site.danscents.com Blog

Ashanti Altovese - professional dancer and instructor

Hola Salseros,

Have you ever experienced the spiritual nature of Salsa? The pop of the clave can bring you to a higher place when you just let go and allow the rhythm to move you. You’re not just doing steps that you were taught, you are dancing and it’s a magical place. For me, Salsa has a strong spiritual element that transformed my life from a state of insecurity to a position of confidence and empowerment. Salsa was my salvation from fear and this is my testament to the spiritual journey that I traveled through Salsa.

As people develop from their childhood years into adulthood, life can bring many challenges that test the will and character. Some people fall and learn from their mistakes while others stay on a path that leads to confusion and self-pity. In the end, it’s all a choice. We can make a choice to succeed in the face of adversity or fall short because of fear. Fear of failure, rejection, and the unknown all lead to a place of insecurity, anxiety, and a lack of self-confidence. Fear can be developed from traumatic experiences and it can be instilled from the surrounding environment. Regardless of the case, fear is a disease that can kill from the inside out – taking an internal hold of the spiritual and mental psyche while showing its presence in the emotional and physical domain. My fear stemmed from childhood abuse, physical and sexual, poverty, and a void of my father’s presence in my life growing up.

There were many blessings provided to me that I was aware of in my younger years. Some were natural such as high intelligence, strong artistic ability, athleticism, and good health. Others were a matter of circumstance like having a grandmother that provided a warm home and food when my family was in need. Those blessings gave me a better perspective on how to use positive elements to combat negative ones when looking to attain a goal or dream. The cultural I grew up in guided my mind to think, act, and respond in a certain way to situations I was presented with. For example, children are to be seen and not heard, never question authority, follow what is told to you and not what is shown to you, and mistakes bring the highest penalty of corporal punishment. These cultural norms fostered a mentality of oppression, self-doubt, strict obedience, and non-communication for lack of trust in the adult or parental figure. My mentality lead me to anxiety and doubt regarding my body image, questioning of my self-worth, and wanting attention to feel important and special. Eventually it lead to a series of bad decisions and situations I put myself in to feed my fears.

Overall, I wanted to be a part of the crowd. I wanted to have more material things as well as popularity. I wanted to be liked more than respected and I wanted to fit the image of beauty that was shown in the media. As I went into my college years, I acted in ways that supported all of my insecurities. I was on a path to self-destruction through sexual promiscuity and trusting those who assisted in my self-destruction. I was a lost soul and began to feel like I didn’t deserve to have peace because I was allowing myself to be taken advantage of by people who saw my weaknesses and used them for their own benefit. In short, I felt stupid and alone. The realization of my actions and the path I was on came to its peak on one fateful night when I had a nightmare that woke me up in a cold sweat. I received a message from a man who told me I had tested positive for HIV. I was stunned and collapsed on the floor. This dream had a special meaning because two members of my family passed from HIV, a young cousin who was born with it and her father, my uncle, who contracted it through sexual activity. Watching a child and a full-grown man slowly deteriorate from the disease had a lasting effect on me, but I was doing everything right to have the same experience as my passed loved ones. I needed to change and I needed to change immediately.

Dance had always been apart of my life and I enjoyed it for sport as well as self-expression. I grew up watching public television and Ballroom competitions and Ballet showcases were something I anxiously awaited to watch. I imagined myself as being one of those beautiful dancers moving so gracefully and having the confidence to entertain while being grounded in their own character. I thought they were special and gave something back to their audiences. I had a little ballet and gymnastics training and was on the pon pom team in high school. But college is when I had my first introduction to Salsa. I went to a SummerDance event in Grant Park in Chicago and my life changed forever. I watched a dance team perform a short number and I fell in love. The women were lovely and elegant, the body movement was sensual but classy, and I enjoyed watching it. I knew I had found something, I knew my salvation was here. Soon after that I was going to Salsa clubs that had free lessons and I would stay and dance for practice. I danced every single day for one summer until I felt like I understood the musicality, the basics, and the fundamentals of the dance and the rhythm. Later I ended up joining a dance team and began teaching and performing. I was so happy because Salsa empowered me.

Salsa allowed me to find courage and be my true person from within. It further cultivated my spirit of perseverance to continue learning, dreaming, and achieving to reach my goals of being a professional in all that I do. It utilized my education and discipline to help me become polished and understand the meaning behind what is presented. And, it allowed me to increase my self-knowledge and be comfortable in my own skin. This was a gradual process that took ten years in the making and continues to this day. As I spiritually developed through Salsa, all other aspects of my life improved such as my personal relationships with family and friends, my technical career, and my health. I pulled from my Salsa dance experience to be creative at work in problem solving, speaking and presenting in public, and leading projects. Additionally, Salsa allowed me to network with people of all backgrounds that I could converse with and learn from. I have so much and more because of Salsa and I feel it truly has healing powers.

It’s important to remember that as humans, we are not perfect. We never know what choice we will make when a situation is presented to us. But, with our values in line, we can be prepared to battle in those tough moments when our will and character is tested. I feel that Salsa has made me a stronger person and has given me an outlet to express my sensuality, fashion sense, and dance ability. It can be a beacon of light for those looking to pull themselves out of a place where the path is lost. I think it’s important to share our learning with others so that they understand the power of communication and to know that they too can find a way to a place of inner peace. It’s a special feeling that we shouldn’t take for granted. Salsa truly is more that a dance, it’s a lifestyle and was my salvation to finding love, health, and wealth.

Ashanti Altovese