Cal Poly Salsa is set to perform at Illuminate 2026 with a routine built entirely by students.
The performance team returned last year after an eight-year hiatus, marking the club’s first major showcase since the pandemic. This year, members took on a new challenge: choreographing the routine themselves without a professional instructor guiding the process.
What began as an idea in a living room over the summer evolved into a fully developed performance through months of auditions, rehearsals and collaboration. Practices intensified after auditions in early October, with dancers refining technique, formations and timing leading up to the showcase.
Club members say the experience has strengthened the sense of community within the organization. Dancers across class years have worked together to build the routine, creating an environment where newer members can develop their skills alongside more experienced performers.
Illuminate 2026 will mark the team’s second consecutive year back on stage, signaling continued momentum for the revived performance group.