Fuego
Founded in 2009 by
Karina BustilloChloé Carcamo, Geril GarciaRonald Hernandez, Myra Morales, Maura Tousignant, and Wilson Ventura
Creation
In the spring of 2008, numerous members of the Hispanic/Latino community at UVA came together to enhance the annual Ritmo Latino Show sponsored by the former student group, Latino Student Union (LSU). From these performances friendships were made and an active Hispanic/Latino dance community was sparked. Members of this community came from all dance disciplines, backgrounds, and experience levels, but often worked together to provide informal performances for other student groups on grounds, including CultureFest.
During the fall of 2009, La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda, Inc. Fraternity Chapter at Virginia Commonwealth University reached out to members in the newly created Latino Student Alliance (LSA) with an invitation to perform. That fall LSA Fuego Dance Team was founded by 7 friends at Virginia Commonwealth University’s (VCU) annual cultural show “Movimientos,” part of their Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration. Since their first official performance at VCU, LSA Fuego ignited and quickly gained recognition at UVA performing at various events sponsored by numerous student organizations including Mahogany Dance Troupe, Dance Committee, Salsa Club and many others while also working alongside the Latino Student Alliance programming committee on their biannual cultural shows.
When LSA Fuego first began it exhibited modern and contemporary styles of dance from Latin America; such styles included Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, and Reggaeton. Its flames quickly spread and grew in size while also expanding its dance repertoire to include various folkloric dances native to the lands of South and Central America. LSA Fuego also gained much support and recognition from the University, the Charlottesville community, and other universities and communities state-wide. LSA Fuego began as a branch of the Latino Student Alliance organization and in the fall of 2011 LSA Fuego became an independent student organization remaining within the LSA umbrella as a member organization. The team’s presence in the university was and continues to be essential to cultivating a community aware of and engaged in the diverse and rich dance culture of Latin America.
Mission
Fuego's mission is and has always been to do just this: to share Latin culture to the rest of the UVA and Charlottesville community.
Efforts
Fuego dance lessons occur once a week on Sundays, and many dancers of all levels come out to practice. By offering these free weekly lessons, Fuego has makes the art of Latin dance approachable and fun to people that would otherwise be too shy or afraid to try something new and embrace a new culture. Students who attend these lessons (and those who don't) will have an opportunity to join the performance team in the Spring. Students that become members of the performance team are members for life.
