August 9: Debut HBO documentary “El Espiritu de la Salsa”

The actual range of the large appeal that Salsa has transcends the borders of the Latino community. This multi-cultural and transnational music and dance form with its hot Caribbean rhythms and Afro-Cuban sounds are rightfully represented in the new HBO documentary “El Espiritu de la Salsa”, which translated means, "The Spirit of Salsa".

The documentary, which debuts on Monday August 9 and exclusively on the American HBO TV channel, follows a mixed group of ten New Yorkers as they discover the life-changing abilities of Salsa. The show will be aired from 9:00 to 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. The magnificent soundtrack of the documentary “El Espiritu de la Salsa” features international Salsa legends such as Tito Puente, Héctor Lavoe and Eddie Santiago, as well as modern pop icons such as Nora Jones. This documentary is the last of the HBO Documentary Films summer series.

The documentary, which was realized by Academy Award-nominated filmmakers  Tim Sternberg, Matthew O’Neill, Francisco Bello and Jon Alpert, follows ten amateur dancers   preparing for their very first Salsa Show performance. They have had only six weeks of extensive training and coaching from the international Salsa Dance celebrity, instructor and choreographer Tomas Guerrero of Santo Rico Dance Company.

The documentary puts people from all over New York in the spotlights – including a macho Queens construction contractor, a Midtown Manhattan policeman, a heartbroken Wall Street trader and an E.R. doctor from Battery Park – who have one thing in common: a desire to  upgrade their lives through Salsa dance.

Tomas Guerrero meets with the dancers each week in his studio in Spanish Harlem – New York – where he guides them with the words “pride, power and perfection.” He helps his students to overcome both physical and emotional barriers before they can perform in front of their friends and families, robbing their hearts, and proving that anyone can learn Salsa. Santo Rico – who's name is a combination of Santo Domingo and Puerto Rico – has influenced the global Salsa Dance scene since 1995.

This is a video clip of Tomas Guerrero in action:

Other play dates on HBO: Aug. 10 (10:30 a.m., 12:30 a.m.), 14 (11:00 a.m.), 20 (3:00 p.m.), 22 (4:30 p.m.). HBO2 play date:  Aug. 11 (8:00 p.m.).