About us:
- Strickly Salsa Biography [english]
- Strickly Salsa Biografía [español]
- Albert J. Gomez
- Ronald Gomez
Strickly Salsa
Biography
Since 1978 the Gomez Family has been recognized as a pioneer in the Toronto Latin
Entertainment industry for infusing their love and passion
for dance into their performances. They have showcased their
talent at Massey Hall for the concert of Tito Puente the
king of Salsa, Johnny Pacheco the producer of Fania Allstar
, the Queen of Salsa Celia Cruz concert, the musical A Rose
for Mr. Tango choreographed by renowed Argentian
choreographer Juan Carlos Copes and the Tango Vive
production. This infectious passion for dance was the legacy
passed on to Albert J. Gomez.
Albert, with the vision of
showcasing the richness of the Latin culture both in North
America and abroad, founded Strickly Salsa Dance Company in
1999, which allowed him to merge his obsession with the high
energy dips, tricks and flips of the dance, with his love
for music and entertaining.
Strickly Salsa quickly began to live up to its vision when
Albert organized a group of talented dancers in the city to
attend and participate in the 2000 Salsa Convention in Los
Angeles, California. The group made its mark as the first
salsa dance company in Toronto to represent Latin talent at
an international Salsa event. This event also showcased the
talent of Strickly Salsa's newest and youngest addition -
Ronald Gomez.
To date the Gomez Family and Strickly Salsa, have been
invited to travel to many international locations such as
the United States, Caribbean Islands, South America, and as
far away as Russia to share their passion and knowledge of
Latin dancing culture. They have performed for hundreds of
private functions for corporate events including: The
Toronto Blue Jays, Toronto Film Festival, Tele-Latino
Network, Canada Day at Queen's Park, Oro Solido concert and
Victor Manuel concert, to name a few. Strickly Salsa at its
members have also assisted with the dance choreography and
played the double for the film Tuxedo starting Jackie Chan,
and have been credited as dancer and actress for the movie
Take the Lead starting Antonio Banderas. Strickly Salsa has
also appeared in television series like Wild Card starting
Rae Don Chon, and commercials for: Procrit, McDonald's and
Malox.
Their speed, high energy and creative combinations have won
them recognition from Tele-Latino, Toronto Sun, CFMT,
Toronto Star, and World Salsa Congress of Puerto Rico. As
well, Insight Productions, who also produce the Canadian
Idol show, produced a tv special documentary about dance in
Toronto and they recognized Albert J. Gomez as a Salsa Legend
in Toronto. In addition they were
presented with a certificate for being "the best performers
and instructors" by Ethnic Press Council, presented by the
City of Toronto Mayor.
Strickly Salsa, working with casting directors, and event
planners and co-coordinators, remains focused on the future
as it expands its services to provide the ultimate source of
Latin entertainment. From Bands to DJ's, to Salsa to Tango:
Strickly Salsa Dance Company, a mix of Latin
entertainment.
Strickly Salsa
Biografía
Desde 1978 la familia Gomez siendo reconocida como la pionera en
Toronto en la indutria de entretenimiento latino impulsando
su amor y pasion por el baile en sus espectaculos. Sus
prestigiososs espectaculos en el Massey Hall para el
concierto de: Tito Puente y Jhony Pacheco, El concierto de
Celia Cruz la Reina de la Salsa, para el musical una Rosa
para el Senor Tango producida por Carlos Copes y la
produccion de Tango Vive. Este legado de pasion y amor por
el baile fue transimitido a Albert J. Gomez.
Albert, con la vision de demostrar
su riqueza por la cultura latina dentro y fuera de norte
america, fundo la Compania Strickly Salsa en 1999, que le
permitio a el fusionar su amor, pasion y obsecion por el
baile con sus pasos, combinaciones, trucos y acrobacias
para brindar entretenimiento.
Strickly Salsa rapidamente comenzo ha a vivir su vision
cuando Albert organizo un grupo de bailerines talentosos en
la ciudad para atender y perticipar en el congreso de la
Salsa en los Angeles California en el ano 2000, el grupo
hizo su marca como la primera compania en Toronto para
representar al Talento Latino en un evento internacional de
Salsa . Este evento tambien presento al nuevo integrante y
al mas joven Ronald Gomez.
Hasta el dia la familia Gomez Strickly Salsa, han sido
invitados a asistir a locales internacionales que incruyen:
los Estados Unidos, las Islas del Caribe, Sud America e
incluso a Rusia para compartir su pasion y conocimientos del
baile y la cultura Latina.
Ellos se han presentado a cientos de funciones privadas
hastas eventos corporativos incluyendo: en el Estadio de los
Toronto Blue Jays, El Festival de Filmacion de Toronto, Tele
-Latino Network, El Aniversario de Canada en el Parlamento
de Gobierno, El concierto de Oro Solido y de Victor Manuel,
por mencionar algunos. Tambien ellos han bailado y asistido
en la coriografia de filmes entre estas: Jackie Chan's
Tuxedo, Antonio Banderas Take the Lead, la seria de
television Wild Card protagonizada por Rae Don Chon, y
comerciales para McDonald's y Malox.
Su velocidad, explosiva energia y combinaciones creativas
han sido reconocidas por Tele-Latino, diario Toronto Sun,
cadena de television CFMT, diario Toronto Star y el Congreso
Mundial de la Salsa de Puerto Rico. Tambien los directores
de Insight Productions, la compania mas prestigiosa de
filmacion en Canada, producieron un documental de television
sobre la danza en Toronto y dieron el reconocimiento a
Albert J. Gomez como una Leyenda dentro del Mundo Artistico
en Toronto-Canada , y otorgaron un certificado como el mejor
presentador e instructor del baile Latino por el Ministro de
Cultura .
Strickly Salsa, continua trabajando con directores de
casting, operadores y coordinadores de eventos, seguimos
enfocados para seguir adelante en el futuro y expandir
nuestros servicios como fuente de entretenimiento latino.
Desde bandas a diskjeys, desde Salsa a Tango:
Strickly Salsa Company, a mix of Latin Entertainment.
Back to our roots
Albert J. Gomez
The creative force behind Strickly Salsa
Born in Toronto-Canada, with Ecuadorian roots, Albert J. Gomez was introduced to salsa at an early age by his uncle whose passion and love for the dance was infectious. He trained and started his professional dance career with his uncle in his mid teens where they coordinated events, instructed, performed and produced Latin entertainment events across the city and at their own night club in Toronto. Hungry to expand his Latin dancing skills, he studied with many ballroom dance instructors across the city as well as with several leading performing arts schools. To incorporate a more global style to his dance he went on to study with many well known dance instructors in the Salsa industry in New York, Puerto Rico, Los Angeles, and Cuba. With a University degree in Information Technology and International Business diploma and in-classroom certificate, Albert J. also possesses the business expertise that provides the foundation for the company.
In 1999, Albert J. Gomez opened his own dance company and studio, Strickly Salsa with the vision of showcasing the richness of the Latin culture both in North American and abroad. The company name evolved from his obsession with the high energy dips, tricks and flips of the dance, hence the spelling - S"trick"ly of the company name.
In 2002, Albert J. Gomez organized and produced Spring Madness sponsored by Travel Edge, Tele-Latino Network, The Puerto Rican Tourism Board, The Toronto Blue Jays, The Lung Association, The Power Cheerleading association, and Phlipcyde Urban Sportswear Company. The show brought together many talented performers in Latin dance (Salsa, Mambo, and Samba) and music, Hip Hop, Jazz, Ballet, Breaking, R&B, under one roof.
Later in 2002, Albert J. was recognized by the World Salsa Congress as "one of the best instructors" and was asked to teach and perform at the congress in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Albert J. has been choreographing dance moves for many opening acts in the Latin music industry including Sonora Caruseles, Grupo Gale, Oro Solido, Grupo Gale, Victor Manuel, Oscar D'Leon, and much more, as well as for the television series "Wild Card" (starring Rae Dawn Chong),Buenos Muchachos television series in Ecuador, a dance video for Abigail. As well he has acted as Artistic Director for Cineframe's "Salsa Heat" instructional DVD, executive producer for "My World", Nancy Di Nino DVD biography, and has Directed and Produced Strickly Salsa DVD biography and sample demonstrations. Albert J. has also organized and coordinated numerous festivals and corporate events across the province, performing with his dance company for the Boards of Director of CIBC, Royal Bank, Scotia bank, Sprint Canada, Loblaws, GUILD and Fairview Cadillac to mention a few. Albert J. and Strickly Salsa have also entertained at large community and sports events such as The Toronto Blue Jays Latin day, Latin Carnival at Ontario Place, Latin Day at Canada's Wonderland, CNE as well as Canada Day at Queen's Park. Albert J. is currently working with the Insight productions, producers of the television show Canadian Idol, to produce a television documentary on Albert J. and is dancing career with Strickly Salsa for the television special, Toronto Dances in June and July 2005.
Strickly Salsa continues to grow in popularity with the leadership and creative energy of Albert J. Gomez; which has earned him the respect and recognition of the Salsa community. His extensive dance background and training, experience in teaching and his performing, choreographing and producing skills have earned him that respect. However, it is also because Albert J.'s creativity and vision has created the very unique style of Strickly Salsa and continues to shape its creative direction.
Ronald Gomez
The legacy continues
Ronald Gomez has showcased his talent and passion across North America and the Caribbean Islands at salsa events, festivals, private and corporate events such as the Toronto Blue Jays, Miss Toronto Pageant, Niagara Falls Casino, Latin Day at Ontario Place to name a few. As well he has participated in Television/Film shoots for the Abigail Dance video, Carnaval for TeleLatino Network, Toronto Dances (a special television documentary on his brother Albert) for Insight Productions, and has done opening acts for Oro Solido, Sonora Carruseles, and Oscar D'Leon.
Ronald is the future of the Gomez legacy: to continue showcasing the richness of the Latin culture and passion for the dance to audiences through his own artistic expression as a performer, instructor, educator and events coordinator.
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