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Pride Salsa group started out as weekly On2 salsa classes for queer, nonbinary, and transgender folks who wanted to create a safe space to come together and dance.
In addition to our weekly beginner and advanced beginner Sunday salsa classes in midtown Manhattan, Pride Salsa also began hosting Pride Social events every month (free admission for nonbinary and trans dancers!).
In 2025, we formed our very first Pride Salsa performance group. The group is performing at events throughout Pride month, including on stage at the NYC Pride March.
Pride Salsa is proud to represent LGBTQ+ salsa dancers and will continue to provide safe space and build inclusive community for our friends and allies.
Project document for Season 3 (On-going)
Vision:
A straight-friendly, QUEER-centered performance ensemble with a primary focus on Salsa-Mambo training. The goal is to elevate your technique and form, empowering you with the skills to shine both on stage and on the social dance floor.
Mission:
Our mission is to provide a transformative 4 month training experience, culminating in a dynamic 2-3 minute performance in July 2026. This choreography will be showcased at prominent queer socials and events across the city, including Pride Social, Bailamos Juntos, Mambo Mongay, and Jem Experience. Based on the team’s interest, we may also take this celebration of dance out of town, spreading joy and inclusivity far and wide.
Tryouts:
We encourage you to take part in one of the 2 tryouts and learn a bit of choreography and explore our Vision and Mission and see if our project interests you.
Sundays, March. 15th & 22nd, 2-4pm at Houghton Hall Arts Community in NoMad, Manhattan NYC
If you are not available during this time, reach out to us on instagram @PrideSalsa, we will figure out a plan for you.
Training Plan & Package:
Block 1: March 29th, April 5th, 12th, 19th (Training)
Block 2: April 26th, May 3rd, 10th, 17th (Devising)
Block 3: May 31st, June 7th, 14th, 21st (Prepping)
Block 4: July 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th (Performing)
All these training sessions will be on Sundays 2:30-4pm at Houghton Hall Arts Community.
Our Level 2 (intermediate) classes Sundays 4-5:15pm are mandatory part of the training in the respective assigned role as lead & follow.
Our Level 1 (Advance beginner) classes Sundays 5:15-6:30pm and Thursdays 8:15-9:30pm are strongly recommended and are part of the ensemble package. For free of charge, Ensemble members can attend our Manhattan socials and our beginner classes.
As need be, starting May, there will be additional rehearsals led by captains or one of the directors on Tuesday evenings 7-9pm at no extra cost.
Prerequisites:
A strong foundation in Salsa On2 (Mambo) technique, with understanding and experience at an Advanced Beginner or Intermediate level. While performance experience is a bonus, it’s not mandatory. If you’re unsure about your level, don’t hesitate—just show up for the tryout and explore the possibilities!
We’re especially excited to welcome Advanced dancers and performers to this project. We encourage you to attend our tryouts so we can discuss the opportunity to join in May and perform with us.
Understudies:
For those who want to be part of this training but aren’t quite ready to perform or aren’t interested in performing yet, we still encourage you to attend our tryout. If there’s a good fit, we’d love to have you join us as understudies and grow alongside the ensemble!
Commitment:
We expect a commitment to at least 75% of the training hours. Exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis. If you miss a session, it is your responsibility to make up for it by coordinating with team members, putting in extra rehearsals on your own, and coming prepared for the following session. Life happens, we get it. If you need to take a break for any reasons, please communicate clearly with the ensemble director ahead of time and figure out a plan.
Directors:
Vimal Pradeep (he/him) is the founder of Pride Salsa which was started in October 2023. He is the creative director of Pride Salsa Performance Ensemble. He brings in almost 20 years of experience that includes salsa social dancing, performing, competing, choreographing, cross training from other dance forms and leadership in Queer space. He is a theatrical performance artist, improviser, actor, teaching artist and a sound painter and is cultivating the ensemble culture in Pride Salsa, to encourage dancers to take risks and make mistakes and have a sense of play and grow from there and build a true sense of camaraderie with fellow dancers.
Both of our Assistant directors are invited back to join the Season 3: Elie Rosales (he/him) and Aubrie Salzman(she/her). They are instructors, organizers, and team directors themselves and bring in tremendous knowledge, passion and artistry to this ensemble. We are so fortunate to work with them again this season.
Fees:
The cost is $160 per block for 4 blocks. We’ve intentionally set this low fee to encourage as many Queer Salserxs as possible to join us. Monthly dues are to be paid before the first rehearsal of each month. Additionally, please budget approximately $100 for costumes needed for the shows.