MARK SALDANA (he/she)

Artist & Teacher

East New York

Puebla & México City 

I'm teaching classes to six to 50-year-olds and just being in Queens, in the neighborhood where I grew up, teaching in Cumbia class where I was exposed to it so much. Where I used to work as a street food vendor, where I was running down the streets and like, you know, also running away from my parents and being on those blocks for a long time, figuring out my life at such a young age… I get to look back at that, and I'm like, “Wow, I'm here teaching cumbia.” Allowing people to reconnect with their roots and also reclaim who they are and what they want to be, it hits different. This is what I always wanted to do. I always wanted to give back to my block and to my area, but through dance and through art. And I never knew how to, but it happened outta nowhere… Cumbia really did change my life in the best way possible. And it's my favorite way to connect. It’s my favorite way to communicate.

What does A Great Day in Ñiu Yor look like for you?

I love New York! New York is my favorite. There's so much character, personality… a great day in New York, for me, would be a community potluck, a community art show. Just being out there with each other and celebrating and sharing what else we can do to provide more free community programming – art community programming – for everybody. Community everything. I just want everyone to feel involved and seen and loved.

Photographed & Interviewed by Shaira Chaer