After growing up in Arecibo, Puerto Rico until the age of nine, I moved with my family to New York in 1990. Even after leaving Puerto Rico, my family continued to instill our culture in me through different traditions, music, and food. I am blessed to have grown up in a family like this, and now, I enjoy dancing salsa as one of the many ways my culture holds a strong presence in my life.
I graduated from John Jay College of Criminal Justice with a Bachelors degree in Forensic Psychology, and am currently pursuing a Masters of Science in Family and Youth Services. In addition to school, I work as a Case Management Specialist for incarcerated juveniles at Boys Town New York.
I have danced salsa all my life in one form or another, and spent four years performing Bomba and Plena, two of the most popular forms of folk music in Puerto Rico. In 2002, during my senior year at John Jay College, I met Joe Burgos, who taught an On 2 salsa class at the school once a week. Unfortunately, after graduation, I stopped taking classes due to a hectic work schedule, and because Piel Canela did not offer beginner classes during the week at that time. In March of 2004 I resumed taking On 2 classes again through Piel Canela. In October of 2004 I auditioned for Piel Canela and joined their Student Team. It has been an incredible journey since that time, and I am now a proud member of Piel Canela’s Professional Team.
Ultimately my dancing goals include having the opportunity to travel to different parts of the world as a performer with Piel Canela’s Professional Team. Piel Canela has grown immensely and I am happy to be a part of that growth. 2008 will bring many changes to the company; necessary and beneficial changes to the dancers and the company as a whole. I look forward to performing all of our new routines and to finishing the season strongly with Que Rico Mambo 2008!
