I am originally from a small town in
Venezuela named Valencia, located in the north of the country by
the Caribbean Sea. It's the industrial city where most of the
international companies’ headquarters are located. It's very cosmopolitan and
because it has the second-most important port in the country, it has a
very unique, fun vibe.
My friends are always saying that I came out of
the womb dancing and the reality is not too far from that. I inherited the
passion for dance from my parents; my mom and dad were the soul of all the
celebrations and gatherings we got invited to. Because
of my Latin heritage, social dancing is a big part of my culture. I am the
youngest in the family, so I always ended up being all my cousins’
and their friends’ dance partner when there was no other man to dance with. So,
I can say without a doubt that I have been social dancing since I could
barely walk.
As I started to grow up I did not
dance that much. I went through that phase where dancing was not cool, even
though I was pretty good at it. Instead, I was always very artistic. My mom
would say that the only way to keep me quiet and entertained was by
giving me some sheets of paper and some crayons to color with; I loved to draw!
While in school, I was always participating in every school play and
performance; always asking to read in public or to
say the morning prayer.
As a Latin teenager, it is
an embarrassment to go to a party with your friends and not ask girls to
dance. That was the time when I got interested in dancing again. Even thought
it was mostly peer pressure, something started to build inside me. The
more I danced, the more I was into it. I began to watch movies and dancing
shows on TV all the time... I had found my passion. I dreamt of one day
dancing with other professionals.
That dream never faded. When I went
to college to study Graphic Design I found out that one my classmates was a
dancer at a very well-known and recognized regional folkloric dance
group called Danzas Mariara. We became friends and I shared with him my
passion for dancing. As soon as the opportunity presented itself to audition, I
was the first one in line. After a couple of tryouts, I made it into the
group. I trained and performed with them for a couple of years until it
was time to embark on my next venture.
In 2003 I moved to America due to the political,
economic and social changes that were going on in Venezuela at that time; my
family and I migrated to America looking for a better life and better
opportunities. Six months after I arrived in Atlanta I was invited to a
social party at a dance studio and shortly after that I began to take ballroom and Latin dance lessons. The studio
owners and instructors recognized my dance skills and personality and they
asked me if I would be interested in enrolling in their company Teacher
Training Program. Of course I did not hesitate and accepted the offer,
even though I was not able to say more a handful of words in English. I
was a little nervous and scared but I was so in love with ballroom dancing
that I decided to take the challenge. What would be the worst thing that
can happen?
After a few months of training
I finally began my new career as a professional
dance instructor. The passion and love I was feeling for my
new career gave me the confidence to be able to teach anyone at any age to
dance. My students became very important to me, and I have given them my heart and knowledge,
always committed 110 percent to their goals. After a few years of working as a
dance instructor, it was time to take my life to the next level. I wanted to positively
impact more lives as well as build a new community of dancers.
In May 2008,
my friend Liz Chester and I opened the largest ballroom dance school
in the Southeast. Daza Dance was born, and it quickly became the place to go to
ballroom dance in Atlanta due to its beautiful facility as well as the talented
group of instructors and staff members.
In 2010, we decided to take the
Daza Dance concept inside the city and opened a second location in
Buckhead. Now with two studios, we were attracting all types of
clients from almost every part of Atlanta. Both locations were very different
but at the same time they both had a great sense of community, love and caring
within their own students. I was very proud to see how my vision was
becoming a reality in each one of our clients.
In 2012, we closed our Johns Creek
location and I kept the Buckhead studio open. Now sole-proprietor of the
business, it was my opportunity to grow even more as a businessman and take on
a new challenge. Fortunately, I have always been supported by
an amazing group of students and staff members who have not only
believed in my personal dream of making a positive impact on people's lives
through dancing, but have also seen and felt the benefits of dancing in their
own lives.
In 2013, we moved a to brand new
facility in a much more central location with more visibility and easier access. We are located on Peachtree Road, which is one of the most famous, and
busiest, streets in the city. Major shopping landmarks as well as a lot
development surrounds us.
Our new home is a dream studio;
from the moment you walk in you will be captivated by its great design and open
space. Our new studio is state-of-the-art, with every detail intended to
make it attractive to all of our students and guests. More importantly, we
wanted it to be a place that reflects the beauty and elegance of ballroom dancing.
Our goal at Daza Dance is to build
a great community of dancers as well as continue impacting people’s lives in a
positive way. In addition to that, we want our studio to become the place where
people from different cultures, races, backgrounds, sexual preferences,
religions and political views are united by the love and passion for dance. We want to bring peace and respect to our world through dance. My staff and I feel the responsibility to instill happiness in everyone who comes across our way and share with them our own
stories of how dance has bettered us as individuals over the
years.
Our programs have been designed for
today’s people who live in a very busy and competitive world. We will make sure
to find the best time for you to come and try us out; so don’t wait any longer, and get in contact with us to begin to experience the benefits of dance in
your own life. Book your first private lesson and you will be amazed how easy,
fun, relaxing and stimulating it is to learn from one of our amazing instructors.
I look forward to seeing you at Daza
Dance!
