2008 Woodie Awards
Salsa Underground to host dance workouts in Fairfield
Rebecca Kelley
Issue date: 4/1/08 Section: Community
The Latin culture of the Cincinnati tri-state area is growing with the rise of the Salsa Underground, a new salsa dancing community.
Salsa Underground is now holding a six-week salsa dancing workout classes, as well as hosting social dances throughout the Fairfield area.
"Dancing is hot right now and people really enjoy it," said Herman Recalde, founder and instructor at the Salsa Underground.
Recalde has been salsa dancing for 10 years and founded Salsa Underground approximately two years ago. He teaches dance classes at several dance studios and arts centers, including the Fairfield Community Art Center, and Step'n Out Studio in Covington, Ky.
At this point, Recalde said he is the only instructor but that Salsa Underground is currently attempting to establish a new dance studio in Dayton, Ohio.
Recalde said that many dance studios try to teach social dance, including salsa dancing, however said that they do not do an adequate job of teaching the fundamentals.
"As a teacher of salsa, I have seen way too many people dance salsa and really not feel the rhythm," Recalde said. "The people don't really have a good foundation of salsa."
According to Recalde, Salsa Underground takes a new approach to teaching the dance. His method focuses on the repetition of the basic steps of salsa dancing, building a solid basis of the dancing style. Recalde said that his technique also incorporates culture into the curriculum, using DJs that play traditional and popular Latin music.
According to Recalde, the Salsa Underground has dance teams perform at corporate functions, festivals, clubs and private parties. Recalde said that his dance team showed off its talents at "Latin Dance Night" held at Miami University in January 2008.
"My goal really is to open the eyes of the entire community to the dance that is taking the entire world over," Recalde said.
Recalde said that as Salsa Underground expandis, it is also becoming more involved in the Cincinnati area, as well as other communities in the tri-state area. He said he hopes to perform at more festivals and events throughout the area to raise even more awareness about the dance.
Recalde hopes that through raising awareness and introducing more people to the style, he will increase the number of people enrolled in his dance classes. According to Recalde, his students range from children around the age of 10 to the elderly.
"I would be intrigued to go and try it out," senior Avery Spalding said. "I think salsa dancing is hot."
Recalde thinks that Miami students will find interest in the Salsa Underground despite the distance, and he encourages students to come to a social dance or enroll in a class. According to Recalde, he has been considering a special price for students who come to join the dance classes. Specifics have not yet been determined.
"I think it would be a great opportunity for Miami students to broaden their horizons, while expanding their options for weekend activities," first-year Meghan Beddow said.
Salsa Underground is now holding a six-week salsa dancing workout classes, as well as hosting social dances throughout the Fairfield area.
"Dancing is hot right now and people really enjoy it," said Herman Recalde, founder and instructor at the Salsa Underground.
Recalde has been salsa dancing for 10 years and founded Salsa Underground approximately two years ago. He teaches dance classes at several dance studios and arts centers, including the Fairfield Community Art Center, and Step'n Out Studio in Covington, Ky.
At this point, Recalde said he is the only instructor but that Salsa Underground is currently attempting to establish a new dance studio in Dayton, Ohio.
Recalde said that many dance studios try to teach social dance, including salsa dancing, however said that they do not do an adequate job of teaching the fundamentals.
"As a teacher of salsa, I have seen way too many people dance salsa and really not feel the rhythm," Recalde said. "The people don't really have a good foundation of salsa."
According to Recalde, Salsa Underground takes a new approach to teaching the dance. His method focuses on the repetition of the basic steps of salsa dancing, building a solid basis of the dancing style. Recalde said that his technique also incorporates culture into the curriculum, using DJs that play traditional and popular Latin music.
According to Recalde, the Salsa Underground has dance teams perform at corporate functions, festivals, clubs and private parties. Recalde said that his dance team showed off its talents at "Latin Dance Night" held at Miami University in January 2008.
"My goal really is to open the eyes of the entire community to the dance that is taking the entire world over," Recalde said.
Recalde said that as Salsa Underground expandis, it is also becoming more involved in the Cincinnati area, as well as other communities in the tri-state area. He said he hopes to perform at more festivals and events throughout the area to raise even more awareness about the dance.
Recalde hopes that through raising awareness and introducing more people to the style, he will increase the number of people enrolled in his dance classes. According to Recalde, his students range from children around the age of 10 to the elderly.
"I would be intrigued to go and try it out," senior Avery Spalding said. "I think salsa dancing is hot."
Recalde thinks that Miami students will find interest in the Salsa Underground despite the distance, and he encourages students to come to a social dance or enroll in a class. According to Recalde, he has been considering a special price for students who come to join the dance classes. Specifics have not yet been determined.
"I think it would be a great opportunity for Miami students to broaden their horizons, while expanding their options for weekend activities," first-year Meghan Beddow said.
Be the first to comment on this story