The Power of Community
By Elysia Baker
Part of the attraction of the Salsa world is this amazing community of people from so many different backgrounds, which creates a rich, energetic culture, full of personality. I had never really experienced anything like it before despite my many years in other dance genres and community clubs like horse riding. Within a year of starting Salsa I felt I had found a second family, both here in Melbourne and around the World.
What creates this community? Why is it so addicting? What feeds it?
Is it the dance itself, the music or the people?
We take class, meet new friends, learn a new skill together.
We train for hours on end with the same people, week after week, all working towards a common goal.
We go out social dancing with friends, enjoying drinks and dancing together.
We perform shows and your friends yell and scream support for you.
We travel to new destinations, do make-up together and support each others nerves.
We miss talking about dancing when we’re not with our dance friends.
We support each others successes and frustrations.
We see students become addicted, progress, achieve, and connect.
We feel lost and out of sorts when we are separated from each other.
This community feeling is not limited to the class room or a schools walls. One of my favourite things about this industry is the opportunity to travel to Salsa events and competitions around Australia and the world. I’ve been at it for over 10 years now, so many amazing times, but the most memorable are those with your friends and team in tow where our ties only become stronger. Year after year we reunite with the same familiar faces and welcome new ones into this crazy world we call the Latin Dance industry. These events always promise an exciting weekend away, dancing, parties, workshops, teaching, performing, socialising, competing, meeting new people, sharing your passion. It’s something we have all missed greatly through 2020, being separated from our larger extended family due to the pandemic. But it only makes us crave it even more, with us already clutching to the bright shining light that is 2021.
Like anything in life, people and students come and go as the journey moves on and at times I have questioned people and the industry’s authenticity. But I truly believe this world has the power to change peoples lives. It’s why I quit my 9-5 marketing job in order to dedicate myself full time to this passion space. Though never could I have imagined how the last few years would have panned out. It wasn’t until I started my own classes (and then school) that I truly realised the power of community. That people would support my ideas, push me to continue in my own development, follow my direction, or seek my advice.. more importantly it was just experiencing that connection and energy with people on another level. Seeing their joy of learning a new step, performing a choreography or just hearing those magnificent stories around how and why they started dancing. It’s priceless.
I am now truly indebted to our community dubbed the ‘burgundy army’. This collective of people where each week we dance and forget about problems outside of those studio walls. Where we push and support each other to believe in ourselves. Where we meet and create friends for a lifetime.
Why this community?
We walk into our studio (or more lately a Zoom studio) and are filled with happiness from the energy of students/fellow dancers.
We learn choreography and bring it to life, patiently supporting the teachers vision.
We cheer each other on and tell each other to get back up and keep going when it all goes to shit.
We make each other accountable, to get up, dress up, show up and never give up.
We are inspire each other with new ideas, music, stories and thoughts.
We believe in our school vision.
We put up with each others madness during competition season (and students do with me generally).
We supported each others business adventures, events and personal goals kicked.
When someone gets sick our whole community gets behind them.
We keep each other afloat during tough times.
We genuinely love spending time together.
They say your vibe attracts your tribe and I’m so grateful for what we’ve created together at LEC. Thanks to each and every one of you who have been a part of my Salsa journey in some way, shape or form. This year has been challenging, but I wouldn’t change it, it’s made us even stronger. I look forward to an even brighter 2021 with you all.