Meet Karla Slack | Traditional Mexican Dance Instructor and Office Manager

We had the good fortune of connecting with Karla Slack and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Karla, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I am from Mexico City, one of the largest cities in the world. I grew up loving my culture and my roots. Since I was a child I learned the meaning of love for my country through artistic expression. I started dancing when I was 8 years old and since then my job has been to spread and preserve Mexican traditions and customs wherever I go, because for me it is very important that the new generations learn and identify their culture wherever they are. Today my main objective is to transmit my knowledge to the compatriots who decided to emigrate to the United States and to their next generations since living in a different country they do not have contact with the Mexican culture or its language.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

My artistic path has been long. I started dancing at the age of 8 and since then I have taken many courses and classes around the Mexican territory. Mexico has different dances in each state and from each historical stage; from pre-Hispanic dances, colonization and the modern stage. Until now I continue studying and taking classes. I started teaching when I was 10 years old because I helped my teachers prepare dance presentations for my school. I did a high school in art and later studied to be a physical education teacher. I have danced in various groups and I have been in charge of 2 international groups and a Mexican dance company for children. It was never easy because I have always had to divide my time between my work, my classes and my dance groups, but in the end it has been worth every effort. The life of an artist is difficult, it is not well paid and it is a lot of work. I believe that being constant, disciplined and responsible leads you to succeed in whatever you want to do.
Alma de Mexico is for now my source of energy. Alma de Mexico has allowed me to bring and share a little bit of Mexico through music and dance.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Rochester, NY it is a beautiful small city. It has 4 seasons, each season has an awesome places to visit. I will list a few of them: George Eastman Museum
Seneca Park Zoo
Highland Park
Ontario Beach Park
Susan B. Anthony Museum

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I do have many people who have inspired me and contributed to my artistic and professional career, among them I can name: Olivia del Carmen Rendon Sanches, my first Mexican dance teacher.
Cesar Torres Atrian, Mexican dance teacher and excellent musician.
Grupo Cultural Latinos in Rochester for facilitating my first classes within the United States.

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Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyhPMIq5o_LarcP8ahBp7QQ

Image Credits
Alma de Mexico