SLU-Madrid’s Dance Club, founded last year with over twenty members, gives students a chance to experience Latin rhythms on and off campus.
Senior Lara Mitchell Guirao founded the SLU-Madrid dance club after she noticed a need for dance-related activities on campus. Her time in the Advanced Latin Rhythms course inspired her, and she started the club to provide students of all skill levels the opportunity to explore salsa, bachata, and other dance styles.
Mitchell Guirao advertises the club as salsa and bachata centric, because those are her expertise, but others are invited to bring in other styles.
“The club’s participants and I love it when other members teach us different dance styles, like tango or flamenco,” she says. “It’s always an amazing, new experience, and everyone leaves wanting to learn more.”
The club holds biweekly meetings at an off-campus dance studio and hosts about 20-30 members per meeting. No prior dance experience is required, making the club accessible to everyone.
In addition to regular meetings, the club often organizes outings to local nightclubs that host salsa and bachata nights. Popular destinations include The Host, a nightclub that features Latin dance nights on Thursdays and Fridays, and Mymo, which offers salsa dancing on Wednesdays.
María Jesús Peces-Barba, SLU-Madrid’s Latin Rhythms instructor, often accompanies the students to these outings.
“It’s a great way for students to immerse themselves in Latin culture,” she says. “The culture is vibrant, and dancing with people from all over the world is something you can’t experience anywhere else.”
The club has several events planned for the upcoming semester. One of them is a picnic at Parque del Oeste, where members will gather to dance to Latin music.
Emma Hartley, a senior who has been participating in the club’s events, said she’s not the most social person, but dancing with other people helps bring her out of her shell. She anticipates the event to be lively and looks forward to meeting people. The event is intended to foster community while introducing students to Latin culture through music and dance.
As the club grows, its members hope to provide more opportunities for students to engage with dance on and off campus, making Latin dance an integral part of campus life.
