Thank you for this opportunity! Well first, I’m originally from rural Wisconsin and moved to the Twin Cities in 2019 – 6 months before the pandemic started. A lot had changed, and being new to Minnesota, I felt disconnected making me wonder for a minute, whether I should pack my bags and go back. While deciding to wait it out, I acknowledged that I was no longer in a small rural town. That’s when I started googling different dance studios.

At the time, many studios mainly offered virtual dance lessons. Because, I previously had watched dance videos on different platforms, I wanted an in-person learning experience which didn’t come until July 2021 (over a year and a half later). That’s when I officially took my first dance class at CM’s Fitness and Dance with Hannah. From there, I went on to take classes at Duende and Demure and now, I perform with Yirií’s Bachata Footwork Dance Team where I also continue to take classes.

I’d say, looking back, I wish I would have prioritized socials to really practice connection and listening/reading for the lead’s cues rather than memorizing dance patterns or trying to anticipate and back lead. Then, we can be so eager to advance from level 1, 2, 3, etc. as quickly as possible where I really appreciated taking different intro classes at various studios, sometimes during the same month, to develop that strong foundation that every dance move builds off of. Lastly, I’d highly encourage dancers to perform with a team. For me, I noticed the impact instantly with my first dance right after last season’s debut in May 2023. You spend hours, weekly, practicing and training with the instructors and with each other as teammates. If you’re looking for a place to audition or take classes at, Yirií Dance Studio is the place to go!

For sure! I grew up as the eldest daughter of Zacatecano immigrants in rural Wisconsin, often acting as an interpreter, secretary, and driver, all while still somehow a child. There’s no doubt that this experience instilled a strong sense of cultural pride, and self-motivation to do and be better, coupled with a heightened awareness of the power of those nine little numbers. Being a first-generation college student, every day after graduation has been surreal and comes with the pressure of limitless opportunities. Since graduating, I have especially appreciated fully immersing myself in the Arts and Culture sector by supporting artists, humanizing and increasing access to grants, and contributing to a vibrant arts ecosystem through dance.

If you’re interested in learning more about grants, I speak Spanish and English, fundraised at a $15 million nonprofit, and currently work at the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council co-leading our $4 million group grant. You can reach me at [email protected].

If you’re interested in having a dance buddy as you start your dance journey with Bachata and/or Salsa on1 and on2, I’d be more than happy tag along! Feel free to email me at [email protected].

Acknowledge the inherent value developing and investing in artists has on our community.

Increasing grant dollars available to individual artists and being clear as a grant-maker what your intentions are. If the goal is to support as many artists as possible, then say that. If the goal is to support a particular type of discipline and for artists at a particular stage, then say that. And, tailor applications accordingly. Overly complicated applications make no sense for grants less than $20,000. For all grants, consider intentional community outreach events, provide materials in different languages, invest in accessibility, and consider random selection.

As a community, support each other’s events, programs, work by attending and/or re-sharing opportunities.

My dad would play music while driving, when grilling, or just relaxing at home – so, almost all the time. He’d play banda, norteñas, duranguense, corridos, rancheras – or, more generally called, música regional mexicana. From there, I was exposed to bachata in high school. This was actually the first time I saw someone that looked like me, an AfroLatino, in a music video singing in Spanish and I was hooked. These memories, emotions, cultural ties, are what drive my creative journey. Then, as an over-thinker, dance welcomes me into a space where all I’m expected to do is feel and are the moments I am most in tune with my body. All of this, accompanied by supportive, fun, kind, caring people makes me come back every week. So to answer the question more directly, for the time being, I’d say my goals are to become a stronger salsa on2 dancer, take more classes in cumbia, heels, and hip hop and continue to perform bachata.