Most of what I know about salsa, I learned in college--at UC Riverside. I remember how, as a freshman, I was captivated by a group of 8 or 9 people dancing for a crowd of new students. The dancers were trading off partners, smiling and shaking their hips to a lively Latin beat.
In that moment, I was sold. I joined the Salsa Club of UCR, where I learned to social dance, perform and compete. I became plugged into a community of salsa-lovers, students and non-students alike.
But my little Riverside salsa enclave was not the only one. We were one of many college groups building their own salsa community and even extending beyond the campus scene.
Right now, they are college groups all over Southern California, in L.A., Riverside, Irvine, Long Beach, Pasadena, and so on. While some started earlier, such as in the mid-90s, many began just within the past 5 to 8 years.
For my final class project for this blog and for my online journalism class, I would like to do closer look into the emergence of So Cal salsa college groups. I want to look at what got these groups rolling and how they're helping build the L.A. and So Cal salsa scene.
My plan is to interview as many salsa college groups as possible, as well as some professional instructors and and club-owners who have worked with them. I will most-likely include some video clips and/or slide shows of some of the groups. I would also like to implement a google map showing locations of campuses that have salsa clubs.
So, that is what's coming. Keep an eye open for it. It should be up in three weeks!
