A Eugene collective of Latin dancers and creators that formed over the summer, has expanded its reach across the state with a mission to help people reconnect.
Brenna Leech, president of Bailamos Latin Dance Network, likens the group that was born out of the pandemic to a “chamber of commerce” for creators.
"We create spaces for them to get to make their art, to get to dance," she said. "so we create partnerships, we plan events."
Leech said one of the biggest things the group has done is develop a calendar of events in addition to acting as a directory to help promote and connect different events and creators across the state. They cover Portland, Salem, Corvallis, Medford, Eugene and Springfield.
They also offer free lessons outdoors every Friday at 5th Street Market in Eugene.
“We had an incredible group of dancers and community all across Oregon, and when the pandemic happened everything got shut down, and we want to make sure that as we regrow we want to focus on bringing community back into our communities,” she said. “How do we connect with one another?”
In just six months, Leech said, the collective built relationships with over a thousand people including dancers, DJs, and other organizations. She adds these connections illustrate the need for the network.
"Nobody was protecting everybody, supporting everybody, encouraging the scene, the environment in general, the whole ecosystem of need,
Now that the network has reached nonprofit status as a 501c3, and created a board with seven members, Leech said they plan to do more, but they’re trying not to grow too fast.
"Every single society in the world dances no matter what it looks like, we all feel the rhythm in our hearts and we move, and so that's what we stand to do and that belief, that need existed long before the pandemic...and it will exist long afterwards," she said.
The network will host a New Years Eve fundraising event, La Fiesta Final, Dec. 31 at WildCraft Cider works form 8 pm to 1 am.
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