Spin & Naomi (Korea & Japan),
La Puerta (Korea),
SalsaPower (Zurich),
SALSAtional (Alhambra),
Son D' Hawaii (Hawaii),
BCN Dancers (Barcelona, Spain),
Laura & Leo (Italy),
Salsa Modena (Vienna, Austria),
Dubai Salsa Team (Dubai, UAE),
Mambo Tribe (Toronto, Canada),
Fusion Latina (Peter & LaShion) (Foster City, CA),
Somos El Son (Seattle),
Salsa Pasion (San Diego),
Descarga Rumbera (Las Vegas),
Reblu Dance Co (Detroit)  

HERE ARE THE DANCE TEAMS SELECTED TO PERFORM DURING THE AFTERNOON SHOWS:
Salsa Racing (Miami, Florida),
Salsa Loca (Paris, France),
Salsa Fusion (Tokyo),
Richard & Hiro (Cuba & Tokyo),
Salsa Bailar (Kumamoto),
Salsa Viva En Sapporo (Sapporo),
Team Shadow (Nagoya),
Bobby & Mitsu (Tokyo),
Los Salseros 1 (Tokyo),
Salsabor (Tokyo),
Chimpun Callao Dance Co (Gardena, CA),
Latin Energy Dance Co (Toronto, Canada),
Tribu Nueva DC (Alameda, CA),
Khalilah & Edgar Martinez (Beaverton, OR),
Cosalda D-Co (Houston, TX),
April On 2 Dancers (Boston, MA),
Ritmo In Action (Boston, MA),
JAS Dance Productions (Healdsburg, CA),
Salsamania Junior (San Francisco),
Energy One (Argentina),
Alvarez Brothers, (Mexico),
Salsa Caliente (Bulgaria),
Guaguanco Dance Co (Texas),
Santa Rica (Calgary, Canada),
Salsa Chicas Dance Team (El Segundo, CA),
Club Cesar Y Sus Traviesos (Santa Ana, CA),
La Evolucion Dance Co (Vallejo, CA),
Salvaje (Phoenix, AZ),
Salsabrosa (Austin, TX),
SalsaSuave (San Diego),
Flavor Productions (Couple)(Chicago),
Sandunga Dance Co (Dallas, TX),
Salsa Karibe, (Miami),
Salchevere (Torrance, CA),
Da Dance Mix/Aloha Rumberos (Hawaii),
Hot Salsa Dancing (Hawaii),
Salsa Con Sabor Group Number (Beaverton, Oregon),
Salsability (Netherlands),
Majesty In Motion (Group) (San Diego),
Salsa Fuego Dance Co (Springfield, VA),
Descarga Caribe (Chicago),
Ritmo Y Sabor (Originales) (Pico Rivera),
Ritmo Y Sabor (Children's Group) (Pico Rivera),
Pablo & Jorge (Chicago)
Group Explosion Dance Inc. (Boston)

SEE YOU IN MAY IN LA
COME EARLY / DON'T MISS LATIN MADNESS / BUY YOUR TICKETS TODAY
WE ARE ALMOST SOLD OUT FOR LATIN MADNESS / GO ON THE LA BUS TOUR OR COME EARLY FOR THE BEACH PARTY AND THE PRE CONGRESS PARTY
GET READY TO SALSA TILL 4AM

Albert Torres
5th Annual West Coast Salsa Congress
May 21-25, 2003
"Creating Unity Through Salsa"
If We Were All Dancing There Could Be No Wars