Synopsis

Our film takes place in Cali, Colombia– the world capital of salsa. With a backdrop of social unrest, the city that lives and breathes salsa flaunts a dance community that is ever evolving. Género: Salsa is a portrait of that community. It explores how queer dancers use their culture of salsa and precise dance technique to question and reframe gender roles.

The film follows Michelle, a transgender dancer whose dance group,Rumba Brava, prepares to become the first Queer ensemble to perform in Cali’s biggest salsa festival, El Festival Mundial de la Salsa. Her experiences are filled with both acceptance and obstacles. In an effort to invite the audience into this world, Rumba Brava’s preparation process is interrupted by the stories and expertise of various dancers, intellectuals, and aficionados. Amongst them is Miguel Ferrerossa, a professional dancer known for dancing both feminine and masculine roles. His expertise and activism are highlighted through his organization, Yo Me Entacono, which seeks to promote Queer inclusion and gender equality. Although Michelle and Miguel’s challenges are different, they both uplift the possibility of a world in which we can be free of the rigid confines of gender in an effort to holistically express our truest selves.