From inside of the Golden Triangle's La Rumba Nightclub, Colby Ariane swings, twists and turns to the rhythm of bachata booming from the venue's speakers. Sunlight peeks through her hair as she practices adding "flavor" to the foundational choreographies she regularly teaches beginner students at the popular Latino Denver nightclub.
Ariane first moved to Colorado from Louisiana six years ago, seeking out ways to reconnect with her Latino roots. Years later, Ariane is now a regular dance instructor on Fridays and Saturdays at La Rumba Nightclub, "dancing and living my best life."
Born into a family of Nigerian, Ghanaian, Dominican and Cuban descent, Ariane said dance became a way to embrace and connect with her Afro-Latinidad.
"This is the first job that I've had where I feel I can fully be myself," Ariane said. "I can show up completely Black and Latina without having to code switch or placate to how other people feel."
Within the foundational steps of each cultural dance, Ariane emphasizes joy and laughter in her classes designed to help reconnect people with the roots of dances like Salsa, Merengue, Reggaeton, Cumbia and Bachata Dominicana.
"I stress that all of these are cultural dances," Ariane said. "They're multigenerational dances that people are dancing in the kitchen and out in the street. It's not so much the ballroom style that has Westernized the dances."
In an introductory dance class with Ariane, participants can expect a brief warm up, individual practice, rotating partner work and a final breakdown of the foundational steps learned for the day. One of the goals in partner work, according to Ariane, is learning to mirror someone across from you.
"We talk about connection, tension and how to do foundational movements with a partner," Ariane said. "Just dancing with foundational movements can be the most fun. You don't really savor the music when you're just doing a bunch of moves."
For those eager, and possibly nervous, to learn the steps associated with Salsa, Merengue, Reggaeton, Cumbia and Bachata Dominiciana, Ariane has five tips leading up to your first dance lesson:
1. Get there early
"When you get there early you have an opportunity to see the space, find where the bathroom is and you can even introduce yourself to the instructor and share with them that you're a little nervous."
As an instructor, Ariane starts from the ground up in order to promote a great time connecting not only with the music but with ourselves and with a partner.
2. Believe that you can or have a "can-do" attitude
"It's OK to make mistakes because it's a class," Ariane said. "A lot of times I see people second guess themselves. Just take the step, even if it's wrong, and have the confidence to just keep going. Even if you mess up, don't say sorry."
3. Immerse yourself in the music.
"These dances started from music. The music came first," Ariane said. "How is the instructor's body hitting with different beats? What are the different melodies and rhythms in the music? What instruments do you hear? How fast is it? When the music comes on the first thing you're supposed to do is connect to it."
Pro-tip: Listen to the genre of music you will be dancing to before your first class, or on your commute to a lesson.
4. It's OK to set boundaries when dancing with a partner.
"For those who lead and follow, you have to know and respect the other person's boundaries," Ariane said. "That comes with understanding the ebb and flow of tension in partner work. I've never danced with somebody who was extremely forceful with me and said, "That was a great dance." The highest compliment you can receive in partner dancing is, "Oh my gosh that was so smooth.""
In addition to practicing with music, classes also have verbal practice time that partners can use to communicate what is and isn't working.
"You have to give feedback on everything, even to your instructors. You have to ask for what you want and tell people what it is that you need because it's your class."
5. Invest in the skill of dance.
"If dancing is something that you are passionate about, invest in that," Ariane said. "Find an instructor, find someone you want to dance like and learn from them. Take private classes so you can take the nerves out of being in a big group setting. And ask questions. A lot of times the question one person has so many others have as well."
If you'd like to catch a class with Ariane, here is where you can go:
Cumbia & Bachata Dominicana Night
Date: Every Friday
Location: La Rumba Nightclub, 99 W. Ninth Ave.
Fridays begin with a lesson on Cumbia Sonidera from 7-8 p.m. followed by a lesson on Bachata Dominicana from 8-9 p.m. with Ariane and Sebastian James. Classes are $15.
Muévelo Saturdays!
Date: Every Saturday
Location: La Rumba Nightclub, 99 W. Ninth Ave.
Each Saturday lesson is a surprise dance style of either Merengue, Reggaeton, or Dembow from 7-8 p.m. Classes are $15.
Teteo Thursday at Bar38
Date: Every first Thursday of the month
Location: 3550 West 38th Ave.
Take a $15 bachata class with Ariane from 8:30 to 9:15 p.m. following by performances and an open dancing space until late in the evening.
"Dance is all about having fun. After a long day, dance should not be a place that is stressful. It's a place to let go and create. Always remember to have fun."
