We had the good fortune of connecting with Ximena Salgado and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ximena, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
This actually involves a very personal story that not many know about.

I had launched another business with my ex-husband. This story didn’t end well. It was my time to launch something on my own. Directing, producing, creating new shows, choreographing sustained me in all aspects. Keeping my already functioning productions and rehearsals alive kept me focused and motivated. I was inspired to design a new brand,l. I had collaborators joining the journey and we made Rumbamena happen with the purpose to celebrate with joy and free ourselves.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Uffff!! Hard to know how to get started! Ah! As a company Director, I am aware I have an insatiable creative apetite… one idea triggers another and it’s unstoppable. My creativity to choreograph, connect to the music, form stories, create scenes, combine other art forms, involve our costumes and props as an active part of the show… it’s a constant flowing river that I love to fulfill and challenge my resources to make them manifest.

I take pride in the tireless drive and motivation that my creativity brings, it makes me hype.

I do believe where I am in my career due to consistency, keeping my word and fulfilling my commitments and investing in my training and education. It is certainly not easy, personal life stuff is always in the way and being an artist is not a 9 to 5 duty that I can disconnect from, it’s a lifestyle and my life element like the ocean for a fish.
Overcoming challenges does not look like feeling victorious every day and feeling like I’m on top of everything like I unrealistic would like to… it comes with tolerating and accepting that many things will be out of my control, that patience is a virtue about how do we behave while sorting out any storm or crisis, and to remind myself that this life and career is never a straight strict line and its beauty it’s in the 360° of possibilities of any kind of circumstance. Always a constant learning curve.

My most important lessons are that loving passionately what I do and dedicating my life to it is the biggest, most sincere and guaranteed caffeine I could ever have. It’s the moto that I don’t need to negotiate with in my head to get out of bed. Hardwork, compromise, discipline are a pleasure. Yet, it can take over me and make me neglect the little pleasures of life like rest, time ofg, quality time with my loved ones… having my daughter has certainly humanized me in ways I couldn’t have ever envisioned and it’s truly humbling to work on finding that fine line of balance.

What I would like the World to know about my brand and story is that every life crisis is worth celebrating, they do bring blessings, lessons and gifts when we are open to receive them.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If we are talking about Miami, I would bring them to eat to Little Haiti, and Little Havana. My favorite spot also is Le Sandwicherie… I am not sure why but it always hits the spot. Definitely beach time in south Beach or Hallandale…either have joyful memories.
Dance salsa in Ball & Chain and why not check out any good performance.
Ah! Can’t forget about Mofongo in Calle 8…simply delicious.

If we are talking about new York city, well… classic pictures in Times Square, drinks in Hells Kitchen, walk the Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park picnic, Italian food in downtown, tacos from a truck in Queens…

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
To my parents and sister who have always believed in me and supported me unconditionally. To my daughter who I want her to know she has added a whole different level of depth in my art and my life. And to every artist I have had the pleasure to collaborate and work with and be inspired by.

Website: Www.rumbamena.com

Instagram: @XimenaSalgado92 & @Rumbamena

Facebook: Ma Ximena Salgado

Image Credits
David Tufino Photography

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