About Latin Dance 918
Latin Dance 918 is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion, education, and preservation of Afro-Caribbean/Latin culture through dance in our region. We exist to cultivate an equitable and collaborative community that is safe, inclusive & welcoming. We provide access to dance with our pay-what-you-can model to dancers of all skill levels and backgrounds via classes, socials, performances, and recreational dance teams (Ritmo 918).
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Our mission is to offer everyone the opportunity to experience the joy and collective healing of Afro-Caribbean/Latin dancing in an inclusive community.
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Our vision is dance and healing for all in a united community.
If you are able, we'd appreciate your tax-deductible donations for us to continue increasing access to dance. Anything helps. All donors that contribute over $100 will be recognized on our sponsor/donor page and sent a receipt of donation by Dec. 31st. Thank you so much for your generosity and for your support!
Core Principles
We dance Salsa, Bachata, and other Afro/Caribbean/Latin dances and are aware that we are dancing to music that has its origins not just in Latin America. the Caribbean, and New York, but also in Black African culture and the Atlantic slave trade.
Some of the songs we dance to sing about the impact of global inequality, structural racism, and living in a diaspora. The evolution of the dances and musical genres also played a role in the presentation of racial identities among Afro-Latinos. Latin Dance originated in the traditional dances of indigenous cultures of Latin America and the Caribbean. Dance was essential in communal ritual life. This is why as a group enjoying dances with Black/African/Indigenous roots, it is important for us to express and act on our belief that Black Lives Matter and Indigenous Lives Matter.
When we love Latin dancing but do not support anti-racism movements, we are actively damaging the cultures and traditions we enjoy, and we merely engage in appropriation. We intentionally mention this in every single class we have and every opportunity we have to create awareness and educate others on the dances we enjoy so much.
Our core values are easy to remember because together they spell TACOS! We believe in building trust because it is the foundation of quality human relationships. We strive to increase access to the healing power of dance by having a pay-what-you-can model. We believe in the power of community and creating a welcoming space. We believe in ongoing growth, always striving to improve not just in our dance skills, but also as human beings. Finally, we promote lifting each other up through sisterhood and
significance, honoring our ancestors, those who came before us and opened doors for us, and remembering those who left us too soon.
