Luis Vazquez and Melissa Fernandez live the life that many of us would love. They travel worldwide showcasing their Salsa routines, meeting dancers, making friends, teaching them as well as learning from them. They dance today in Ukraine, tomorrow in Brussels; one day they’re back in California and soon after gone to Europe again.

While they are acquainted with many dancers here in Los Angeles, most of us really only know of them. We know they can dance up a storm, and we have heard their names plenty, but have no background, no details. 

It is said that every person has a story, and it is the intention of this interview to allow us to learn what Luis and Melissa’s stories are. 

Given their hectic schedule, gathering the information for this interview was rather an international event, of sorts. I was given a phone number in Korea, received e-mails with Italian characters, and some answers were actually given while on a plane! I was flattered when I heard that the interview provided entertainment not only to Luis and Melissa, but to several other plane passengers who joined in on a mock “CNN Salsa World News” interview based on my questions. Hey…I say it is a good thing to help people stay stress free, don’t you agree? 

Let us now learn more about these two popular dancers, Luis Vazquez and Melissa Fernandez... 
 

Dena B.: Hello guys. It is my pleasure to talk to you, and I thank you for your time. Hopefully we can come up with a nice product for VidaSalsera.com. Let’s start with the basics: Where were you born, and where is ‘home’?

Luis V.: I was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. GUADALAJARA! GUAAAAAAAAAAALAJJJJJAAAAAAAARRRRRRA!!!! SING IT! I currently live in Los Angeles, but sometimes I feel like I live out of my suitcase! Soon though, we will be moving to Lugano, Switzerland.

Melissa F.: I was born in Los Angeles, California of the U-S of A. Home is currently in Los Angeles but will soon be Lugano, Switzerland with Martin & Pamela of http://www.newstyledance.ch

Dena B.: Do you mind sharing how old you are Melissa?

Melissa F.: Don’t mind saying it at all [smile]. I just turned 27 years old, a Scorpio, born November 15^th. I celebrated my birthday last month in Tokyo.

Dena B.: Luis, I read that you started dancing in 1992, correct? What got you into dancing?

Luis V.: Yes, that’s correct. I went to a competition at JC Fandangos and that’s what really motivated me to start dancing. I will never forget what it felt like to watch the winner do half a split, it was the best feeling. 

Dena B.: Luis, your two brothers dance as well. Which one of the three started first?

Luis V.: Francisco was the first, and then it was me, and then Johnny. It’s weird to say this. It’s making me remember how we all started at the Dance Factory in Long Beach so many years ago. We would have never imagined it was going to take us this far.

Dena B.: Luis, do you consider yourself a ‘street’ dancer, or a trained / schooled dancer?

Luis V.: A super trained dancer that took classes in the finest ballet schools in New York. Ha ha ha! just kidding. I am a ‘street’ dancer in training to become the best I can. 

Dena B.: How would you guys describe your personal styles?

Luis V.: Energetic, original, contagious, lots of fun. I also feel my style constantly evolves as times change. It’s just like fashion or technology, everyone grows and you can not be the same dancer you were when you started.

Melissa F.: I’d like to think that mine is strong, feminine, sexy and fierce as Jhesus Aponte says it…ha ha… You know it really depends on the song. Different parts call for sexy footwork, others for a smooth cha cha, and others for crazy partnering. Dancing is so beautiful, a creative way to express your emotions. I think dance definitely brings out the character in you. 

Dena B.: Melissa, is there pressure in dancing with one of the ‘Vazquez brothers’, given their fame?

Melissa F.: Yes and No. I feel that in the beginning I was scared (not pressured) that I was not going to be an adequate replacement, but Luis never put pressure on me. I think we were both uncertain about how ‘dancing together’ would be. We both had unspoken feelings that we needed to grow in our dancing. We were hungry to improve and still we don’t feel we have gotten there. We still have a lot to learn and conquer as artists, as people, Luis as a father, as business entrepreneurs, etc. An innovative mind always wants more and like Luis said, it is consistently evolving. We always have something to learn from others, whether through DVDs, inspiration, privates or words alone and I think this is really important for all artists.

Dena B.: How rigorous is your training?

Melissa F.: We don’t rehearse as much as we would like to, but that is just because we have a really busy schedule. When we do rehearse, it is serious and down to business, no goofing around [laugher]… no, really, I’m serious Luis, stop laughing…

Dena B.: How long does it take to get down a new routine and have it be good enough to perform for an audience?

Melissa F.: It depends. If, lets say, we work every day for three hours…hmmmm….maybe we could put it together in one month. The quality of the routine is vital. Is it for a competitor in Japan? Is for a couple that flew in just to learn a routine in three days? Luis and I are constantly changing our choreographies, maybe it’s a count of eight, maybe it’s a flip...

I think choreography has to finally settle when you can see it thru a video camera and are 100% satisfied. But when do you really feel like that?! Luis and I work well choreographing. We generally flow. He will start a count of eight and I will finish the combination. Then we’ll get stuck and start laughing because we are all tangled up like pretzels, and then it is fun because we have to create new moves and figure out a way to get out of the pretzel. 

Dena B.: Sounds fun! Now, Luis… do you dance to music other than Salsa?

Luis V.: I like dancing to merengue, bachata, reggaeton, cha cha, to be honest, anything. Even when I’m not a professional hip hop dancer, I know how to enjoy all types of music. I don’t think I’m normal. When Francisco and I were younger, we would go to the night clubs in Mexico. We were the first ones there and the last ones to leave and I don’t remember taking a break unless it was to use the restroom or get some water. AHHHHH!!!!! Now I can use this energy for dance. 

Dena B.: Melissa, do you have activities outside of Salsa? If so, what are they?

Melissa F.: Oh yes! I love to read and write. I am on my fourth journal, just finished ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’ by Arthur Golden and started ‘Bee Season’ today. I’m big SC football & a THINK-BLUE Dodger Fan (so glad Nomar’s on our team now.) There’s nothing like watching a game LIVE.

Perfect Date: nachos, a beer and tickets to go see SC kill UCLA… [laughter]… I also love watching musicals and live comedy shows like Carlos Mencia…HE ROCKS! Between privates, rehearsals, classes, my family, friends, the gym, reading, writing, the business, musicals, seminars, the classes I take, the post office… I can’t believe the energy I have and people wonder why I don’t have a boyfriend. (laughing). I’m married to my business. 

Dena B.: Nice, we should go to a musical sometime. Speaking about your writing, I went to your website [http://www.melissafernandez.com ], and noticed you keep a blog. How often to you add to it? Does it get personal? How interactive is it?

Melissa F.: I try to make entries right after each congress I attend, but sometimes I’m so busy I can’t. My personal life stays private but I also want to share some of my dancing experiences. You know, I’m really lucky to travel and dance, get to do what I love and get paid for it. Not everyone can wake up and say “I LOVE MY JOB.” I have learned so much about myself, respect, about people, cultures, norms, history, etc., by traveling. I wish the site was more interactive. People approach me all the time to tell me that they read my online diary, and lots of times they tell me they were at those same events, or that something I wrote was funny. It’s a small way of telling people about my adventures.

Dena B.: If you guys weren’t dancing, what do you think you would you be doing?

Luis V.: You know, that’s a really good question… I don’t know. This is difficult. Before I started dancing, I sold clothes. I’m not going to tell you where because you’ll laugh…hahahaha. OK, if you want to know, ask me personally. I love clothes and had always wanted to open a chain of boutiques in Mexico, but at this point in my life, I am much more goal oriented towards my business. 

Melissa F.: Law, psychology, teaching, business, who knows…I love to help people… really, I love people. Sometimes I get stepped on because I’m nice. I’ll tell you one thing though, I am a go getter. I don’t wait for things to happen. Whatever I pursue in life, I am pretty successful at it. It probably sounds cocky (especially when you are reading it and not hearing me in person) but if you know me, then you know my character and know I’m humble.

Dena B.: Do you see your personal lives changing in the near future?

Luis V.: My personal life has been changing already and I like that because it has made me stronger and wiser. 

Melissa F.: It is unpredictable. I don’t plan out my personal experiences. Some of the most beautiful things have happened to me without planning them. Those are the best.

Dena B.: Are you happy?

Luis V.: YES YES YES! Because I feel like I have been reborn to learn from all the mistakes I have made and get to enjoy new experiences in life. 

Melissa F.: Clarin mamacita… de lo máximo [laughter]. I’m happy most of the time; of course, we are only human and also have some down days. 

Dena B.: Luis, is the Salsa scene in Europe different than the scene in the U.S.?

Luis V.: Oh yes! It’s a completely different atmosphere, but in the end we are still the same, we are just people that enjoy dancing to the same rhythms.

Dena B.: Do you like performing or competing best? 

Luis V.: I like performing, I don’t like competing. I used to like it, but there is too much stress involved and it does not give me the feeling that performing does.

Melissa F.: I like both. They both give me two different types of ‘high’. In competition, I get this unexplainable rush that I love. In performance, I get to share my fire on stage. But soon Luis and I will be competing…right? (laughter) C’mon LUIS!!! 

Dena B.: Just curious Luis, in the competition world, do you think the judging is fair?

Luis V.: I think that in life not everything is going to be fair, but I have been seeing changes throughout the years and I can say that it is getting better.

Dena B.: Great. Let’s lighten it up, do you have any funny and/or odd stories to tell?

Melissa F.: Oh my goodness mami, ALL THE TIME [laughter]. Once I forgot to put on my dancing briefs [laughing]. We were in Korea and they had already announced us, the lights were off and Luis was trying to find my briefs. My friend took hers off and handed them to me, but I could not stop laughing, so much that I had trouble putting them on. Luis and Jhesus Aponte, Francisco, and everybody were worried for me. 

Another time, I was social dancing and there was a circle around me. Well, this one girl started crying and I stopped dancing. I turned to her and hugged her, everybody turned, and she pushed me away. She pushed me really HARD! Ha ha. She told me that she had always heard of me, and that she was waiting for this day. I didn’t know what to say, so I started to cry too. I will never forget that. 

Just this past weekend, we were in Milan for Johnny Vazquez’s TWISTER Congress and the all the artists agreed to improvise another team’s routine with their costumes. So, some of the girls and I put on ‘Son Colombianos’ costumes and improvised their “African-Green” routine. I was running late because the bra did not fit me, so I put a nude colored body fishnet and safety-pinned lots of green leaves to my breasts to make it as JUNGLE as possible. I also had Green-Leafed Shorts on. I ran downstairs to the venue and was in such a hurry I didn’t realize which door I was running into…. Ready for this??... I walked into another reception!! OPPS! HAHA… looking like Eve! (from Adam and Eve). I could go on, the story gets better but it’s too long. Funny and odd things happen to us ALL the time, in airplanes, backstage, on the street, rehearsing, etc. I love it! I don’t think I ever have a dull moment. 

Dena B.: What is in the near future for Luis and Melissa?

Luis V.: Until the end of 2005, we are really busy, so that means that there is a lot of good things coming for us. I hope God allows us to make more of our plans come true. We are doing really well and I could not be happier than dancing with Melissa.

Dena B.:  The latest news is that you will soon move permanently to Europe.  When, where to, and what will you be doing over there?

Melissa F.:   Yes! our ONE-WAY plane tickets have been bought to leave January 22-06.  I'm not good at Good Byes. We knew we wanted to move to Europe for 2006 but we weren't sure where. Most of our work is in Europe.  It doesn't make sense to fly back and forth every other weekend.  So we will be exclusively teaching for New Style Dance School in Lugano Tuesday through Thursday and then we will have the weekends free to travel to different congresses throughout Eurasia.  We plan on forming the Mas Salsa Brava Dance Company.  We were offered to work with dance schools in Milan & Rome but we decided Switzerland. Lugano is BEAUTIFUL!  You only read about places like these in books; besides we will be half an hour from Milan."

Dena B.: I hope I'll get to visit!  How about down the road? Let’s ask the infamous question… what about five years from now?

Luis V.: I see myself still in Europe or in Asia because of the opportunity of business in Latin dance, but I will be back to the US to be with the most precious thing in my life, my beautiful daughter Pacion.

Melissa F.: If you had asked me that five years ago, I would have given you an outline of my academic goals and deadlines, but since I started dancing, my life has taken spontaneous curves. Whatever I will be doing, whether I’m rich, poor, running my own business, dancing, starting a family, living in Paris, Spain, whatever, I’m sure I will be happy. 

Dena B.: When people hear of Luis and Melissa, what would you like them to think of?

Melissa F.: I want people to think MAS, fire, strong, energetic, crazy, soulful, creative, unique, with a warm and welcoming feeling… ok, maybe not all that! [laughter]

Dena B.: Ok guys, this is your chance to add whatever you want, any thoughts, thank-yous, announcements, go for it!

Luis V.: I would like to thank my family for all the support they have given me throughout the years. Thanks especially to Melissa Fernandez, my brothers Johnny Vazquez and Francisco Vazquez, and to all the students and friends worldwide who have been involved in my life in one way or another, and contributed to the growth of Salsa. Thank you!! See you on the dance floor. Don’t forget we are moving to Switzerland so we hope to see you soon!

Melissa F.: I would like to thank my family for everything I can not express in words. I would like to thank and tell Luis that I appreciate him. 

Also, we have TWO NEW Instructional DVD’s on Sale. ‘Melissa’s Moves Vol I, the ingredients to Ladies Styling’, and ‘Mas Salsa Brava Partnering on 1’. If anyone mentions this interview, we will send the DVDs for $30 USD each (regular price $40). Please visit our web sites: http://www.massalsabrava.com  and http://www.melissafernandez.com  

I’m in for a crazy ride in 2006. If anyone plans on going to Europe next year, email me. I’ll give you the 411 on congresses and clubs. SEE YOU ON THE DANCE FLOOR. Thank you Dena  :)
 

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You're very welcome Melissa.

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Hearing from Luis Vazquez and Melissa Fernandez was a pleasure. They have a good sense of humor and a reputation that precedes them. I hope that what your read above will come to mind the next time you see them perform, whether in the US or in Europe.

The best of lucks to Luis and Melissa with their new European adventure! 

See you all on the dance floor!