West PDX Today

Hillsboro has a new venue for salsa dancing – the Walters Cultural Arts Center. 
Salsa Nights are being offered every quarter at the Walters in partnership with Lines Dance Academy – a Latino-owned business with a studio on Main Street in downtown Hillsboro. 
The events have been wildly popular, attracting both new and experienced dancers on Friday nights. The evenings begin with an hour-long salsa lesson taught by instructors from Lines Dance Academy. It’s a chance to learn basic steps or master new ones.  
“Even being familiar with Salsa…it was a pleasant way to familiarize or re-familiarize oneself with the basic steps,” says Rebecca Manger, a recent participant.  
After the lesson, top Latin bands from around the Pacific Northwest perform while dancers of all levels can try out and show off their moves. 
When Melissa Moore, Arts Education and Community Outreach Supervisor, approached Lines Dance Academy about offering salsa classes at the Walters, she found there was a “real need” for a Salsa venue in Hillsboro. 
Many of the Lines Dance Academy students were driving to Portland to find places to dance, so Parks & Recreation staff decided to collaborate with the local business to offer an event where community members could not only learn to Salsa dance, but also enjoy amazing live bands from across the region.
"Many community members have shared that they want these types of venues. They wonder how there isn't a place in Hillsboro for Latin dance — the community is calling for this,” said Analine Villaraldo, owners of Lines Dance Academy. “This collaboration between the City and our studio is bridging the gap and answering that call.  We've heard everyone is loving the classes and the social dance — that solidifies what we already knew, the community wants this." 

Embodying the philosophy that “it only takes one beat to get moving,” Lines Dance Academy is a globally recognized studio that has offered dance instruction to all ages in salsa, bachata, fusion Latino, danza folklorico, and cumbia in Hillsboro for 25 years. 
The next Salsa Night event is coming up on August 11 with Son de Cuba composed of members from Chile, Mexico, Cuba, and the U.S.
Tickets for Salsa Night events are $12 in advance and $14 day-of-show. Refreshments, including local wines, are available for purchase on site. 
Purchase tickets at Hillsboro-Oregon.gov/Walters or by calling 503-615-3485 or stopping by the front desk of the Walters Cultural Arts Center. 

Original source can be found here