For many Beijingers – be them local or foreign – salsa dancing can be a great and novel way to pass the days' more romantic hours. But for Venezuela born Gilberto Romero, the genre was a childhood fixture from the go. Now the singer and his bandmates in Savor Latino have since grown up to convey that sense of fun and familiarity with the genre every Friday at Pachakutiq, turning the restaurant, and much of Sanlitun Soho’s basement lower floor, into a full-on fiesta.
“Growing up every weekend we used to get together at my grandmother’s house and play traditional Venezuelan music,” Romero says of his early exposure to salsa and other Latin genres. Years later, when the singer for his sister’s band failed to arrive at a gig, Romero stepped in and has been smitten with performing ever since.
Since arriving in China in 2003, Romero and Savor Latino have played on CCTV, were featured performers at the Latin congress, were twice honored with the best band award at the Beijing Chaoyang International Spring Carnival, and were invited to perform at various festivals across China. Romero got their start at Latinos, a bar then situated at Chaoyang Park’s south gate, singing in a band with a few fellow Venezuelans. They quickly became regular entertainers at Salsa Caribe, and Romero and Savor Latino went on to perform at a spectrum of venues across town – from Modernista and Yugong Yishan, to Centro and Pachakutiq.
"The first time I took part in the festival, my band and I changed the rhythm of a Chinese song to salsa," he says of playing at the Carnival in 2003. "It was the first time it was done, the crowd loved it. It was a wonderful experience."
Pachakutiq owner Francisco Chia touts Romero’s warm personality and vibrant stage presence, along with his range – from opera to salsa. That passion certainly shines through in conversation, as Romero says: “I would continue singing till the day I die and if there is a life after this, then there too I will sing. Though my music I want to spread joy, happiness, love, and peace.”
Catch Gilberto Romero and Savor Latino salsa dance party every Friday at 9pm at Pachakutiq.
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Email: kylemullin@thebeijinger.com
Twitter: @MulKyle
Photos: Gilberto Romero