Salsa for a Cause Street Party
by Nivanka Paranavitana
posted September 14, 2005

The annual fall gallery walk had a new addition this year. Amidst the art and the exhibits a group of salseras and salseros danced for a cause, a spectacle of vivacity and humanity Indianapolis had never seen before. Last Friday evening, the heart of Indy's cultural art district marched to the beat of a different drum. Thanks to DJ TaZ and Gerardo, Salsa was in the air that night. And, as intrigued passerbys stopped to stare, a street party took shape in front of Yats Cajun restaurant, right on the corner of Park and Mass. Ave. Reminiscent of the once festive Bourbon street, this event brought New Orleans to Indianapolis.

It was not too long ago when disaster hit my own homeland, and IntoSalsa supported my efforts to raise money for tsunami victims of Sri Lanka. Hurricane Katrina was no different, I could not bare to stand on the side lines and watch, I had to get involved. Two banners hung bold and bright behind the DJ booth, a large red cross, and the other with large red music notes that decorated the IntoSalsa logo. By 5pm The American Red Cross, the employees of Yats, the galleries on Mass ave, DJ TaZ, and the members of the IntoSalsa dance company had united. In addition to everything that was going on, a New Orleans native and IUPUI student joined us along with her dad. Not only did her creativity and artistic talent in the Mardigras masks that she was making raised money for our cause, but her mere presence enhanced the aura of what was unfolding.

As dusk approached nightfall, Indy's salsa community was once again in full swing. This was the night when we dancers were once again invigorated and refreshed, and the meaning of "dance" shined through. We danced to remember, we danced for the unfortunate, we danced with our hearts. We danced until the soles of our shoes wore so thin that we will never wear them again. "This brings new meaning to the phrase, we tore it up." Yang commented, as he watched me examine the impact of spinning on concrete had on the bottom of my tired feet. Oh, but it was so worth every bit of sole and not to mention, every bit of soul...There was wine, there was art, there was food, there were people, and there was Salsa. All of it was FREE, with no cover.