Why we Move

Welcome to Episode 23 of the 'Why We Move' podcast! 🕺🏽💃🏽 In this solo episode, Ricardo (Rico) breaks down the essential etiquette for every social dancer, whether you’re just stepping onto the floor or have years of experience. From respecting personal space and maintaining good hygiene to understanding the unspoken rules of dance floor navigation (a.k.a. "floorcraft"), this episode covers eve...

🕺🏽🪩💃🏽 In this enlightening episode, we sit down with Allie Ray, a passionate social dancer and co-founder of Philly Zouk. Together, we dive deep into the world of Zouk, exploring its roots, the unique energy of the dance, and how it has transformed Allie's life both personally and in the dance community. 🌟 What to Expect: Allie shares her journey from salsa to Zouk and the magic of connectin...

Welcome back to the 'Why We Move' podcast! 🕺🏽🪩💃🏽 In this episode, Ricardo (Rico) reflects on his incredible journey as a social dancer over the past 9 years. As we wrap up Season 2, Rico dives into 9 ESSENTIAL tips that will benefit dancers of all skill levels, from beginners to seasoned pros. He covers everything from the importance of communication and embracing mistakes to understanding mu...

In this episode, we're joined by the international instructors from Spain, Antoni y Belen! They came all the way from Spain to the USA on a tour of instructing bachata, performing, and travel! They've been dancing since they were children and instructing together since shortly after the pandemic. They performed and competed countless of times & are continuing to do so around the world...

In this episode, we're joined by the incredible Jose Maldonado, philly-native dancer with 27 years of experience dancing, who has taught classes all around the world, & is a 10x world champion! Talk about putting time in! After dancing for this long, you know there's bound to be stories that he's accumulated over the years. Not only is he still instructing to this day, but he also...

In this episode, we're joined by an incredible panel of social dancers from Philadelphia, PA. Meet Joe Schiavo, a skilled carpenter; Serena Martinez, a dedicated physical therapist; Flora Marciano, an environmental engineer; and Emmanuel Toro, a cloud computing engineer. Each of these guests brings a unique background, range of experiences, and profound passion for social dancing. Join us as J...

In this episode, we're joined by the multi-talented Ryan Brown, a tax accountant by trade, hobbyist by nature, and dancer at heart. Ryan has been a vibrant part of the Philly salsa scene for the past 2.5 years, not only as a dancer but also as an event organizer and entrepreneur. He's the mastermind behind community events like Brunch & Bachata, Mambo & Mimosas, and Salsa y Cerveza...

In this episode, we're joined by the legendary Giovanni Escobar, a staple of the Philadelphia salsa scene for over 18 years. Giovanni is a versatile Instructor, Dancer, Director, DJ, and Promoter who has trained with nearly every prominent figure in Philly's dance community and attended countless events. His journey has been one of growth and dedication, making him a familiar face to many....

In this episode, we're joined by the multi-talented Brandon Walker, also known as the creative force behind "Dancers that Shoot" on YouTube. Brandon is a remarkable Videographer, Photographer, Content Strategist, Mambo Instructor, Choreographer, and social dancer who took his first steps into the dance world through salsa without any prior club experience. Join us as Brandon shares h...

In this episode, we're joined by the phenomenal Joe and Yatz, the passionate dancers behind the community page "Sensual City." Joe and Yatz have a longstanding experience in dancing socially and have dedicated themselves to bringing bachata sensual to Philadelphia and helping grow the scene. Join us as they share their invaluable insights on dance etiquette, their deep passion for da...

In this episode, we're joined by the incredible DJ Kevin Ngo, a seasoned DJ, MC, instructor, and social dance enthusiast with 24 years of experience in the dance scene. Kevin has performed internationally and now dedicates his time to instructing and organizing local indoor and outdoor dance events in Philadelphia. Join us as Kevin shares his inspiring journey of discovering dance, enriching h...

In this episode, we're thrilled to welcome Alix and Lauren, two dynamic dancers hailing from Orlando and now making their mark in Philly. With backgrounds in ASL interpreting and personal training, Alix and Lauren bring unique perspectives to the social dance realm. Join us as they share their journey, insights, and experiences navigating the world of social dancing, from embracing various sty...

Welcome to Episode 3 of Season 2, coming to you from the vibrant city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania! In this episode, we're thrilled to welcome DJ Valentin, a local legend in the Philadelphia dance scene. Valentin is not only a master of his craft but also a dedicated organizer, known for curating unforgettable experiences at local clubs and outdoor events. Join us as Valentin shares insights...

Welcome to Episode 2 of Season 2, right here in the heart of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania! In this episode, we're joined by the incredible Miguel Baez, also known as @miggieon3 on Instagram. Miguel is not only a talented dancer and artist but also a renowned meme creator whose work has taken the internet by storm. Join us as Miguel shares the fascinating story behind his journey into meme creati...

Welcome to highly anticipated episode 1 of season 2 here in the heart of Philadelphia, Pennsylvannia! Keila Perez, dance instructor, non-profit organizer, performer extraordinaire, & mother of a recent newborn baby (perhaps a future dancer??) kicks off season 2 with all the knowledge & wisdom she's learned over the years dancing since she was only 8 years old! You don't want to mis...

Lyndie has been such a pleasure to know & befriend as her heart is one of the purest I've come to understand. Not a dull hour exists when she's in the room! And boy are there GEMS in here she drops about using both your brains (left & right) to function together on the dance floor. She's an engineer and a DAMN good one! In this episode we go into the nitty gritty of being creat...

Jaime spills the BEANS on how he improves his social dancing & makes a conscious effort to make sure that not only he is having a good time, but his partner as well. This discussion between us two was one for the books and I took away so many good things from it to use on the dance floor myself. It's conversations like these that really centers you and brings a whole new perspective to how...

This amazing soul aka Stacey has blessed the dance community with her fun & energetic character. She's a role model everywhere & I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to get her on the podcast. In this episode, we dive into multiple realms of showing up for yourself, for others, & for the greater good of the dance community to spread positivity. Stacey is a massage therapist...

After dancing for more than a decade when dancing was JUST getting started, Jose reveals his experience growing on the dance floor & putting in REPS. This man jumped FULLY into this world and has so many great gems to share. You don't want to miss this episode. Make sure you take good notes! It was such a blessing to have Jose on this podcast & I can't wait to share his story with...

Saba, Kendra, & Alisha are not only great conversationalists, but amazing dancers & performers! In this episode, we discuss the good, the bad, & the ugly of latin social dance with some key notes on what is happening on the dance floor that most might need to hear if they've never stepped foot there. You definitely don't want to miss this one! Make sure to tune into their podca...

It was a pleasure interviewing Ismael in Portland, OR about his dance journey and how he went through struggle to express himself at first to now dancing freely & joyfully. Learn from his story on how to show up as a better dancer not only for somebody else, but for yourself. It was a genuinely enjoyable conversation. Make sure to follow him on his journey of exploring more aspects of himself...

Kate is a phenomenal dancer, artist, mother, friend, & community member who makes an impact with everyone she meets. In this episode, she shares her experience getting started with latin dance, dealing with the difficulty of balancing life and social dance, and also shares some great insight for beginners or people who are interested in getting started to have in the back of your minds when yo...

Welcome! This has been a year in the making now and I'm so glad that you've joined the movement to be a part of something I think is incredibly special. This world of social dance is an incredible one and one I KNOW has stories worth sharing. After being on the dance floor for 8+ years now, I've come to learn and grow in ways I wouldn't ever have thought before. Now I want to give...