David Olarte, Afro-Latin Salsa Dancer. 2025
David Olarte, a first-generation Colombian-American artist based in Phoenix, specializes in Afro-Latin salsa and contemporary couple dancing. He grew up learning salsa and cumbia from his family, later training with world-renowned instructors and founding Stilo Dance Company, which has earned international acclaim. Through teaching, choreography, and community socials, David sustains salsa’s cultural vibrancy while mentoring his apprentice, Shayla Eshelman.
~
Bilingual in Spanish and English, David grew up in the Midwest immersed in Colombian traditions, learning salsa, cumbia, merengue, and folkloric dances from his mother, grandmother, and uncles. Weekends were spent dancing as a family, instilling in him the rhythms and movements that defined their cultural identity.
Afro-Latin salsa is more than performance—it is a living expression of the Afro-Latin community, shaped by centuries of Afro-Caribbean diasporic and European influences. These rhythms gave rise to Afro-Cuban dances that spread across the Americas, evolving into salsa styles such as danzón, son, mambo, chachachá, and boogaloo. For David, salsa is a dialogue across generations: “Each step, each body motion, every turn tells a story —connecting us to one another and expressing who we are as an Afro-Latin community.”
In 1999, David moved to Los Angeles to deepen his training under Seaon Bristol, a principal dancer taught by New York Style Salsa pioneer Eddie Torres. From 2001 to 2005, David performed as one of Season’s principal dancers, mastering choreography, lead and follow roles, and the art of performance on the global salsa stage.
In 2007, David founded Stilo Dance Company in Phoenix to continue teaching New York Style Salsa on 2. Over nearly two decades, Stilo has gained international recognition, reaching the World Latin Cup finals from 2010 to 2013 and consistently placing among the winners. To refine his artistry, David has trained with global icons including Latin Hustle pioneer and salsa contributor Billy Fajardo, Osmar Perrones, Marco Ferrigno, and couple dance innovator David Zambrano.
David’s choreography begins with a deep understanding of salsa’s rhythms and cultural intention. He selects music that resonates with the essence of movement, curating each piece through careful song choice, footwork, and partnering decisions. His work contributes to the evolving dialogue of salsa, allowing dancers to find their voice through gesture, form, and connection.
Beyond choreography and performance, David is committed to sustaining salsa as a community practice. He advises the Salsa Club at ASU, who hosts biweekly salsa socials at Arizona State University’s Tempe campus where students apply their learning outside the studio and build community through dance. In downtown Phoenix, he leads weekly socials at Latin Night at the Duce alternating between Afro-Latin salsa and bachata, welcoming dancers of all levels. These gatherings embody his inclusive approach, ensuring that salsa remains accessible, joyful, and culturally vibrant.
David will work with apprentice Shayla Eshelman to advance her salsa practice. Together, they continue the lineage of Afro-Latin dance, ensuring that its rhythms, stories, and connections endure for future generations.