Alison Cockrill is featured in this edition of Dance Spotlight! She is a dance instructor at Century Ballroom located in Seattle! She was nominated Michael Burton Cahn and her dance partner, Hallie Kuperman. Check out fun and interesting facts about Alison including a dance moment that made her feel proud and why it’s important for the dance community to support female DJs.
What (or who) originally inspired you to try Latin dancing? OR What are your first memories of latin dancing?
I was in Guatemala in the late 90s when I saw my first salsa band. The band had these female dancers as part of the show. They danced onstage for the whole set. My background is in ballet, and when I saw these beautiful, sensual, grounded, powerful dancers my mind was blown. I had to learn it.
Describe a moment in your dance life that made you feel proud?
I had a student approach me, after they had been dancing for a little over a year. They thanked me and shared that when they started taking class they were in a very dark (suicidal) place. They credited learning to dance and coming to the Ballroom as the thing that saved their life. I’m not saying that I personally saved someone’s life. More that helping build a community, and helping people find a way of expressing themselves physically, and connect joyfully made me feel, if not pride, at least intense gratification.
Do you have any social dance pet peeves?
My pet peeve is when leaders use too much force, both physically and energetically. I can tell when my partner is collaborating and when they are demanding. I don’t have a lot of tolerance for demanding.
Century has a monthly latin night called Women DJs in Salsa & Bachata. This is a really cool idea and I haven’t seen it implemented regularly in any other latin dance community. What was the genesis of this event and why is it important to spotlight women DJs?
The significance of our spotlighting women DJs is an entire dissertation on normalizing female leadership. Example: I started a bachata night at the Ballroom about 12 years ago. At the time, it was the only event in town dedicated to bachata, so there were no DJs that were prepared to do that gig. By default, I ended up being the dj. Even after 9 years of hosting that event people would come up to me in the dj booth regularly to ask me who the DJ was and if he was taking requests.
Seeing women own clubs, produce events, lead classes, DJ, etc… changes the expectations in the community, which filters all the way down to interactions on the dance floor.
Lastly, we just really like and admire these women. They are talented, dedicated, fun and a joy to work with.
Century Ballroom offers classes in a wide variety of dance styles. Do you have a favorite? If so, which style and why?
I don’t have a favorite. I like salsa because the vocabulary is endless and intricate, and there’s no time to think, just move. I like bachata because it’s so straightforward and there is so much space and time to express the music. I like kizomba because you have to be completely in the moment, responsive and physically close. I like waltz because it’s graceful and athletic, I like tango because…I could go on.
Century Ballroom has been a staple of the Seattle dance scene for 25 years. What do you attribute Century’s longevity to?
As for our longevity, Hallie’s vision for the place was so clear from the beginning and we check in regularly to make sure that we are staying true to our values. Are we maintaining an elegant environment that is inclusive, kind, fosters a love of dance and music, responds to the needs/desires of the community and adds to the betterment of the world? I embellished that last one. I don’t think it’s in our mission statement (smile).
We also can’t overlook the impact of the space itself. It’s beautiful and unique, and of a vanishing breed.
What are your current favorite songs to dance to? Top two or three…
- Salsa – “No No No” by Boogaloo Assassins.
- Bachata – “Perdoname” (bachata version) by Pablo Albaron and Carminho.
- I can make at least 3 dance styles work to – “You Don’t Know Me” by Jax Jones.
Favorite dance video you’d like to share?*
*Alison didn’t have a favorite dance video as there were too many to name. I found a video from 2007 that features a salsa performance from Alison and Hallie. It’s quite good! I love the “Titanic” move at 1:59. Check it out.
