New York City. Ground zero for one of the most inspiring and captivating art forms in the entire world. MAMBO. Specifically on the "2". A city whose cultural melting pot far outweighs any other city throughout the nation or country throughout the world for that matter. It is said that if one can make it in New York... One can make it anywhere.
   Many talented individuals filled with dreams and high expectations have come to this great city attempting to make a quick impact. Some have even dared to try and conquer it. It is with this latter approach that many have crashed and burned. Only a select few have been able to come from the outside and establish themselves in a city where, as singer Henry Fiol states in one of his compositions, "Dog eats dog and for a dollar they'll kill you for it..."
  One such individual has not only made their mark as a singular musical force to be reckoned with as a nightclub DJ, but has been able to achieve prominence in this great MAMBO dancing Babylon without any boastful claims of greatness or exuding an air of superiority.

  This individual is as down to earth as when she arrived in the Big Apple a few years ago and has not allowed her newfound fame to change her personality or approach to music in any way. She has allowed her skills and talent to do the boasting for her. The person I am referring to is New York's dominant DJ Diva....la gran.....Elvira Dominguez.....

 Mambo Magazine: Elvira, please give us a little history of your background with regards to where you're from and what life was like growing up. Was "SALSA" a part of the Dominguez household?
 DJ Elvira: Well, my name is Elvira Dominguez and I was raised for most of my early childhood in Caracas, Venezuela, which was where I was born. I was pretty much a happy, as well as active, child growing up together with my parents and older sister. As for the music, many people are really not aware but "SALSA" is very much a part of the Venezuelan culture. As a teenager, my older sister would always be playing it in the house so you couldn't help but listen to it and appreciate it. There were many "SALSA" bands in Venezuela. One of the more popular being LA DIMENSION LATINA that featured the sonero, Oscar D'Leon, who also doubled as the bass player. They were playing all over the place. Not only at the nightclubs but at Colleges, House parties and the private social club functions. Functions in which I personally attended with my family. SALSA music was also played a lot on radio, on buses, stores and even on the beach. So I was exposed to SALSA very early on because no matter where you turned, it was there being played for you to enjoy.

  M.M: Tell us about some of your earliest ambitions growing up? Did music play a big part in your dreams for the future?
  DJ Elvira: Ever since I was a teenager, my dream had always been to travel the world, see different places, meet different people and learn about different cultures other than my own. Then after I had completed this wonderful journey’s I would settle down, someplace really hot, and buy a ranch filled with horses and start a big family. Those were my dreams then. Since then, I've accomplished traveling throughout the world and have succeeded in bringing several other ambitions (I later added to my list as I got older) to reality. One of them was to come to New York City and became a SALSA DJ. And not just a good one, but a great one. As a youngster, although I enjoyed music very much, I had never dreamed that I would be involved with the music on a professional level. So I'm grateful that most of my goals that I had as a child, have come to pass as an adult.

  M.M: What are you're recollections about Venezuela? Do you recall what the musical preference was of most kids your age along with other residents of your "barrio?"  Was there other music that was otherwise preferred by "el pueblo?"
  DJ Elvira: As I stated previously, SALSA was and IS the most popular music in Venezuela. Other musical styles that the people enjoyed were the traditional kind such as Joropo, Merengues and Baladas were among the other musical forms that many Venezuelans appreciated as well.

  M.M: What was your very first experience with the music known as SALSA? How old were you? How did you first get involved in the SALSA scene? Dancing socially at home? Parties? Clubbing? Etc?
  DJ Elvira: Quite honestly I can't recall THE very first time I experienced SALSA music, but more than likely I was very young. On a professional level, my induction into SALSA was upon entering the London Salsa scene, which was about more or less 6 years ago. Prior to that experience, I had left my home of Venezuela and moved to Madrid, Spain at the age of 12. While in Spain, I didn't even listen to SALSA at all. So I guess it just caught up with me as I settled in London and became a DJ. 

  M.M: What was your first inclination in wanting to become a DJ and where and when was your first experience as a DJ in front of an audience?
  DJ Elvira: Well, I got the DJ bug and decided to spin SALSA music after I got tired of listening to the same music over and over again every time I used to go out to dance at a local club. I wanted to hear the music that I liked and music which I felt others would enjoy as well. My first gig as a DJ was in a club in London called GOSSIPS. I personally organized the party with another promoter and little by little it started to grow and we got quite a following.

  M.M: What type or style of SALSA music were you spinning back then? 
  DJ Elvira: I pretty much played the same music then that I play today. Although my music collection and knowledge has grown throughout the years.

 M.M: Who were your influences, if any?
 DJ Elvira: More so than an influence, my main INSPIRATION to how I spin music has, and always will be, the dancers.

 M.M: Did you feel any pressure getting involved in an occupation that relied so much on controlling the mood of the crowd? Or did it come naturally to you?
 DJ Elvira: I never thought of or looked at DJ'ing as a stressful job where you can feel any type of pressure. People go out to dance and have a good time. My job is to play great music for the public to enjoy by either simply listening to it or as most often people end up doing, dance to it.

 M.M: Going back to your London experience, what was the salsa scene like? What style of SALSA were some of the other notable London based DJ's playing?
 DJ Elvira: Well, if you compare it to NY, the variety of music was somewhat limited. I found that DJ's generally played the same stuff. It was hard to find any music and very rarely did SALSA bands ever visit London to perform. The ones that did were very well known, yet it was an experience you could have for solely once a year. However, when I left London, the scene was growing pretty fast. So hopefully, things have improved with regards to musical variety at the clubs.

  M.M: While in London, were you completely satisfied with DJ'ing or did you feel that you needed more of a challenge?   

  DJ Elvira: When I first visited New York, and witnessed the SALSA scene, I decided to jump out of the fish bowl and into the big tank. I wanted to learn all about SALSA that I could. To learn how to dance on "2". To see all of the great bands "LIVE" and up close. And ultimately to become a part of the SALSA scene as a DJ.

 M.M: Upon moving to New York, did you have any doubts or feel worried about having to start over again in a new environment? Or were you confident that New York City would embrace your DJ style and eventually enjoy a following in no time?
 DJ Elvira: No, I wasn't worried at all. The SALSA scene in New York fascinated me. It was where I wanted to be so I didn't let any fear or doubts stop me from achieving my goals. I embraced that challenge to become a SALSA DJ in the Big Apple. When I saw the amount of fantastic dancers and "PURE SALSA" fanatics, I realized that my chance to succeed was very possible.

 M.M: Who were some of the individuals you came across in New York City that perhaps lent you a hand with regards to what the scene was all about?
 DJ Elvira: One of the very first people I met in the business was DJ Henry Knowles. He introduced me to some other people in the seeing, such dancers and later on gave me the opportunity to play at El Flamingo. Another person that played a very important role in my learning process in this business, especially in the music field was Winslow Fabian, whom shared his wide and tasteful knowledge of salsa with me. He made the process of my success shorter.

 M.M: Where was the first venue you DJ'd at in New York?
 DJ Elvira: El Flamingo.

 M.M: How was that experience like? What was going thru your mind as you debuted in a known New York nightclub spinning your fiery brand of SALSA music?
 DJ Elvira: I was VERY excited, more so than nervous. The crowd enjoyed it so you can say my debut went pretty well.

 M.M: Where'd you go from there?
 DJ Elvira: After that, I went to work at the world famous COPACABANA nightclub. Although at first it was as a waitress and not a DJ. It was at "The Copa" where I met many people who would help me later on. One of them being Glee Ballard, the general manager of the Copacabana, who would later give me the opportunity to DJ there on Sundays.

 M.M: Which venue did you get your first regular weekly gig at?
 DJ Elvira: At the Cuban Soul parties @ NELL'S on Wednesdays, followed by the Sundays at The Copacabana.

 M.M: How did you gig at NELL'S come about? Did it ever cross your mind that it would eventually become one of the more popular spots, if not THE SPOT on Wednesday, in the New York SALSA scene?
 DJ Elvira: Well, I first started to work at NELL'S as a host at the door. At that particular time, the downstairs area was not really happening. So I asked Roger "Candela" Barr, who is the promoter of the CUBAN SOUL Wednesdays, to give me a chance as a DJ and be able to spin some SALSA in the downstairs space. After insisting for quite some time, he finally gave me a chance and I've been there until this day.

 M.M: Name some of the other venues or events you've worked at professionally either as regular weekly DJ or featured guest DJ.
 DJ Elvira: The Copacabana, China Club, SOB'S, The Supper Club, Side Street, Puerto Rico Salsa Congress, L.A. SALSA CONGRESS, New York Salsa Congress, Bistro Latino, Joe's Pub, Club Monaco, Kit Kat Club, Club Babalu, La Belle Epoque, Club Casino, South Street Seaport Salsa Festival, Hush, The Conga Room and other places, far too many to mention, outside of the United States. 
   
 M.M: Who might be some of the other DJ's in New York that you personally enjoy?
 DJ Elvira: DJ David Salas, Nelson Torres & Danny Ramirez.

 M.M: What would you say is the relationship between the dancers and yourself? Would you say that it is a healthy relationship? Mutually respectful? How do you go about trying to appease them?
 DJ Elvira: I personally know most of the professional dancers in New York. So I'd say that my relationship with them is good. Most times, as I am working at a club spinning music, they are my inspiration.

 M.M: One of the biggest praises you've received from admirers is that you allow songs to be played from beginning to end in your rotation and maintain a PURE SALSA format. Unlike other DJ's who attempt to perhaps mix each song together at once or switch from one genre to another. How would YOU personally describe your style? Do you think there will always be a market for a strictly SALSA musical format in venues?
 DJ Elvira: Well, my style is basically just that. “PURE SALSA” Which is another term for the Classic SALSA sound of the past that has been lost in today's commercial market's musical approach. I do not mix. I feel the dancer should be allowed to enjoy themselves in their space on the dance floor without compromising the music and their dancing in any way. And yes without a doubt, I truly believe that there is a market for a SALSA only format at clubs. I'm living proof of that.

 M.M: Although you are regarded as the DJ Diva of SALSA and the architect of the PURE SALSA style.... IS SALSA, in actuality, your number one preferred music of choice? Are there any other musical genre's you'd be interested in getting involved with? If not as a DJ, but in another context?
 DJ Elvira: I love all kinds of music like Jazz, Hip-Hop, Soul, Gospel, Classical, Acid Jazz and Latin Jazz, just to name a few.

 M.M: Throughout the years the role of the DJ has slowly but surely received it's level of respect and importance. As a woman, do you feel that you have a DOUBLE burden to carry? To not only represent as an overall quality DJ, but in the mere fact that you are perhaps unwillingly representing and paving the way for other female DJ's to choose this occupation? Is there any pressure from that BECAUSE you are a woman?
 DJ Elvira: Not really. I have always perceived and assumed the role of the DJ as being just that. A DJ. You can be a male or female DJ, there really isn't much difference to what is expected of you and what your goal as a DJ should be. Which is to play some quality music and make sure the dance floor is filled with people having a good time dancing or enjoying the music from their seats. So me being a woman have no bearing on my responsibilities as a DJ or create an added pressure or burden to what I do. I let the music speak for me and leave it at that. Male or female, it all boils down to one thing. Either you have it, or you don't.

 M.M: What are some of the problems or issues that DJ's face today? Do you have any solutions or suggestions to resolve these problems, if any?
 DJ Elvira: One of the main issues is that many club owners and promoters simply don't realize or want to accept the importance of the role of the DJ in their establishment. Most times they usually underestimate the work involved in making sure everyone is having a good time and keeping things flowing positively on a consistent basis throughout the night.

 M.M: Many Salseros, not only in New York, but all over the globe regard you as one of Salsa's premieres DJ's. Does Elvira feel that she's accomplished everything she wanted to do or does she have a long way to go in achieving her dreams?
 DJ Elvira: There's always something else to be achieved. I have many plans ahead of me and many more dreams I'd like to accomplish in making them a reality.

 M.M: Do you have any advice for any striving DJ's out there, male or female?   

 DJ Elvira: I would say the same to either a male or female DJ. If you love the music and feel that SALSA music is your passion, then don't hesitate and go for it!

 M.M: Before we wrap up, what's next in line for DJ Elvira? What can we expect in the future from her?
 DJ Elvira: Well one of the things I've always wanted to do is to get on radio and produce music. So hopefully, this goals will also be realized.

Elvira Dominguez is certainly not short on dreams. What makes her special is her drive to get what she wants and her success in obtaining whatever she puts her mind to. And sure enough she proved once again that no dream is too big to conquer.  Elvira Dominguez was invited to host a radio program, as a special guest, at a local New York Radio Station. Hopefully, this may be the start of another era in the life of Elvira Dominguez.

       
Richie Blondet