Jose Cruz — Latin Dance & Music

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Jose Cruz demonstrates dance steps

Jose Cruz introduces rhythms
  • Jose Cruz, founder and artistic director of Salseros Dance Company, has been teaching Latin music and dance in the Eugene community and directing a salsa performance group since 1999. Born and raised in El Salvador, Central America, Jose is bilingual in Spanish and English and has been dancing since the age of twelve. Over the course of his teaching career, Jose has taught and performed a variety of styles of salsa, including Cuban style, L.A. style and New York style, and he currently teaches all three forms of salsa in addition to the other Latin dances of merengue, cha cha cha, bachata, and cumbia. This is his 5th year in the Artist Residency program.

    Jose's teaching is based on strong technique and he makes the learning process enjoyable with his great sense of humor. His goal is to share his passion for Latin music and dance with the local community. While learning the steps and rhythms of salsa, students also build a strong self-esteem and learn individuality and how to treat others with respect. Jose says, "They will not only learn how to dance, but will learn how to socialize, communicate with others and become a confident adult. No matter where they are from, even if they don't speak the same language, they make friends all around the world when they dance salsa."
  • "Jose successfully led our students to perform for our Multicultural Night and School Board Meeting. He engaged not only the students, but the adults as well." - Moffitt Elementary School
  • "My students loved getting the movement and the integration of playing the instruments. This is so important at Awbrey Park as we have no PE or Music teachers, the homeroom teacher is responsible for covering these areas of the curriculum." - Awbrey Park Elementary School
  • "Jose was very positive and patient. It was nice to see both boys & girls enjoy dancing!" - Awbrey Park Elementary School
  • "Jose is an excellent teacher, and the final performance was a big hit with students successfully danced with partners following the steps." Andrea Fox, 5th Grade Teacher, Holt.
  • "Jose was awesome to work with. I highly recommend him. This residency totally linked with our Spanish program and our end of year Fiesta activity. It helped get our kids ready." Scott Marsh, Principal, Parker
  • "Jose really wanted the kids to master steps before they moved on. Jose was very conscientious. He worked well with our PE teacher. Together they provided a solid program for the students. Jose performed a Salsa dance at an assembly, he helped support the students to perform at a different assembly, and he taught a Salsa lesson to participants at our Chavez Festival on a Saturday." Denisa Taylor, Principal, Chavez Elementary and Family School
  • "Partner dancing was a healthy community building activity." Heather Kehe, Teacher, Arts and Technology Academy.
  • "Jose is patient with the students, willing to go over things many times if needed, and he progresses with them in a logical way. He knows when to keep their interest by adding in a new more complicated move, and when to slow things down and return to the basics when needed. Jose's years of experience shows in his fluidity with both his dancing and interacting with the students." Karla Alvarado, Teacher, Springfield Public Schools