Today we’d like to introduce you to Anthony Vincent.
Hi Anthony, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey as a dancer actually began during my college years, not on the dance floor, but behind the DJ booth. As a DJ for Latin nights and an active member of Campus Activities, I developed a deep appreciation for music across genres. Those nights DJing weren’t just about entertainment; they were about connection, energy, and culture.
After graduating, however, life pulled me in other directions. I completed my master’s program and relocated to El Paso, TX, a city rich in culture and community. While the experience offered a fresh perspective, something felt missing. By early 2022, I found myself longing for a way to reconnect with the sense of passion and human connection I once had through music. That’s when I discovered Latin dance specifically Salsa and Bachata. It was the perfect fusion of music and movement, awakening a part of me I hadn’t felt since 2019. I immersed myself in the local scene and soon began traveling to other cities, Phoenix, San Antonio, Juárez, South Padre Island, to train with instructors and grow within the community.
Each trip deepened my connection to the dance and accelerated my growth.
Eventually, I relocated to San Antonio, where I joined Esta Noche Dance Company under the direction of Jonathan Godinez and Jennifer Isabel. Thanks to previous connections and shared experiences, I was welcomed warmly and quickly found opportunities to expand my involvement.
Today, I proudly teach three weekly classes (Intro to Salsa, Bachata Partnerwork, and Bachata Leaders Styling) and perform with Esta Noche’s teams. It’s an honor to represent the company while continuing to grow as both a dancer and an artist. Dance has become more than a passion, it’s a purpose, a platform, and a way to give back to the very community that helped reignite my love for music and movement.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The start of my journey came with a rough patch. After experiencing some hardship in my life I fell into a state where I no longer recognized myself. I dug in deep at work, staying late most days, and volunteering my free time just to not have to deal with the things I was feeling. I began dressing and conducting myself in aspects where to some of my coworkers, they thought I had leveled up in life, all the while I was experiencing something that I coped with in different ways.
In the 2 years of dance life in El Paso, the challenges of finding you own way amidst the trends in dancing and what was popular created a space where flashiness as valued over technique and feeling. In being a student of dance you realize how some people enjoy the culture and roots of dance and how others enjoy the money it makes. Latin dance is a creative space but for those who are not interested in putting in the behind the scenes work, the respect for the art is lost in taking from social media creators.
That realization as a new dancer can be discouraging for some but thankfully I was able to push through and continue developing. Now that I am living in San Antonio and found the space where I am growing and learning in the way I was looking for, I have faced the great challenge of pushing myself to understand, learn, and create at a high level. I am super grateful to my directors for allowing me the chance, which many are not afforded, to stand with the brand they have worked so diligently on and every day I take on the challenge of living up to that name.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Outside of my time dancing I work with a non-profit known as the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU for short), The association I work for represents more than 500 colleges and universities across the US, Puerto Rico, Latin America, Spain, and US School Districts. We host many different programatic efforts to address the issues that are critical to Hispanic student success and engage with corporate and government partners in addressing these issues. My current portfolio works with Dominion Energy to work with universities hosting summer bridge programs for students from low-income, underserved and underrepresented communities that are interested in the STEM field.
Throughout my college experience, I was not aware of the opportunities that are available to students of this day and age. While I work with a small set of universities, there are so many other opportunities available to the current student that HACU offers (Scholarships, Immersion Programs, Professional Development, International Programs) and it makes me very proud to be apart of a group that gives back to college students that are just like me.
What matters most to you?
Community matters most to me. Community provides a place of knowledge, a place to share resources, a place for support, a place to expand your horizons and learn from others. My community, while it has fluctuated over many years, has always been a place I can go to when I am in need, or I can give back to when others are in the same position. Community has gotten me through the rough patches in my life and I do not know where I would be without it.
Community takes on many different forms and the people within your community can wear very different hats day to day. That, in my opinion, is the beauty of community. You can serve your community, but also your community can serve you in many ways. The first step is always getting involved with your community, even if it starts small, it can blossom into something beautiful if nurtured correctly and “correctly” is different individual to individual.
Pricing:
- One Class – $20
- Beginner Programs – 8 Classes $75
- 10 Class Packages – $170
- 20 Class Packages – $300
- Unlimited Monthly Pass – $150
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.estanochedance.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anthonyinmotion_
