Interview: Stacey Suarez

This week we asked our lovely friend and first subscriber Stacey Suarez some questions to kick off our interview series. She is an awesome woman and dancer who we have had the pleasure to meet. Hopefully you get to experience the kindness and joy she brings everywhere, if you haven’t already. We hope you enjoy and show Stacey some love for sharing a piece of herself with us.

A Short Bio

My name is Stacey Suarez and I was raised primarily in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. My father is of Cuban and Bahamian ancestry and my mother is African American. They raised me and my two sisters as a close family unit. Although my grandfather was a first generation Cuban American, I did not grow up in the culture. This left me curious about a culture that was in my blood, but that I knew little about. Being a black girl with a Hispanic last name left other people confused about me. From the lens of those around me, I was not Latina and within the African American community, my last name made no sense.

I moved to Georgia after graduating from Penn State and have lived here ever since. I have one daughter who I love dearly and I work in the financial industry. If anyone knows me well, they know I love to laugh and can be heard laughing from very far away. I am a hugger by nature and absolutely love my family and friends. I drag my sister Kristin, affectionately known as Seester, and my daughter to dance events as much as they will allow.

How did you find dance/casino?

I didn’t find Casino. Casino found me exactly when I needed it. A friend took me to a Latin dance club in 2009. I was divorced the prior year and struggling to find my way and figure out who I was and what I enjoyed. At that dance club, my first and LAST dance partner of the evening dragged me across the floor for about six songs. I didn’t know proper dance etiquette and how to excuse myself from my sole dance partner, and the songs were so well blended that I didn’t know when one ended and another began. After that, I vowed that would never happen again and was determined to learn to dance “salsa”. My friend later introduced me to a Cuban man named Victor Hernandez. He taught beginner Cuban dance lessons, specifically Rueda de Casino, in Mableton, GA. He encouraged me to continue to explore dance and learn more about my Cuban roots. I took classes at Salsatlanta in 2010 and continued to learn Rueda de Casino.

Victor, his partner, and his daughter offered me the opportunity to travel with them to Cuba in 2011. I was so excited and learned so much about the culture and the strength and struggles of the Cuban people. I’m forever grateful to him for that experience. In 2011, I joined an all-ladies performance team and was able to perform in San Francisco at the Salsa Rueda Festival. In 2012, one of my former instructors, Emarlos, asked me to support his efforts to start a new Cuban dance company in Smyrna, GA, and I excitedly accepted. Clahvay allowed me to learn from, and work under, tremendous talents such as Hansel Melgares, Karelia Despaigne, and Yanek Revilla. Our team traveled, danced, and performed creative routines for almost ten years. It was an exciting time, and I learned and developed considerably during that time. I was able to choreograph a ladies’ routine, perform and teach. Watching students grow was my greatest pleasure. I continue to refine my craft and learn from great instructors like Jonathan Burke and Julian Mejia. I recently returned to Salsatlanta to perform and teach. It gave me great pleasure to work alongside my longtime sister/friend Renate. As time permits, I also teach popup introductory classes and ladies’ styling at a local wellness center and at my workplace. Life comes full circle sometimes; where you start is where you end. However, throughout your journey, you grow through experiences and gain wisdom. So, when you ask, how did I find Casino? I didn’t find Casino. Casino found me.

Favorite dance event you’ve attended?

There are so many great events that it is so hard to choose. My trips to Cuba are second to none but out of my recent trips, I have to say that my favorite dance event was the NOLA Toda La Familia event in 2022. I had such a great time. The event was very well organized. The energy of the participants and the instructors was amazing and everyone was so welcoming. The icing on the cake was being able to participate in a second line on Bourbon street. The city was alive and the dancing was amazing. It was magical as only NOLA can be.

Current favorite song to dance to?

El Tic Tac de la Habana – Alain Perez

What is something most people don’t know about you?

I am obsessed with plants and hummingbirds. I have been referred to as the Salsa Botanist.

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Once again thank you Stacey for sharing your responses. Let us know in the comments what resonated with you or any similarities you share.

Bueno…ya tu sabes.