OUR STORY
Libra Bellydance and Fusion is a Latina-owned dance company and community that provides a creative, safe, and inclusive space for individuals to explore their passion for dance while fostering personal growth, teamwork, and community through creative expression and performance opportunities.
Founded by Andrea Purón, on November 27, 2015, in México, with the mission of offering a safe space to learn a dance that empowers a positive self-image, builds confidence, and cultivates a connection between your mind and body. In 2019, she moved to Austin, Texas where Andrea met Gabriela Manzano, a talented Latin dancer with whom they immediately connected, and this is how they created the Aura Performance Team.
OUR DIRECTORS
The minds and experience behind Libra Bellydance and Fusion
Andrea Puron
Founder & General Director
I started to dance at a very young age, my dance training began with teachers such as Jillina, Suhaila Salimpour, Fadi El Saadi, Zoe Anwar, Aline Del Castillo, and more. In 2005 I opened my first dance studio in México with my mom, and together we managed for 12 years, in 2016 I opened Libra Bellydance.
Learning to dance is a liberating experience that enriches body, mind, and spirit, which elevates self-esteem, and destroys the barriers that one and society tend to build.
I use Bellydance as a motor of movement, it is a dance that allows you to connect with your body and mind, creates awareness, and makes you feel more in control and sure of yourself.
I do fusion because it allows me to enrich my body language, express myself, learn, play, and collaborate with talented artists that I admire. It allows me to learn more about those dances and disciplines that inspire me, always from a place of respect, admiration, and learning.
Within fusion, I do Latin fusion because I’m Latina and it is in my blood, it is the music I grew up with and will always be a part of me, it is also a way to honor my culture and my ancestors and embrace who I am.
I strongly believe fusion reflects how diverse we are, a magical fusion of cultures, movements, colors, and rhythms, all with unique beauty.
We are diverse, unique, and at the same time equal. I love collaboration, learning, connection, similarities, and what makes us different.
Gabriela Manzano
Aura Performance Team Director
I started my way into dance when I was 14 years old; passing through different styles of dance like Mexican Folklore, Polynesian dances, Salsa, Bachata, and Bellydance.
Being born and raised in such a beautiful and rich Mexican culture was an incredible gift to me. I have been immersed in Latin rhythms since I was a little girl, and for me, there is no better sensation than dance and the fusion of my culture with other dance styles.
Dance is a big part of my life because it has helped me understand and appreciate myself Learning to control every part of my body and connect with myself is always a wonderful experience.
I’m so proud to be Latina and have the opportunity to share this through art because feeling the music, dancing, having fun and all the happiness that comes within is the real reason for me to keep myself alive.
I’m a strong believer that art is one of the most effective ways of being loyal to your true self and incorporating your flavor in everything is key to creating special things.