Page 21 - ATA

A14 LOCAL
Monday 7 May 2018

Get Aruba to dance more

ORANJESTAD - wAnthony Mezas of Aruba Dance Studios has a big dream:
putting Aruba on the list of countries with big dance cultures like Puerto
Rico, Cuba and Colombia. “We have the dancing in us, but we have to
progress.” And tourists also play a big role in his dream.

Mezas wants to give the tourists ‘another adventure’. "Many go off road
with ATV's. But I know that a lot are also into dancing. Like Cuba orga-
nizes dance vacations, why can't we do that here." Already he receives
emails from travel agencies asking for dance workshops for their clients.
He is planning to offer packages for tourists who want to explore Aruba
including a couple of hours of dance lessons. So you get the chance to
learn bachata,salsa, merengue, kizomba and even tango.

“But also traditional folklore dances of Aruba like the danza and our ver-
sion of the waltz. I work with instructors from other dance schools estab-
lished here already for many years and I also do workshops with people
from abroad. This way I would like to create a dance community.”

He doesn’t see Aruba Dance Studios as a traditional dance school. In his
mind it is and has to become a place for pupils, dancers, dance instruc-
tors and aficionado’s coming together. An exchange knowledge, expe-
rience and ofcourse fun. “This concept is nothing new. You have studio’s
like this in other countries with a big dance culture. Like even in Holland
where I lived a couple of years, I experienced a big dance community.
They organize for example dance congresses and people paying 300
euro just to attend a weekend. The participants are very fanatic, they
come with their special outfits, dance shoes, very dedicated.”