How street-style Latin dance is finding a new home in the commercial world

Society · Published 8 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Professional dancers Ashlé Dawson and Henri Velandia are blending the raw energy of Latin street styles with commercial precision. By merging traditional partner dancing with contemporary influences, they are creating a new fusion that works as well in a club as it does on a television stage.

The collaboration between Ashlé Dawson and Henri Velandia represents a deliberate bridge between two distinct dance spheres. Dawson, a New York-based choreographer with a background in television—including appearances on 'So You Think You Can Dance'—brings a commercial essence to the partnership. Her expertise lies in translating the rhythmic, 'street side' elements of the Latin world into a format suitable for the commercial industry and club environments. While her career has taken her across the globe, Dawson remains rooted in the New York City dance scene. This international perspective allows her to infuse her choreography with a diverse range of global influences.

Complementing this is Velandia, a professional dancer from Venezuela trained in various disciplines including contemporary, jazz, and modern dance. A significant component of their shared curriculum is the integration of Zouk. This Brazilian dance, which evolved from the Lambada, introduces specific technical complexities to their fusion. The Lambada is characterized by intricate, specialized movements, particularly focusing on the mobility of the spine. Velandia's technical foundation also includes Latin dance training. He specifically highlights how the discovery of Zouk's unique mechanics became a pivotal moment in his instructional approach alongside Dawson.

What makes this fusion particularly versatile is its adaptability to modern music. The rhythmic structures found in Zouk and Lambada are not limited to traditional Latin tracks; they can be applied to contemporary genres such as hip hop. Through their various companies, including Breaking Conformancy Productions, Latin Fusion, and Hotsalsahot, the duo aims to teach this expansive repertoire, ranging from ballroom to Zouk, to a global audience. The duo operates through several distinct professional entities, such as Breaking Conformity Productions. Their goal is to share the full spectrum of their expertise, from ballroom to specialized Latin fusion.

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