Beating the drum for salsa

Ernesto Lechner’s article cheerleading for salsa (“Salsa Holds Sway in L.A.,” Sept. 13) was praiseworthy and quite informative as to venues and notable players. The Times gets a minor boo, however, for being uninformed about the principal percussion instrument, the conga drum pictured on Page 29 but referred to as the much smaller bongo, typically held between a seated player’s legs.

The dedication of the musicians is also exemplified by one of the bandleaders mentioned, Susie Hansen, who has an electrical engineering degree (from MIT, no less) and could be earning a lot more.

Consider: In multiethnic L.A., the bottom line is one’s ability to perform on the dance floor. There is never (and has not been in my experience) a question of age/generation or ethnicity. For me, a social scientist, salsa dancing and its diverse ethnic components ought to be taught in junior and senior high as a credit course equal to PE. As Albert Torres has said, it could bring us all together. It already does in the various clubs and restaurant-bars.

F. Daniel Gray

Los Angeles

Fantastic piece. It reminded me all over again why I love the music and the dance.

Francesco R. Barbera

Los Angeles