Located on campus in Building 5, room 225, many students are taking on a new hobby and immersing themselves in the art of salsa dancing.

Biochemistry sophomore Emma De La Torre followed her roommate to the Cal Poly Salsa Club for the first time. 

“Three hours basically went by, like water,” she said. “It was super fun because there are instructors, there are people who have been dancing for years, people who have just started.”

The salsa club finds creative ways to welcome everyone to try it out, including manufacturing engineering senior Olivia Matthews, who unexpectedly found her way into class.

“I stumbled across the salsa dancing tent on the Dexter lawn and spun a wheel to get a free class,” Matthews said. “I had been like, actually wanting to go for a while but just never thought to go.”

Civil engineering junior Aidan Hicks came to the Salsa Club for the Engineers Without Borders club promotion event.

“I had no experience with salsa or bachata, and you’re supposed to lead as the guy; I don’t know how to lead,” Hicks said. “I had the girls lead. But it was fun, you just kind of have to be humble about it and have humility,” Hicks said. 

Earth and soil science sophomore and treasurer of the salsa club, Evan Solomon, stresses that the club is open to all levels.

“Our lead instructor Ed always emphasizes for the beginners, make sure everyone has fun instead of getting on them to dance correctly,” he said. We want people to come back. It’s pretty much always fun, that’s what we focus on.”

Matthews agrees that the focus is on having fun and dancers have the opportunity to dance with everyone.

“You’re learning with everyone as you go, and you get to meet a lot of people,” he said. 

Reflecting on her time at Cal Poly, De La Torre believes the salsa club made a significant impact during her college years.

“It’s a really nice way to meet different people outside of campus and just have fun and make connections,” De La Torre said. 

The Cal Poly Salsa Club gives lessons for bachata at 7 p.m. and salsa at 8 p.m. on Fridays, followed by a mixer at 9 p.m.

More information is available on their Instagram @cpsalsa.