Aroha Afro Latin Dance

Aroha definition: love, compassion, or affectionate. Origin: Maori.

Aroha: The term that Adalia Ellis not only named her business after but also lives life by. When she and her husband met, as opposed to taking each other's last names, they set out on a path to find a name/ word that encompassed their relationship. Once they heard Aroha, they knew it was the perfect fit. Now Adalia can share that same love and compassion with fellow dancers at her studio, Aroha Afro Latin Dance in Downtown Florence. Vip had the opportunity to sit down with Adalia to discover how she learned dance techniques and the benefits she’s found while teaching others. Read along to learn more about how dance can spread love and compassion!

Q: When did you become attracted to dancing?

“I loved dancing from a very young age. I was attracted to movement and it felt so natural to me. I was born to a white mother and black father and wasn’t always welcomed as a child of color in predominately white studios so I wasn’t able to receive formal training. As a pre-teen, I became involved in grassroots dance and performing arts groups. I learned to create choreography and to follow my intuition and how my body responded to music as a dancer. I attended Maxwell International Baha’i School, a high school in British Columbia, where I continued to dance in a student-led dance program with professional coordinators. It was there that I received training with a dancer from the Dance Theater of Harlem and a choreographer and dancer in stage production. For years I felt robbed of the opportunity to become formally trained. At some point, I came to realize that my path in dance allowed me to connect with people and to see their movement as a reflection of who they are rather than a formula. I am grateful now for the unique way I came to experience dance.” Q. What is your favorite style of dance?

“This is a hard one. My favorite style of dance has evolved as I have evolved. I loved lyrical dance at one time because it allowed me the freedom to express myself. I loved dancing Hip-Hop from my childhood up through early adulthood. I fell in love with Merengue dancing in my best friend and her husband's living room when I was in college. I fell in love with Bachata when I saw it danced for the first time in Chicago. I fell in love with Salsa when I first moved to South Korea. All of it is important to me because each style of music allows for a different way for my body to move and each rhythm allows for a different kind of expression. Even now I feel how I approach dance is evolving again.”

Q. What is the meaning of Afro Latin dance?

“As I have come to learn the history of people of African descent and how the trans-Atlantic slave trade spread the influence of music, movement, and language, I have come to understand that the roots of Latin dance like Tango, Rumba, Salsa, Merengue, and Bachata are of African origin. The largest number of Africans were taken to the Caribbean, Central, and South America. Some of the dances we dance today socially were first work dances in the fields of plantations in these countries. There were intentional efforts to erase the influence of African music and movement. As I came to understand this, I renamed my company and added 'AFRO' to acknowledge the roots...to remember that these dances were first a form of dance therapy and allowed for people to stay grounded in who they were despite the horrors of slavery. The traditional Latin dances are what I teach. Ballroom has a slightly different approach to the Latin dances. I don’t teach ballroom style.”

Q. When did you open Aroha Afro Latin Dance in Downtown Florence?

“I have been teaching dance for 15 years. My first dance company was Salsa Queen Productions. I rebranded in 2015 to Aroha Latin Dance and then again in 2017 to Aroha Afro Latin Dance. My business was really solidified after I became a client in the Francis Marion University Kelley Business Incubator. I had an office in their downtown location and really loved the closeness to everything. I love Downtown Development. That team is so encouraging and helpful for new businesses. I have gotten so much support from both the Incubator and Downtown Development. I also appreciate the proximity to restaurants, the architecture, and the small-town feel of Downtown Florence. For years I have wanted to have my own studio here. I always imagined having a studio in the heart of Florence.” Q. Tell us about your classes!

“We offer beginner to skilled levels and focus specifically on adults over 18. My beginner classes are in Salsa, Bachata, Kizomba, and we are adding Chicago Step. Students move on to more advanced classes after they master the fundamentals. The classes are in four-week cycles and students usually complete the fundamentals in that four weeks and move up into our classes that build on this foundation. These are partner dancing classes and I always have such a hard time getting men to come. That being said, my instructors and I can lead and follow so for this reason people don't have to come with a partner. My program is community focused as well so we practice cooperative learning, which means that people change partners in class. This way leads become stronger leads and follows become stronger follows. Come dressed comfortably; wear shoes that you can easily turn in and do repetitive movements or we can give you dance socks that go over the front of your sneakers for easier movement. Dance is exercise and you will sweat, so keep that in mind!”

Classes begin on Monday, August 8th, for this four-week session. Adalia teaches Salsa Fundamentals on Mondays, NEW! Dance Wellness Classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and NEW! Chicago Step Fundamentals on Wednesdays. Additionally, Adalia will be teaching a college level course on the History of Afro-Latin Dance and Music as a part of Francis Marion University's community initiative to bring Evening College courses to Downtown Florence. For more information, visit www.arohaafrolatindance.com.

Aroha Afro Latin Dance | 167 North Dargan St, Florence 843.310.1926 | Find us on Facebook and Instagram