How Dance Creates Confidence, Connection, and Community
Building Rumbao Latin Dance Company in Charlotte
Jennifer Geyer & Eduardo Diaz
Key Takeaways
- Jennifer Geyer founded Rumbao Latin Dance Company more than 12 years ago after discovering Charlotte’s thriving salsa community.
- Rumbao welcomes everyone—from complete beginners to experienced performers—with an emphasis on inclusion over perfection.
- Latin dance provides much more than exercise by creating confidence, friendships, and lifelong community.
- Jennifer shares how dance helped shape her own journey after college and eventually became her life’s work.
- The business has grown from renting studio space by the hour to operating multiple locations and preparing for a permanent home at Eastland Yards.
- COVID challenged the dance community but reinforced the importance of in-person connection.
- Jennifer believes strong fundamentals—not flashy moves—separate great dancers from beginners.
- Leadership has taught Jennifer the importance of boundaries, teamwork, and sustainable growth.
- Dance serves as an emotional outlet that helps people reconnect with themselves while building meaningful relationships.
- Charlotte’s Latin dance community continues to evolve while remaining welcoming to anyone willing to take the first step.
Jennifer Geyer on Building Community Through Latin Dance | Oui Talk Raw with Jennifer Busco
Latin dance is often associated with movement, music, and performance, but for Jennifer Geyer, it’s about something much deeper. In this episode of Oui Talk Raw, host Jennifer Busco sits down with the co-owner of Rumbao Latin Dance Company to explore how dance can build confidence, create lasting friendships, and transform lives. Jennifer Busco’s curiosity and thoughtful questions invite Jennifer Geyer to share not only the story of her business, but the heart behind the community she has spent more than a decade building in Charlotte.
Rather than focusing on flashy performances or competition, Jennifer Geyer explains how Rumbao has become a welcoming place where people of every age, profession, and experience level can discover joy through movement. From beginners walking into their first class to lifelong dancers continuing to refine their craft, the conversation highlights how Latin dance becomes a bridge between cultures, personal growth, and genuine human connection. Throughout the interview, Busco keeps the discussion approachable and relatable, asking the questions every newcomer would want answered.
The conversation also explores the realities of entrepreneurship. Jennifer Geyer openly discusses the challenges of turning a passion into a sustainable business, navigating COVID-19, managing burnout, setting healthy boundaries, and preparing for Rumbao’s exciting expansion into Charlotte’s Eastland Yards. The result is an inspiring conversation about leadership, resilience, and creating spaces where people feel seen, welcomed, and empowered.
How Jennifer Geyer Built Rumbao Latin Dance Company Into a Charlotte Community
Jennifer Geyer never imagined owning a dance company. After discovering salsa while studying abroad and immersing herself in North Carolina’s dance scene, opportunities naturally began to appear. What started as organizing performances eventually grew into Rumbao Latin Dance Company—a school focused on teaching New York-style salsa, performance training, and creating a space where people from every background feel welcome.
Throughout the interview, Jennifer Busco uncovers the story behind that growth, allowing listeners to understand that Rumbao is built as much on relationships as it is on dance instruction.
More Than Dance Lessons—Creating Lifelong Connections
One of the strongest themes throughout the episode is community. Jennifer explains that many students arrive looking for a hobby but leave with lifelong friendships, support systems, and even spouses. Whether someone is new to Charlotte, navigating a life transition, or simply searching for something new, dance often becomes the starting point for meaningful relationships.
Her philosophy is simple: everyone belongs, regardless of experience.
“We don’t reject anyone.”
Why Latin Dance Is About Confidence, Not Perfection
Jennifer Busco approaches the interview from the perspective of someone who admits she isn’t a dancer, making the conversation especially relatable for first-time students. Jennifer Geyer responds by removing many of the common fears people have before walking into a class.
Rather than focusing on difficult choreography, she emphasizes learning strong basics, developing proper technique, and enjoying the experience. She explains that everyone makes mistakes and that each one becomes another opportunity to improve.
Dance as Therapy, Connection, and Personal Growth
Although Jennifer is careful not to compare dance directly to professional therapy, she believes movement offers people an emotional release that many don’t expect. Dance encourages participants to be present, connect with music, and interact with others in healthy ways.
She explains that social dancing often creates a flow state where daily stress disappears and people simply enjoy the moment.
“I think it adds a lot of joy and connection to people’s lives.”
The Business Behind Passion
Jennifer Geyer also offers an honest look at entrepreneurship. Turning a community organization into a business required learning difficult lessons about finances, memberships, overhead costs, and boundaries. What once operated purely out of passion eventually required structure to survive and continue serving the community.
Jennifer Busco steers the discussion toward burnout, asking thoughtful questions about balancing passion with personal well-being. Jennifer openly discusses learning to step back, trust her team, and protect time for herself while continuing to grow the company.
Looking Ahead to Eastland Yards
One of the most exciting moments in the conversation comes when Jennifer shares Rumbao’s future. Through Charlotte’s AMP UP small business accelerator, the company has been selected as a tenant at Eastland Yards.
The new location will allow Rumbao to expand children’s classes, senior programming, outdoor events, and additional community-centered activities while continuing its mission of making Latin dance accessible to everyone.
Oui Talk Raw Highlights the People Behind Charlotte’s Creative Community
Jennifer Busco’s interview style allows Jennifer Geyer to tell her story naturally, creating a conversation that feels authentic instead of scripted. Together they explore dance, leadership, entrepreneurship, mental wellness, and community building without losing the warmth and humor that defines Oui Talk Raw.
For anyone curious about Latin dance—or simply inspired by people who build meaningful communities—this episode is a reminder that sometimes the first step onto a dance floor can become the first step toward an entirely new chapter in life.
