We were lucky to catch up with Aaron & Sean Comida para El Alma y Odd Mambo recently and have shared our conversation below.
Aaron & Sean , thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
Aaron: This is actually a really great question, especially given the nature of work we do.
As a professional dancer – a black creative who lives in a city with about 8% black population (Austin) – a lot of room is left to feel some imposter syndrome. The “I’m not good enough” to “I don’t like the way I look” have been obstacles early on, especially in the realm of entertainment and art that is dominated by people who don’t look like me.
I work a lot in the Afro-Latin/Latin dance and music arena, and I often get approached by non-black people saying things like “You people like this music?” or “How do you dance like this and you’re not Latino?” But what’s interesting is that these art forms are traced all the way back to Africa (hence the term “Afro-” being placed before certain nouns). Slavery was an awful part of history, but it’s a huge reason why the music and art forms made it out of Africa to the rest of the world. I have to remind myself of this constantly; my ancestors would want me to be a part of this.
I suppose the best answer to this question comes from my upbringing in black and African music (and art): I know that I belong here. And if for nothing else, after over two decades of training, I know I deserve to be in these spaces and continue to grow just as everyone else, who aren’t of the culture, wishes to grow.
Sean: I’d say personally I’m firm in my beliefs and perspective on the things I’m passionate about. Even if I’m the only one in the room who looks like me, because of what I believe, I don’t let that dictate or sway how I move or go about things. As a DJ, I know the music that I play very well. The variety and quality will speak to peoples ears and catch their attention.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Sean: I am a DJ, a salsa DJ . The most exciting thing about it is being able to create a moment in time where people can let loose, have fun, smile, sing and enjoy themselves. It’s similar to a chef watching customers be happy after cooking up a meal; a meal so good they don’t even want to talk! I also love being able to provide good tunes for people in a time where so much is going on in the world, like wars and other conflicts that affect everyone. Having this music as a getaway to take our minds off of more serious matters can, in a way, help us re-center ourselves (similar to meditation).
We have dance classes coming up on April 9th at Danzversity where we can really break things down. People can learn and begin to understand the foundation of what makes great dancers. We also will teach a bit about the history of the music and culture which I feel is very necessary to know. This class will begin at 7:30pm.
Aaron: So, in short, I’m a professional dancer. I specialize in music theory for dancers, performance, and coaching as well. So working with Sean is a great privilege as he is such a historian of salsa records, a scene we spend the most time on these days. The most important thing about being a quality dancer is one’s relationship with the music being. So I really get a kick out of people who come to me for help and leave being more connected to music than ever. That’s the number one goal for me, because once a person understands the music, the elevation of their dance ability skyrockets. It’s hard to be a good dancer and not understand the music.
Being a feature artist at Austin Dance Festival has also been an honor, as I’m able to spread the art and culture to more people.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Aaron: This is a really great question. I’ve encountered a lot of great knowledge throughout the years and continue to gain knowledge and skills. I say my best quality is patience. I’m not perfect, nor is my patience (ha ha), but I understand that great things take time and development. And with this understanding it’s easy to be kind to yourself when things become difficult.
The second thing that has helped me, and continues to help me maneuver in my career, is the ability to be wrong and make a mistake… and FIX it/learn from it. This is a quality anyone can benefit from, because when it comes to chasing your dreams, you’re going to make mistakes. Go big, or go home! This is a daily mantra for me.
The last, and very important skill, is my ability to connect with anyone (especially with people who may not connect as easily with the rest of the world). This is important because empathy is useful when trying to gauge an audience and reach out to the world.
Sean: Growing up I was surrounded by family who always listened to music in the house while cooking and cleaning. That definitely shaped my foundation, and mainly my ear, to have a complete understanding of “what’s what.” Knowing and understanding the importance of the culture is paramount, and having that knowledge also helps people – be it a dance teacher or a DJ – represent the culture in the correct light. Also having an understanding of the importance of Africa’s influence (that basically birthed this music).
Not knowing where you come from makes it hard to know where you’re going.
I’d also say passion, which is the most important thing. I feel if you are extremely passionate about whatever you do everything falls into place on its own. And that’s because you’re so obsessed with your craft.
Advice I’d give to DJs getting their feet wet in their area: know why you want to DJ. And also, if you are passionate about the music, put all of your efforts into learning about the bands/groups and allow that to snowball-effect.
Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?
Aaron: I think our current, biggest challenge has been the spreading of music and history. Sean has been a collector of historic salsa records, but with the current climate of social media, there has been an onslaught of “trend” and “vibe” music. So some of the quality has gone down which has trickled into social dance arenas. Sean and I are both trying our best to spread some of the classic music that has shaped these Afro-Latin genres. But there is slight push-back being what we play is old, and also very different for the crowd since it’s not a predominant sound in the local dance scene.
Sean: I’d say the biggest challenge is funding, or the lack thereof (ha ha). Granted, the things we do aren’t rooted in monetary gain. DJing for a living would be nice and can become a reality, but money isn’t the driving force behind what I do. Aaron and I don’t come from money, so having extra funds here and there would make things a bit easier. But since it’s just us two working together it has been a “slow burn” but we’re staying the course regardless.
Contact Info:
- Website: TBA
- Instagram: aaronchristopherdance/djcoquiito/oddmambo
