Director's Note

A love that I pursued for years, learning from various instructors. Along the way I met Jhon Narvaez. He was unlike any other teacher I encountered and, as a filmmaker, I was compelled to capture the uniqueness he brought to his craft and convey the powerful impact on the dancers he has taught.

From 2016-2018, I followed eight of his dancers across America and Canada, getting an up close look at their obsession with dance on and off the stage.

Today, nine years later, the lives of these dancers have taken remarkable turns that expand into richer narratives about finding love, starting families, winning world championships, slipping into depression, and facing the end of life. Follow-up footage is scheduled to be filmed in 2025 for each dancer to take us inside the depths of their journey.

Words alone cannot express the intensity of emotion salsa dancing evokes, the dedication it requires, or the exhilaration it arouses, but as both a dancer and filmmaker I have a unique voice through which to tell this story. I’m honored to document these extraordinary lives. I am inspired by them, and I believe the audience will be, too.

Brett Renville | Director

As a producer, I also offer the vantage point of two worlds. Like Brett, I have also come to this project as an avid dancer who also works in film.

My three ballroom dance films on my YouTube channel: youtube.com/ballroomdance have garnered over 4.8 million views and 5.6K subscribers. I have sixteen years of experience as an avid salsa and ballroom dancer and appeared on Season 12 of
“So You Think You Can Dance.”

I bring a dancer’s eye to Salsamania, spotlighting moments of beauty while also embracing moments of imperfection; together helping to tell the true story of a dancer’s life. My approach to this episodic series will help choreograph it in a way that is relatable to
both dancers and non-dancers alike.

Janine Roffle | Producer

Producer's Note