Photo from left to right: Co-Owners/Instructors Candice Deisher, Carey Mitchell, Crystal Bullock, and Rudy Saint Julien
About SCDC
The members of Salsa Connection Dance Company (Salsa Connection) have collectively been dancing, training, teaching, and performing in the Greater Richmond Area since 2009. Initially teaching and performing as a continuation of Latin Vintage Dance Company under the guidance of Julissa Cruz, co-owners Carey Mitchell, Candice Deisher, Rudy Saint Julien, and Crystal Bullock first offered instruction at the Ezibu Muntu dance studio before moving their classes to Dogtown Dance Theatre (“Dogtown”). In 2019, the co-owners created their own dance company and incorporated under the name Salsa Connection because it aptly encompasses their mission: (1) to remain connected to the community through continued training and performances; (2) to connect new dancers to Latin dance through classes and personal instruction; and (3) to maintain personal connections with fellow dancers in the RVA community through social events and community outreach. Salsa Connection continued to teach classes at Dogtown until its closure in 2022. Thereafter, Salsa Connection opened its own studio in the Richmond Arts District and currently offers a full schedule of weekly group classes in Salsa On1, Salsa On2, and Bachata. Salsa Connection also offers private lessons, and the company can be booked for events and performances.
In addition to offering weekly group classes with a focus on fundamentals and proper technique, Salsa Connection provides growth and performance opportunities to dancers in the community through its student performance team. Salsa Connection holds auditions once a year, and the performance season runs for approximately a year. Members of Salsa Connection’s student performance team attend regular weekly rehearsals and participate in dance training to further their individual growth as dancers and performers. Salsa Connection’s company and student teams have performed at events across the United States. Candice and Rudy, two of Salsa Connection’s co-owners, also compete at events throughout the United States and Canada.
In an effort to provide educational opportunities for the Richmond dance community, Salsa Connection hosts several events each year where we bring out of town artists to teach workshops and perform. Artists are carefully selected to ensure quality instruction for Richmond dancers, and many of the artists are nationally and internationally recognized. We look forward to many more years of serving the Richmond, Virginia area and sharing our love of dance!
