Friday, March 29th, 2024 • 5:30 PM
Besos Jazz Trio
This concert is FREE and part of The Wu Tsai QRT.yrd Concert Series. This concert runs from 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM. Please note this event is first come, first served.
SCHEDULE
3:30pm
Gates Open
4 PM – 5 PM
Swing Dancing Class with Maria Caligigan and Michael Saltus
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Performance and Dancing by Besos Jazz Trio
The Besos Jazz Trio has been stirring up audiences with vibrant performances of music and dance since 2017. These worldly performers are a study in balancing traditions. With roots in Mexican ballet folklorico, Claudia Gomez plays percussion and tap dances. Evona Wascinski, from Poland, brings a classical virtuosity to the upright bass. And Beston Barnett, a Nashville native, plays manouche guitar and sings in five languages. “We keep it loose but alive; we leave space for what each of us does best,” says Wascinski. Together, they improvise, sing, and dance their way through an eclectic stew of swing tunes and sambas, boleros and musettes.
Maria Caligagan’s impressive artistic professional career spans over 45 years. Her early training started at the Boston School of Ballet. At just 18 years old she moved to New York City to follow her dream of becoming a professional dancer. Her first big break was being selected as an original cast member in Jerome Robbin’s Broadway, performing at the Tony Awards, and then being promoted to a principal role. Other performing credits include ABC’s movie Cinderella, starring Brandy and Whitney Houston, as well as numerous TV commercials and industrials. As the Co-owner of Heatwave Productions, Event Entertainment and Salsa Inferno dance company, Maria has produced and directed hundreds of corporate events over the past 25 years. A choreographic highlight would be several productions with the Old Globe Theatre, including The Odyssey, The Taming of the Shrew, and Kingdom. In addition, Maria is a Senior Continuing Lecturer in the Theatre and Dance Department at UCSD with a teaching career of almost 30 years. She mentors dancers in ballet, jazz, musical theatre, tango, and all Latin dance. Maria can be contacted at www.swayandswoon.com.
Michael Saltus has become San Diego’s most popular club dance instructor. He’s been teaching weekly at the Queen Bees Salsa/Bachata club for over 20 years and substituting at many other venues. He has also performed at a Tango Dinner show for over 15 years at Pampas Argentine Restaurant. He also teaches various workshops both locally in San Diego and on the road at many Dance Festivals & Congresses. The workshops are focused on traditional dance styles & fusion dances such as Bachatango, Salsatango, Zoukchata & Kizango in addition to Salsa, Cha-Cha, Tango, Swing, Kizomba, & Bachata.