Hello salsa!...and cumbia!

back home, i dance, but i've never danced salsa before. what better place to learn, than from the source? and from what better people, than from people who love what they do? it's clear that edison loves to dance and he loves to teach. why? because he's great at both! he was able to "meet me where i was" and encourage me to take risks. he offered me dignity and respect. edison could break down steps, model and make the experience fun at the same time. yes, we even laughed! i had two full hour private lessons from him. by the end of the second lesson, it didn't even feel like a lesson; it just felt like natural dancing. i also had the unique experience to take a cumbia class with melissa. this was surely a gift, as you won't find it listed on the website. friends of mine told me about cumbia. guille, the person who was scheduling with me, recommended melissa, as she enjoys teaching cumbia. right, he was! for me, the door was opened into a very special cultural exchange. i learned a dance that is done both traditionally and socially. melissa did not only show me the steps, allowing me to dance in costume, but shared with me the philosophy behind the dance. working with the cloth, making it twirl, flick, and show swirly designs, just by making simple hand or wrist moves was magical and quite beautiful. because cumbia has a different rhythm than most of the other columbian dances, class was offered in a small back studio. i felt as if i had such special treatment. i'm not sure if i will have the chance to dance cumbia again, but i was glad to have a taste, as it brought me to a place that transcends time. deep thanks to melissa! the entire operation is very professional. i appreciated the clarity when i originally signed up for classes. the discount was explained clearly, as was the cancellation policy. no surprises, just fairness. i am ever so glad that i treated myself to private classes at dancefree. i'll be sure to take more classes at dancefree upon my next visit to medellin. - elise g., february, 2017