Over its 25-year history, the Winter Music Conference has become one of the top electronic dance conferences in the world. Last year, the WMC attracted music industry participants and fans from over 70 countries to Miami during the five non-stop days of seminars, workshops and performances.

The Winter Music Conference Takes Over Miami

In 2011, the WMC is moving from its normal hotel setting to the Miami Beach Conference Center. It still retains the South Beach location, crucial for the evening showcases and parties, but the larger venue allows for more attendees to enjoy all that the WMC has to offer.

Dates for the 2011 Winter Music Conference have been announced for March 8 to 12. Organizers haven’t announced the showcase DJs and artists, but last year’s WMC list included the likes of deadmau5, Grammy-winner David Guetta and Black Eyed Peas’ Will.I.Am.

A five-day WMC industry badge, which includes admission to all of the seminars, panels and demonstrations, along with access to the showcases and majority of evening parties, is currently priced at $325 through December 22, 2010. It then goes up to $375 until January 19, 2011, after which, the price jumps to $425 until Feb 23, 2011. After that, if there are still badges left, they’ll be $475 at the door.

The WMC badge also includes free admission to the International Record Collectors show and the 26th Annual International Dance Music Awards, both held during the WMC.

The Winter Music Conference website not only has purchase information, but conference rates listed for area hotels like the Albion Hotel, The Raleigh, Grand Beach Hotel and Courtyard South Beach. I recommend you reserve your hotel as soon as possible as rooms tend to sell out fast with the number people that come to town just for this event.

The only downside to the 2011 WMC is that the Ultra Music Festival, a huge outdoor electronic music event, has decided to part ways and go it alone as a separate festival. It’ll be interesting to see what the WMC will come up with in its place.

[Photo courtesy WMC]

Traveling isn’t just for personal reasons; travel can be for charity, too.

The travel bloggers at Passports with Purpose, in partnership with Friends of Lafti, are promoting travel for the 3rd year in a row with the goal of raising money to build a school in rural India. Using their clout in the travel industry, these travel bloggers are asking readers and fellow travelers to help in their goal of raising $50,000 in order to help children in need.

Visit Passports with Purpose for more detailed information on how you can help.

Flamenco. Bulls. Sangria. Ole!

Flamenco Music in Barcelona, Spain

These are words that come to mind for most when thinking of the Iberian Peninsula. Really, these  nouns (Ole! may be a verb, not sure on that) are more connected to the south of Spain than the north. Certainly you find a lot more Flamenco in Seville than in Barcelona.

This is not to say that there is not Flamenco in Barcelona. There is. Some of the shows are very touristy, and I would rather not recommend them. When a Flamenco festival comes to town, there is good Flamenco in Barcelona. Aside from these rare events, there are a couple other places worth a look-see if watching this passionate dance is high on your to-do list.

I’ve been to Taller de Musica a few times to see Flamenco and enjoyed it. This is a real hole-in-the-wall place stuffed with spectators seated around a small stage. Some of the dancers are young women in training. If you are not an expert on Flamenco, you will not see the difference. I have always been impressed by the shows at Tallers.

There is also L’Ateneu Popular 9, which offers one Flamenco show a month. They bring in well-known dancers and musicians, and if you happen to be in town when they have a Flamenco performance on, it is worth getting a ticket.

Shows at L’Ateneu Popular 9 start late, at about 11pm. Go to dinner or tapas and then head over for the show. In 2011 look for:

• Paula Dominguez and Marta Robles – Soul de Lunares

Friday the 21st of January at 11pm

• In March book a seat for Alba Guerrero Manzano – 7 Dias

She’s on the 11th of March at 11pm.

Both shows are cheap, about $8.00 each.

MORE:

WEB:

L’Ateneu 9: http://www.ateneu9b.net/

ADDRESS:

Dinner and a movie? Don’t let your lack of Spanish or Catalan dissuade you from heading to the theater in Barcelona, Spain. Most movies, English, French, Hebrew and otherwise are dubbed in Spanish. It is not easy to find a flick in original version. However, there are a few movie houses throughout the city that show Hollywood blockbusters and Independent films in their original tongue. You just have to know where to look.

Gracia Neighborhood for movies at Verdi and dinner.

I love the movies. And while there are some who ho-hum about the cost (about $9.oo when converted from euros) and the steep popcorn prices, and prefer to download their Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows from the Internet, I like to see it on the big screen. I also really enjoy seeing movies from other distant lands (reading the subtitles of course) that show at Verdi Cinema in the Gracia neighborhood of Barcelona.

Verdi is a fabulous cine. It’s got the best of foreign films, the best of local films (Catalan) and the best of Spanish film. It is also in a really fun area, on the ridiculously happening Verdi Street (Calle Verdi). After, or before, a film at Verdi have dinner at one of hundreds of restaurants and tapas bars in this too-cool-for-school area. You’ll find something for every price range, from budget kebabs to fancy wine bars.

Wine Bars in Barcelona

If there’s nothing on that rings your chimes at Verdi, then glance over the listings at Renoir or Yelmo Icaria, two more cinemas with English films. Renior offers a pretty even selection of foreign films and blockbusters, while Yelmo is pretty much all Hollywood hits, all the time. It is a very new and high-tech cinema, but it loses points with me for being generic and not offering anything Independent. Still, I’ve been known to go to Yelmo occasionally. It is inside a mall, which is also a bit depressing.

Check out these three cinemas, all with English movies and all in the heart of the city at the links below:

Renoir: http://www.cinesrenoir.com/

Yelmo: http://www.yelmocineplex.es/

Verdi: http://www.cines-verdi.com/barcelona/cartellera/

More:

• You may be assigned a seat number in the cinema!
• Tickets are about $9.00, less on Mondays
• Popcorn and the like is just as expensive as it is in the USA…

Photo Credit: The Spain Scoop