A few years ago I spent three months in Central America, more specifically Panama and Costa Rica, in an effort to learn Spanish. One of the prescribed study techniques was to listen to musica Latina and decipher las letras.  As you would probably imagine,  I learned a lot of Spanish and- of course, fell in love with the music along the way.

My father grew up in Panama; my mom in St. Lucia and Trinidad. At family gatherings I grew accustomed to hearing a mix of Caribbean music: mainly Salsa, Merengue, Soca and Calypso. Though, until much older, I really was unable to distinguish one style from another. As I grew up in Hempstead, Long Island, Hip-Hop dominated our musical landscape and pushed all other styles into the background. My recent language studies and travels re-introduced me to Latin Music; putting Salsa, in particular, back on the radar. It was an obsession with the music that opened my mind to the dance and lured me to the Piel Canela Dance School four years ago.

Since then I've trained under Joe Burgos in small stints whenever my crazy schedule would allow. Only recently have I joined the dance company, in which I benefit from the supportive environment that PCD provides and an extended community of  fascinating individuals.

Through Piel Canela, dancing has become a part of my life- opening my mind to a new potential for expression and creativity. This experience has been invaluable. As my career in the Film & Television industry evolves, my sensibilities as a Director and Editor are informed by these aspects of performance. I can now better appreciate an actor's challenge to let go of self-consciousness and exist only "in the moment". As a member of the Junior Dance Team, I hope to grow and improve as an artist and lay a foundation for a life filled with dancing.