Salsa Dance by Night, Salsa Dream by Day
by Erin Salona
posted July 6, 2004

Note: Pseudonyms have been implemented when necessary to protect the anonymity of Indy Salseros and Salseras; however, quoted material remains true to their voices.

Nicole prepares for a night of dancing, a celebration of Salsa, a spiritual rendezvous of sorts. She mentally practices her patterns as she listens to the sonorous rhythms of Victor Manuelle and smiles as she recalls a past evening of significantly steamy Salsa. Envisioning herself in a fabulous black cocktail dress, she considers a quick shopping trip to enunciate her confidence. Nicole visualizes herself gliding her toes between the leathered feet of men, dragging her stiletto heels along the fragmented ends of blue-tipped lights and halos of red. Her heels bend and dissolve into the pulses of drums and the melting of sound and sweat while she clings to the machismo of men. The men who coil their gestures into the urgency of seduction. The men who breathe inglés con chile y cilantro with promises of the Cuban shores and the Mexican moon across ticking bodies and fresh mouths. . . "What are we doing today?" a voice interrupts. She turns from her desk to observe thirty teenagers sitting in their desks waiting for something other than a Salsa lesson. She panics. She hasn't even listed the agenda for the day on the board and the bell has just rung. "What is that noise? It sounds like we're at Don Pablos," Chris, a particularly smug student, remarks. Nicole sighs. She's done it before, and she'll do it again: "Everyone, clear off your desks. It's time for a pop quiz over Transcendentalism."

So the question is: How does Salsa dancing affect our professional lives? Are we simply going through the motions at work in order to accommodate an exhilarating social life? Or does the enjoyment we experience dancing actually promote our careers?

Three years ago when Nicole began interviewing for teaching positions, she was asked, based on information supplied on her resume, "What is Latin dancing and when can you teach us how to do it?" She provided a brief background on the Salsa, Rumba, Mambo, and Cha Cha and her involvement with the dances, and within that week she was able to choose from teaching positions offered to her by the two top high schools in the state. Like Nicole, Antonio, an engineering professional, experienced the same question at his interview. He contributes, "During one interview last year, my only question was 'What is Salsa dancing?' and guess what. . . I was offered the job!" Salsa dancing helps to differentiate us from other professionals, and perhaps this is due to the passion emanating from us when we discuss the dance. But does this passion drive us through our daily grinds at work?

Rick, a Psychology professor at the University of Indianapolis, views Salsa dancing as beneficial to his career. He states, "Whether I'm going to a Salsa lesson or a club to dance, I can expect that I will be doing something completely different from work. Salsa is physical and kinesthetic; it is about balance, movement, and relationship. After an evening of Salsa dancing, the next day I feel more alive at work. I laugh, have energy, and focus-it makes my life feel fuller. As a professor, my work involves reading, thinking, writing, and talking; and I can do each better when I'm feeling nourished in body and mind."

Taz, a Lily employee, professor, and our own personal Salsa dj, shares a similar attitude with Rick. Dj Taz remarks, "I love going dancing. The strangest thing always happens the morning after some hard-core dancing. Instead of being tired because I've only had five hours of sleep, I always wake up energetic, upbeat with a general positive outlook to my life. In fact, when I wake up to go to work, the music is still playing loud in my head. Some co-workers have commented that I come into work on Fridays with a big smile on my face, and I am hugging everyone and shaking their hands. Once when I thought no one was looking, a co-worker caught me do a side step and a turn with an imaginary partner in front of the elevator mirror." [Who was this "invisible" gal, Taz?] Taz was a bit embarrassed after getting caught in the act, but he adds "that [good] feeling lasts all day!" All of us have experienced this Salsa high from time to time, but the majority of us have difficulty focusing on our work after a late night Salsa party. Scary thought: an air-traffic controller who Salsa dances--- 'Sure, land, whatever. Take off? Alright. Just get these planes outta here so I can go dance!'

Antonio is representative of those of us who aren't always "there" after a night or two of dancing. "I daydream about moves at work and I am tired after a night of dancing. . . not to mention driving home," he comments. On the positive side, however, he adds, "The good thing about Salsa is that it keeps life in perspective and does not let me make work my life. (Although I still have to work so that I can afford to go on those Salsa trips!)" All of us have either been exhausted the day after or two days after a late Salsa-nighter-come on, admit it. But think of all the stories we have to share with our colleagues who can only rant about the horrific requirements of their work or married lives or are only excited after a compelling American Idol episode. We've got it good, and that ain't bad.