By Olivia Borgula
Barbara Bernstein, the director of a Cuban salsa school, DanceInTime Productions, led a Latin dance workshop on Friday, as part of UMD’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations.
“Quick-quick-slow, quick-quick-slow,” and other rhythms echoed across McKeldin Mall as Bernstein instructed a group of students about the common beats of Latin dance. With assistance from two other dancers, Bernstein demonstrated basic steps from four different styles: salsa, cha-cha, bachata and merengue.
“In this era, particularly with the pandemic, but even prior to the pandemic, there was a lot of research on people becoming a lot more separate, isolated in their lives,” Bernstein said. “There’s a tremendous health benefit, not just for physical movement, but for synchronous movement of people in a group learning to dance moves together … it bonds people.”
Bernstein emphasized the foundational rhythm of each step, noting how challenging it can be to get used to the rhythm. Each style’s unique beat yields a different result, she said.
“This style of music is universally beloved,” Bernstein said. “It makes you want to move.”
Bernstein’s workshop was one of many Hispanic Heritage Month events at the university. This year’s theme is “Oye Mi Voz! Un Cuento de la Vida,” meaning “Hear My Voice! A Tale of Life.” These events aim to amplify Latinx voices and allow all students to learn more about the culture. According to The Office of Institutional Research and Planning, Latinx students make up 9% of the undergraduate population.
“I love getting to move to music, and earlier the instructor talked about synchronous movement and it’s just a lot of fun. It’s a great way to get moving but spend time with other people,” Olivia Warner, a UMD alum said after attending the event.
This workshop was organized in conjunction with Studio A, a noncredit arts center at UMD. Tara Youngborg, manager for Studio A, said Bernstein has been a longtime instructor with the organization. When Bernstein reached out to propose a dance workshop, Studio A was granted financial support from the Maryland State Arts Council.
“I’ve done a variety of programs, classes, and you know, some through Studio A and some through other branches of University of Maryland,” Bernstein said, explaining that she used to teach a credited class at UMD in the kinesiology department.
Sophomore economics major Victoria Uhl attended the event to become more familiar with the style of dance.
“I have gone to dances that are, like, family dances, and I suck at them,” she said. “So if I could do something to try and get slightly better at that, I kind of want to learn.”
Uhl added that the dance workshop and similar programs are important to increase accessibility to different cultures.
“There are a lot of kids that are kids of immigrants or mixed families that haven’t even been introduced to some of this stuff,” she said. “I wasn’t introduced to a lot of the stuff until middle school after my parents divorced.”
Leensa Fufa, who demonstrated steps, started taking classes at Bernstein’s studio, DanceInTime Productions, after doing a project with her a few years earlier.
“I go to Barb’s class, which is just very welcoming, and really she adapts to who’s in the room,” Fufa said. “[Dance] is so intimate, and yet very distant. You’re not talking to people, you’re moving together.”
Bernstein plans on hosting another event later this October, also sponsored by Studio A, about the health benefits of synchronous dance, music and other art forms.
Featured image: Students practice basic salsa steps on Sept. 23, 2022. Photo by Olivia Borgula.
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