Zafire Ladies
Narrow Interview: Zafire Ladies
by Valentina Sanchez
Gainesville can be a cultural spot with diversity around every corner and Zafire is no exception. Zafire is a dance team that concentrates in Latinx genres such as salsa and bachata. With just one year after its creation, these ladies have performed in multiple big dance conventions such as Orlando Salsa Congress, New Orleans Salsa Bachata Fest, and Unity Dance Festival. They even got invited to Aventura Dance Cruise, the world’s largest dance, a goal many dancers aspire to achieve. Lisbeth Dominguez, creator and choreographer, gave Narrow an insightful interview about what its is like to be a Zafire Lady.
Lisbeth, when did you start dancing and what is your dancing background?
I began dancing at the age of 13 when I joined my first salsa dance team called "Salsa Karibe" directed by Jose Luis Gutierrez in Miami, Florida. I trained in only latin dance until I was 18 and once I graduated high school I decided to pursue an AA Degree in Dance through Michelle Grant-Murray at Miami-Dade College. Here I began my training in Ballet, Modern, Jazz, and West-African. I am currently getting my BFA in Dance at the University of Florida and directing "Zafire ladies GVL" under the guidance of the Zafire Dance company owners Carlos Hernandez and Arlette Guerra from New York City.
Why did you decide to create a dance team?
I’ve always been passionate about teaching and uplifting others, ever since I started teaching little kids when I was 15 at Salsa Karibe. I fell in love with the satisfaction and smile my kids would have at the end of each class. It has always been a dream of mine to have my own dance team. Ironically, during my first semester at UF, Carlos Zafire asked me if I would be interested in starting my own Zafire Ladies team here in Gainesville; since I was part of Zafire Ladies Miami directed by Marielena Martinez. I was so honored for this opportunity that I took it without really knowing how I would even start and maintain a successful dance team. I decided to take the leap and it has been such a successful first year, especially because I’ve received the best support system from my dearest friends Maria Garcia and Melannie Carranza. Without their help and support all of this wouldn't have been possible.
How many girls are on your dance team?
As of right now we are 15 ladies. Each and every one of them brings their own uniqueness into the team. It has been a privilege to watch them grow throughout this first year.
How is the audition process for anyone interested in joining?
I make sure to make the audition process a fun and relaxing experience for everyone because I know an audition process can be nerve racking for a lot of people, including myself. We start with a warm up, followed by an On2 salsa shine that they all must learn to the best of their ability. At the end, we break up into small groups. Here I observed each of them closely and I look for how much they were able to pick up from the choreography, but most importantly their flavor when dancing salsa. This allows me to see if they connect with the music.
If you like what you see, you can hire Zafire to spice up your festival or private event! You can keep in touch through zafiregainesville@gmail.com or follow their social media zafiregainesville and lisbethguz_.