Dancing my way through Colombia
On Sunday 27th of August we jetted of on our month-long adventure to Colombia. I didn’t quite know what to expect from this trip, but the 36-hour total commute across the Pacific Ocean left me feeling a bit anxious. As soon as we arrived, this feeling eased. As soon as we stepped off the plane I was greeted with heat, salsa music, and a cocktail. I was in heaven.
Our Colombia trip was jam-packed with highlights and experiences I will never forget. From learning dances like Salsa Caleña or dances from the indigenous Nasa community, sipping on an espresso in Salento the coffee region, or dancing in the streets of Loma De La Cruz and Sin Street. Learning and immersing myself in as much Salsa Caleña as I possibly could was one of my goals for the trip. The dance was exhilarating, passionate, and challenging. Salsa lives and breathes in the people from Cali, Colombia; and there isn’t a better place to learn than in the Salsa capitol of the world.
I met and connected with many wonderful people during the trip. Exchanges of dance knowledges took place continuously and abundantly. I made new friends like Gigi, where we made a trade where she taught me Salsa and I taught her Jazz. We connected through things like trending music and our dance dreams, despite her not speaking any English and my Spanish being sketchy at best. Other special connections were made with the dance students from Buenaventura. They shared their stories, hopes, and dreams with us through a performance. This cultural exchange went beyond anything I have ever experienced and left me raw and emotional. Other connections were made with the students of Univalle when we danced everything from Line dance to Folklore dance, to Samoan Sasa and Siva, to Afro, to Choreographic tasking, and of course Salsa Caleña. These exchanges and friendships with the students and teachers from Colombia were a part of what made this trip special.
I danced my way through Colombia with the most incredible team of Postgraduates led by the dazzling Professor Ralph Buck. If I had the opportunity to travel back to Colombia, I would leave in a heartbeat.