How we started

Queer Salsa is a community-led collective for LGBTQIA+ people to come together to dance, connect, and celebrate Afro-Latin music and movement.

We were founded by queer dancers who are not of Latin American heritage and who had little access to partner dance traditions within our own cultures. Learning Salsa and other Afro-Latin dances was profoundly transformative for us—which makes sense, as these traditions were born from cultures that have long used music and movement as forms of resistance, resilience, and connection.

At the time, there were few spaces where we could dance comfortably as queer people. So we started small: learning together with our friends in a queer environment and carving out space for ourselves.

Very quickly, it became clear that the need went far beyond dancing. We saw how important it was to support queer people not just as dancers, but as teachers, leaders, and community-builders within the scene.

We also work to address the underrepresentation of Latinx and especially Afro-Latin people in Salsa and Afro-Latin dance. We do this by offering free and reduced-cost access to our courses and workshops, and by collaborating equitably with queer Afro-Latin and Latinx dancers, artists, and collectives. We support them in leading, shaping, and taking up space at the centre of the scene.

By centring care, connection, and the roots of the dance, our aim is to nurture queer community through the shared joy and power of Afro-Latin dance.

Meet the Team

  • Ashley

    CO-FOUNDER

  • Nandita

    CO-FOUNDER

  • Abigail

    CO-DIRECTOR

  • PATTY

    CO-DIRECTOR

OUR VALUES

Inclusivity

We welcome and celebrate people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, abilities, and backgrounds.

Respect

We foster an environment of mutual respect, ensuring everyone feels safe and valued.

Community

We prioritise building a supportive and vibrant community through shared experiences and connections.

Centring Latinx Culture

We recognise that Salsa is rooted in Afro-Latin culture and honour its origins and traditions.

Empowerment

We empower individuals to express themselves freely and confidently through movement.

Progressive Change

We challenge existing power structures, including patriarchy, capitalism, and imperialism, to create a more equitable world.

Joy

We believe in the transformative power of joy and aim to bring happiness and fulfilment to the community.

Collaboration

We work together with other groups and organisations to strengthen our community.

Solidarity

We stand in solidarity with other marginalised groups in their struggles for equality and justice.

Sustainability

We are committed to sustainable practices in our operations and events.

Creating Space

We believe physical spaces are essential for community building, allowing people to gather, connect, and form meaningful relationships. We advocate for community ownership and control over these spaces.