All white affair

The pictures included is symbolic in so many ways. Let me explain just one: I met Clara Toro, the first person I befriended in the Richmond Salsa scene, in 1999. Not knowing, at the time, that she, along with her sister, Abby, and DJ Steve Green, were the trailblazers that went knocking door to door and venue to venue asking the owners for the oportunity to host a latin/salsa night. The Latin genre of music was new in every sense of the word to the metro Richmond area. Clara, Abby and Steve's contagious energy and perseverance knocked down walls and showed our little diverse town the energy, fun, and flavours of latin culture.

Today, Clara is the owner of Salsa4Life, an organization dedicated to teach and expand the Latin dance community in the Richmond area. Thanks to the efforts of these three trailblazers we can now enjoy, and have been enjoying for a various years now, Tuesday nights Salsa at Emilio's with DJ (trailblazer) Steve Green, Wednesday night Petersburg Salsa with DJ Alex, Tropical Thursdays at Havana59 with rotating guest DJs, 1st Fridays at Club Infuzion with the Salsa4Life team, 2nd & 4th Fridays at LaParisienne with DJ KevLar, Saturday nights latin fiesta at WXYZ A Loft with Boris & Anita, and 2nd & 4th Sundays at Bella Italia restaurant with Victor Haskins, there's also Illusions club, Off the Hooka and Kai with DJ Joel and the ocassional Latin Vintage parties/events. The choices today are ample, but it would have never been like this if not for dedication and passion of Clara, Abby & Steve.

If you don't know Salsa and would like to learn, no sweat, Salsa4Life holds classes at the dance space very Monday night. Check it out at www.Salsa4Life.com