Who makes it all possible?

MetaMovements (MM) is an entrepreneurial artist collective dedicated to using the arts as a tool for positive transformation of self and community, creating bonds, fostering meaningful relationships and creating lasting social change. With community partners, supporters, funders and volunteers, MetaMovements brings Salsa In The Park to life!

None of this would be possible without financial contributions from our sponsors, funders and Salsa In The Park attendees and supporters! We are currently seeking sponsors, vendors, volunteers and donors to get us the funding we need to make our Salsa In The Park events happen! 

HISTORY OF SALSA IN THE PARK!

In 2007 at the Charlestown Community Center, MetaMovements, with the support of the salsa community in Boston, produced the very first Salsa In The Park (SITP) program. In 2008 we expanded SITP to the Blackstone Community Center to increase positive activities inside and outside of the Center in an effort to reduce violence and drug use that was happening in and around the courtyard. In 2014 we expanded SITP to include a Cuban area in which Boston Rueda has been an integral part of through teaching and engagement. To date our collaborative efforts have provided arts programming (dance, percussion, theater, events hosting) for thousands of families, including meaningful summer jobs and internships for over 150 youth, year-round internships for college students, and free weekly outdoor events which so many people look forward to every summer. We are proud of the work we have done together!
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From 2008 through 2019, we held weekly Salsa In The Park events that were made possible through an ongoing partnership with BCYF's Blackstone Community Center and others. For staffing of the event MM helped coordinate two internship programs and volunteers! Each summer, 25+ youth aged 12-19 had a summer of transformation: becoming leaders in the effort to improve their community, building essential 21st century employment skills, studying and performing dance, music and theater (and learning to share their arts with others) all through MM's Youth Arts Ambassadors Program. The youth in the program spent numerous hours with healthy, driven and passionate adult role models that are hired through MM's Career Training & Practicum programs.  

List of Partners:
Since the event's inception in 2007, MM has collaborated with Boston Dance Alliance, Charlestown Community Center (BCYF), Blackstone Community Center (BCYF), ArtWeek, Boston's Moves for Health, Cambridge Community Centers, Margaret Fuller House, Cambridge Public Health Association,  Boston Centers For Youth & Families (BCYF), Cambridge Senior Center, Lawn On D and Spontaneous Celebrations with financial support from the City of Boston & the City of Cambridge, private foundations, DJ Hernan, SalsaBoston.com, BioMed Realty, Burlington Mall and more!

A PARK WITH A DANCE FLOOR

We take over the courtyard park and playground at the Blackstone Community Center and fill it with about 500 dance and music lovers each week! With the help of our awesome volunteers and Youth Arts Ambassadors, we setup up dance floors on the courtyard patio in-between the community center and the basketball court. There are 2-3 dance floors available providing plenty of space for all to dance under the stars. Dance floors are provided by SalsaBoston.com and the Boston Dance Alliance. In case of rain, we move inside into the auditorium of the Blackstone Community Center thanks to BYCF staff!