Clubs 101: Maryland Latin Dance

Trickling into the Atrium just after dinnertime, students headed for the chairs arranged against the walls and avoided the wooden dance floor like it was a game of “the floor is lava.” 

The middle school dance vibes were strong. Sweaty palms? Check. Nervous giggles? Check. Attempt at cool disaffection? Check. 

Then Jeison Flores ’24 stepped up on the stage and boomed, “Who’s ready to learn one new thing tonight?” 

Jitters faded as his infectious energy filled the room. Students lined up in rows to learn basic salsa steps: two steps forward, one step back. Some swayed their hips with natural rhythm, while others moved as stiffly as C-3P0. 

It didn’t matter. Everybody laughed along with Flores’ dad jokes, clapped enthusiastically after they practiced each new step and chatted freely with the strangers around them. That’s the secret to the popularity of the Maryland Latin Dance Club.  

“It’s just fun,” said Co-president Angela Briceño ’27, a criminology and criminal justice major. “You don’t have to be good at it to enjoy dancing. Moving around gets your mental space in a different place.” 

Want to give Latin dance a spin? She and Co-president Abdiel Molina ’26, a real estate development major, share how to get in the groove: 

How it Got Started: When the club launched in 2013, members were generally more experienced dancers who used to perform on and off campus. Now, it’s more focused on beginners and introducing various styles to a wider audience (those who want to perform instead join Pa’Lante, UMD’s Latin dance company). 

When it Meets: Classes are offered twice a week during the fall and spring semesters, from 7-9 p.m. in the Stamp, usually in the Atrium or Colony Ballroom. Flores teaches bachata on Mondays and salsa on Wednesdays; the first hour is for people to learn basic steps, while the second is for more skilled members to learn advanced choreography and unique styles. The executive board also hopes to add classes for other popular dances like cumbia, merengue or samba. 

Who Can Join: Anyone who wants to get moving and meet some new friends; all UMD community members, including faculty and alums, are welcome. “It’s not about the feet,” Flores told the class at the start. “It’s about you. Just have fun and learn one new thing.”   

For Molina, who only started dancing when he came to UMD, the activity “breaks down a lot of barriers, even if there’s awkwardness,” he said. Most sessions include partner work, which features light hand holding as two people dance together, and that physical touch “makes it easy to connect,” he said. 

Fun Traditions: The club celebrated Latine Heritage Month last week when members came decked out in soccer jerseys, islander shirts and more. For Briceño, whose family is from Honduras, and Molina, who moved to the U.S. from the Dominican Republic when he was 6, that class is a chance to show their pride and learn more about their friends and cultures. They also have Halloween and other themed classes throughout the year. 

Before the club got so big, it took more field trips to venues in D.C. or Prince George’s County where members could try out their moves on a real dance floor; leaders hope to restart that in the spring. 

At the end of each semester, the club holds a big social featuring live music, performances from local groups and games. More than 150 people usually join the fun, including family members, decked out in colorful cultural or dance outfits.

This is an occasional series highlighting interesting UMD student clubs. Have a suggestion for one to feature? Email kshih@umd.edu.