About: History
The Houston Salsa Dancers, Inc. is a non-profit organization which hosts the Houston Salsa Congress that then allows the organization to promote fine arts programs, education, and community service for Houston’s youth. The organization has many facets. The Houston Salsa Dancers Inc serves the community through scholarship program, college/career day program, dance classes, dance programs at HISD schools, and various cultural events.
The purpose of Houston Salsa Congress is not only to expose students to different communities, cultures and heritages through dance, but also to help them build a positive body image and self esteem, increase strength, flexibility, agility, and encourage positive socialization.
The Houston Salsa Dancers Inc dance team is a diverse group that shares the passion for dancing with the purpose of promoting cultural awareness. Dancing creates an environment that encourages collaboration, socialization, and decision-making. Their mission is to be a professional dance company that focuses on the community through purposeful, creative performances designed to uplift and motivate the audience.
Houston Salsa Dancers Inc is celebrating our seventh year planning the Houston Salsa Congress. We begin planning this event since November 2007 by meeting twice a month until the week of the event with the supervision of eight main board members. All board members attended the monthly meetings to discuss what will take place between the board of directors, treasurer, chairperson, program coordinator, and volunteer staff. The Houston Salsa Dancers Inc has been well managed by its volunteers to provide the abilities to accomplish our mission statement.
In the last six years have established a well-rounded accounting system. The Houston Salsa Dancer Inc has elected a new treasurer Alvaro Oliu with vast experience working with other non-profit organization in the finance area. With the financial policies and practices support by the organization we hold a cost effective way of promoting salsa dancing. The organization keeps all cost to a minimum to pass the saving on to the community though hosting profitable events.
Houston Salsa Dancers main job is to preserve the history of salsa to the public. This is accomplished with informing the public about Salsa Dancing – The music originated from Cuba in the early 1930's. Its roots come from various African rhythms and the traditional Cuban music "Son". There are many different styles of salsa dance that are influenced by their respective regions. What makes the salsa dance unique is its ability to absorb the many steps and turns from other dances such as the mambo, cumbia, hustle, swing, jazz, and other local dances. Uniting the all styles of salsa despite these differences is an underlying rhythmic frame established by the clave, a pair of smooth wooden cylindrical blocks. The salsa beat is formed when they are banged together enthusiastically in a sinuous 1-2-3 phrase. Everyone who dances salsa obeys the beat of the clave. As the famous veteran conga player Joe Cuba once said, "the Clave makes the world go round."
Since its birth, this Afro-Cuban rhythm has traveled throughout Latin America with major influences coming from both Puerto Rico and Colombia. Salsa was later brought to the United States with the Latino immigration to big cities such as New York, Miami, and Los Angeles. With its sensual style and flashy turns, it is crossing cultural barriers and sweeping the nation from coast to coast
- GIVE WITH CONFIDENCE The official site for Donation Guide Star!