Rising Stars: Meet Dina Escobedo of Denver, CO

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dina Escobedo

Hi Dina, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Originally from Los Angeles, seven year old me was watching a PBS one Saturday morning. I saw beautiful pastel gowns floating and fluttering up and around the ballroom dancefloor, lead by gentleman in tailcoat jackets. I yelled for my mother and when she ran into the living room, I pointed at the television set and exclaimed, “THAT’S WHAT I’M GOING TO BE WHEN I GREW UP!!”

With our humble financial situation, unable to afford dance training classes, my mom enrolled me in the local cheerleading team, drill team at school, and after school gymnastics classes for lower income families. Although I asked for it my entire childhood, we just didn’t have enough money to put me in formal training for ballet, jazz or ballroom dancing.

I was introduced to salsa dancing at the age of 15 when I enrolled myself in a six week Salsa class program. My instructor, Carmen Bambaren, owned a small studio just outside Los Angeles. At the end of my first day of Salsa class, Carmen asked what I was doing in her beginners class. She told me that I needed to be in her intermediate class. For the next six Wednesdays, I learned how to properly Salsa Dance and fell in love with the music, partner connection, and styling

Just prior to graduating high school, in 2001, I had an exit interview with my high school counselor who asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I let her know I wanted to be a professional dancer. She laughed at me and said, “How are you going to make money as a professional dancer?” Her reaction to my dreams was very disheartening and made me doubt myself. However, I was determined to fulfill my childhood dream!

My first two semesters of junior-college, I enrolled in 15 dance classes as they were only $12 per class for an entire semester. I was eager to learn how to properly dance in ballet, jazz, modern, social dance forms, and learned dance theory.

That fall, I attended an award ceremony for my mother’s adult school education program. She was a teacher and was being recognized. During the ceremony they had social dancing. I heard Salsa music playing and got up to dance all by myself. A few months later, the principal of the education program asked my mother. if she knew any salsa dance instructors. My mother said “Yes, my daughter!” He asked who is your daughter? She said the one who danced Salsa at the award ceremony. He immediately told her, “Tell her she’s hired and she needs to come in today to sign her contract.” I was elated to have my own salsa dance class.

Shortly after, I began teaching L.A. style salsa at community venues and night clubs in L.A. and the Inland Empire. My passion for dance expanded as I came back around to finally fulfill my childhood dream of becoming a professional ballroom dancer. At the age of 21, I began my dance training at Arthur Murray, and Upland, California. I learned how to teach smooth dances: Tango, Waltz, Foxtrot; along with rhythm dances: Cha Cha Cha, Rumba, and Swing. I primarily focused on Latin Dances and eventually joined salsa teams outside of the ballroom world. I performed at multiple congresses and festivals on the west coast.
I made my way to Denver in January 2014 and have been part of the Denver Salsa Community ever since.

I now teach at four different studios and one night club in and around Denver. I also have an all-ladies salsa team, Ix Chel Dance Company. We are nearing season three of the company and I could not be more proud to perform alongside the lovely women on the team!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My dance journey had not been a smooth road. Since my exit interview with my high school counselor put some doubt in my passion for dance, I went off to get my marketing degree and then focused on my 22-year career as an Executive Assistant. I had to keep my dance life and work life very separate. It was like being a super hero in disguise to be among working class people, I consistently joked that “Salsa Dina and Work Dina are different.” I never thought that my passion for a dance could become a fulltime career and could sustain me financially.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a Salsa Dance Instructor, Director, and Choreographer in Denver, Colorado.

I specialize and am known for teaching On1 L.A. Style Salsa for beginner and intermediate students.

I am most proud of forming my dance team, Ix Chel Dance Company. (Ix Chel is the Mayan Moon Goddess who represents women and femininity.) The trio dance group is comprised of multi-level performers who celebrate and embrace the feminine performing art of salsa dancing!

What sets me apart from others is that I was trained in salsa dancing by one the best female instructors in Los Angeles along with having been trained in Ballroom Dancing. These two forms allow me to dance and teach with a variety of style at each of the studios I work at.

I am so proud to teach throughout the week at different locations, making it easier for students to find me closer to where they live and work. I teach on:

Sundays, Bella Diva World Dance (Glendale, CO)
2pm – Beginners Salsa

Mondays, TM Ballrooom with Rafael Salsero of Salsa PaGoZa! (Lakewood)
7pm – Beginners Salsa
8pm – Intermediate Salsa

Wednesdays, Basma Dance & Fitness (Aurora, CO)
7:30pm – Open Level Salsa

Thursdays, Tease Studio (RiNo, CO)
6:40pm – Open Level Ladies Styling

Fridays, all over Colorado
8am – 9pm – Private Lessons

Saturdays, La Rumba w/ Rafael Salsero of Salsa PaGoZa! (Denver, CO)
8pm – Open Level Salsa

What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is fulfilling my adulthood dream of being happy!

I fulfilled my childhood of dream of becoming a professional ballroom dancer. For 22 years, I filled in most of my life with an unfulfilling career as an executive assistant to some high-profile executives who will be unnamed. Although two did stand out and I give them all the praise for launching my EA career into where I was abundantly financially blessed…thank you Vivek Khemka and Monique Lovato!

Now that I am in my 40s, I just want to live happily…dancing!! Nothing is more fulfilling than the pure joy of dancing every day!!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/salsawithdina
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salsawithdina/