Kelly Sparks is featured in this edition of Dance Spotlight! She is a dance instructor at Sueños de Salsa located in Seattle and she also DJs at local events in the area as well! Check out fun and interesting facts about Kelly including her first experiences with the latin dance community and how dance has helped her through difficult times.
What (or who) originally inspired you to try Latin dancing? OR What are your first memories of latin dancing?
I first encountered Latin dance in middle school, when a ballroom dance instructor came and taught us some swing, cha cha, and salsa. I was already a dancer and performer, but salsa captivated me in a way no other dance style had done. My dad actually fell in love with the dance and music too, and we started taking Casino Rueda Cuban salsa lessons at the local studio in Portland, OR. By the time I was 16, we were both teaching classes there, and he ended up being a huge part of growing the Cuban Salsa scene. I went on to teach ballroom at Arthur Murray, but eventually, almost inevitably, I was drown back to Latin dance. It’s my passion.
Describe a moment in your dance life that made you feel proud?
Nothing makes me prouder than helping my students succeed. I love sharing this beautiful thing that gives me so much joy, and seeing it transform people’s lives the way it changed mine. There is a deep satisfaction in giving them a safe, fun space to learn, and watching their confidence grow as they progress.
What makes a social dance fun for you?
For me, social dancing is all about connection. Connection with the music is where it starts, so good music is obviously pretty vital, and one of my favorite things to do at a social is DJ. I really enjoy dancing with people of all levels, and my favorite socials have a good mix of leads and follows, from beginner to advanced. I also really love variety, and I always prefer going to a social where I can dance multiple styles.
Some say that dance is therapy in that its an outlet that helps us navigate through difficult times. How has dance helped you when going through life struggles?
Wow, this is a big one. I honestly don’t know if I would have made it through my darkest times without dancing. It has given me a purpose, a solace, a healthy escape from my problems. It has carried me through grief and loss, and at the worst times, it has given me a reason to get out of bed and feed myself and get dressed. To me, dance is life, literally. It makes me feel human, and connected, and alive.
Operating Sueños de Salsa dance studio must have been extremely difficult during the pandemic. What lessons did you learn personally and/or professionally during this time?
I really have to give credit to my partner Michael, who owns the studio, and the dance community, who raised funds to keep the us afloat. SDS would have gone the way of so many other studios without a lot of support and determination from a lot of people. I also went through some pretty challenging life changes, personally, and the strength and support of this community has been really humbling. It sounds cheesy, but the pandemic has shown me how much stronger we are when we lean on each other, and how many people are eager for the chance to be there for you, if you can just bring yourself to ask.
You have several cool tattoos! Do you have a favorite? If so, which one and why? Are any of them dance related? If you can share a pic of one that’d be great.
My favorite tattoo is my chest piece, which is for my daughters. The heart is for Nora Valentine, and the strawberries and juniper berries are for Luna “Strawberry,” once Luna Juniper. (She announced at age two that her middle name is Strawberry, and three years later, she’s still sticking with it.) The kids got to have a say in the design, and my favorite artist and good friend Cricket Elijah, designed and inked it.
What are your current favorite songs to dance to? Top two or three…
1. Mambo Campana, La Timba y Manuel La Palma. The original is kind of short, with a long solo that’s a bit much for social dancing, so I remixed it to create a really fun version. Michael and I are actually working on some chores to this song for the studio’s salsa team.
2. Quedate, Debi Nova y Pedro Capó. Super cute, fun little bachata.
3. Boogaloo Supreme, Victor Manuel. So good.
Favorite video you’d like to share?
Here is a ladies salsa styling video with Camille Primous. She is also an instructor at Sueños de Salsa.
