For some art lovers, there is a calling to go beyond the admiration of static sculpture or the extra-sensory pleasures of kinetic multimedia displays.
There is an urge to become the art — a flowing, breathing object of desire.
For those people, Ricky Calderon has an answer: dancing the salsa.
"We began offering free First Friday dance lessons last year," Calderon says. "It was a different way to share the beauty of my culture through the art form of dance."
While Calderon has called Lancaster his home for the past 19 years, the 42-year-old is a native of the Dominican Republic.
And of all the important things that give meaning to who he is and where he is from, only God and family are higher on the list than dancing.
"Like any piece of art, there is meaning in every movement," Calderon says.
The free one-hour classes are offered at 8:30 p.m. every Friday, inside Calderon's Rumbha Nite Club. The upscale club, which is located inside the Hotel Brunswick, 151 N. Queen St., has a dress code meant to encourage respect for each other and add style to the dance.
"There are no sneakers or hats allowed," Calderon says. "It's something our guests really appreciate."
Typically, around a dozen people of all ages, races and backgrounds attend on any given Friday night. On First Fridays, however, that number can triple.
"There are those who try to stand there and watch," dance instructor Loida Esbri says. "But more often than not, they cannot resist the Afro-Cuban rhythms and beats."
Esbri thought she could set her life in cruise control and take it easy after retiring from her government job as a communications director a few years ago.
"But taking it easy has kept me very busy," laughs Esbri, 64. "I was born dancing, and I'm dancing still."
The allure of Latin dance is about more than a love of rhythmic movement. Like Calderon, the dance floor is a temple of learning for Esbri. The dance movements she teaches are tools to educate about Latin traditions and folklore.
"It is about more than entertainment," she says. "It's about understanding the passion that Latinos have for life."
Calderon says dancing is a key to his 21-year-marriage with his wife, Arisleydak. Even his four children are closer to their roots because of it.
"Music is at the heart of our family," Calderon says. "And it is my desire to see it become a part of the lives of others."
While the classes usually begin with an introduction to salsa, Esbri says it doesn't take students long to want to learn other Spanish dances, including the cha-cha and merengue.
"These are dances you can take with you all over the world," Esbri says. "And regardless of where you are, you will experience a commonality and fellowship with other dancers."
Or you can feel that same bond at the Rumbha.
"Don't approach it thinking the salsa is something you can't do," Esbri says. "Many who just give it a try surprise themselves and fall in love with dance, the same as I have."
FREE SALSA (LESSONS)
Free Salsa dance lessons are offered from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. every Friday inside the Rumbha Nite Club. The Latino-flavored club is located inside the Hotel Brunswick at 151 N. Queen Street in downtown Lancaster.
The nightclub formally opens at 10 p.m. Guests are encouraged to dress up as there is a strict dress code prohibiting sneakers and hats. After 10 p.m., the cover charge is $10 for men and $5 for ladies, though the fees could be different if the club is featuring live entertainment.
In addition to free salsa lessons, almost 100 artists will be displaying their art forms in the downtown area for First Friday, Jan. 2. Many area retailers and restaurants also have extended hours.
VIVA LA ART
This year, there is something extra visitors can do to support this popular monthly tradition. At kiosks around the downtown area, limited edition buttons (below) will be sold to help organizers from Lancaster Arts continue promoting the event.
As she is famous for, local artist Debbie Serdy, who works under the business name My Aunt Debbie, is using recycled materials to create the Friends of First Friday buttons. Adults can obtain a button with a donation of $50. Students must donate $15.
For details on purchasing a button or other First Friday activities visit
www.lancasterarts.com/firstfridays.
CONTACT THE NEW ERA: YourLife@LNPnews.com 
