Today we’d like to introduce you to Annie Velez.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was born in San Diego then raised in Tijuana, Mexico as a child before moving back to the States. Music was part of my life from the start. My Puerto Rican family is very deeply rooted in the dance/music culture, from parrandas, playing instruments and singing with my cousins during the holidays and at church.
At seventeen, I began performing with a family salsa band called BoriMex. Dance became an extracurricular passion alongside my studies. I majored in Business and Computer Engineering, dancing and going out to teach even while in college.
After graduating, I moved to North Carolina and built a corporate career, working as an engineer, then account manager, eventually moving into sales and marketing. During that chapter of my life, I had my two children. Three years ago, in September 2023, I remarried… my husband, DJ KEMO, he’s Dominican from Miami who also came from a corporate background.
About two years ago, we decided to take the leap into entrepreneurship together. Over time, we found our focus: our Latin dance community events. We saw firsthand the impact they had offering culture, connection, a safe space for nightlife, and a way to meet people and stay active, all through something as joyful as dance.
Today, we host 2 weekly Latin Dance socials (Wednesdays at Cuya – Thursdays at Weldon Mills), along with other events in other cities, festivals, private and corporate events, weddings, and private lessons out of our home dance studio. Alongside all of this, I’m also the founder of UnRitmo, a mobile app for social dancers. We’re currently in the pilot testing phase, building out some exciting features to impact our dance community in such a beautiful and creative way.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Entrepreneurship is a love-hate relationship. It’s incredibly rewarding, but it also takes countless hours and a lot of work. Doing it alongside my husband, who is also my life partner, has been its own balancing act but it’s been wonderful building something together with shared goals.
Overall, I wouldn’t change it for the world. I’m doing exactly what I love, and it feels purposeful… like this is exactly what I’m meant to be doing. There’s something special about building something that hasn’t quite existed in this form before.
We put a lot of care and intention into every event we host: from the venue, atmosphere, the food, drinks, and cleanliness. Every detail matters to us, because we want people to walk into a space that feels polished, welcoming, and genuinely well taken care of.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My professional focus is centered around Latin social dance: styling, connection, social dance etiquette culture, and the science behind turn patterns.
What I’m most proud of is the energy I bring to my lessons and to hosting events. I’ve been teaching since I was seventeen, and along the way I owned and ran a dance studio, which I closed right before the pandemic. That experience taught me a lot about what it takes to build a real dance community, not just individual classes.
What sets me apart is the consistency my husband and I bring… people know they can count on a professional, high-quality experience every time, and creating good vibes on the dance floor.
What’s next?
For the short term, I’m looking forward to continue to grow our social dance events. Welcoming more people who want to dance, who are simply curious about it, and creating a safe, welcoming atmosphere. Alongside that, my plan is to launch UnRitmo, my app for social dancers, first here in Raleigh as a pilot before expanding it worldwide.
Long term, my goal is simple: to keep enjoying life as a social dancer. Dance is a lifelong hobby, something you can carry with you every single day, anywhere in the world.
Pricing:
- Cuya in Raleigh $10
- Weldon Mills in Durham $10/$15
Contact Info:
- Website: https://unritmo.com/
- Instagram: https://unritmo.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annie.velez.90/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-velez-932025a1/
