ei four questions

Ashley Calderon chats with Platinum

Bringing

the

spice

and

hip-shaking

rhythm of Latin music to Metro Detroit is

ASHLEY CALDERON's passion. The

daughter of a Jewish-American mother and

a Columbian father, Mindy and Al Calderon

of Bloomfield Hills, the 24-year-old DJ, salsa

dancer and music lover is known as DJ Mis

Match. She also owns a company called Mis

Match Productions, which throws sophisticated

Pura Salsa Parties for a crowd that's into music,

dancing and culture.

"I'm Columbian, which is certainly not very

Jewish, and I'm Jewish. That's a mismatch,"

explains Ashley. "It's interesting to me how

everyone's from everywhere now, but music is

universal."

As a child, Ashley, who was raised Jewish and is an active mem-

ber of Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, recalls falling in love with the

Latin music relatives sent her from Columbia. A graduate of Andover

High School in Bloomfield Hills and Michigan State University, she

NV HAT BOOK, CD OR
OTHER MEDIA DO YOU
LONG TO SHARE?
A few years ago, I saw a DVD docu-
mentary that truly changed the way I
listen to music. It's called Buena Vista
Social Club, and its message is clear:
Like mathematics, music is univer-
sal — there is great power in that.
Directed by Wim Wenders, the film
profiles the 72-year-old Cuban vocal-
ist Ibrahim Ferrer and other forgotten
greats of Cuban music as they col-
laborate to create beautiful songs and
communicate their life lessons, love
and culture to the world. Their pas-
sion and the stories behind their experi-
ences moved me so much that I watched it twice in a
row and then went straight out to buy the album. Track
No. 3, "Dos Gardenias," is a personal favorite.

Bible bombshells. She risked everything to protect her
family and her people — by speaking out against what
she knew was wrong. Esther stopped Haman's plan to
kill the Jews, and she risked her own life by doing so. I
am in complete awe at that kind of bravery. Something
tells me she was quite a pistol. I definitely think we
could find some things to talk about.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOR TIT
TrWISH FOOD?
My mom makes an apple cake that's absolutely
heavenly. It's been kind of a staple on Jewish holidays
and at my birthday since I was a little kid. Even the
smell of it makes me think of Pesach at my grandpar-
ents' in Jersey. As I'm getting older (and busier), I'm
starting to notice how special those small details are. I
just turned 24 in February, and my mom made the cake
on my birthday. I swear that it was the tastiest one yet.

WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE
. SURPRISED TO KNOW AB 0 UT YO is ?
That I'm completely addicted to yoga; it's some-
thing I do at least four times a week. I believe finding
balance is essential in life, and it's something that's very
difficult to achieve and maintain. Yoga gives me time
for myself, where I can block out all sounds and seek
clarity and balance.

started working as a DJ in college and also teaches dance classes

and MCs for Joe Comell Entertainment in Southfield.

"I grew up in Michigan, and I intend to stay," Ashley says. "I'm

trying to communicate Latin music as something that unifies every-

one. I'm bringing salsa to Metro Detroit in a big way." Here, we ask

Ashley Calderon our version of the Four Questions.

— Robin Schwartz

IF YOU COULD HAVE BRUNCH WITH
ONE BIBLICAL OR HISTORICAL
!FIA-rTSIP'FIGURF, WHO
IT BE .:
Queen Esther would definitely be interesting. I wonder
how she'd feel about some good Detroit deli! In all
seriousness, Esther, to me, is really one of the original

•ouLD

I l eossotehce

/ale heeri
iAack

– Danny Raskin

"eonuote4ce g4ilie IS

all alval
ilvicale load & cam elec t ance

❑

the
Second
City
and
"Sex
is belly-laugh funny"

he Chicago Reade

– Sylvia Rector

Cara scia
eaten Ys

Relax.
ndulge.
Enjoy.

AND THE

SECOND

2528 Union Lake Rd.

south of Willow • Commerce

.1r-

I

.

An all new musical comedy

248-366-3311

Mon -Thurs • 11 -10 -' Fri • 11 - 11
Sat • 4 - 11 — Sun • 4 - 9

1Seeckd
Call for reservations 248-348-4448 32705 Grand River. Novi

-

Tickets on sale at the Second City box office and all r= outlets.

B 2 6 •

MARCH 2008

• TN platinum