Today we’d like to introduce you to Zaida Aleman.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I grew up listening to salsa music, fostering a deep love for Latin music and dance. Instead of focusing solely on my major, I chose colleges with active and serious salsa clubs. San Jose State University became my home, where I joined their competitive salsa club, which later led me to join multiple semi-pro teams in San Francisco for six years.
After the pandemic, about two years ago, my partner’s PHD program brought us to Atlanta. Immersing myself once more in the salsa scene, I met Mike Walker at a Tumbao (hosted by DJ Mike Arana) pre-party. Bonding over a debate about whether Ross and Rachel from Friends were on a break or not, me and Mike quickly became close friends. Through multiple conversations, we recognized a need for beginner-friendly dance spaces in our community. Thus, SalsaZero was born from our desire to create a safe and inclusive environment for all salsa enthusiasts or anyone curious to about salsa dancing in general.
As a barista at the time, I took the opportunity to utilize the space at Chocolate Coffee in Decatur to host our first beginner-friendly salsa event. With themed drinks and supportive dance ambassadors, SalsaZero quickly flourished. Countless late nights were spent refining the event, figuring out how to bridge the gap for beginners and how to foster safety and inclusivity in an already vulnerable art. This made SalsaZero a beloved Sunday salsa social where beginners and seasoned dancers alike can come together to uplift each other and enjoy the dance.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Being part of a supportive salsa dance community has been invaluable for Mike and me. We’ve been fortunate to receive incredible support from fellow enthusiasts who share our vision for creating inclusive spaces and uplifting beginner dancers. Our biggest challenge initially was launching the first social event and navigating the logistical hurdles that came with it. Countless hours were spent marketing and spreading the word about SalsaZero. Additionally, we dedicated significant time to refining our brand identity and figuring out how to uplift both students and teachers within the salsa community. However, through our determination and passion for this project and our willingness to learn, SalsaZero has become the inclusive and safe environment we would have wished for as beginners when we started our dance journey.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about SalsaZero?
SalsaZero is an event with the newcomer in mind. We have experienced dancers who volunteer as dance ambassadors of additional guidance to the beginners during the class and are a safe choice to dance with during the social party after. This is what sets us apart from other socials in Atlanta.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
SalsaZero is hosted on the fourth Sunday of every month at Chocolate Coffee in Decatur, GA, with a beginner-friendly lesson from 6:30-7:30 pm and a social dance party from 7:30-9:30 pm. Come join us!
Big thanks to Vera Bettin, owner of Chocolate Coffee, for providing the beautiful space!
Pricing:
- 12 for class and dance party after
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thesalsazeroatl.square.site/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salsa_zero_atl/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550108732577
