Lux Arts Collective

Advancing Latin and Afro-Caribbean dance and music as living art forms.

Lux Arts Collective is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Austin, Texas. We support artists and cultural programming rooted in Latin and Afro-Caribbean traditions, creating space for participants and audiences of all backgrounds to engage with these powerful lineages.

Growing Beyond the Niche

In the United States, Latin and Afro-Caribbean dance and music, like Salsa and Bachata, are primarily experienced in social niches--dance studios, family circles, and select nightclubs. These scenes are vibrant and essential, and over the past several decades, they have evolved dramatically in skill, artistry, and global reach. Yet, despite this evolution, these traditions still tend to function as insular worlds. Outside of them, they are frequently understood only peripherally, their full artistic depth and creative potential remaining largely unseen by the broader cultural landscape.

As a result, even for dedicated practitioners, the path to long-term artistic growth is fragmented. In the U.S., serious Latin dancers and musicians usually feel they must relocate—most often to New York—to find the kind of sustained collaboration, advanced study, and professional-level opportunities that are more readily available in other art forms.

Lux Arts Collective exists to expand those pathways, starting right here in Austin. We believe these traditions deserve to be legible beyond the insider world, while remaining grounded in lineage, musicianship, and artistic integrity. Our work supports those who want to engage more deeply—whether through structured training, creative collaboration, or performance as a means of artistic exploration.

A Globally Grounded Ecosystem

A core part of this vision involves bringing dancers and musicians from underrepresented regions—particularly Central America, South America, and the Caribbean—into U.S.-based programming. These artists carry knowledge and musical traditions that are often difficult to access locally. 

However, the barriers to these collaborations are significant. Lux Arts Collective is committed to navigating the complex logistical hurdles of international exchange, including securing artist visas, providing travel support, and facilitating fair-compensation residencies. By removing these obstacles, we strengthen cultural connections, expand artistic perspectives, and contribute to a more globally grounded dance ecosystem here in the U.S.

Rooted in Stewardship

Lux Arts Collective was founded by Carolyn and Stefan De La Rosa, dance educators whose lives have been dedicated to these traditions over decades of study, teaching, and performance. Coming to these forms as students first, they were shaped by the artists and communities who welcomed them and set high standards for the craft.

As their roles grew from the dance floor to directing programs and organizing community events, the vision for the Collective took shape. With Carolyn’s dual background as a professional dancer and a practicing attorney, the foundation was built with care and intention: to create an organization that supports artists responsibly, stewards resources carefully, and builds cultural programming with long-term impact rather than short-term momentum.

What began as personal immersion has grown into a shared commitment to build the structure we wished had existed earlier in our own journeys—one that supports artists, welcomes new participants, and allows the art to grow with care, integrity, and sustainability.

Support the Work

While our classes and performances generate earned income, they rarely cover the full cost of sustaining cultural arts at this level. Philanthropic contributions allow us to invest deeply in visiting artists, expand need-based scholarships and youth programs, and build the organizational capacity required to protect this work for the long term.

Your support helps ensure these traditions are not only accessible, but able to grow, evolve, and remain artist-driven.​

Donate

Lux Arts Collective is a registered 501(c)(3) public charity. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
EIN: 39-3166847

​Questions about donations by check, employer matching gifts, or other ways to support our work?
📧 [email protected]