The Journey to Art With A Purpose

There are moments in a journey where you pause—not to stop, but to feel . To take in the work in. The people you have loved in the process. The rooms temperature during the work. The stories that somehow find their way through you and become something shared. Right now, I find myself in one of those moments. We closed ON YOUR FEET LAST NIGHT! Coming off On Your Feet! at Drury Lane, I feel deep gratitude... not only for the production itself, but for what it represents in my path as a director, choreographer, and storyteller. Here are a few reviews i will keep in my heart: " Director/choreographer Luis Salgado, and with this amazing cast, this version of “On Your Feet” is even stronger than the original!” https://aroundthetownchicago.com/theatre-reviews/on-your-feet-the-story-of-emelio-and-gloria-estefan/   “The theater is fit to burst from the combined energy of director Luis Salgado’s vision and choreography set to the greatest hits from  Emilio  and  Gloria ...

No one truly knows what it means to experience the sacrifice, the passion, the pain, and the joy that come with walking—faithfully—toward one’s dreams. Some things are easy, others deeply complex. Some are achieved, others are left behind. But in the end… being able to create ART is the highest purpose. And why do we make art? Because the human experience we share is immeasurable. Because we need to feel, to question, to connect. My design team for  1776  is exceptional: Scenic Design: Milagros Ponce de León Costume Design: Ivania Stack Lighting Design: Venus Gulbranson Sound Design: David Budries Projection Design: Clint Allen Props Design: Marie Schneggenburger  & Hair & Make-up Design: Kelley Jordan Orchestrations: Daniel Gutiérrez Music Director: Clay Ostwald Dialects and Voice Director: Rachel Hirshorn-Johnston Production Stage Manager: Craig A. Horness Assistant Stage Managers: Taryn Friend, Jessica Hagy, Julia Singer Deputy Director and Director of Programm...

Long before ships, before borders, before systems that tried to measure human value, there was rhythm. There was drum language. There was circle. There was the earth under bare feet and the understanding that sound could carry memory, prayer, story, and community. Africa is a starting point of civilization, artistry, spirituality, and joy. What slavery interrupted, it did not create. Modern scholarship makes clear what our bodies have always known: Before chains, there was rhythm. African culture did not begin with slavery. We may watch dances, rituals, and moments of history and still frame them only through oppression — but I choose to uplift them as something far greater. Bomba lives in our truth — the truth before chains. Bomba is not the sound of oppression. It is the sound of life. Survival. Growth. Community. Earth and beyond. It is the sound of continuity. A door to what was and what can be. It is the sound of a people remembering themselves in real time. It may even be a path ...

  Entre Libros y Ritmos: Reflexiones desde mi Sala Esta semana me he refugiado en mi sala, rodeado de libros, escribiendo un nuevo show. Pienso en mi trayectoria y me parece fascinante cómo mis inicios moldearon mi versatilidad. Aunque he transitado muchos caminos, la verdad es que, como hoy siente mi hijo, el baile fue lo que se robó mi corazón en mis primeros años como artista. Ingresé a la Universidad de Puerto Rico audicionando como actor y fui aceptado. Estudié, pero en aquel tiempo mi mayor ingreso económico venía de mis pasos y del carisma que encontraba en el movimiento. Ya en Nueva York me tocó trabajar duro, pero también tenía herramientas pedagógicas que me permitieron vivir enseñando y bailando, mientras seguía desarrollando mi carrera actoral. El método Meisner, Suzuki y Viewpoints dieron nuevos giros a mi vida. Siempre he aprendido observando a los grandes, y cuando las oportunidades llegaron, entendí de verdad todo lo que la academia me había ofrecido. Porque la prác...

  A Month Full of Movement, Music, and Community! Don’t miss out! Exciting workshops, scholarships, wellness events, and a Salsa Night are coming up — all designed for you to learn, connect, and have fun.  Musical Theatre Vocal Workshop   Nov 3rd – Dec. 8th The 4th Annual Musical Theatre Vocal Workshop is a 6-week program designed to empower musical theatre artists in the audition room. Participants will develop vocal and acting technique, audition skills, and repertoire, while connecting with industry professionals from Broadway and beyond. Application Deadline:  October 13, 2025 APPLY NOW APPLY NOW Do it Anyway Scholarship RevLatina is honored to celebrate the life and legacy of Doreen Montalvo through the  Do It Anyway Scholarship.  Doreen believed deeply in the power of art, community, and nurturing the next generation of artists.  This scholarship continues her vision by supporting artists over 30 years old with a $1,000 grant, helping them pursu...