My full name is Lois Laetitia Melendrez though I am fondly known as Lola. Dance is my passion. I have been dancing since I learned to stand, or so my mother says. Currently, I am trained in ballet, jazz, ballroom, Latin dances, and Hip Hop. Last year, I won third place in the Latin dances category for the Regional Dance Sport Competition. This year, I ventured into burlesque dance for the first time and it intrigued me immensely. Since my first encounter with burlesque it has expanded from just another dance genre to an art form. I have explored the era, the fashion, and the music, and am slowly creating a persona to put together all that I’ve learned. Eventually, I would like to incorporate my Latin dance into my burlesque routine. I think this will be a unique way to bring two cultures together in an interesting way. As I grow older dance is continually teaching me how to work within a creative structure. Years of training molded my patience and determination. My successful endeavours outside dance are a direct result of the work I’ve put in in the studio. I hope to continue to dance, even in my old age. It certainly has become more than a hobby and more of a daily pracetice of passion and wellness.