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San Antonio-native Joe Posada, the saxophonist who merges jazz with old-school Tejano, was the man with the moxie Saturday night at the Dallas Convention Center. Onstage he was decked out in a dapper black suit, white shirt, pink tie and a fedora hat. His shiny, golden sax constantly hung from a strap around his neck. That elegant demeanor matched his music. His five-piece band featured accordionist Sunny Sauceda, who worked the squeezebox in his trademark jeans, black T-shirt and two-toned biker gloves. Add his bald head, dark goatee and sunglasses for an imposing stance, even if the guy's not exactly tall. Guests during the set included vocalists Joe Jama, one of the original members of the Royal Jesters, and David Marez, the robust singer from Tejano's '90s glory days.

Photo: Joe on the sax and Sunny on the squeezebox (Rex C. Curry/Special to the DMN).

It's all about the image, baby. Take Los Garcia Brothers, the rhythmic conjunto quartet that played the Tejano music dance Saturday night at the Dallas Convention Center. These guys are always splashy in those colorful zoot suits, especially the bassist and lead vocalist who loves wearing a tall feather in his hat. They are super cool to watch. During "Pachuco," a staple from the outfit's repertoire that arrived at the end of the set, the quartet slid and swayed to the heavy accordion beat. Conjunto, for those not familiar with the term, is the more organic, country cousin to Tejano's slicker urban style.

Photo: Those groovy Garcia Brothers (Kevin Crawford).

Hoping to get my Tejano dancing groove on, I waited with several other couples for the Tejano dance lessons to start at the Hyatt Regency this afternoon. After about 15 minutes of standing around, the two dance instructors beckoned us to the dance floor and started demonstrating basic moves. They made the twists and turns of Tejano dancing seem far easier than they actually were, especially as they progressed toward more advanced moves.

Dancers of all different skill levels made their way along the ballroom floor, going back and forth from one side of the floor to the other. Some bumped into one another, some looked like they knew just what they were doing, and some took quick breaks on the sidelines to recover from all the twisting and turning. A few of the dancers told me they were practicing for tonight's Tejano Mega Dance event at the Convention Center and needed some last-minute lessons.

I had never danced to Tejano music before, so I wasn't used to all of the turning at first. I think I'm still dizzy, but at least I got into the Tejano groove.

What tips do you have for learning how to dance to Tejano music?

Members of the Tejano music group Carlos y los Cachorros gathered around a waterfall in the lobby of the Hyatt Regency this afternoon wearing black cowboy hats, boots, and green paisley button-down shirts. They stood out among the passerby in the hotel, so I felt compelled to go up to them and ask about their outfits.

"We like to dress in the traditional Tejano wear," said group member Matthew Luna. "It appeals to the older crowd more." The group's philosophy, he noted, is to "dress to impress," particularly when performing at weddings or other formal events.

Carlos y los Cachorros, which is in its fifth consecutive week of touring, arrived in Dallas late Friday night. The group is scheduled to perform three sets tonight at the Dallas Convention Center starting at around 9 p.m. With their matching, traditional garb, they shouldn't be hard to miss.

I took some time this morning to talk with Tejano saxophonist and vocalist Joe Posada, who was giving a class on the history of the saxophone. Posada sat one-on-one with the few people in attendance and enlightened them with information about the history of the saxophone and its significance in the Tejano music tradition. The saxophone, Posada says, puts a stamp on his music and makes it identifiable to Tejano music fans. He pointed to Tejano musicians Beto Villa, Isidro Lopez, and Alfonso Ramos as his inspirations.

When I asked the four-time Tejano Academy Award winner what he thought about the idea that Tejano music is losing its appeal, he said: "What's struggling is not the music. It's the radio station airplay. We just have to go back to the way it was." Paying continuous tributes to the late Selena, he said, was once important. He noted that the focus nowadays, though, should be on the performers who are out in the industry, trying to make a living and keep Tejano music alive.

You can watch Posada in action tonight starting at 8 p.m. at the Dallas Convention Center.