ST. GEORGE —When a local woman with a passion for Latin dancing noticed there were no Latin dance opportunities in St. George, she chose to start a new, recurring event for the entire community.
Mercy Savaiinaea, a first-generation Latin American who moved to St. George six years ago, told St. George News that she’s been dancing her entire life and was taught Latin dancing by her mother and cousins, who were competitive salsa dancers.
After actively searching for events and locations where she could perform her passion for Latin dancing, she realized there were none available in Washington County.
“I decided to start it on my own,” Savaoomaea said. “It was quite a struggle trying to find a place in town where I could do these events at a good price. We had a lot of ‘no’s’ and had to convince places that all we wanted was good clean fun. We weren’t looking for a club-like environment.”
Savaiinaea said they previously staged five events at other locations and found it difficult to find an accommodating venue. She emphasized her gratitude toward Ed Tracy with the Heritage Arts and Events Center for providing a home for the Latin dance nights.
St. George Latin Dance Nights feature a different style of Latin dance each month. Each event consists of two parts: the first hour, which is optional, is a class taught by an instructor, for those that wish to learn. These instructional classes feature both a male and female instructor. The second part of the event, which is the main event, is a night of Latin dancing. This section of the event runs 9 p.m.-midnight.
Savaiinaea said each event will feature a DJ who is well-versed in Latin music, with DJ Tony Montes most commonly performing for the crowd. She said some events also feature live bands and added that a taco truck will be outside the venue, with drinks available for purchase inside.
Savaiinaea emphasized that these events provide a safe and clean environment for Latin dancing. There is no alcohol allowed at the venue. She said the age range of attendees has been between 14 and 85 and that all ages are welcome.
“It’s a great date night,” Savaiinaea said. “It’s a great place to go and meet new people. It’s a great girls’ night out. You can really make it into whatever you want it to be.”
Savaiinaea said that the St. George Latin Dance Nights have really taken off since their first event when about 70 people attended. She said events are now averaging around 200 attendees. She has been able to share the events with the public via social media platforms and even by putting up flyers at local Latin restaurants. She has also worked with the local radio station, Juan 106 FM to promote events.
Savaiinaea told St. George News that the $15 fee to attend covers the cost of the venue and the DJ. She encourages anyone with dance experience who would like to instruct a class to reach out via the St. George Latin Dance Nights’ Instagram or Facebook page and to follow those pages to see all upcoming events. She adds that anyone who volunteers as an instructor will receive free admission to the event, along with a free entry for their friends who would also like to attend.
Event details
- What: St. George Latin Dance Nights
- When: First and third Friday of each month
- Where: Heritage Arts and Events Center, 568 W Telegraph St #4, Washington
- Admission: One-time entry tickets are $15. Current membership special: $15 for one month, membership includes the ability to bring one friend to each event for free.
- Additional information: Website
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