Dancer/Instructor/Performer/Choreographer
By Denise Marsh
One of my favorite hobbies is dancing. I am intrigued by all of its facets: from the steps, costumes, music, origin of the dance, and the style of the instructor. It has been 5 years for me, moving from a Beginner to an Intermediate Bronze level in Fred Astaire Wellington and I attribute my great success to the amazing instructors at the studio. Although I have mastered quite a few dances, I still work on learning to be more proficient in Salsa. Ana Esquerre is “Queen of Salsa” and demonstrates her wonderful prowess teaching Salsa Workshops and lessons at FAW. She is an instructor that gives her students more than steps; she creates passion and feeling while simultaneously encouraging her students. Behind every great dancer there is always a story. I was honored that Ana took some time away from her dancing to share her story in this interview. I assure you, you will be literally, “moved.”
Step by Step
AW: What or who inspired you to be a dancer?
A.E: When I was five years old, I went on a trip to Miami. I was going to see my dad with my mom and sister. A few days into our stay, we walked from our place to explore Bayside, a downtown area in Miami. There was a stage where we heard music playing in the midst. It turned out that they were actually having a live dance contest. My dad noticed that I couldn’t help myself and felt compelled to move to the music. Without any warning at all, he told me to go up on the stage for the dance contest. At first, I hesitated but then he PUSHED me to go up on that stage. Next thing I know, I WON the dance contest and I haven’t stopped dancing since that moment! So, I guess I owe it to my father for pushing my limits where he knew I was already a winner. I have carried this “winner” mentality into everything that I do.
AW: Where did you study dancing?
A.E: I studied dancing in various schools and teams; from professionals to school-oriented classes. I learned to dance Salsa from various platforms; There are quite a few to name. I owe my success to: Prestige Dance Company, Elite Dance Company, Sikan by Marisol Blanco and many more.
AW: How do you label yourself? Solely as a Salsa Instructor or do you delve into different genres of dance?
A.E: I’d like to think of myself as an instructor of many skills and assets. Not only do I take classes to improve myself and learn different cultures and dances, but also to help me educate others. I specialize in Salsa, Latin Rhythm and Afro-Cuban folkloric dances because it goes back to my roots.
AW: What is your role at Fred Astaire in Wellington?
A.E.: My role at Fred Astaire Wellington is: dance teacher and choreographer, specializing in Latin Rhythms.
AW: What is the “secret” to being a good salsa dancer?
A.E: The secret is to continue your training, stay consistent, and practice makes better NOT perfect. My advice is to explore other dances, and learn from ALL teachers, techniques and cultures. There is so much to learn!
AW: I have seen you perform before at our studio and know you perform in other locales with a Dance Troupe. Please tell us more about this endeavor.
A.E: I am part of a super dynamic girl group. We are under the direction of Melanie Castillo. We have been Dance colleagues since 2017 where I had the privilege of competing with her. Since then, we are part of this team, performing choreography all over for the world for dance events.
AW: How can people contact you and see more of your dancing?
A.E: I am on Instagram: anaesquerredance or …
Facebook: Ana Esquerre. I also teach every Monday night at 6:45pm at Fred Astaire Wellington. In addition, anyone can reach out to me for private lessons.
AW: What are some highlights of your dancing career? Any special memories to share?
A.E: I have so many memories that involve dancing, it really has been an exciting career for me. One memory that sticks out is from more recently: when I took the stage at the New York Salsa Congress for the first time to perform my solo. You never really know what it is going to be until you actually do it. It was quite the experience and exhilarating for me. There was a “welcoming” feeling from fellow performers and organizers of the event.
In retrospect, it really for me is about travelling to these beautiful places and seeing other people as passionate to learn as I am. I have met some of my greatest friends throughout my travels and it has been so fulfilling!
Last but not least, I have memories of competing; it is something as a dancer that at one point in your life you must compete. This “dance world” has a lot to offer and many great opportunities for us to succeed. We have to make sure we take advantage of these opportunities and competitions are a great way to familiarize myself with how the world works.
In the end, any memory of me performing at an event, teaching, dancing, or being with my students is fulfilling for me. It has helped create the teacher and dancer I am today and I continue to learn everyday from my students and colleagues as time goes by.
AW: What are some challenges you have faced as an instructor?
A.E: The greatest challenge is definitely teaching something that is going to be different for everyone. You have your beginners, intermediate and advanced students . The greatest challenge is making sure that everyone will be able to take something from the dancing and that is what I strive to do. It has helped me with my social skills. I never really had a problem but meeting with people has always been an interesting experience. But the “teacher” part can be a challenge. As a teacher you have to train yourself to feel comfortable and patient in different situations with your students and be able to ensure that whatever level they are at, you can still teach them.
AW: What are some things about Salsa that people DON’T know and SHOULD know?
A.E: A lot of people, students included don’t know that there are Salsa “Congresses.” There’s a whole community in South Florida that is dedicated to learning Salsa and Bachata and every night of the week people go to practice their steps. It is really beautiful and admirable how the dance community keeps people going. There’s so many genres of dance that people don’t know about: Fusion, Afro-Cuban, Iziko. People who just start taking dance lessons usually don’t know about this at all. The people in these groups are all over the world from 1,000 people to more than 4,000 people.
AW: Many people associate Salsa with the Hispanic/Latino Community solely in the United States. Would you say that it has spread beyond these parameters and communities?
A.E: Salsa dancing is no longer just being taught and practiced in the United States within the Hispanic /Latino Community. In fact, it has become popular globally in places such as: Japan, China, Amsterdam, Norway, and Greece. I have a really good friend from Central America that lives in Norway and he has a school out there. Salsa is universal. Another thing that I love is you get to meet up with and experience so many different cultures: Chinese, Caribbean, Japanese, Nordic, etc.
AW: What are your future plans for Dance?
A.E. : My plans for the future include getting more “known” here in West Palm Beach, having my own studio and forming my own team. I am making my own videos and those of my students and getting a lot of help along the way. My goal is to work with various studios to collaborate with their students and grow my own dance community.
Just Dance… Ana Esquerre is not just a phenomenal dance instructor and choreographer but she is a promoter of culture, passion and education. At the beginning of our interview Ana spoke of her dad’s great influence in promoting her self-confidence and instilling in her the motivation she needed to become a “winner.” When I have taken a group class with her or watched her work with other students, I can see that she has definitely followed her father’s footsteps and has carried on the “legacy” of making others feel proud and confident. I hope that one day you will get to take a class with Ana, whether it be a group or a private lesson because she will not just teach you the dance, but will let you experience it through her growing passion for Salsa and Latin rhythm.
