01/30/2026
So here’s the thing…
More well-known teams—and their leaders—within the international Afro-Latin dance community are often criticized for a range of serious reasons. Over the last few years alone, we’ve seen conversations around sexual misconduct, abuse, and allegations of harm come to the surface. These conversations matter—and in many cases, they are absolutely necessary.
At the same time, we can hold another truth.
These teams also create beautiful artistry. Their technical skill is often unmatched. They help shape trends, set aesthetics, and influence how Afro-Latin dance is seen globally. I say this as someone who considers myself friends with some current and former members of these teams. Many of them eventually chose to leave—not out of bitterness, but out of growth. They learned, firsthand, that everything that glitters isn’t gold.
Here’s where the conversation gets uncomfortable—but important.
When influential teams set the tone, smaller communities often follow. What is tolerated at the top quietly becomes normalized below. And over time, apathy or silence can turn into complicity—not because people don’t care, but because they don’t know how to respond without fear of backlash or “drama.”
This isn’t about cancel culture. And it’s not about public shaming or performative outrage.
It is about accountability.
It is about values.
And it is about remembering that our dance spaces are not separate from the real world—they are a reflection of it.
If we want healthier communities, safer spaces, and a culture rooted in respect, we have to be willing to speak up collectively. Gently. Consistently. Thoughtfully. Especially when it’s inconvenient.
Change doesn’t happen through extremes—it happens when enough people decide that the standard can be higher, and that beauty and integrity should exist together.
This is a conversation, not a verdict.
And it’s one worth having.
