The artistic tattoo pictured above was sent to us from a dancer named Daria!
She said…
I’m from Israel and I love dancing! Latin culture music and dance are big part of my life for many years. So when I decided to get a tattoo I knew it would be related to dance. It took me 2 years to find the perfect one until I saw a drawing of dancing couple by Alijan Alijanpour.
Awesome selection Daria! Thanks for sharing.
If you’d like to share your tattoo with the latin dance community and tell the story behind it then click HERE!.
The post below was written by Edwin Ferreras. Ferreras hails from the Dominican Republic and (in my opinion) is one of the best Bachata dancers/instructors on the latin dance congress scene today. Edwin loves Bachata, but he is also passionate about merengue dance and music. Many dancers (like myself) begin their quest into latin dance through merengue because of its easy and fun 1-2 basic step count. Merengue may not be the most popular dance among the latin dance masses, but it is an important one and I wouldn’t be surprised if it makes its way to a congress or social near you. Enjoy!
Today (February, 27th) we celebrate Dominican Independence Day and I was feeling inspired by my deep love for merengue and decided write this little article. Hope you Like, Share, and Enjoy!
“Si estoy cantando merengue me mantengo emocionao’, nadie me puede quitar que yo nací en el Cibao” –Fernando Villalona y Los Hijos Del Rey.
Fernando Villalona y Los Hijos Del Rey
Merengue began making its appearance in the mid-1800s in a northern region of the Dominican Republic, which today is known as El Cibao. Following its prominence it subsequently spread throughout the entire motherland.During Rafael Trujillo’s reign (1930-1938), merengue was officially recognized, and still celebrated today, as the national music of the Dominican Republic.
After Trujillo’s demise, Dominican music industry changed tremendously as the process of migration and urbanization accelerated through the land.
Although merengue music draws many instrumentation similarities to its counterpart/rival Bachata, it is very distinct in feeling and energy. Merengue also shares many similarities to its neighboring genres: Palo, Mangulina, Salve, Gaga, Bachata, and its distant relatives Salsa and Son. Typically characterized as simple, festive, joyful, free-spirited and very interactive, Merengue has several distinct sub-genres including Tipico (perico ripiao), Mambo (urban merengue), Merengue Alibaba (carnival music), Orchestral Merengue, Merengue De Guitarra (bachatarengue), Pambiche (Palm Beach) and more. Each style is played at varying speeds and may be targeted to a certain social economic class, generation, or even gender. Most people in and out of the island simplyen joy all kinds of merengue with little regards to the type, this is in part due to the simplicity and welcoming and almost inviting feeling of its rhythms.
The instrumentation for merengue tipico is typically: Acordion, Guira, and Tambora, although other forms of merengue may also include Bass, Piano, Woodwinds (Saxophones), Brass (Trumpets and Trombone), as well as some others. In the 1990s a wave of new musicians and artists innovated the typical sound by including a bass drum to the line-up. The bass drum was played by the guirero with one foot on a pedal, which beats the drum. This gave merengue a sharper and stronger “kick” to its overall sound which accents on the downbeats making it easier for dancers to feel the rhythm amongst the layers of other instruments. This new “beat” heightened the feel and pulse of the music much like a march.
Some important figures that contributed in the history, progression, and development of Merengue include: Tatico Enrique, El Cieguito de Nagua, Johnny Ventura, Edilio Paredes, Fernando Villalona y Los Hijos Del Rey, Ramón Orlando, Wilfrido Vargas, Jossie Esteban y la Patrulla 15, Sergio Vargas, Juan Luis Guerra, Los Hermanos Rosario, El Zafiro, Peña Suazo, Antony Santos, Geovanny Polanco, El Prodigio, and Omega as well as great female artists such as Belkis Concepcion, Miriam Cruz and Las Chicas Del Can, Fefita La Grande, Olga Tañon, Milly Quezada, amongst others. Many of these artists are still around today making great music and inspiring future generations of merengueros around the world.
There are many books, documentaries, and sources around the world for those looking to learn more about Merengue. There is also an amazing ‘Dominican Studies Institute’ in New York City found inside of City College. The best sources I can recommend, however, are the living legends artists and musicians who are still around today, the music gurus, and the scholars who have dedicated years of field work and research in Dominican arts, culture, and customs.
Of course nothing beats a trip to Quisqueya and visiting the capital or the country side for some good old fashion live perico ripiao. If you’re ever in the D.R., don’t hesitate to ask the Dominican elders any questions you may have about the music or dance, as a deeply rooted and very proud people, most are open and happy to share what they know with anyone as long as they approach in a respectful manner.
There are many books available out there for those who cannot invest time or money on a trip to the island, one of my favorite books to gain more insight on the history of Dominican music is “Merengue and Dominican Identity” by Julie A. Sellers. Feel free to contact me with any feedback, questions or to learn more about Merengue. If you enjoyed this article please help spread awareness and love for this beautiful music by sharing it. Stayed tuned for more articles and thank you for reading.
“Yo soy el merengue, vibración de los Dominicanos. El sentir del quisqueyano y la razón de su existir, soy la inspiración de mi país” –Johnny Ventura
Do you drink and social dance? This polarizing question probably elicits a strong ‘Hell yes!’ or equally strong ‘Hell no!’ from dancers. Sure, there is a difference between casual drinking and getting stupid-faced drunk, but I’m sure there are dancers out there who avoid alcohol because it adversely affects their dance abilities and experience. Let’s test that assumption!
Jenny Geska is featured in this edition of Dance Spotlight! Jenny lives in North Carolina, and is a choreographer and performer with the NC Brazilian Arts Project. She was nominated by Victor Hernandez Jr. Victor said, “Jenny is doing wonderful things in the dance community and has helped bring the community together for a cause to fight cancer.” Check out some fun facts about Jenny including her most proud dance moment, and her involvement with the annual non-profit dance congress that raises money to fight cancer, BailaCura.
Want to nominate someone to be in the Dance Spotlight? Contact us!
What (or who) originally inspired you to try Samba? What are your first memories of latin dancing?
My history with Samba and dance is definitely a unique one. I started training in dance at the age of two, and found myself always wanting to try new things and train in new styles. I trained all through college and found myself teaching ballroom. However, shortly thereafter, I felt like something was missing. I remember bringing my students to a salsa club one night and I felt an immediate connection. I wanted nothing more than to transition and start diving into the roots of latin dance, and the more street-style forms of the dances I had been learning about. This also led me to start diving deeper into the Brazilian dances, and it was at this time that Brazilian Samba REALLY spoke to me.
Describe a moment in your dance life that made you feel proud?
Finishing Carnaval in Brazil for the first time was by far the most proud moment I have had in dance. It was a goal that I had, but never really believed that I would actually accomplish it, yet, I found myself there crying my eyeballs out with joy that it had actually happened.
Social Dance Pet Peeve: (Hygiene, No connection, People who teach while dancing, etc)
Definitely no connection. When someone is too busy worrying about who is watching them or where the camera is than the person they are dancing with.
You posted on Facebook, “I was not born into Samba, but the relationship I have with it, it brings me home.” What did you mean by that quote and why is Samba so important to you?
I love that you chose this quote! Samba is a dance that was born out of the resistance of oppression and slavery that happened after the West African slave trade. It has evolved and has been influenced along the way to it’s current state, but those are the roots. I will never live this life, or understand just how much it means to these people, but being in Brazil to train and learn about the history of Samba was the most eye opening experience I have ever had. It is like I had finally found the connection between dance and the soul, and how it should really feel.
You recently launched JennyGeska.com. Can you talk a bit about that website and what you’d like to accomplish?
JennyGeska.com is really a landing page for all of the parts of me. Throughout my own journey – the ups and downs, the awful moments of struggle – I learned so much. I learned how to make my life easier, full of passion, and how to reach for the things I want in life, no matter how high. I hope that this website will inspire others to do the same, and to share my life with them in the meantime.
Can you talk about your work with BailaCura and the goals for the event?
One of my best friends, a dancer, was diagnosed with cancer years ago and, thank God, he was able to be treated successfully. He found the dance community to be so supportive and healing throughout his time of difficulty. When we sat down and talked, he wanted nothing more than to give back to the community and the idea of BailaCura was born to help raise money for children’s cancer research and pediatric care. As the current Artistic Director, I spend time organizing our amazing artists, workshops, and shows for this event. We also work year round to be as involved as possible with our beneficiaries. Our goal is to continue to grow as a festival and as an overall fundraising organization within our community, and to maybe even branch out to other communities one day.
What are your current favorite songs to dance to? Top two or three.
Bachata dance is one of the most popular dances in the latin dance community. This is due, in part, to the popularity of the music, and through the initiative and talents of several dancers spreading Bachata across the globe. This post is an attempt to recognize the dancers who have had a major influence on the genre, and have had played a significant role in shaping how Bachata is currently danced. In other words, these dancers are why we dance Bachata the way we do today.
Where does Bachata come from?
First things first. Bachata music and dance were born in the Dominican Republic. The dance is a descendant of Bolero, which served as a foundation from which the basic movements and timing evolved.
Popular Styles:
Bachata – Sometimes referred to as “Traditional Bachata.” It is characterized by the box step basic figure. It is the style of dance done in the Dominican Republic.
Bachata Moderna – More advanced and complex turn patterns are usually incorporated when dancing Moderna. The basic is a four step count danced side to side with an emphasis on stylized movements. It is often referenced with Sensual Bachata when more intimate elements of dance partner work are integrated. Other styles include Urban Bachata, BachaTango and Bachata Fusion.
Influential Bachata Dance Figures:
Seemore Johnson & Cristina Pujol (Spain) – The Co-founders of Hips On Fire, Seemore and Cristina were early pioneers in teaching Bachata in the United States and abroad. They founded Hips On Fire in 1998 and began teaching a variety of latin dance styles including Bachata. Seemore and Cristina were teaching Bachata before most of the great Bachata dancers of today had started. In 2003 they created a group partner dance called Rueda De Bachata. The video below is from the 2004 Salsa Rueda Congress in Miami. You’ll recognize several basic Bachata steps and patterns in the video.
Juan Ruiz – Coined the phrase Bachata Moderna to describe the new style of Bachata that hit the scene back in the early-mid 2000s. Juan (along with Samantha Cilia) created many of the foundational figures and movements as well as the teaching methodology of Bachata Moderna. His initial influence was felt in Australia and New Zealand, but quickly spread throughout Europe and North America. Juan, Nestor Manuelian, and Lidia McMahon Grigorian organized the first Bachata-Centric congress in the world, the Sydney Bachata Festival (2008), and they showed that it was indeed possible to have an entire latin festival centered on Bachata. The FIRST Bachata festival ever promoted (but not yet held) was organized by Tony Lara, and Peter and Christine Dottax. This was held in Sweden after the Sydney Bachata Festival. Check out the Bachata Moderna demonstration from Juan and Samantha from 2009.
Jorge Escalona “Korke” Vazquez & Judith Pereiro – Korke and Judith are the influential Spanish duo that helped to popularize and are often credited with creating Sensual Bachata (which was coined by Tony Lara). There is no doubt that they were incredibly instrumental in popularizing the style and they deserve major credit for it’s explosion. Korke began teaching Bachata around 2010 and teamed up with Judith shortly thereafter. Check out one of their Bachata Sensual workshops in the video below.
Inaki Fernandez – One of the most important instructors to initially hit the Bachata scene. Inaki created “Bachata Spanish Style” which took Bachata from a primarily side to side dance and made it more dynamic. Juan Ruiz credits him as an major influence on Bachata Moderna.
Tony Lara – Tony played a leading role in the popularity of Bachata dancing throughout the world. Lara was one of the first to teach Bachata internationally and brought his “Italian Style” of Bachata to many of the first editions of Bachata festivals. Tony has had tremendous influence in spreading Bachata to European and Oceanic dancers, and he has taught countless dancers across the globe through workshops or from his popular “Bachata Italian Style” five set DVD series.
Check out a video from Tony in the Swedish Bachata Festival (2008)!
Rodney “Rodchata” Aquino – Organized the first Bachata congress in the United States, the Reno Bachata Festival (2009). Rodchata continues to be a heavy contributor to the west coast Bachata scene and his Bachata congresses are some of the most popular in the world. Most, if not all, of the best Bachata instructors in the world have taught or performed at his events. He hosts a regular VLog on his YouTube channel where he interviews influential dancers in the latin dance scene.
Check out Rodchata at the 4th Finland Bachata festival.
Jorge Elizondo – “Bachata Jorge” or “Papa Jorge”, as he affectionately called by his students and peers, organizes several well attended Bachata congresses and workshops around the world. Jorge coined the phrase “Bachata fusion” to describe his mixture of Bachata with other latin dance styles. He is often credited with being the most influential in spreading Bachata Fusion and Moderna due to his global influence, and he has been the mentor to many current popular dance instructors. Elizondo was an instructor at the first Bachata congress in the U.S. and his impact in Bachata is still being felt almost 15 years later. A case can be made that Jorge is the most influential Bachatero alive today.
Check out the DVD footage of Papa Jorge from 2007.
Lee “El Gringuito” Smith & Kat ‘La Gata’ Aguilar – They organize one of the most popular Bachata festivals in the world, the DC Bachata Congress. They have made their international mark both in the instruction of Bachata dance, as well as their promotion of Bachata music. Their list of accomplishments includes DC Bachata Congress feature articles in the Washington Post and interviews on CNN Espanol.
Check out Lee’s performance from the first Bachata Congress in the USA, the Reno Bachata Festival (2009).
Leslie Ferreria and Jorge “Que Rico” Contreras – For several years they were Co-organizers of the Los Angeles Bachata Festivals. Leslie and Jorge had a tremendous impact in helping to shape the Bachata landscape on the west coast, and they traveled internationally to teach as well. Check out one of their demos from 2009.
Island Touch Dance – Jorge ‘Ataca’ Burgos, Tanja “La Alemana” Kensinger and Rudi “El Tiguere Del Mambo” Lopez form the multi-headed Bachata monster that is Island Touch Dance Academy. Island Touch sponsors several dance teams across the globe and is without a doubt the most popular Bachata dance organization.
Jorge “Ataca” Burgos – Jorge is an incredible Salsa dancer who happens to be one of the most popular Bachata dancers on the planet. In addition to dance, Ataca starred as the male lead in the Salsa movie, “SHINE.” Burgos may be the most popular and most recognized Bachata dancer today due to his dance accomplishments, YouTube video views and his acting credit.
Tanja “La Alemana” Kensinger – Probably the most popular female Bachata Moderna dancer in the world and for good reason. Her smooth and sensual Bachata style has influenced millions of dancers around the world, and she is undoubtedly one of the most versatile bachateras on the scene.
Rudi “El Tiguere Del Mambo” Lopez – The Managing Director behind the Bachata powerhouse, Island Touch Dance Academy. He teaches, provides choreography, and promotes the Island Touch brand and he also organizes BachaTu, an event which is held in the Dominican Republic and steadily growing in popularity. He is also known for being one of the more popular Bachata DJ’s across the latin dance festival scene.
Check out Ataca, La Alemana, and El Tiguere below. This is an awesome display of musicality and choreography, and shows why they’d be on the Mount Rushmore of Bachata.
Alejandro Rey – Alejandro was teaching and performing urban style Bachata long before it became mainstream at congresses. Yes, his physique resembles that of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, but once onstage you realize no football player ever danced Bachata like Alejandro. Alejandro is the Director of Paso De Oro Dance Company.
Check out Alejandro from a workshop at the Dallas Bachata Festival in 2010.
Troy Anthony – One of the first instructors to teach Dominican Fusion Bachata and he helped facilitate its explosion on the latin dance scene. Troy serves as an instructor and emcee at many latin dance congresses around the world.
Check out Troy & Jorjet from a video in 2007. They were the “Jay-Z and Beyonce” of Dominican Fusion Bachata. Superstars! I just made that up…but you get my point. You’ll notice this style is distinctly different from Traditional, Moderna or Sensual.
Jorjet Alcocer – Remember that amazing Bachata shine you did last night that you thought was so original? Well, Jorjet probably invented it in 2010. In fact, the instructor who taught it to you probably learned it from a Jorjet Youtube video. Without question Jorjet set the standard and foundations for “Dominican Fusion” footwork and she may have been the most popular Bachata dancer in the world from the late 2000s to early 2010s.
The video below is a footwork demonstration from 2010. Is 2010 considered old school now?
Adam Taub, Carlos Cinta and Edwin Ferreras helped to reorient the latin dance community back to the roots of Bachata. They continue to educate the dance masses on how Dominicans actually dance and are the most influential figures in setting the world straight on Traditional Bachata.
Adam Taub – The “White Chocolate” of Traditional Bachata. He may resemble a university professor, but make no mistake, Adam can hold his own in Bachata dancing. In addition to being a Bachata instructor, he is also a Bachata historian. Let me rephrase that, he is THE Bachata historian. The conversation about who is the most educated human on Bachata music and dancing starts and ends with Adam Taub. He has also produced documentaries, presentations for festivals, and written articles on Bachata. Adam loves all styles of Bachata but he is definitely a leader in educating the dance masses on the roots of Bachata and how Dominicans actually dance. If you love Bachata, then please carve out some time at your next Bachata congress and attend his presentation. I’d also encourage you to check out his YouTube Channel as there are TONS of great videos on Bachata music, dance and culture.
Carlos Cinta – “El Unique Bachatero”. He revolutionized Bachata instruction in that he was one of the first to incorporate live Bachata musicians into his workshops. Carlos’ “Bachata Breakdown” CD/DVD (2011) was a game changer in terms of helping students to understand Bachata musicality. Most instructors only use complete songs in hopes that they can help train dancers to hear particular instruments…while Carlos, through the assistance of noted musicians, isolated instruments so that dancers could practice timing and movements to a specific instrument. Carlos is definitely one of the more respected Bachata instructors on the scene today.
Check out the “Bachata Breakdown” DVD trailer below to get a taste of his classes.
Edwin Ferreras – The Dominican born Ferreras has been a major influence on the Bachata scene and he is currently the International Ambassador of Dominican Arts for the Dominican Republic. That’s a big deal. I doubt there are any who can dance all of the various styles of Bachata (or Merengue, another Dominican born dance) as well as Edwin. Dakhota Romero is Edwin’s dance partner and co-director of their dance company, Areito Arts. She is an amazing dancer (and singer) in her own right.
Victor Hernandez Jr. is featured in this edition of Dance Spotlight! Victor lives in New York and he serves as the Artistic Director for PMX Entertainment Dance Company. He is also a member of the PMX dance team, Spirits N Motion 3.0. He was nominated by Leah Duque. Leah said, “Victor is a good friend and has always supported me in everything I’ve done! He is a real gem in the dance community!” Check out some fun facts about Victor, including his thoughts on physical fitness in dance and his involvement with an uplifting series of online dance events called the Iron Kingdom Virtual Music and Dance Festival!
Want to nominate someone to be in the Dance Spotlight? Contact us!
What (or who) originally inspired you to try Latin dancing?
I’m a 3rd Generation artist; I come from a family of music and dance. My parents are from the “Original South Bronx Kids”, my grandparents met on a dance floor, and I come from a family where music, dance and art is a priority.
Describe a moment in your dance life that made you feel proud?
Every moment in dance is a proud one. Dancing at local scene events, performing for all the major health organizations across the East Coast, performing at local and national government events, being involved with Aspira for the youth, or Congresses/Festivals around North America and even Europe. Every moment in dance is a Wrestle-Mania moment. A dancers most important moment on the dance floor are those first 10 seconds before the music hits. How you run with it will determine the outcome of the dance.
Social Dance Pet Peeve(s)?
Don’t ask me if I dance On1 or On2. I come from a generation whose mindset is to get down regardless of skill level. People tend to forget that music has been around for centuries, not years. To ask someone what rhythm they dance on is absolutely ridiculous.
You organize the Iron Kingdom Virtual Music and Dance Fesitvals. Can you tell us a little bit about Iron Kingdom and the goals for those events?
The Iron Kingdom is organized by Spirits N Motion 3.0 of The Long Island City School of Ballet (Barbara Valle, Yasmin Contreras, and I). We created the idea during this awful global pandemic. We’ve had help from the organizers of Steel City Kizomba Festival (Mike Hardwick), Bailacura (Jenny Geska) and a lot of other events that we have participated in. They’ve shared genuine guidance.
The entire purpose of the Iron Kingdom is to bring unity within this broken system in the dance community, and to give opportunities to local and international teachers who have never had the opportunity to teach and showcase. And, most importantly, to give people the opportunity to train and feel free to do what they love without worrying about being able to afford it. Iron Kingdom is about the art of dance and not the popularity of the artist, amount of followers, or anything else that people feel is connected to this art.
You’re wearing the color red in the vast majority of your dance pictures (red vest, red sport coat, red Jose Bottas, red t-shirt, etc). What’s the significance of the color red as it pertains to your life and/or dancing?
The color red has a spiritual and personal connection to me and the girls on our dance team. Red, to me, is the color of royalty, power, respect, perseverance, fire, dominance and honor. Red symbolizes the ability to say what’s on my mind – to manifest goals and bring them to life.
You’re big into physical fitness (particularly weight lifting). Does physical fitness aid in your dancing?
I’m huge into power lifting. Besides dancing, power lifting weights gives me the opportunity to take out my aggression. Lifting weights does help with my dancing, but nothing is more powerful than folkloric dancing like Ballet & Afro-Cuban. Spirits N Motion 3.0 was planning on going on a power lifting expedition just to test ourselves before the pandemic hit.
What are your current favorite songs to dance to? Top two or three…
My Pandora is always on shuffle and music has had a huge impact on my life. I listen to all types of music at the gym. I can go hardcore hip-hop to Fall Out Boy, and go back to 80s/90s music. I really enjoy Salsa, Timba, Bachata, Kizomba and more. I really don’t have any favorite songs.
Favorite dance video you’d like to share?
I would love to share a video of me dancing with my 7-year old daughter on the Harlem 125th Metro-North station.
Over the past several years I’ve spoken with and interviewed numerous instructors who literally spend every weekend on the road teaching dance in a location other than their home locale. Popular dancers with extensive travel schedules (pre-COVID) such as Carlos Cinta, Albir Rojas, Terry Taliaut, Charles Ogar, and Edie “The Salsa Freak”, among many others. As I became more involved in the “latin dance media” (so to speak), I began to wonder what their lives were really like. I discovered that although all instructors have different and unique experiences, there do seem to be common challenges and rewards of being a traveling latin dance instructor.
The Challenges
1. Hard to maintain relationships
I’ve heard it numerous times, so I will start this challenge. Being in a committed relationship or even starting one is hard for many traveling professionals, but particularly for dance instructors. First, your source of income is often dependent upon traveling to different events and they’re usually in a different location every weekend. Most (if not all) relationships need personal quality time in order develop a connection, and weekends for many couples are an opportunity to catch up Not for traveling dance instructors as that’s when it’s time to work. Weekend nights for them are spent at events dancing, not going to movies or hanging out at home. Promoters and organizers aren’t going to pay for significant others to travel (unless they’re the primary dance partner), so most weekends are spent away from their partners. If you’re single, you can meet someone great in one city, and be 3,000 miles away from them for several months. Technology helps keep the lines of communication open, but nothing beats together time to grow a relationship. It’s a tough part of the job.
2. Unhealthy Eating
Another common struggle of being a traveling dance instructor is diet. If they’re fortunate and working with a great organizer then meals are provided, but it’s common that these meals won’t be the most calorie friendly.
Fast food and snacks are common sources of energy while traveling as home cooked meals aren’t readily available. Dealing with changing time zones, weather, and sleep deprivation can be tough and sometimes all an instructor wants to do is eat, sit in their room and “veg out”. Some dancers can get away with this lifestyle because (a) they’re young and (b) the job inherently consists of basic exercise and movement which helps maintain a certain level of fitness.
3. Pay/Compensation
The vast majority of organizers aren’t getting rich off events and workshops…and neither are instructors. I think most non-professionals know that dance organizers do it “for the love of the game” and not to be wealthy. The advent of the latin dance congress (the first was the Puerto Rico Salsa Congress in 1997) has allowed many dancers to extend their careers or find work that simply wasn’t available pre-2000. Today’s traveling latin dance professionals are definitely benefiting from there being over 400-500 Congress style events each year (and countless workshops), but it doesn’t mean the money is falling from the sky. There are instances where a dancer doesn’t get paid for their services, and the latin dance elite aren’t immune to occasions where they don’t get compensated. There are also ambitious instructors who want to travel to teach and some are willing to work for free at events. This ‘teach for exposure’ exchange is looked down upon by some and is definitely a source of contention among instructors who feel all should be paid for their work. Instructors who choose not to get paid for their work drive down the market price for those who do and an influx of dancers who may not be qualified are allowed to flood the market. See photography, writing or any other artistic market for examples. The instructors I’ve spoken with realize the job is fun, but you have to be a competent business person to make it over the long haul.
4. Sleep
If you want to become a traveling dance instructor then you’d better be hot, because you’re not going to get much beauty sleep. Just kidding on the attractive trait, but not on the sleep. Instructors learn how to catch naps in airports, planes, trains, couches, the back seat of cars, and in their hotel rooms between group classes and private lessons. If you’re working a weekend event then be prepared to be up early to teach classes even after you’ve danced until 4am at the socials. Discipline is a common trait in most successful traveling instructors.
Edie “The Salsa Freak” Williams – “I learned to sleep on airplanes, trains, ships, boats, and automobiles, not as a choice, but as a necessary requirement.”
The Perks
1. Popularity
There is a certain element of fame that comes with being a popular instructor, or at least one who is frequently contracted for several events around the globe. Social media and YouTube play a role in an instructors status and it can be very gratifying to be viewed as an elite dancer among peers and patrons, alike. The opportunity to develop friendships with people from across the globe is an exciting proposition for those I’ve talked with. Perhaps most instructors don’t immediately recall meeting half of the dancers on their social media connections lists, but it does speak to the huge amount of people that they come into contact with during their careers. Most instructors get work via word of mouth, networking, and social media so it definitely helps to be a people person and a social butterfly.
Pro dance instructors are niche superstars (unless you’re Jorge “Ataca” Burgos and you’ve starred in a movie) and its something that most instructors I’ve spoken with consider a nice perk. Some dancers attend events just because their favorite instructor is the headliner and they hope for the opportunity to dance with them.
Most traveling instructors have achieved a certain level of success, and, therefore are more subject to public scrutiny than most of their peers. This is often both a huge positive and equally large negative. It’s a positive because the exposure that leads directly to continued work. The negative is fairly obvious: Haters and critics.
Charles Ogar – “Inspiring new people in different places almost every week is amazing. It’s humbling to have people look up to you and invest their time and energy in you.”
2. Travel
Travel may be the most rewarding aspect of being a traveling instructor, and getting paid teach and experience new places and cultures is a highlight for most professionals. It’s particularly exciting for those who are in their early to mid 20s because they often haven’t entered life stages in which relationships, kids, or financial obligations to others are a big part of their lives. Most plan their schedules about six months in advance so there generally aren’t any surprise trips. Freedom has its rewards.
Carlos Cinta – “The separation is in the preparation.”
3. Living their dream
Most traveling instructors I’ve spoken with love their jobs. Some don’t. But most do. Despite some negatives, most wouldn’t trade their nomadic work life for a desk job in a cubicle any day of the week. If dancing wasn’t a passion then they wouldn’t have succeeded because the job can be difficult. The dance world is competitive and all instructors know there is someone waiting in the wings to replace them if they don’t take their job seriously. But most instructors are teachers at heart (and not just dancers) and seeing their students succeed/improve is what most instructors I’ve interviewed find the most rewarding.
There are three primary partner dance styles in the latin dance community: Salsa, Bachata and Kizomba (or SBK, for short). If you Google latin dance congress/festival you’ll typically find any combination of the three styles in the titles. For example, [City X] SBK Congress, [City Y] Salsa Bachata Congress, or [City Z] Bachata Kizomba Fusion Festival. Tango is another popular dance style, but rarely will you see it bundled together with salsa, bachata or kizomba at socials, dance clubs and festivals. Merengue seems to be a distant fourth and most socials/festivals play merengue music sparingly or not at all.
With that said – what is your favorite style of dance among SBK? Which gets you most excited to dance at a social or event? Feel free to leave a comment!
Baila Productions Salsa School created an amusing YouTube video that details annoying behaviors that leads encounter while salsa dancing. If you’re a lead, then you’ve probably experienced these behaviors on multiple occasions! The bad habits are summarized in the video.
For the sake of our poll we’re going to change the focus from “Woman Version” to “Follow Version” as we understand that the genders associated with the traditional lead/follow paradigm are slowly shifting across the latin dance community.
Check out the video and then vote for the follow behaviors that drive you insane and are your least favorite!
*Limited to 3 votes. Results will be shown once your vote is cast.
Leah Duque is featured in this edition of Dance Spotlight! Leah lives in Miami and is a dance instructor with Fajardo Elite Dance Academy. She was nominated by Jason Haynes. He said, “Leah is a strong leader in the latin dance community and an advocate for dancer equality. She is definitely someone that other dancers should look up to. And, of course, she is a great dancer!” Check out some fun facts about Leah, including her thoughts on bullying in the dance community (yes, it still happens) and her favorite dance moment!
Want to nominate someone to be in the Dance Spotlight? Contact us!
Where are you from originally and where do you call your dance home now?
I’m from Mississauga, Canada (just west of Toronto). I call Miami home now, but my “dance home”? I think that will always be New York! Pre-Covid, I would go to NYC every 2-3 months to train and social dance. I went to socials in New York so often that it got to the point where I was asked regularly if I had moved there! I miss NYC and I can’t wait to return after we’ve all gotten through this!
What (or who) originally inspired you to try Latin dancing? OR What are your first memories of Latin dancing?
I had always loved the music. My aunt was always playing Latin music at home when I was growing up, so I had always been around those Latin rhythms. I went to Cawthra Park high school of the performing arts in Mississauga where I majored in Dance. Mrs. Jill Hollingsworth, my amazing Grade Eleven teacher, was very much into Salsa and she brought her partner in as a guest instructor. It was so much fun, but at that point I still hadn’t really found my passion for it. I was very much into Tap and Jazz dancing at that point. The pivotal moment was on a spring break vacation to Cuba while I was in college. I was at a club called Tropicana watching the shows, and seeing the social dancing. I already loved the music, but it was at that moment I knew I wanted to salsa dance.
Describe a moment in your dance life that made you feel proud?
There have been a couple that really stand out. I think most would say my success at the World Latin Dance Cup in 2015, as that was a game changer when it came to the direction of my dance career. But there were other smaller moments which had just as much of an impact. Eddie Torres asking me to assist in his workshops during the Canada Salsa and Bachata Congress was a highlight. I had been going to Eddie’s classes every time I went to NYC, so to have him call on me to help demonstrate was like ‘wow’. It was definitely a highlight for me!
The other was performing on stage with my daughter, Veronica. She was five at the time and had performed at several congresses with my ladies team. She stole the show every time! Just seeing how much she loved being on stage wasn’t just a proud moment for me as a dancer, but as her mom! I can’t wait to share the stage with her again.
Do you have any social dance pet peeve(s): (Hygiene, No connection, People who teach while dancing, etc)
Oh gosh. Where do I start? Ha! No, I’m joking! One of my main pet peeves in social dancing is timing. Maybe it’s the instructor in me, or maybe it’s because I’ve been dancing competitively since I was young, but timing was always drilled into me.
The other big pet peeve for me is counting when you dance! I understand as beginners that we learn with counts, but I really try to avoid this. Music isn’t counts. It’s the instruments and it flows. I just find counts make dancing so robotic! Dance happens in the time and space between the beats.
My last pet peeve is when the lead dances to showcase themselves. They don’t care what the follow is doing as long as they look good. How selfish! It ultimately comes down to connection and, as a follow, it’s not enjoyable to be dancing with someone so self-centered.
You were recently involved in a situation where a dancer attempted to aggressively cyber bully another dancer simply because her Facebook profile picture advocated that we “Stay Home|Stay Safe” during the pandemic. The bully tactics also included body shaming and disrespectful name calling. You came to her defense and you were attacked as well. In another Facebook incident you were told by a dancer that your voice/opinion doesn’t matter because (even though you live in Florida) you’re from Canada and you can’t vote in the US.
What are your thoughts on dancers who attempt to bully other dancers (whether online or in-person) and what advice would you give to dancers who are victims of these harmful situations?
It is truly unfortunate that people in our dance community have such vile personalities. This past year has really exposed the true colors of people. I say exposed because in most cases, these individuals had these opinions and traits prior to 2020, but no real reason to show them. But if anything good came from the past year, it’s opened many of our eyes to who is toxic, racist, and disrespectful not just in the dance community, but our friends and acquaintances. I really have no respect for bullies, online or in person. I will not stay silent when they go on the attack and they should absolutely be called out! Our community should be made aware of these bullies in our circle, and we should make sure that there is no place for them. The dance community is like a big family. This is what makes it so amazing. Its such a big world with thousands and thousands of dancers from every corner of the earth, and we don’t need people like the ones you mentioned.
As for advice, the best thing to do is speak up. Too many people shy away from speaking up. Perhaps in the past people have spoken up, and had it brushed under the rug. That needs to end. We need to hold people in our community accountable. They need to know, this kind of behavior is not welcome. And you can trust that I will be there on the front line standing up for those being bullied, harassed, and abused. I have said many times, tag me or private message me, and I will have no problem calling people out when it comes to these types of situations.
On a more positive note, you are a member of the Fajardo Elite Dance Academy. Can you tell us a little about your role in this company and what the company offers?
Yes! I am so happy to be working at Fajardo Elite Dance Academy! We have 2 locations here in South Florida, with other locations planned in the future across the US. I’m an instructor at both locations under the direction of Billy Fajardo and Alexis Romero. Training with Billy recently has been nothing short of amazing! He truly is the best and absorbing all of his knowledge is an experience in itself. We also have performance teams and we’re looking to expand those. Our official grand opening is March 6, but classes are up and running with COVID-19 guidelines and restrictions in place, because safety is number one! I am so excited for everyone in the community to see what we’ve been up to! It’s going to be amazing!
What are your current favorite songs to dance to? Top two or three…
This is a truly impossible task for me. Ha! There’s just so many!
There are so many others, but we would be here for days!
Favorite dance video you’d like to share?
Anything with Terry “Salsalianza” Tauliaut. I could watch him dance for hours! His musicality is just on point every time and the way he showcases the follow. That is truly a master social dancer! (Terry is a favorite of Go Latin Dance as well!)
Leah performing at the World Latin Dance Cup in 2015
There are many books available out there for those who cannot invest time or money on a trip to the island, one of my favorite books to gain more insight on the history of Dominican music is “Merengue and Dominican Identity” by Julie A. Sellers. Feel free to contact me with any feedback, questions or to learn more about Merengue. If you enjoyed this article please help spread awareness and love for this beautiful music by sharing it. Stayed tuned for more articles and thank you for reading.
