CELIA CRUZ TRIBUTE

With 4,000 in attendance, last Saturday’s Celia Cruz tribute show was one of GP’s biggest. The crowd energy felt distinct. There was a palpable sense of love in the air: Love for her legacy. Love for salsa music. Love for dancing. Love for community. Love for LA. In every pocket of California Plaza, from Grand Avenue to the entrance of Angel’s Flight, throngs of Celia fans gathered and danced the night away, smiles ear to ear.

Celia Cruz was the Queen of Salsa and an icon to hundreds of millions of fans the world over. Leading into the night, the pressure was on to throw a proper tribute show to her. Havana Secret certainly understood the assignment. Cruz’s surviving band played with panache. Their three lead vocalists honored Cruz with not only their superb singing, but also their fiercely energetic stage presence and dancing.

Hong Kong DJ and renowned salsa aficionado Gia Fu helped set the table earlier in the evening, pulling out deep cuts in an expertly programmed set. The crowds were already on their feet, shuffling and spinning at 6pm. Later dance troupe Contra Tiempo helped teach basic salsa dance lessons to the crowd. The lessons were meant for salsa newcomers, but dancers of all skill levels joined in to show their communal support. It was beautiful to witness, truly deserving of Celia Cruz’s legacy. Azucar!