It’s summer in Boston. Under the locust trees of the Blackstone Community Center surrounded by basketball games, tight parking spaces, and children playing, the dance floor heats up while the cool breezes blow through the park.
Many salsa & latin dancers in Boston claim SITP as their favorite event of the city, not only for the appeal of dancing outside al aire libre but as a way to give back to the community. Dancers volunteer all summer, donating their time to teach dance lessons to adults and children, set up dance floors, assist with event staffing, maintain a recycling program, and clean up from the festivities until late into the evening.
The program emphasizes healthy lifestyle choices for the individual and the community, through dancing, healthy food options, and “greening” the event as much as possible with educational materials and interactive information.
BEHIND THIS FREE OUTDOOR DANCE EVENT, THERE’S AN AMAZING SUMMER YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM!
This summer, 25+ youth aged 12-25 will have a summer of transformation: becoming leaders in the effort to improve their community, building essential 21st century employment skills, studying and performing dance and music (and learning to share their arts with others), and spending numerous hours with healthy, driven, passionate adult role models.
Salsa in the Park provides the youth with a tangible project to help them hone their skills as they learn to plan, promote and implement successful events. And without the youths’ hard work and creativity, Salsa in the Park would never be the amazing event people have all come to love.
DANCE LESSONS AND PERFORMANCES!
- There will be FREE lessons being offered at two different times taught by MetaMovements staff.
- Lessons for all levels on all floors: 6-6:30pm pm.
- Then, party and dance to the best salsa music from 6:30-9pm with DJ Hernan and fantastic guests!
- A great mix of classic and new salsa – and a little bachata too!
- Additional lessons for Beginners on the back floors start at 7:15pm (party continues on the main floor).
- Also, you won’t want to miss the performances at 7:45pm
DIRECTIONS:
Salsa in the Park is located in the Blackstone Community Center park at the corner of W. Brookline St., and Washington St, Boston (South End).
Look for the community center and the basketball courts, and we will be right next to them! (The fountain is visible from where we are, directly across W Brookline St from us.)
And if it rains, we’ll be inside the Blackstone Community Center, right next to the park!
Parking:
- On-Street parking available. Shawmut Ave. usually has plenty of spaces.
Public Transportation:
- Orange line to Back Bay, exit Dartmouth Street side (it’s about a 10 minute walk). Take a left on Dartmouth and continue, until you cross over Tremont St. and it becomes W. Dedham St, then go right on Shawmut Ave., and left onto W. Brookline St.; walk down and the basketball courts, center & park are on your left.
- Silver Line (Washington St line): Get off at the Newton St. stop. You will be on Washington St. If you were coming from Dudley and towards Boylston, you will continue in the direction the bus is going for one more block, and take a left at W. Brookline; walk down and the basketball courts, center & park are on your right. If you were coming from Boylston and towards Dudley, you will walk back one block, and take a left on W. Brookline as described above.
- Take Bus #1 down Mass Ave. (from Harvard or Central Squares). Get off at Washington St, and take a left (heading towards downtown, away from Roxbury). Continue to W. Brookline St., and take a left; walk down and the basketball courts, center & park are on your right.
Check out the website here for more information on the program and the amazing groups that are working hard to put events like these together!
