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About salseo
Salseo is a queer Latinx-led collective born in February 2024 due to the absence of queer-centered spaces in Vancouver to learn and practice Afro-Latinx social dancing. Inspired by the salsa and cumbia communities in Mexico, and the open-to-all spirit of cumbia street dancing, we created Salseo.
We aim to build connection and joy through Afro-Latinx dance and community. We offer welcoming, culturally-rooted, economically-accessible spaces where everyone can dance freely, without judgment or financial barriers
our philosophy
At Salseo, we believe in accessible, queer-centric community events. That means:
- No enforced gender roles when dancing
- Consent and respect are foundational
- Everyone learns at their own pace
- Celebrating the cultural roots of Latin dance
- Accessibility through pay-what-you-can pricing
Our values
Inclusion
Everyone is welcome here, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, body type, ability, or experience level. We actively work to create a space where all people feel safe and celebrated.
Safety
We maintain a zero-tolerance policy for harassment, discrimination, and inappropriate behaviour. Our community guidelines are clear, and we enforce them consistently to protect all participants.
Joy
Dance is about celebration and connection. We prioritize fun, laughter, and the simple pleasure of moving to music. Our classes are structured to build confidence while keeping the mood light and joyful.
Cultural Respect
Salsa and cumbia have deep cultural roots in Latin America and the Caribbean. We teach with respect for these origins, celebrating the history while making space for contemporary expression and evolution.
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Salseo is committed to providing a harassment-free experience for everyone. We do not tolerate harassment of participants in any form. Anyone who violates these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the class or event at the discretion of the organizers.
If you experience or witness harassment, please contact Erick or any of the trainers immediately. All reports will be handled with discretion and care.
Meet our team!
Erick Navarro
Founder and Executive Director
Erick (he/him) founded Salseo with a simple belief: dance should be a space of joy for everyone. As a queer Latin dancer, he experienced firsthand how traditional gender roles and rigid structures could exclude people from experiencing the beauty of salsa and cumbia.
With over 4 years of teaching experience, Erick developed a pedagogy centered on community care, individual expression, and cultural celebration. His classes honour the rich history of Latin dance while creating space for everyone to participate authentically.
Fer Rodríguez
Executive Director
Fer (he/him) is a Mexican multidisciplinary artist. Fer’s dancing passion comes from local Sonidero and Techno events.
Known for his energy, as an instructor Fer focuses on musicality and body movement, creating a positive and dynamic environment for dancers of all levels. Besides Salseo, Fer is a recognized talented performer in Vancouver’s Drag and Burlesque scene.
Mya
Event coordinator
Mya is a Brazilian drag queen who has taken over Vancouver’s drag scene with her emotional ballads and her Brazilian musicality.
She is the host of many show such as, It’s Giving Salseo, Mya’s Mixer and Sanctuary Legacy and she loves to incorporate her love for music and her culture wherever she performs! She takes pride in representing the Latin excellence we have in this city.
Angie Jaimes
Logistics Lead
Angie Jaimes is a Colombian visual artist and arts worker. With a background in arts management and experience organizing community arts events, she supports the collective’s logistics team, helping keep things running smoothly.
Passionate about cumbia and Latin rhythms, Angie finds in dance a way of carrying home with her wherever she goes. She dances como una tía when no one is watching, loves woodworking and playing the drums, and may feel disrespected if you invite her for a coffee without a pancito or pastry.
César Baltazar
General Counsel
Born in Mexico and now based in BC, César has been practicing law since 2020. He came to Salseo not as a dancer, but as someone eager to contribute to a vibrant Latin community space. Supporting the team with logistics and documentation, he is proud to help create a space where people can connect, move, and feel at home.
Having Selena Quintanilla as his life’s soundtrack, César enjoys staying active at the gym and curating a niche collection of horror novels. He also loves spending time with his dogs – who are excellent companions and occasional (overqualified) life advisors.
Karla Córdova
Social Media Lead
Karla (she/they) was basically born dancing, like, first steps were probably on beat. Originally from Mexico City and now in Vancouver for the past 10 years, she brings big energy, warm vibes, and just the right amount of chaos (the fun kind).
They are all about community, good music, and bringing people together, You’ll also find them having fun in the ballroom scene, walking All American Runway and serving looks whenever they get the chance.
Deeply proud of their Mexican roots, they will 100% judge you (lovingly) on your taste in tacos.
Salseo is a queer Latinx-led collective born in February 2024 due to the absence of queer-centered spaces in Vancouver to learn and practice Afro-Latinx social dancing. Inspired by the salsa and cumbia communities in Mexico, and the open-to-all spirit of cumbia street dancing, we created Salseo.
We aim to build connection and joy through Afro-Latinx dance and community. We offer welcoming, culturally-rooted, economically-accessible spaces where everyone can dance freely, without judgment or financial barriers.
our philosophy
At Salseo, we believe in accessible, queer-centric community events. That means:
- No enforced gender roles when dancing
- Consent and respect are foundational
- Everyone learns at their own pace
- Celebrating the cultural roots of Latin dance
- Accessibility through pay-what-you-can pricing
Our values
Inclusion
Everyone is welcome here, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, body type, ability, or experience level. We actively work to create a space where all people feel safe and celebrated.
Safety
We maintain a zero-tolerance policy for harassment, discrimination, and inappropriate behaviour. Our community guidelines are clear, and we enforce them consistently to protect all participants.
Joy
Dance is about celebration and connection. We prioritize fun, laughter, and the simple pleasure of moving to music. Our classes are structured to build confidence while keeping the mood light and joyful.
Cultural Respect
Salsa and cumbia have deep cultural roots in Latin America and the Caribbean. We teach with respect for these origins, celebrating the history while making space for contemporary expression and evolution.
-
Salseo is committed to providing a harassment-free experience for everyone. We do not tolerate harassment of participants in any form. Anyone who violates these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the class or event at the discretion of the organizers.
If you experience or witness harassment, please contact the organizers or any staff immediately. All reports will be handled with discretion and care.
Meet our team
Erick Navarro
Founder and Executive Director
Erick (he/him) founded Salseo with a simple belief: dance should be a space of joy for everyone. As a queer Latin dancer, he experienced firsthand how traditional gender roles and rigid structures could exclude people from experiencing the beauty of salsa and cumbia.
With over 4 years of teaching experience, Erick developed a pedagogy centered on community care, individual expression, and cultural celebration. His classes honour the rich history of Latin dance while creating space for everyone to participate authentically.
Fer Rodríguez
Executive Director
Fer (he/him) is a Mexican multidisciplinary artist. Fer’s dancing passion comes from local Sonidero and Techno events.
Known for his energy, as an instructor Fer focuses on musicality and body movement, creating a positive and dynamic environment for dancers of all levels. Besides Salseo, Fer is a recognized talented performer in Vancouver’s Drag and Burlesque scene.
Mya
Event Coordinator
Mya is a Brazilian drag queen who has taken over Vancouver’s drag scene with her emotional ballads and her Brazilian musicality.
She is the host of many show such as, It’s Giving Salseo, Mya’s Mixer and Sanctuary Legacy and she loves to incorporate her love for music and her culture wherever she performs! She takes pride in representing the Latin excellence we have in this city.
Angie Jaimes
Logistics Lead
Angie Jaimes is a Colombian visual artist and arts worker. With a background in arts management and experience organizing community arts events, she supports the collective’s logistics team, helping keep things running smoothly.
Passionate about cumbia and Latin rhythms, Angie finds in dance a way of carrying home with her wherever she goes. She dances como una tía when no one is watching, loves woodworking and playing the drums, and may feel disrespected if you invite her for a coffee without a pancito or pastry.
César Baltazar
General Counsel
Born in Mexico and now based in BC, César has been practicing law since 2020. He came to Salseo not as a dancer, but as someone eager to contribute to a vibrant Latin community space. Supporting the team with logistics and documentation, he is proud to help create a space where people can connect, move, and feel at home.
Having Selena Quintanilla as his life’s soundtrack, César enjoys staying active at the gym and curating a niche collection of horror novels. He also loves spending time with his dogs – who are excellent companions and occasional (overqualified) life advisors.
Karla Córdova
Social Media Lead
Karla (she/they) was basically born dancing, like, first steps were probably on beat. Originally from Mexico City and now in Vancouver for the past 10 years, she brings big energy, warm vibes, and just the right amount of chaos (the fun kind).
They are all about community, good music, and bringing people together, You’ll also find them having fun in the ballroom scene, walking All American Runway and serving looks whenever they get the chance.
Deeply proud of their Mexican roots, they will 100% judge you (lovingly) on your taste in tacos.
