COLECTIVO Dance Co.

Carmela and Andrew are co-founders and directors of Colectivo Dance Co., an Afro-Latin social dance studio dedicated to community-building and collective joy.

Born and raised New Yorkers with generational ties to the city’s storied social dance scenes, they are guided by the conviction that to dance in community with others is an act of cultural resistance and a cause for everyday celebration. They bring a combined 30 years of experience to the dance floor as social dancers, performers, and instructors. They have traveled domestically and internationally and worked with a range of Latin recording artists for live shows and music videos. From 2016 to 2023, they were principal dancers with Huracán Dance Company, with whom they won multiple World Championship titles. In the studio and the salsa scene more broadly, Mela and Drew are known for their ability to connect and communicate with others and their prioritization of safe, accessible dance spaces. Together, they have built Colectivo as a place where these values are centered and engaged within and beyond the studio.

Mela is known for her infectious energy, versatility, and skilled communication as an instructor who loves to break down the fundamentals. In addition to her specialization in NY-style salsa, she is trained in jazz, commercial dance, and other Afro Caribbean diasporic dance styles. She holds a PhD in sociology and is a scholar of cities, dance, and popular culture. Drew is one of New York’s favorite social dance Leads. He’s recognized on and off the dance floor for throwing down intricate, creative, and flavorful social dance patterns while making Follows feel great.