At the heart of Penn State’s vibrant dance scene, one group moves with rhythm, passion and purpose: Caliente Dance. A student-run organization, Caliente is more than a performance group. It’s a family rooted in culture, built on community and driven by a shared love of Latin dance.
“Caliente was founded in 2014 … but when I joined my freshman year (in 2021), there was a shift of leadership where I took part as the president,” Abelardo Sobarzo said. “I had to kind of build it from the ground up.”
What started with just a few members has since grown into a thriving team of nearly 30 dancers. Nicole Guzman remembers what it was like when she joined during her sophomore year.
“There were three people,” Guzman, a fourth-year studying finance and the club’s current co-president,” said. “We just kept growing it and developing it. The whole purpose was to create a community … we’re all passionate about dancing and our cultures.”
The Caliente! Dance Company performs during the Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration in Heritage Hall at the HUB-Robeson Center on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023 in University Park, Pa.
While Caliente proudly reflects Latinx identity, the team welcomes dancers from any background. According to Guzman and Abraham Hernandez, the only requirement is dedication.
The group focuses on a wide variety of Latin dance styles like the salsa, merengue, bachata, cumbia and reggaeton, along with region-specific choreographies crafted by members from across Latin America.
“We usually focus on those dances because they’re traditionally what Spanish dances are,” Guzman said. “Specifically salsa, merengue and bachata are really core to Spanish culture.”
Hernandez, a fourth-year studying finance and the club’s other co-president, said diversity of style allows students to connect more deeply with their heritage or discover new aspects of it.
“When they played cumbia … I really resonated with it,” Hernandez said. “My parents are from El Salvador and that was the moment I knew I wanted to join.”
Beyond campus, Caliente has made a name for itself through community engagement, with public classes and performances throughout State College.
Members of the Caliente! Dance Company perform during Noche Latina at Alumni Hall in the HUB-Robeson Center on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025 in University Park, Pa.
“We’ve done performances that are available for people just part of the community here,” Sobarzo, a fifth-year studying informatics and former president of Caliente, said. “The most recent one we did was the Happy Valley Latin Festival … it’s honestly been an honor to help people see and experience the culture.”
Building chemistry within the team takes work, especially when dancers have different levels of experience. Some members grew up in competitive dance; others learned from family parties.
“I think that’s what makes it more special,” Guzman said. “Some of us are Hispanic and (learned to dance) growing up … You kind of just develop it naturally when you’re around it so much.”
To foster connection, the team constantly rotates partners during practice.
Members of the Caliente! Dance Company practice a routine to “Amaneciendo” by Adolfo Echeverría y Su Conjunto in the White Building on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025 in University Park, Pa.
“Sometimes it can be a little awkward,” Hernandez said. “But because of that, you’re forcing them to meet one another … and it just creates this nice sense of community.”
Selena Rivera said that sense of community is what pulled her in during her freshman year.
“It became so important to me because it’s really very welcoming,” Rivera, a second-year studying architecture and the group’s treasurer, said. “It’s not only a place to showcase our culture but also a place to grow … we all help each other out, and it truly is a family.”
The team practices four times a week and is continuously pushing to improve, both artistically and structurally. With a full executive board managing everything from choreography to budgeting, the group members are deeply passionate and the organization runs well, according to Guzman.
“It’s very time-consuming,” Guzman said. “But I love it … we see that (our dancers) love and care about it too.”
Caliente! Dance Company co-president Nicole Guzman (left) and member Abelardo Sobarzo (right) teach the group a routine to “Amaneciendo” by Adolfo Echeverría y Su Conjunto in the White Building on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025 in University Park, Pa.
Caliente’s first-ever showcase, held last year, marked a milestone.
“It truly came out to be stupendous,” Rivera said. “Everybody locked in. Everybody put in their best effort. It really marked how much we had grown.”
Looking ahead, the team hopes to gain even more visibility and one day go competitive.
“We want to expand in the community, create more awareness and more exposure,” Hernandez said. “The ultimate goal would be to become a competitive dance team.”
Whether the team is performing in front of hundreds or sharing a laugh at a social, the mission remains the same.
“It’s always going back to how we used to do it growing up,” Guzman said. “The music we heard, the dances we learned. Culture and identity are at the center of every performance.”
As for the leadership behind Caliente, they’re proud of the performances and what the group has become.
“We cannot do this alone at all,” Guzman said. “It’s the entire board and all the dancers together … I just couldn’t be more proud of where we are today.”
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