Ep3 w/Ramel Strong: Black American Impact on NY Latin Music, DEI, Philosophy of Dance

This episode features Ramel Strong. He is from Memphis and has danced and taught mambo, salsa, and bachata for many years. He also has an immense background in finance and business.  In this episode, we discuss the African-American/Black-American involvement in Latin music in New York especially with styles like mambo, latin-boogaloo, and salsa music. We also dive into the issue of inequality in Memphis and that African-Americans, who make up the majority of the city should have more opportunity and equity. 

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Intro music by Melvin Lindsay: melvin.lindsay.jr@gmail.com
Outro music by composer Tiki Tiki on epidemicsound.com

Chapters

• 0:00 Intro
• 6:34 Introducing Ramel Strong
• 14:11 When Ramel started teaching dance
• 16:42 When dance styles diversify
• 18:15 When dance styles diversify(contin.)
• 19:58 Dance as a parallel to martial arts
• 21:07 Latin Music in NY segue
• 22:08 Ownership of salsa music
• 24:27 Conversations between Black jazz musicians and Cuban + PR musicians
• 29:08 Latin Boogaloo + Joe Baatan
• 31:55 Blackness + Latino Identity
• 38:51 Why should you learn to dance
• 43:48 Dance as a philosophy
• 48:04 Bachata is Misunderstood
• 51:04 Bachata's similarities to Blues
• 53:24 Black people Social Dancing Scene
• 56:15 Misrepresentation & Access & Opportunity in Dance World
• 1:00:18 Reliving Swing and Foxtrot through Latin Dance
• 1:03:32 Equity & Inclusion, Diversity
• 1:15:47 How COVID-19 affected Ramel
• 1:23:44 Ramel Strong's Favorite Music
• 1:30:52 Outro