Celebrating Afro-Latino Dance & Culture
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The People

Buen Aché speaks both Spanish and English. We see bilingualism as a key factor in promoting and honoring Hispanic culture.

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Jose Arismendy Rodríguez

Jose Arismendy Rodriguez (known affectionately as “Ari”) was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and grew up dancing the traditional Dominican dances of Merengue, Bachata, and PericoRipiao. Although Salsa dance and music is not native to Dominican Republic (its roots can be traced most accurately to Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Colombia), Ari has always loved [...]

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Julia Rodríguez

Julia Jaskwhich Rodríguez

Julia Rodriguez graduated from the College of Charleston in 2002 where she majored in Anthropology and Latin American and Caribbean studies. She later pursued a Master’s degree in Nursing at the Medical University of SC. Julia currently works as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner at a private mental health practice in Charleston. Julia founded Buen Aché [...]

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Liliya Kirova

Liliya Kirova (Lily) was born and raised in Bulgaria. She moved to the US with her family when she was 16 years old. Lily is multilingual; she speaks Bulgarian, English, and German. Lily holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance with a concentration in Graphic Design from the University of South Carolina. She is currently working as a Financial [...]

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Mellissa Scott

Mellissa Scott

Mellissa Scott was born in California and raised in Charleston. She began dancing at the age of 17 when she joined the Orchesis Contemporary Dance Theatre in Tallahassee while attending Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. After returning to Charleston, Mellissa went on to dance with the West African Dance Company, Adande, and later joined Buen [...]

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Shantell Scott

Shantell  Scott is a native of Charleston, South Carolina, which is where her emergence in performing arts began. Since the age of 11, she has been dramatically performing monologues and poetry to universal audiences successfully inspiring and uplifting communities both city and statewide. Her interests grew to incorporating dance and she received formal training in ballet [...]

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The People