Rick Holigrocki

As a Canadian I am used to much more diversity than Indianapolis on first glance has to offer. Yet, not far below the surface of Midwestern conservatism, exists a salsa underground where an international, liberal, hip, smart group of salseros and salseras from all over Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas get together to dance in houses and clubs. Over the course of the last year, salsa, bachata, and merengue lessons and dancing have increasingly filled my evenings. I have neither the need nor time for the gym as my entire cardio workout comes in the form of evenings at the Jazz Kitchen, Red Room, or Mavris Cultural Center. As with most good things that have happened in my life, I owe much of what I’ve learned to the committed efforts of good teachers. I’m thankful to Yang with his fine organizational sense and well planned lessons, Erin with her instructions to the guys about how best to lead the girls, as well as Tee from the now defunct Red Brick Dance Studio with his footwork focus and his emphatic reminder to show “Power!” To me, salsa is about cooperating while valuing what is unique about the person you are with and enjoying the surprises that naturally arise from music, laughter, and friendship.