From Fear to Resilience: El Alma de La Luna Dances On

What began as a woman teaching her little sister how to dance in their kitchen and garage would change on Sept. 7, 2007, the day El Alma de La Luna was founded by Selene Pringle and her sister, Alma Campuzano. El Alma de La Luna dance academy is a place that prides itself on its resilience, courage, and love for dances from all over Latin America. They have both made sure that this academy is a safe space where Latin American culture can thrive, no matter what uncertainties come their way.  

Pringle remembers the beginning of it all, “I started teaching Alma in my kitchen, then our garage, and eventually a small studio in a local mall,” she says. “It was never just about dance—it was about creating a space where families could feel safe expressing their culture, even in times when fear seemed to be everywhere”.

The Academy has grown immensely since then, even up to a total of 150 students. While they have gone through many different locations over the years, and even lost their studio during COVID, Pringle and her sister did not give up. She taught classes online, outside in local parks, and realized how important community is. “We held dance sessions in a park,” Pringle recalls, “and about 50 people came. It was a reminder that culture and community are stronger than fear”.

This September and October, during Hispanic Heritage month (Sept. 15 to Oct.15), the academy plans to have at least 18 free performances, funded by a grant from the Arts & Science Council. For El Alma de La Luna, these performances are more than dances but acts of courage and pride for their cultures. 

Countless festivals nationwide have cancelled their performances due to fears of ICE possibly being present in these events. Even in Charlotte, the Hispanic Heritage Festival of the Carolinas was cancelled due to immigration concerns and ICE deportation fears. “We cannot live in fear. And art, for many centuries, has been the only source of survival. It has been the only way to stay up and show everybody I'm here, I'm part of the society, and I'm not going anywhere”, said Pringle.

At El Alma de La Luna Dance Academy, differences are celebrated, and different cultures are embraced. Students can learn about dances from different cultures other than their own and be proud of their cultures instead of ashamed or in fear. “Instead of talking about how different we are, let's talk about how similar we are. Let's dance together. And that's one of the greatest things that happens in El Alma de La Luna. You see Peruvians dancing from Jalisco like they are Mexicans, and then you see Mexicans dancing marinera and dancing festejo like they are Peruvians. And that's wonderful. They embrace each other’s culture, and that's what keeps us going”.

Pringle hopes that with these performances, people in the community can feel more motivated to push through the fear and keep moving forward, remembering that we are all stronger together. “Let’s keep communication open and talk about how similar we are. We all have something in common—let’s embrace it.”