EntertainmentGuide
Tampa Clubs Anjali Restaurant - Tampa 8725 N . Himes Ave 813-933-4403 Latin Nights ; Friday , Saturday and Sunday .
Black Beans Cuban Bar & Grill – Tampa 8218 Hanley Road ( 813 ) 884-2080 Latin Nights : Friday & Saturday
Caliente Casino @ The Gulfport Casino Info : greg _ richardson _ 01 @ hotmail . com Latin Nights ; Thursdays - Gorgeous Location !
Club Mirage - Tampa 3605 W . Hillsborough Ave .* ( 813 ) 673-8835 * Latin Nights on Wednesdays & Fridays 9:00 PM . Gorgeous , upscale club . Home of 1st . Fridays , Latin ConneXions , the Biggest Latin Business Networking in Tampa Bay ! 5:45 PM - 10:00 PM . Free Parking , Complimentary Buffet , LIVE Entertainment ! Call : ( 813 ) 901-5292 .
Coco Bongo - Tampa 4235 Armenia Ave ., Tampa 813-873-7776 * Latin Nights on Fridays and Saturdays @ 9:00 PM .
Don Leoncio - Downtown St . Petersburg 340 1st . Avenue North 727-895-3402 * Upscale NY Style Cigar Lounge . Live Music . Call for schedule
Green Iguana Bar & Grill – Tampa 9202 Anderson Rd ( 813 ) 288-9076 Fabulous Latin Night on Thursdays by Vaya DJ !
Hyde Park Café - Tampa 1806 W . Platt St Latin Nights on Thursday Nights @ 10:30 PM . Great looking club !
La Rumba Restaurant and Bar - Tampa 3409 W . Columbus Dr ( 813 ) 876-3191 * Latin Nights on Friday , Saturday and Sunday @ 10:00 PM .
Paracas Nightclub – Tampa 3602 N . Armenia Ave 813-348-4806 * Friday Nights : Lots of Great Salsa ! Latin Format Thursdays – Sundays .
Park Place - Clearwater 420 Park Place Blvd . ( SR 60 / Gulf to Bay and US 19 ) 727-791-6114 * Latin Nights on Wednesday , 9:30 PM . Free salsa dance classes .
Piazza Roma “ Havana Heat ” @ The International Mall – Near Blue Martini Latin Nights on Fridays . By : Vaya DJ
Recuerdos Bar - Tampa 6416 North Florida Ave ( 813 ) 234-1267 * Latin Nights on Tuesdays thru Sundays @ 9:00 PM .
Recuerdos Bar II - Tampa 4347 West Waters Avenue , Tampa ( 813 ) 887-3065 * Latin Nights on Tuesdays thru Sundays @ 9:00 PM .
Salsa Fridays at the Pier , downtown St . Petersburg 727 515-1086 * Latin on Fridays @ 7:00 PM . No cover charge , Free dance class .
Salsa Saturdays @ Baywalk - St . Petersburg Info : greg _ richardson _ 01 @ hotmail . com * Latin Night on Saturdays @ 7:00 PM /
Skye – Ybor City 1509 8th Ave 813-247-6606 * Latin Night on Fridays @ 10:00 PM
Storman ’ s Nightclub Ulmerton Road - Clearwater Latin Night on Saturdays .
Do you have or know of an entertainment establishment serving the Latin community in the Tampa Bay & Orlando areas and want it listed here ? Then Call NOW ! TPA : ( 813 ) 901-5292 ORL : ( 321 ) 284-4599
Studio Inc . - Tampa 3603 Waters Ave . 813-935-5339 * Latin Nights on Wednesdays , Fridays and Saturdays @ 9:00 PM .
Velvet Room – Tampa 615 Channelside Dr ( inside Margarita ’ s Mama ) ( 813 ( 228-7300 Latin Nights : Friday @ 9:00 Pm , Very Nice !
Orlando Clubs Club Mambo - Orlando 2368 W . Oakridge Road 407-761-8903 Latin Nights ; Friday , Saturday
The Club @ Firestone - Orlando 578 N . Orange Avenue 407-872-0066 Latin Nights : Fridays
Club Paris - Orlando 122 W . Church St . ( Cnr of S . Garland & Church St .) 407-832-7409 Latin Nights : Wednesdays
Club Element – Orlando 39 W . Pine Street Orlando , FL 407-841-1556 Latin Nights : Saturdays
Club Whispers – Orlando 4732 Kirkman Road 407-290-9896 Latin Nights : Fridays
Coco Bongos - Orlando 1350 S . Orange Blossom Trail 407-859-7225 Latin Nights on Thursdays , Fridays and Saturdays
Destiny Nightclub – Orlando . 7430 Universal Blvd ( 407 ) 351-9800 Latin Nights : Fridays
Glo Lounge – Orlando 8967 International Drive 407-351-0361 Latin Nights : Saturdays
Latin Quarter - Orlando Located in City Walk Universal Studios @ Universal
Roxy Night Club - Orlando 740 Bennett Rd . next to Colonial Dr . 407-898-4004 Latin Nights : Wednesdays , Sundays
Salsa Latina Night Club – Orlando / Kissimmee 2783 S . Orange Blossom Trail , Kissimmee 407-870-0600 Latin Nights : Fridays , Saturdays , Sundays
Samba Room - Orlando 7468 W . Sand Lake Rd . 407-226-0550 Latin Nights : Fridays , Saturdays
Tabu - Orlando 46 N . Orange Avenue 407-648-8363 Latin Nights : Sundays
There once was a time 10 years ago when Erika Occhipinti had no clue about salsa-dancing . That was then . Fast forward to today – 28-year old Occhipinti now owns her own dance studio – Salsa Caliente in Tampa , Florida . The petite brunette born in Chicago , and raised in Tampa shares her skill with hundreds of students every week at Studio Inc . Night Club and Swing City Dance Studio .
“ It is the most passionate , sexy and fun form of dance ,” Occhipinti said . “ Latin clubs are much more fun that American clubs .”
It all began with her college roommate at USF , who used to play salsa music . It peaked Occhipinti ’ s interest and she
“ Salsa Caliente ” in Tampa , Florida By Rosa Mercado began going to Latin clubs and learning to salsa dance . “ I started taking “ Rueda ” lessons from an instructor from Miami ,” said Occhipinti . Rueda is the popular Cuban salsa style where couples dance circular-style while continuously switching dance partners . Occhipinti was hooked . She was then offered a job by Salsa Heat based in Orlando , Florida .
Since then , Occhipinti has taught and performed at Salsa Congress events in New York and Orlando in addition to opening her own salsa dance studio six years ago . At Salsa Caliente , Occhipinti & her fellow instructors teach “ New York ” style salsa . Most salsa studios teach either the New York or L . A . styles . Occhipinti said the New York-style is more cool , laid back and sensual . “ New York style is more linear – you dance on a straight line and do ‘ spot ’ turning - which means the girl stays in the same spot when she ’ s being turned ,” explained Occhipinti . “ LA-style is more flashy , and uses flips and dips .”
Occhipinti shares instruction with Co-Director Juan Paredes and Instructor Mike McElwreath , in classes that are arranged by various skill levels .
“ It ’ s so satisfying when you see students who start out knowing nothing & then progress into a good dancer ,” Occhipinti said .
And for those who are intimidated by the thought of dancing solo ? Edna Pabon , Assistant Instructor , said that ’ s not a problem here . “ You don ’ t have to bring a partner ,” Pabon said . “ Classes are structured so that you continually rotate dance partners .”
Pabon started taking classes a year ago after a break-up , and soon found she had a new passion – salsa . “ It just gives you an incredible feeling !” Pabon said . For more information on Salsa Caliente ’ s classes , visit www . salsacaliente . com .
• September / October 06 • Abraza El Calor De Tu Cultura !