‘It’s pure joy’: Myrtle Beach area dance studio hosts ‘Salsa in the South’

MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) - A Myrtle Beach area dance studio is bringing salsa to the South.

R&R Dance Studio, located in the Socastee area of Horry County, specializes in Latin dances, such as bachata and salsa.

On the third Thursday of the month, the studio hosts a dance social event called “Salsa in the South” at Whiskey Roots in Myrtle Beach.

“It was so nice walking in and just feeling like I been here the whole time, you know?” said Gabriela Goyco-Garcia, a dancer who attended their event on Aug. 20.

The free event welcomes dancers of all backgrounds and experience levels to embrace the dance culture.

“It’s like sharing the culture with each other, and that’s really more important to bring it and educate others and share that love together,” said co-owner of R&R, Rainee Romero.

At the beginning of the event, which begins at 6 p.m., R&R co-owner Ro Romero teaches a beginner dance lesson, where participants learn salsa and bachata.

“It keeps me sane, you know?” said Goyco-Garcia. “It’s been like-- it’s a social community, it’s a very welcoming community, it’s an outlet for after you get out of work.”

After the lesson ends at 7 p.m., the dance floor turns into a fast-paced environment with dancers going in full swing.

“It’s pure joy. It’s pure happiness,” said Goyco-Garcia. “It’s such like, you feel so at ease, and you feel like, you’re just so happy all the time.”

For some, like Goyco-Garcia, who is from Puerto Rico, having a Hispanic-based dance space keeps them in touch with their cultural roots in places where the culture is less prevalent.

“In comparison obviously, to Puerto Rico or maybe Florida, you find it in every corner; there’s something happening in every corner,” Goyco-Garcia said. “Here it’s a little bit different. But I think once you find it, it just goes from there.”

And she isn’t the only one who has turned to the studio to get a feel of home.

“We have a ton of people that move here from like Puerto Rico or again New York, and they have these Hispanic roots, and they are like elated when they find us,” said Rainee Romero.

Ro Romero has Mexican heritage, and said being able to teach the class allows him to get in touch with the culture.

“It’s in my blood really, you know?” he said. “So the fact that I’ve been kind of reintroduced into something like this has been absolutely amazing.”

The Salsa in the South event isn’t the only way people can get involved with the dance studio.

R&R Dance Studio frequently puts on dance lessons at their studio and community dance events. To get involved, you can find more information on their website or their Facebook which is linked here.

Feel more informed, prepared, and connected with WMBF. For more free content like this, download our apps. Have feedback that can help us improve? Click here.