By If you’re looking for a new way to meet people, have fun and most importantly learn some new dance moves, then how join the Afro-Latin Jazz Club. The club was started this semester by two veteran dancers, Jocelyn Lopez, a child development senior, and Carla Valdez, a health science major.
The instructors teach several varieties of Afro-Latin dance that include, Salsa, Merenge, Cha Cha Cha, Bachata, Punta, West African and a little hip-hop.
Student Peter Araiza said he found out about the club through word of mouth and has been attending faithfully every Tuesday evening. “You get to work up a good sweat and the best part is the atmosphere, there are no attitudes and people are here just to have fun.” Araiza said since joining the club he goes out at least two or three times a week to clubs like Cohiba and Seville in downtown Long Beach.
Magali Santiesteban, a second year international business major, said she wishes the club met more than once a week. “I really feel good after the class, it helps relieve a lot of stress and its great exercise, plus it’s a close knit group and it’s stimulating.”
Santiesteban’s roommate, sophomore criminal justice major Brenda Escoto said she came in not knowing how to dance at all. “They use to make fun of me all the time, but I feel comfortable here and now I go out three or four times a week to dance.
The club focuses on intermediate level of dancing skills but according to club Vice-President Valdez, everyone is welcome. “We just don’t want to have to start over from the beginning each week, but most students catch on pretty fast.”
Club president and lead instructor Jocelyn Lopez is a former member of the dance company Contra~Tiempo, and has performed throughout the U.S and many venues in the Los Angeles area. She also teaches at the “King King” club in Hollywood and is a current member of a dance group called Vevsastyle.
“I like our members to have fun, so after a brief warm-up, I take suggestions and ideas from our students on what we want to do, I have plenty of CDs with different musical styles for them to choose from,” Lopez said.
The club meets once a week in the University Student Union press room.
Tomorrow the club will be holding its end of the year social, celebrating the first semester of the club in the USU press room. There will be dancing, food and a small variety show showcasing the dancing skills of the members. The event is from 7 to 9 p.m., and is free to all students.
