From Software to Salsa

Azucena had to choose the right thing, the logical thing, the smart thing when she went to college-study computer science. She was good at being an engineer, just like her father, but after five years in the industry, she realized she didn’t belong there.

“I thought, I’m really good at math, so let’s do that,” she said. “Even though I remember wanting to choose dance as a major for a split second. I thought, ‘That’s crazy. Of course I’m not going to study dance! I’m not going all the way to the United States just to do that!'”

A typical day at Azucena’s engineering job was sitting at her desk with very little interaction with other people. She was a very energetic, outgoing person, so being an engineer was zapping her of her liveliness. The job was not contributing to her health and well being on any level.

Afraid she’d be letting her parents down if she switched to salsa dancing after being a software engineer, she did what every sensible woman does and consulted her hairdresser.

“I remember one time saying, ‘I’m doing it Rosanna, I’m doing it. I’m quitting my job within a month,'” she said. “Because I said it, I had a commitment to myself to do it. I knew that deep inside I wanted to do it, but I was just afraid.”

Months passed, and then Azucena finished in the top six in the World Salsa Championships. Two weeks later she quit her job.

Now that Azucena has become a professional dancer, she lives the life she’s always wanted. The results of loving what she does for a living shows in her health and wellbeing. She literally glows in person.

“I’m not waking up early, which I love,” she said. “I couldn’t ever get to the office early. I would set three alarms, and none of them would work somehow. I do yoga in the mornings to keep my body flexible and healthy. I come into the studio, and I teach from noon until 8 or 9 p.m. Now that I’m a dancer, I feel like there are no limits. The possibilities are endless. I feel creative, I feel free, and I feel younger.”

Can’t get enough Salsa? This spicy dance blog follows salsa dancing trends, events and competitions all over the country.

MORE TIPS & TOOLS

A Quick and Dirty Salsa Lesson
Your friends at Bust a Move offer both free and in-depth videos of all the steps you need to know in salsa, hip hop, swing and more!

The Salsa Source
An online magazine devoted to Latin dance and music, complete with class listings, descriptions of the best dance clubs out there and even basic step diagrams to get you started!

More from Azucena
Can’t get enough of Azucena’s salsa style? Check out her Myspace page for more of her dancing clips