Carlos Vasquez

" Big C "


Personal Background

As a young man, Carlos Vasquez understood the importance of maintaining one's cultural roots and passing along this beauty to future generations. Living in Brooklyn, Carlos witnessed the gradual loss of certain Latino experiences in our youths through the assimilation of mainstream American Culture.

Throughout the years, Carlos actively participated in various programs that kept the Latino culture alive in his community. In 1982, his dream became reality. La Salsa De Hoy, Inc. was founded in Sunset Park, Brooklyn as a bilingual, bi-cultural program. It provides dance instructions to children and adults between the ages of six and above. The program furnishes its participants with the basic understanding of the historical and cultural evolution of Latin music. The school teaches dance such as Salsa/Mambo, Cha, Cha, Cha and Hip Hop to neighborhood children. Students have gone on to dance at various events throughout the city.
They have invited graduates and students of La Salsa De Hoy, Inc. to dance at Block Parties, Political Events, 5th Avenue Fair, Puerto Rican Day parade, Astoria Park, Flushing Meadow Park, Side Street, Latin Quarters, and one of Manhattan's elite's restaurant, Tavern on the Green. Program participants have excelled in their dancing and academically. Carlos' emphases are not only on dance but on instilling the importance of academic excellence to the children. It is his belief that there is a strong affinity between self-esteem and knowledge of one's culture.

For more information contact:

Carlos Vasquez

E-mail: Lasalsadehoy.com