We recently connected with Maximiliano Solorzano and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Maximiliano thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

The idea of Proyección Latina was born from my father back in 2005 in Venezuela. At the time, I was barely starting my dance career at another dance school where I learned latin rhythms and performed for several years.

Once I was more of age and ready to join forces with my father is when I left the previous school to focus completely on building Proyección Latina. My father taught me all aspects of the business from how to treat people, how to teach, the administrative side and so much more. Fast forward to 2015, I got the opportunity to travel to Houston, TX to become apart of another renowned group called The Casino Stars. Moving to Houston was where my international dance career started.

I was fully prepared when I moved to Houston thanks to my father. I had experience teaching, directing groups, creating routines, performing on big stages and I was extremely excited to bring my knowledge to the Houston dance community. Naturally, this is when the Proyección Latina Houston branch started to set out its roots in its new home.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I started my dance career when I was 10 years old at one of the best dance schools in Venezuela. Even though I started dancing at a young age my aspirations were not to be a professional dancer. I was raised with both my mother and father being huge fans of dancing and were actively involved with the dance community in Venezuela. My parents did try to convince me to dance more seriously because they saw I had a natural talent for the art, however, I did not come around to the idea until a later time.

In 2005, my father started his own dance school called Proyeccion Latina. Around this time, is when I decided to start taking classes but with another academy. This dance school was a better fit for me because they had a great program for kids and young adults. I spent the next 5 years learning many different styles from salsa, bachata, folklore and merengue. Simultaneously, my father’s studio was getting bigger and I was at a good place to start helping with the family business. I started teaching my own classes at his studio and was assisting him with his teams. It was at that point I knew I was pursuing a professional career as a dancer. I had all the right resources and with my father as my mentor I was truly excelling in my craft. All these elements ultimately prepared me for my biggest career move yet.

Fast forward to 2015, I was invited to be a member on the pro-dance team called Casino Stars which was based in Houston. This was my chance to explore and expose my talents internationally while also creating a more sustainable life for myself in another country. I was only 18 years old when I decided to leave my family in Venezuela and make Proyeccion Latina happen in the USA.

Houston was, and still is, such a welcoming and culturally diverse community. And over the years my student base has grown to the point where I opened the doors to my own studio Proyeccion Latina Houston in 2021. The original essence of Proyeccion Latina from Venezuela can still be felt in the studio here in Houston. I offer my students a safe and open place to explore their own bodies and deepen their understanding of dance. We have a great culture of team work and dedication. The levels that are offered vary from beginners to advance dancers so there is space for anyone no matter where they are in their dance journeys.

What also has made Proyeccion Latina so special is that in 2017 my family was finally able to join me in Houston and have opened their own branch in Katy. Together we have kept the dream of Proyeccion Latina alive and thriving no matter where in the world.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Once the pandemic forced every public space to close, I had to drastically pivot towards another job and put a hard stop to my dance occupation immediately. I started working for Amazon delivering packages for a period of time. It was definitely a difficult moment because for the first in my life I was working in a completely different industry. I was grateful to still be able to work but I always knew somehow I would make dance my main occupation again. This experience taught me how to be innovative and flexible.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Throughout the years of my career, I’ve seen many students come and go. Dance is mostly looked at as a hobby and I ensure that every student whether they stay for years or only a few weeks, feel that they had a unique experience with me. I care about the development of my students and prove to them they are capable of improving no matter what they have heard in the past.

I constantly post videos on my social media not only to promote the classes but the students can also use these videos as a reference to see their growth. People out side of the classes can see how the same student went from level to level because of their consistency.

Contact Info:

• Website: MaxSolorzano.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maxsolorzano1/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/proyeccion-latina-houston-houston
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@max.solorzano?lang=es