FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR DANCE TEAMS
Can I join if I don't know how to dance?
Yes! All skill levels are welcome. No previous dance experience is
necessary. Dancing is a form of communication, a universal language
that is expressed through movement, sound, rhythm, beat and self-
expression. Dance is for everyone, anyone, at any age and at all stages
in life. Anyone can learn with practice and determination.
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DO I NEED A PARTNER TO JOIN THE PERFORMING TEAMS?
Not in our teams! In three of our teams, we focus on individual footwork
and styling. This focus allows us to increase our understanding of timing,
rhythms, cleanliness, pronunciation of steps, balance, mobility,
acceleration, quickness and speed from one step or movement to the
next, body movement definition and so much more! If you can't dance by
yourself, you won't connect and dance with someone else as best as you
could. For our partner Salsa and Bachata teams, we'll pair up with other members.
WHY ARE ONLY WOMXN ALLOWED IN SOME TEAMS?
We seek to provide a place where anyone who identifies as a womxn or
non-binary feels safe and welcomed (yes, we happily include our
transgender sisters and those who identify as non-binary ). Our goal is to create a
space where we are free of male judgement or harassment.
Furthermore, we actively lift each other up, foster strong relationships
and nurture a sense of sisterhood.
DO YOU NEED TO BE LATINO/A/X TO JOIN THE TEAMS?
No. Anyone interested is welcome. Bachata is from the Dominican Republic and has
origins in Black African/Afro-Latino and Indigenous culture. Our instructors are diverse in their backgrounds but all passionate about stopping the Black & Indigenous erasure from Latinx
history, elevating Black Lives Matter, and supporting Indigenous and anti-racist
movements. When we love Latin dancing but don't do these things, we actively
damage the cultures and traditions we enjoy. The team is not a white-centered space.
On average, 70% of members are people color (Black, Indigenous, Latinx or Asian).
WHY IS THE SEASON 3 MONTHS?
Since we welcome dancers of all levels, we heavily focus on
learning/reviewing Latin dance foundations (history, context, body
movement, technique, etc.). This is in addition to learning a choreography
to a specific song step by step. It is usually around 2 minutes long. It might
not sound like a lot, but it takes time to break it down, learn, review and get
performance-ready, especially practicing only once a week.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
There is no set price. We are committed to economic justice and use a sliding scale for team fees as a tool to promote accessibility. Dancing should be a source of healing, not of stress. We don't ever want money to be a barrier. Paying according to one's available resources creates a more equitable system for pricing. You will select your preference based on your financial ability. If you choose to pay at the top of the scale, you are helping others access the team. If you choose to pay at the bottom of the scale, you are letting your community support you. Both are beautiful and acceptable. This is a system built on honesty and trust, so we won't be asking for financial proof or anything like that. Furthermore, we are a nonprofit, all proceeds from the teams go directly into our dance community, to provide scholarships, purchase costumes, pay for dance workshops and hopefully one day have a dance festival of our own! #dancegoals #dancedreams
DO I HAVE TO PERFORM IF I JOIN? HOW MUCH DOES THE COSTUME COST?
No, performing and buying the costume is optional. It is strongly encouraged though,
since it's an opportunity to showcase and celebrate the time and effort invested as well as increasing our
confidence. The goal is not perfection, but to enjoy and have fun sharing our love of
dance. We do our best to keep costume costs under $100 and we have limited scholarships for those that need them. We perform an average of 15 times per season. We also have team shirts with our core values on them ($15 for 1 or $25 for 2). Sometimes we perform in shirts if it's a casual event.
WHERE AND WHEN DOES THE TEAM PERFORM?
Lots of different places! In the team's 6 years, the team has performed more than 130
times in front of almost 23,000 people. We mostly perform around Tulsa
wherever/whenever we have the opportunity to do so in schools, parks, dance studios,
clubs, restaurants, community, corporate and private events, and more! We have also
performed in OKC, Arkansas, Kansas, and even NYC! We have a spreadsheet with the
list of events and you can sign up for the ones you're available for and want to perform
at once the season is over.
WHAT DO I NEED FOR PRACTICE?
In terms of clothes, anything comfortable to move in. Gym/workout attire works
(leggings, sweatpants, loose-fitting athletic pants/shirts etc.). For shoes, comfort is
even more critical. Avoid tennis shoes or thick rubber soled shoes (it's hard to turn and
hard on the knees). Toms shoes are perfect because the sole is thin. Otherwise, any flat
shoe that is not open in the back or that may fall off works. Leather-soled shoes are
best for spinning. Don't forget to bring lots of water!
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT TO
DO DURING PRACTICES?
Our practices follow a general format. Once members arrive, we start stretching in a circle and share
highs (a success, blessing, anything you're excited about), lows (struggles, problems, anything
unpleasant you're facing) and buffaloes (random thing you'd like to share). Doing this allows us to
build a sense of community/belonging, get to know each other and what we're each going through,
and support each other. We continue warming up and go through body movement exercises. Next,
we break down steps and learn choreography step by step. We repeat counts over and over to
smooth steps and improve coordination. Finally, we pretend we are performing, practice formations,
group coherence, transitions and record to see ourselves and provide feedback.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I CAN'T COME TO PRACTICE
IN PERSON OR IF I MISS PRACTICE?
Attendance to all practices is highly encouraged since that's what's going to help us improve. However, we know that life happens and things come up. If you have to miss, you must commit to practicing on your own with the
instructional step-by-step videos – ALL on YouTube and/or with the practice
recordings. This will prevent you from falling behind. You can also ask other
members to have an extra practice with you.
CAN I JOIN IF I'M NOT IN
TULSA?
Yes! You can attend all practices online or use the step-by-
step instructional videos on YouTube. If you want to perform
and buy the costume, you can be a part of our virtual debut by
recording a video of yourself doing the choreo.
WHAT IS THE VALUE OF BEING
PART OF THE TEAM?
We seek to provide a welcoming environment to learn how to differentiate Latin dance styles and their history, dance foundations, body movement,
technique, practices, choreography, feedback, instructional videos,
practice recordings, photo/video session, commitment & accountability,
opportunities to perform after the season and life-long friendships! The most invaluable thing we get from our team however, is the community and wonderful people that make it up. Even most amazing, is that all funds that come from our teams goes directly back into our dance community. This allows us to provide scholarships, purchase costumes, pay for dance instruction and hopefully one day host our own dance festival!
WHAT ARE THE TEAM'S CORE BELIEFS?
Our values are easy to remember because together they spell TACOS! We believe in Trust because we want to create a supportive community with authentic relationships. We believe in Access and that dance is for all. We believe in Community because we want to foster a sense of belonging in our dance family. We believe in Ongoing growth because we continually put in the work to improve in humility. We believe in Significance because dance has the power to liberate and we honor the legacy of others.
HOW DO I JOIN?
Fill out the Google Form (link on our website, Linktree, FB & IG) by Sunday, February 5th at 12pm (at the latest!). We'll add you to the team's Private Facebook Group where all our communication takes place. You'll get all the information you need to be ready for our first practice beforehand. You do not have to pay the team fee before showing up. Each member makes payment arrangements according to what works best for them once the season starts.