Flaco’s Dance Factory of Jenkintown will host “Ellas y Amigos” in the Town Square on Tuesday, September 19 in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. 

The free event will coincide with the weekly Jenkintown Night Market and will feature a live concert from 7:00pm to 9:00pm, a dance lesson from 6:00pm to 7:00pm, the sounds of Latin music, food vendors, wine and beer from a local brewery, and more.

“This event is the first of its kind. I’ve had the privilege of being around some of the very best musicians, and some of the people I taught with are now Grammy winners,” the dance studio’s owner, Mark “Flaco” Best, said. “One of them plays the trumpet for Beyonce. Another has his own Grammy-winning ensemble and has played with Alicia Keys. He’s prolific and totally and completely blind. I’m very grateful to bring these affiliations to Jenkintown.”

A certified teaching artist via Columbia University since 2015, Flaco’s dance instruction in the Philadelphia region dates back to 1997.

“I still have good relationships with those bands and band leaders. Hopefully this is the first of many and we hope this catches on and become an opportunity for Latinos in the area to share their culture, food and dance,” he said. “It’s an interactive event. Attendees will enjoy the event even more because they’re able to participate. It’s healthy, it’s therapeutic, it’s ethics and manners. So many things happen when people dance.”

Flaco’s Dance Factory, located at 411 York Road, is known for its group classes, wedding choreography, private lessons, workshops and tutorials. For more on the studio, you can visit their Facebook page and website.

For all the latest news, follow us on Facebook or sign up for Glenside Local’s “Daily Buzz” newsletter here.