Rasta Salsa
Enriching Lives Through Fun in Motion
Dancing has always been a part of Tom Ogunribido’s life, but he never planned to be a teacher. Over time he started developing a following of people asking to teach them dance lessons, then was eventually asked to cover some classes at a well-known dance studio. Word spread that he taught really well and was always full of energy, positivity, and encouragement. One thing led to another and, in 2018, he turned that passion into a business. Rasta Salsa Dance was born.
Tom rented the space that he operated out of for several years, but as his class sizes grew, he needed more space to continue growing his business. After getting through the initial qualification process, he was turned down by two different banks. Over the next few months, he began to doubt that he would ever own a business due to capital struggles and was about to give up. Fortunately, his optimistic nature kicked in and his determination led him to Encore Bank and B:Side Capital. All of a sudden, he began to feel like his future was opening up.
Just three days after closing on his SBA 504 loan, he was able to start operations in his brand-new space. Now, he has hired several teachers and expanded his catalogue of classes, such as Mambo and Rueda, in addition to teaching Salsa, Bachata, and Cha-Cha-Cha himself.
With his dream now realized, Tom is incredibly thankful. He believes that dance enriches lives, allowing one to set aside the daily stresses for a time and to have fun. With the new space, he will be able to serve more people for a greater impact on happiness in Colorado.