It was salsa, and it had taken over the entire block from 19th to Valencia. People in their 20s were dancing with their kids, their elders, and strangers. It was all smiles - community at its finest.
Deseran - a partner at San Francisco mainstay restaurant Tacolicious - decided she wanted to do something to activate Valencia Street in 2023 after it had been hurt so badly by the pandemic.
The Cuban dance community in San Francisco is small in comparison to LA and New York - but just as vibrant. I wanted to integrate that Cuban flavor into our little corridor here on Valencia Street.
But even those whose hips do lie felt just as welcome that evening. Brian Mechem from Sacramento told me he's 'a terrible dancer,' but if they do this event next summer he would make a point to come back and learn salsa.
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